PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-12069384-B2
Application Number: US-202217945636-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Image capture devices having phase detection auto-focus pixels

Abstract:
An image capture device is described. The image capture device includes an array of pixels, each pixel including a photodetector. A Bayer pattern color filter is disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels. The Bayer pattern color filter defines a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light. A set of 1×1 on-chip lenses (OCLs) includes a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs includes a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image capture device, comprising:
 an array of pixels, each pixel including a photodetector; 
 a Bayer pattern color filter disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels, the Bayer pattern color filter defining,
 a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; 
 a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and 
 a fourth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light; 
 
 a set of 1×1 on-chip lenses (OCLs) including a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a set of 2×1 OCLs including a 2×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs includes,
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The image capture device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the Bayer pattern color filter is a first Bayer pattern color filter; 
 the image capture device comprises a second Bayer pattern color filter disposed over a second 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels, the second Bayer pattern color filter defining,
 a fifth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; 
 a sixth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 a seventh 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and 
 an eighth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light; 
 
 the set of 1×1 OCLs includes a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the sixth 2×2 subset of pixels and the seventh 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs includes a 2×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the fifth 2×2 subset of pixels and the eighth 2×2 subset of pixels. 
 
     
     
       3. The image capture device of  claim 2 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs comprises:
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the fifth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 each OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs has a same orientation as each OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
     
     
       4. The image capture device of  claim 2 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs comprises:
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the fifth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 each OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs is oriented orthogonally to each OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
     
     
       5. The image capture device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the array of pixels further includes,
 a second 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a first side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a second side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels, the second side orthogonal to the first side; and 
 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs includes,
 a first subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 a second subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the second 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the third 4×4 subset of pixels, the third subset of 2×1 OCLs orthogonal to the first subset of 2×1 OCLs and the second subset of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The image capture device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the array of pixels further includes,
 a second 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a first side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a second side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels, the second side orthogonal to the first side; and 
 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs includes,
 a first subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 a second subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the second 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the third 4×4 subset of pixels, the first subset of 2×1 OCLs orthogonal to the second subset of 2×1 OCLs and the third subset of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
 
     
     
       7. An image capture device, comprising:
 an array of pixels, each pixel including a photodetector; 
 a color filter pattern disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels, the color filter pattern defining,
 a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; 
 a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 a fourth 2×1 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 
 a set of 1×1 on-chip lenses (OCLs) including a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels; 
 a set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs including a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 a fifth 2×1 subset of pixels in the 4×4 subset of pixels is covered by an opaque material. 
 
     
     
       8. The image capture device of  claim 7 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs comprises:
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels selected from the fourth 2×1 subset of pixels and the fifth 2×1 subset of pixels. 
 
     
     
       9. The image capture device of  claim 7 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs comprises:
 a first 2×2 OCL disposed over the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second 2×2 OCL disposed over the fourth 2×1 subset of pixels and the fifth 2×1 subset of pixels. 
 
     
     
       10. The image capture device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the color filter pattern is a first color filter pattern; 
 the image capture device comprises a second color filter pattern disposed over a second 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels, the second color filter pattern defining,
 a sixth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; 
 a seventh 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; 
 an eighth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and 
 a ninth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light; 
 
 the set of 1×1 OCLs includes a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the seventh 2×2 subset of pixels and the eighth 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs includes a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the sixth 2×2 subset of pixels and the ninth 2×2 subset of pixels. 
 
     
     
       11. The image capture device of  claim 10 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs comprises:
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the sixth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 each OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs is oriented in a same direction as each OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
     
     
       12. The image capture device of  claim 10 , wherein the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs comprises:
 a first pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the first 2×2 subset of pixels; and 
 a second pair of 2×1 OCLs, each 2×1 OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs disposed over a different subset of pixels in the sixth 2×2 subset of pixels; wherein, 
 each OCL in the first pair of 2×1 OCLs is oriented orthogonally to each OCL in the second pair of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
     
     
       13. The image capture device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the array of pixels further includes,
 a second 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a first side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a second side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels, the second side orthogonal to the first side; and 
 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs includes,
 a first subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 
 a second subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the second 4×4 subset of pixels; and
 a third subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the third 4×4 subset of pixels, the third subset of 2×1 OCLs orthogonal to the first subset of 2×1 OCLs and the second subset of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The image capture device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the 4×4 subset of pixels is a first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 the array of pixels further includes,
 a second 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a first side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third 4×4 subset of pixels is adjacent a second side of the first 4×4 subset of pixels, the second side orthogonal to the first side; and 
 
