Patent ID: 8102455

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels overlaid with a color filter pattern of at least two colors having the same color on every other pixel in one direction; three or more charge-coupled devices oriented parallel to the one direction for receiving charge from the plurality of pixels with each charge-coupled device having a first gate, a second gate, a third gate and a fourth gate in that order for shifting charge through the charge-coupled device, wherein all first gates are electrically connected together, all second gates are electrically connected together, all third gates are electrically connected together, and all fourth gates are electrically connected together; and CCD-to-CCD transfer gates disposed between adjacent charge-coupled devices for transferring charge between the charge-coupled devices, wherein the first gate or third gate of a charge-coupled device is disposed on one side of a respective CCD-to-CCD transfer gate and the second gate or fourth gate of a charge-coupled device adjacent to the respective CCD-to-CCD transfer gate is disposed on an opposite side of the respective CCD-to-CCD transfer gate.