Patent ID: 8704926

Claim:
A CMOS image sensor having a plurality of pixel cells arranged in lines and columns, each one of the plurality of pixel cells having a photosensitive element that converts impinging light into electric charge, and first and second transfer elements, wherein the first transfer elements of groups of m pixel cells arranged consecutively in the same column are arranged for transferring the charges generated during exposure in the respective group of m photosensitive elements to a single charge storage element provided for the respective group of m pixel cells, wherein the second transfer elements of groups of n pixel cells arranged consecutively in the same column are arranged for transferring the charges generated during exposure in the respective group of n photosensitive elements to a single charge storage element provided for the respective group of n pixel cells, wherein each pixel cell belongs to one of the groups of m pixel cells and to one of the groups of n pixel cells, and wherein m is not equal to n.