 the set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs includes,
 a first subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the first 4×4 subset of pixels; 
 a second subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the second 4×4 subset of pixels; and 
 a third subset of 2×1 OCLs disposed over select pixels of the third 4×4 subset of pixels, the first subset of 2×1 OCLs orthogonal to the second subset of 2×1 OCLs and the third subset of 2×1 OCLs. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A method of operating an image sensor, the image sensor including an array of pixels, the array of pixels including 4×4 subsets of pixels disposed under respective Bayer pattern color filters, and each 4×4 subset of pixels including a 2×2 subset of red pixels disposed under a 2×2 on-chip lens (OCL), a 2×2 subset of blue pixels, and first and second 2×2 subsets of green pixels, the method comprising:
 exposing the array of pixels to light during an integration period; 
 for each 4×4 subset of pixels,
 binning charges of the 2×2 subset of red pixels to generate a binned red value; 
 binning charges of the 2×2 subset of blue pixels to generate a binned blue value; 
 interpolating green values of the first and second 2×2 subsets of green pixels to determine at least a first interpolated green value corresponding to the binned red value and at least a second interpolated green value corresponding to the binned blue value; and 
 interpolating the binned red value and the binned blue value to generate interpolated red values and interpolated blue values; and 
 
 combining the binned red value, the interpolated red values, the binned blue value, the interpolated blue values, the first and second subsets of green values, the at least first interpolated green value, and the at least second interpolated green value. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein each pixel in the first and second 2×2 subsets of green pixels is disposed under a separate 1×1 on-chip lens (OCL). 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the 2×2 OCL is a first 2×2 OCL; and 
 the 2×2 subset of blue pixels is disposed under a second 2×2 OCL.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a nonprovisional and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/247,734, filed Sep. 23, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully disclosed herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to devices having a camera or other image capture device. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to an image capture device having phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) pixels. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Digital cameras and other image capture devices use an image sensor, such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, to capture an image. In some cases, a camera or other image capture device may include multiple image sensors, with the different image sensors having adjacent or interlaced arrays of pixels. 
     Many cameras and other image capture devices include one or more optical components (e.g., a lens or lens assembly) that are configurable to focus light, received or reflected from an image, onto the surface of an image sensor. Before or while capturing an image, the distance between the optical component(s) and image sensor (or a tilt or other parameters of the optical components or image sensor) may be adjusted to focus an image onto the image sensor. In some cases, macro (or rough) focusing may be performed for an image sensor prior to capturing an image using the image sensor (e.g., using a macro focus mechanism adjacent the image sensor). Micro (or fine) focusing can then be performed after acquiring one or more images using the image sensor. In other cases, all focusing may be performed prior to capturing an image (e.g., by adjusting one or more relationships between a lens, lens assembly, or image sensor); or all focusing may be performed after acquiring an image (e.g., by adjusting pixel values using one or more digital image processing algorithms). Many cameras and other image capture devices perform focusing operations frequently, and in some cases before and/or after the capture of each image capture frame. 
     Focusing an image onto an image sensor often entails identifying a perceptible edge between objects, or an edge defined by different colors or brightness (e.g., an edge between dark and light regions), and making adjustments to a lens, lens assembly, image sensor, or pixel value(s) to bring the edge into focus. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the systems, devices, methods, and apparatus described in the present disclosure are directed to an image capture device having PDAF pixels. 
     In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes an image capture device. The image capture device may include an array of pixels, with each pixel including a photodetector. A Bayer pattern color filter may be disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels. The Bayer pattern color filter may define a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light. A set of 1×1 on-chip lenses (OCLs) may include a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs may include a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. 
     In a second aspect, the present disclosure describes another image capture device. The image capture device may include an array of pixels, with each pixel including a photodetector. A color filter pattern may be disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels. The color filter pattern may define a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×1 subset of pixels sensitive to green light. A set of 1×1 OCLs may include a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs may include a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. A fifth 2×1 subset of pixels in the 4×4 subset of pixels may be covered by an opaque material. 
     In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  show an example of a device that may include one or more image capture devices; 
         FIG.  2    shows an example embodiment of an image capture device, including an image sensor, a lens or lens assembly, and an auto-focus mechanism; 
         FIG.  3    shows an example of an image that may be captured by an image capture device; 
         FIG.  4    shows a block diagram of one example of an image sensor; 
         FIGS.  5 A,  5 B, and  5 C  show example arrays of pixels (e.g., plan views) in an image capture device; 
         FIG.  6    shows an example cross-section of the array of pixels shown in  FIG.  5 A ; 
         FIG.  7    shows a simplified schematic of an example array of pixels; 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  show example arrays of pixels; 
         FIGS.  9 A- 9 E  show an imaging area of an image capture device, in which the pixels of the image capture device are disposed under a repeating Bayer pattern color filter (i.e., a 2×2 pattern including a red quadrant and a blue quadrant arranged along one diagonal, and green quadrants along the other diagonal); and 
         FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  show further imaging areas of an image capture device; 
         FIG.  11    shows an example method of acquiring an image; and 
         FIG.  12    shows a sample electrical block diagram of an electronic device. 
     
