Patent ID: 7242428

Claim:
An image sensor, comprising: an area pixel array including first columns of pixels arranged in first rows and second columns of pixels arranged in second rows, each first column of pixels including pixels of a first type which are sensitive to a first color of light, each second column of pixels including pixels of a second type which are sensitive to a second color of light, and each first column of pixels, each second column of pixels, each first row of pixels, and each second row of pixels including pixels of a third type which are sensitive to a third color of light; first column readout lines, each first column readout line being selectively coupled to outputs of the pixels of the first type and the pixels of the third type that are included in a respective first column of pixels; second column readout lines, each second column readout line being selectively coupled to outputs of the pixels of the second type and the pixels of the third type that are included in a respective second column of pixels; at least one first array readout line, the at least one first array readout line being selectively coupled to at least some of the first column readout lines; and at least one second array readout line, the at least one second array readout line being selectively coupled to at least some of the second column readout lines.