    
    
     The use of cross-hatching or shading in the accompanying figures is generally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elements and also to facilitate legibility of the figures. Accordingly, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shading conveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particular materials, material properties, element proportions, element dimensions, commonalities of similarly illustrated elements, or any other characteristic, attribute, or property for any element illustrated in the accompanying figures. 
     Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions and dimensions (either relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries, separations, and positional relationships presented therebetween, are provided in the accompanying figures merely to facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments described herein and, accordingly, may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale, and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for an illustrated embodiment to the exclusion of embodiments described with reference thereto. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure relates to an image capture device that provides improved PDAF performance. 
     In some cases, PDAF pixels (i.e., pixels configured to collect PDAF information) may have a metal shield configuration. A metal shield pixel may include a microlens that focuses incoming light on a photodiode, which photodiode in turn converts photons into electron (or hole) pairs. The collected electrons (for electron collection devices) or holes (for hole collection devices) may be converted into an analog voltage through a pixel source follower (SF) transistor amplifier. The analog voltage may then be converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A metal shield (e.g., a Tungsten (W) or Copper/Aluminum (Cu/Al) metal shield) may cover half of the photodiode (e.g., a left half or a right half). For a left-shielded pixel, light from left-incident angles is blocked by the metal shield, and only light approaching the pixel from right-incident angles is received by the photodiode. A right-shielded pixel functions in the opposite manner. The angular sensitivity of left and right metal shield pixels can be used to generate PDAF information. 
     Because the signal (e.g., the analog voltage or digital signal) generated by a metal shield pixel will be much lower than the signal generated by an unshielded (or regular) pixel, metal-shielded pixels need to be treated as defective pixels, and their signals need to be corrected before being used to generate an image. To minimize the effect that signal correction may have on image quality, metal shield pixels (or pairs of left/right-shielded pixels) may be sparsely distributed over the surface of an image sensor. That is, a relatively small number of an image sensor&#39;s pixels (e.g., 3-4%) may be configured as left- or right-shielded pixels. In one example, for every eight rows and eight columns of pixels (e.g., for every block of 64 pixels in a pixel array), one left-shielded pixel and one right-shielded pixel may be provided. 
     At a vertical edge within an image (e.g., at an edge defined by a perceptible edge between objects, or at an edge defined by different colors or brightness (e.g., an edge between dark and light regions)), left- and right-shielded pixels will have disparate signals (e.g., signals not matched in magnitude and/or polarity) when an image is not in focus, but will have well-matched signals when an image is in focus. The signals of left- and right-shielded pixels therefore provide PDAF information that can be used by an auto-focus (AF) mechanism to adjust the position of one or more optical components (e.g., a lens) or an image sensor, and thereby adjust the focus of an image on the image sensor, or to digitally adjust or compensate for an out-of-focus condition. In some cases, an image may be brought into focus based on a PDAF information obtained during a single image capture frame. By analyzing PDAF information obtained during each image capture frame, images may be quickly and continuously focused on an image sensor. 
     In some embodiments, left- and right-shielded pixels may be fabricated without metal shields by placing both pixels adjacent one another under a single microlens. Each pixel may have its own photodiode, and there may be implant isolation or physical trench isolation between the photodiodes of the two pixels. Because of the nature (e.g., curvature) of the microlens, light from left-incident angles is received mainly by the left-side pixel, and light from right-incident angles is received mainly by the right-side pixel. As a result, left- and right-side pixels placed adjacent one another under a single microlens may function similarly to left and right metal shielded pixels. In a Bayer pattern pixel configuration (i.e., a repetitive 2×2 pattern including red pixels and blue pixels along one diagonal, and green pixels along the other diagonal), one blue pixel in every 8×8 block of pixels may be replaced by a green pixel (or may be modified to function as a green pixel), so that two adjacent green pixels may be placed under a single microlens to provide PDAF information. The signals of both pixels need to be corrected before being used to generate an image. 
     Because the signals provided by metal shield pixels, or the signals provided by adjacent pixels under a microlens, need to be corrected before being used to generate an image, the density of such pixels may be kept low. However, this provides limited PDAF information, which in turn degrades AF performance (especially in low light conditions). To improve PDAF performance, each pixel in a pixel array may be divided into left and right sub-pixels, and PDAF information may be obtained from each pixel. Also, because all pixels are implemented in a similar manner, the sub-pixel signals for each pixel may be combined in a similar way, or signal corrections may be made to each pixel in a similar way, to increase the confidence level that pixel signals are being generated or corrected appropriately (especially in low light conditions). However, the PDAF information provided by such a pixel array (and by all pixel arrays using metal shield pixels or adjacent pixels under a single microlens) bases image focus entirely on vertical edges. For an image containing few vertical edges or more horizontal edges, or for an image acquired under a low light condition, PDAF performance may suffer. For example, it may be difficult or impossible to focus an image on an image sensor, or it may take longer than desired to focus an image on an image sensor. 
     In some cases, the pixels in a pixel array may be grouped in 2×2 subsets of pixels, with each pixel having a corresponding photodetector. In some cases, each 2×2 subset of pixels may be disposed under a different microlens. In some embodiments, the entirety of a pixel array may incorporate such 2×2 subsets of pixels. The pixels can be used, in various embodiments or configurations, to provide PDAF information based on edges having more than one orientation (e.g., vertical and horizontal edges), to improve PDAF performance (especially in low light conditions), to reduce or eliminate the need for signal correction, or to increase the resolution of an image sensor. However, the shared microlens over a 2×2 subset of pixels may tend to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals generated by the pixels. When the shared microlens is shifted as a result of manufacturing variance, the SNR of some pixels may be reduced even further, and the SNR of each pixel may differ (i.e., each of the four pixels positioned under a shared microlens may have a different SNR). This greatly increases the processing burden (e.g., including lens offset or misalignment correction, re-mosaicing burden, and so on) that is needed to correct the signals produced by the various pixels, and can lead to image resolution loss as a result of the lens offset or misalignment correction and other factors. 
     Disclosed herein is an image capture device in which an array of pixels may be divided into 4×4 subsets of pixels. A 4×4 subset of pixels may be further divided into four quadrants. A respective Bayer pattern color filter (or other color filter pattern) may be disposed over each (or at least some) of the 4×4 subsets of pixels. The Bayer pattern color filter may define a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light. A set of 1×1 OCLs may include a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs may include a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. 
     Also disclosed herein is another image capture device in which an array of pixels may be divided into 4×4 subsets of pixels. A 4×4 subset of pixels may be further divided into four quadrants. A respective color filter pattern may be disposed over some of the 4×4 subsets of pixels. The color filter pattern may define a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×1 subset of pixels sensitive to green light. A set of 1×1 OCLs may include a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs may include a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. A fifth 2×1 subset of pixels in the 4×4 subset of pixels may be covered by an opaque material. 
     In some embodiments, the Bayer color filter pattern described above may be disposed over most 4×4 subsets of pixels in an array of pixels, and the other color filter pattern may be disposed over at least some of the remaining 4×4 subsets of pixels. 
     These and other embodiments are described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 12   . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
     Directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “over”, “under”, “above”, “below”, “left”, “right”, etc. is used with reference to the orientation of some of the components in some of the figures described below. Because components in various embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is not always limiting. The directional terminology is intended to be construed broadly, and therefore should not be interpreted to preclude components being oriented in different ways. Also, as used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the term “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at a minimum one of any of the items, and/or at a minimum one of any combination of the items, and/or at a minimum one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or one or more of each of A, B, and C. Similarly, it may be appreciated that an order of elements presented for a conjunctive or disjunctive list provided herein should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to only that order provided. 
       FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  show an example of a device  100  that may include one or more image capture devices. The device&#39;s dimensions and form factor, including the ratio of the length of its long sides to the length of its short sides, suggest that the device  100  is a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone). However, the device&#39;s dimensions and form factor are arbitrarily chosen, and the device  100  could alternatively be any portable electronic device including, for example, a mobile phone, tablet computer, portable computer, portable music player, electronic watch, health monitor device, portable terminal, vehicle navigation system, robot navigation system, or other portable or mobile device. The device  100  could also be a device that is semi-permanently located (or installed) at a single location.  FIG.  1 A  shows a front isometric view of the device  100 , and  FIG.  1 B  shows a rear isometric view of the device  100 . The device  100  may include a housing  102  that at least partially surrounds a display  104 . The housing  102  may include or support a front cover  106  or a rear cover  108 . The front cover  106  may be positioned over the display  104 , and may provide a window through which the display  104  may be viewed. In some embodiments, the display  104  may be attached to (or abut) the housing  102  and/or the front cover  106 . In alternative embodiments of the device  100 , the display  104  may not be included and/or the housing  102  may have an alternative configuration. 
     The display  104  may include one or more light-emitting elements including, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescent (EL) display, or other types of display elements. In some embodiments, the display  104  may include, or be associated with, one or more touch and/or force sensors that are configured to detect a touch and/or a force applied to a surface of the front cover  106 . 
     The various components of the housing  102  may be formed from the same or different materials. For example, the sidewall  118  may be formed using one or more metals (e.g., stainless steel), polymers (e.g., plastics), ceramics, or composites (e.g., carbon fiber). In some cases, the sidewall  118  may be a multi-segment sidewall including a set of antennas. The antennas may form structural components of the sidewall  118 . The antennas may be structurally coupled (to one another or to other components) and electrically isolated (from each other or from other components) by one or more non-conductive segments of the sidewall  118 . The front cover  106  may be formed, for example, using one or more of glass, a crystal (e.g., sapphire), or a transparent polymer (e.g., plastic) that enables a user to view the display  104  through the front cover  106 . In some cases, a portion of the front cover  106  (e.g., a perimeter portion of the front cover  106 ) may be coated with an opaque ink to obscure components included within the housing  102 . The rear cover  108  may be formed using the same material(s) that are used to form the sidewall  118  or the front cover  106 . In some cases, the rear cover  108  may be part of a monolithic element that also forms the sidewall  118  (or in cases where the sidewall  118  is a multi-segment sidewall, those portions of the sidewall  118  that are non-conductive). In still other embodiments, all of the exterior components of the housing  102  may be formed from a transparent material, and components within the device  100  may or may not be obscured by an opaque ink or opaque structure within the housing  102 . 
     The front cover  106  may be mounted to the sidewall  118  to cover an opening defined by the sidewall  118  (i.e., an opening into an interior volume in which various electronic components of the device  100 , including the display  104 , may be positioned). The front cover  106  may be mounted to the sidewall  118  using fasteners, adhesives, seals, gaskets, or other components. 
     A display stack or device stack (hereafter referred to as a “stack”) including the display  104  may be attached (or abutted) to an interior surface of the front cover  106  and extend into the interior volume of the device  100 . In some cases, the stack may include a touch sensor (e.g., a grid of capacitive, resistive, strain-based, ultrasonic, or other type of touch sensing elements), or other layers of optical, mechanical, electrical, or other types of components. In some cases, the touch sensor (or part of a touch sensor system) may be configured to detect a touch applied to an outer surface of the front cover  106  (e.g., to a display surface of the device  100 ). 
     In some cases, a force sensor (or part of a force sensor system) may be positioned within the interior volume below and/or to the side of the display  104  (and in some cases within the device stack). The force sensor (or force sensor system) may be triggered in response to the touch sensor detecting one or more touches on the front cover  106  (or a location or locations of one or more touches on the front cover  106 ), and may determine an amount of force associated with each touch, or an amount of force associated with the collection of touches as a whole. Alternatively, the touch sensor (or touch sensor system) may be triggered in response to the force sensor detecting one or more forces on the front cover  106 . In some cases, the force sensor may be used as (e.g., as an alternative to) a separate touch sensor. 
     As shown primarily in  FIG.  1 A , the device  100  may include various other components. For example, the front of the device  100  may include one or more front-facing cameras  110  or other image capture devices (including one or more image sensors), speakers  112 , microphones, or other components  114  (e.g., audio, imaging, and/or sensing components) that are configured to transmit or receive signals to/from the device  100 . In some cases, a front-facing camera  110 , alone or in combination with other sensors, may be configured to operate as a bio-authentication or facial recognition sensor. The device  100  may also include various input devices, including a mechanical or virtual button  116 , which may be accessible from the front surface (or display surface) of the device  100 . In some embodiments, the front-facing camera  110 , one or more other cameras, and/or one or more other optical emitters, optical detectors, or other optical sensors may be positioned under the display  104  instead of adjacent the display  104 . In these embodiments, the camera(s), optical emitter(s), optical detector(s), or sensor(s) may emit and/or receive light through the display  104 . 
     The device  100  may also include buttons or other input devices positioned along the sidewall  118  and/or on a rear surface of the device  100 . For example, a volume button or multipurpose button  120  may be positioned along the sidewall  118 , and in some cases may extend through an aperture in the sidewall  118 . The sidewall  118  may include one or more ports  122  that allow air, but not liquids, to flow into and out of the device  100 . In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be positioned in or near the port(s)  122 . For example, an ambient pressure sensor, ambient temperature sensor, internal/external differential pressure sensor, gas sensor, particulate matter concentration sensor, or air quality sensor may be positioned in or near a port  122 . 
     In some embodiments, the rear surface of the device  100  may include a rear-facing camera  124  or other image capture device (including one or more image sensors; see  FIG.  1 B ). A flash or light source  126  may also be positioned along the rear surface of the device  100  (e.g., near the rear-facing camera). In some cases, the rear surface of the device  100  may include multiple rear-facing cameras. 
       FIG.  2    shows an example embodiment of an image capture device (e.g., a camera  200 ), including an image sensor  202 , a lens  204  or lens assembly, and a mechanical auto-focus mechanism  206 . In some embodiments, the components shown in  FIG.  2    may be associated with the first camera  110  or the second camera  124  shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B . 
     The image sensor  202  may include a plurality of pixels, such as an array of pixels arranged in 4×4 subsets of pixels. Each pixel may be associated with a photodetector. The photodetectors associated with different pixels may be electrically isolated from each other. As will be described with reference to other figures, different OCLs may be disposed over different pixels, over different pairs of pixels, or over different 2×2 subsets of pixels. photodetectors. 
     The lens  204  may be adjustable with respect to the image sensor  202 , to focus an image of a scene  208  on the image sensor  202 . In some embodiments, the lens  204  or lens assembly may be moved with respect to the image sensor  202  (e.g., moved to change a distance between the lens  204  or lens assembly and the image sensor  202 , moved to change an angle between a plane of a lens  204  or lenses and a plane of the image sensor  202 , and so on). In other embodiments, the image sensor  202  may be moved with respect to the lens  204  or lens assembly. 
     In some embodiments, the auto-focus mechanism  206  may include (or the functions of the auto-focus mechanism  206  may be provided by) a processor in combination with a voice coil, piezoelectric element, or other actuator mechanism that moves the lens  204 , lens assembly, or image sensor  202 . The auto-focus mechanism  206  may receive signals from the image sensor  202  and, in response to the signals, adjust a focus setting of the camera  200 . In some embodiments, the signals may include PDAF information. The PDAF information may include horizontal phase detection signals, vertical phase detection signals, and/or other phase detection signals. In response to the PDAF information (e.g., in response to an out-of-focus condition identified from the PDAF information), the auto-focus mechanism  206  may adjust a focus setting of the camera  200  by, for example, adjusting a relationship between the image sensor  202  (or plurality of pixels) and the lens  204  or lens assembly (e.g., by adjusting a physical position of the lens  204 , lens assembly, or image sensor  202 ). Additionally or alternatively, the processor of the auto-focus mechanism  206  may use digital image processing techniques to adjust the values output by the pixels and/or photodetectors of the image sensor  202 . The values may be adjusted to digitally improve, or otherwise alter, the focus of an image of the scene  208 . In some embodiments, the auto-focus mechanism  206  may be used to provide only mechanical, or only digital, focus adjustments. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , there is shown an example of an image  300  that may be captured by an image capture device, such as one of the cameras described with reference to  FIG.  1 A- 1 B or  2   . The image  300  may include a number of objects  302 ,  304  having edges  306 ,  308  oriented in one or more directions. The edges  306 ,  308  may include perceptible edges between objects, or edges defined by different colors or brightness levels (e.g., an edge between dark and light regions). In some embodiments, the camera may only detect a focus of one set of edges (e.g., only horizontal edges or only vertical edges). In some embodiments, the camera may detect a focus of both a first set of edges (e.g., horizontal edges) and a second set of edges (e.g., vertical edges, or edges that are orthogonal to the first set of edges). 
     The focus of the first and/or second sets of edges may be detected in the same or different image capture frames, using the same or different pixels. In some cases, a focus of edges in the first set of edges may be detected using a first subset of pixels configured to detect a focus of horizontal edges, in a same frame that a focus of edges in the second set of edges is detected by a second subset of pixels configured to detect a focus of vertical edges. A focus of edges may be detected based on a phase difference (e.g., magnitude and polarity of the phase difference) in light captured by different photodetectors in a pair of photodetectors associated with a pixel. 
     In some embodiments, a single pixel in a pixel array (and in some cases, some or each of the pixels in the pixel array, or each of the pixels in a subset of pixels in the pixel array) may be configured to produce a signal usable for detecting the focus of a horizontal edge or a vertical edge. In some embodiments, all of the pixels in a pixel array (or all of the pixels used to capture a particular image) may be employed in the detection of edge focus information for an image. 
       FIG.  4    shows a block diagram of one example of an image sensor  400 , such as an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   . The image sensor  400  may include an image processor  402  and an imaging area  404 . The imaging area  404  may be implemented as a pixel array that includes a plurality of pixels  406 . The pixels  406  may be same colored pixels (e.g., for a monochrome imaging area  404 ) or differently colored pixels (e.g., for a multi-color imaging area  404 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the pixels  406  are arranged in rows and columns. However, other embodiments are not limited to this configuration. The pixels in a pixel array may be arranged in any suitable configuration, such as, for example, a hexagonal configuration. 
     The imaging area  404  may be in communication with a column select circuit  408  through one or more column select lines  410 , and with a row select circuit  412  through one or more row select lines  414 . The row select circuit  412  may selectively activate a particular pixel  406  or group of pixels, such as all of the pixels  406  in a particular row. The column select circuit  408  may selectively receive the data output from a selected pixel  406  or group of pixels  406  (e.g., all of the pixels in a particular row). 
     The row select circuit  412  and/or column select circuit  408  may be in communication with an image processor  402 . The image processor  402  may process data from the pixels  406  and provide that data to another processor (e.g., a system processor) and/or other components of a device (e.g., other components of the electronic device  100 ). In some embodiments, the image processor  402  may be incorporated into the system. The image processor  402  may also receive focus information (e.g., PDAF information) from some or all of the pixels, and may perform a focusing operation for the image sensor  400 . In some examples, the image processor  402  may perform one or more of the operations performed by the auto-focus mechanism described with reference to  FIG.  2   . 
       FIG.  5 A  shows an example array of pixels  500  in an image capture device, as may be included in a portion of an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or in a pixel included in the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, some 2×2 subsets of pixels in an image sensor, or each 2×2 subset of pixels in an image sensor, may be configured as shown in  FIG.  5 A . 
     Each pixel in the 2×2 subset of pixels  500  includes a respective photodetector  502   a ,  502   b ,  502   c , or  502   d . Each pixel may also include associated reset, control, and readout circuitry. In some embodiments, the photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b ,  502   c ,  502   d  may be arranged in two rows and two columns. For example, the array may include a first photodetector  502   a  and a second photodetector  502   b  arranged in a first row, and a third photodetector  502   c  and a fourth photodetector  502   d  arranged in a second row. The first photodetector  502   a  and the third photodetector  502   c  may be arranged in a first column, and the second photodetector  502   b  and the fourth photodetector  502   d  may be arranged in a second column. 
     Each photodetector  502  may be electrically isolated from each other photodetector  502  (e.g., by implant isolation or physical trench isolation). A first 2×1 OCL  504   a  may be disposed over two of the photodetectors or pixels (e.g., over the first photodetector  502   a  and the second photodetector  502   b ). A second 2×1 OCL  504   b  may be disposed over the remaining two of the photodetectors or pixels (e.g., over the third photodetector  502   c  and the fourth photodetector  502   d ). 
     An optional single-piece or multi-piece filter element (e.g., a red filter, a blue filter, a green filter, or the like) may be disposed over the array of photodetectors  502  or pixels (e.g., over the first photodetector  502   a , the second photodetector  502   b , the third photodetector  502   c , and the fourth photodetector  502   d ). In some examples, the filter element may be applied to an interior or exterior of each 2×1 OCL  504   a ,  504   b . In some examples, each OCL  504   a ,  504   b  may be tinted to provide the filter element. In some examples, each of the photodetectors may be separately encapsulated under the OCLs  504   a ,  504   b , and the filter element may be applied to or in the encapsulant. In some examples, a filter element may be positioned between the array of photodetectors  502  and the OCLs  504   a ,  504   b  (although other configurations of the filter element may also be considered as being disposed “between” the photodetectors  502  and the OCLs  504   a ,  504   b ). 
     The photodetectors  502  may be connected to a shared readout circuit (i.e., a readout circuit shared by all of the photodetectors  502  associated with the pixel  500 ). A set of charge transfer transistors may be operable to connect the photodetectors  502  to the shared readout circuit (e.g., each charge transfer transistor in the set may be operable (e.g., by a processor) to connect a respective one of the photodetectors  502  to, and disconnect the respective one of the photodetectors  502  from, the shared readout circuit; alternatively, a charge transfer transistor may be statically configured to connect/disconnect a pair of the photodetectors  502  (e.g., a pair of photodetectors  502  under a common 2×1 OCL, or a pair of photodetectors  502  that are disposed along a direction that is orthogonal to each of the first and second OCLs  504   a ,  504   b , to/from the shared readout circuit). In some cases, each charge transfer transistor may be operated individually. In other cases, the charge transfer transistors may be statically configured for pair-wise operation. 
       FIG.  5 B  shows another example array of pixels  520  in an image capture device, as may be included in a portion of an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or in a pixel included in the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, some 2×2 subsets of pixels in an image sensor, or each 2×2 subset of pixels in an image sensor, may be configured as shown in  FIG.  5 B . 
     Each pixel in the 2×2 subset of pixels  520  includes a respective photodetector  502   a ,  502   b ,  502   c , or  502   d , as described with reference to  FIG.  5 A . 
     A 2×2 OCL  524  may be disposed over the photodetectors or pixels (e.g., over the first photodetector  502   a , the second photodetector  502   b , the third photodetector  502   c , and the fourth photodetector  502   d ). 
       FIG.  5 C  shows another example array of pixels  540  in an image capture device, as may be included in a portion of an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or in a pixel included in the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, some 2×2 subsets of pixels in an image sensor, or each 2×2 subset of pixels in an image sensor, may be configured as shown in  FIG.  5 B . 
     Each pixel in the 2×2 subset of pixels  540  includes a respective photodetector  502   a ,  502   b ,  502   c , or  502   d , as described with reference to  FIG.  5 A . 
     A different 1×1 OCL  544   a ,  544   b ,  544   c , or  544   d  may be disposed over the photodetectors or pixels (e.g., a first 1×1 OCL  544   a  may be disposed over the first photodetector  502   a , a second 1×1 OCL  544   b  may be disposed over the second photodetector  502   b , a third 1×1 OCL  544   c  may be disposed over the third photodetector  502   c , and a fourth 1×1 OCL  544   d  may be disposed over the fourth photodetector  502   d ). 
       FIG.  6    shows an example cross-section of the array of pixels  500  shown in  FIG.  5 A . By way of example, the cross-section is taken along line VI-VI, through the first row of photodetectors  502   a ,  50   b  shown in  FIG.  5 A . A cross-section taken through the second row of photodetectors  502   c ,  502   d  shown in  FIG.  5 A  (not shown) may be configured similarly to the cross-section shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     The first and second photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b  may be formed in a substrate  602 . The substrate  602  may include a semiconductor-based material, such as, but not limited to, silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), doped and undoped semiconductor regions, epitaxial layers formed on a semiconductor substrate, well regions or buried layers formed in a semiconductor substrate, or other semiconductor structures. 
     The 2×1 OCL  504   a  may be disposed over part or all of both of the photodetectors  502   a  and  502   b . The OCL  504   a  may be formed of any material or combination of materials that is translucent to at least one wavelength of light. The OCL  504   a  may have a light-receiving side  612  opposite the array of photodetectors  502 . The light-receiving side  612  of the OCL  504   a  may include a central portion  608  and a peripheral portion  610 . The peripheral portion  610  may be configured to redirect at least a portion of light incident on the peripheral portion (e.g., the light  606   a  or light  606   c ) toward a corresponding peripheral portion of the imaging area that includes the photodetectors  502  (e.g., the light  606   a  may be redirected toward the photodetector  502   a , and the light  606   c  may be redirected toward the photodetector  502   b ). In some embodiments, the OCL  504   a  may have a convex-shaped or dome-shaped light-receiving surface (or exterior surface). 
     The OCL  504   a  may be configured to focus incident light  606  received from different angles on different ones or both of the photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b . For example, light  606   a  incident on the OCL  504   a  from a left side approach angle may be focused more (or solely) on the left side photodetector  502   a , and thus the left side photodetector  502   a  may accumulate more charge than the right side photodetector  502   b , making the signal response of the left side photodetector  502   a  greater than the signal response of the right side photodetector  502   b . Similarly, light  606   c  incident on the OCL  504   a  from a right side approach angle may be focused more (or solely) on the right side photodetector  502   b , and thus the right side photodetector  502   b  may accumulate more charge than the left side photodetector  502   a , making the signal response of the right side photodetector  502   b  greater than the signal response of the left side photodetector  502   a . Light  606   b  incident on the OCL  504   a  from the front center (or top) of the OCL  504   a  may be focused on both of the photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b , making the signal response of the left and right side photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b  about equal. 
     An optional same color filter element  604  (e.g., a red filter, a blue filter, a green filter, or the like) may be disposed over each (or both) of the photodetectors  502   a ,  502   b  (as well as the photodetectors  502   c  and  502   d , not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7   , there is shown a simplified schematic of an example array of pixels  700  (and associated shared readout circuit  704 ). In some embodiments, the array of pixels  700  may be an example array of pixels included in an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or an array of pixels included in the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   , or the array of pixels described with reference to  FIGS.  5 A- 6   . In some embodiments, some 2×2 subsets of pixels in an image sensor, or each 2×2 subset of pixels in an image sensor, may be configured as shown in  FIG.  7   , and the shared readout circuit  704  for the pixel  700  may be part of an overall pixel readout circuit for an image sensor. 
     The array of pixels  700  may include a two-dimensional array of photodetectors  702 , with each photodetector  702  being selectively connectable to (and disconnectable from) the shared readout circuit  704  by a respective charge transfer transistor in a set of charge transfer transistors  706 . In some embodiments, the two-dimensional array of photodetectors  702  may include a 2×2 array of photodetectors (e.g., an array of photodetectors  702  arranged in two rows and two columns). For example, the array may include a first photodetector  702   a  (PD_TL) and a second photodetector  702   b  (PD_TR) arranged in a first row, and a third photodetector  702   c  (PD_BL) and a fourth photodetector  702   d  (PD_BR) arranged in a second row. The first photodetector  702   a  and the third photodetector  702   c  may be arranged in a first column, and the second photodetector  702   b  and the fourth photodetector  702   d  may be arranged in a second column. As described with reference to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the photodetectors  702  may be disposed (positioned) in a 2×2 array under a pair of adjacent 2×1 OCLs. 
     The shared readout circuit  704  may include a sense region  708 , a reset (RST) transistor  710 , a readout transistor  712 , and a row select (RS) transistor  714 . The sense region  708  may include a capacitor that temporarily stores charge received from one or more of the photodetectors  702 . As described below, charge accumulated by one or more of the photodetectors  702  may be transferred to the sense region  708  by applying a drive signal (e.g., a gate voltage) to one or more of the charge transfer transistors  706 . The transferred charge may be stored in the sense region  708  until a drive signal applied to the reset (RST) transistor  710  is pulsed. 
     Each of the charge transfer transistors  706  may have one terminal connected to a respective one of the photodetectors  702  and another terminal connected to the sense region  708 . One terminal of the reset transistor  710  and one terminal of the readout transistor  712  may be connected to a supply voltage (e.g., VDD)  720 . The other terminal of the reset transistor  710  may be connected to the sense region  708 , while the other terminal of the readout transistor  712  may be connected to a terminal of the row select transistor  714 . The other terminal of the row select transistor  714  may be connected to an output line  716 . 
     By way of example only, and in one embodiment, each of the photodetectors  702  may be implemented as a photodiode (PD) or pinned photodiode, the sense region  708  may be implemented as a floating diffusion (FD) node, and the readout transistor  712  may be implemented as a source follower (SF) transistor. The photodetectors  702  may be electron-based photodiodes or hole-based photodiodes. The term photodetector is used herein to refer to substantially any type of photon or light detecting component, such as a photodiode, pinned photodiode, photogate, or other photon sensitive region. Additionally, the term sense region, as used herein, is meant to encompass substantially any type of charge storing or charge converting region. 
     In some embodiments, the array of pixels  700  may be implemented using additional or different components. For example, the row select transistor  714  may be omitted and a pulsed power supply may be used to select the array of pixels. 
     When an image is to be captured, an integration period for the array of pixels begins and the photodetectors  702  accumulate photo-generated charge in response to incident light. When the integration period ends, the accumulated charge in some or all of the photodetectors  702  may be transferred to the sense region  708  by sequentially or simultaneously applying drive signals to (e.g., by pulsing gate voltages of) the charge transfer transistors  706 . Typically, the reset transistor  710  is used to reset the voltage on the sense region  708  to a predetermined level prior to the transfer of charge from a set of one or more photodetectors  702  to the sense region  708 . When charge is to be read out for the array of pixels  700 , a drive signal may be applied to the row select transistor  714  (e.g., a gate voltage of the row select transistor  714  may be pulsed) via a row select line  718  coupled to row select circuitry, and charge from one, two, or any number of the photodetectors  702  may be read out over an output line  716  coupled to column select circuitry. The readout transistor  712  senses the voltage on the sense region  708 , and the row select transistor  714  transfers an indication of the voltage to the output line  716 . The column select circuitry may be coupled to an image processor, auto-focus mechanism, or combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, a processor may be configured to operate the set of charge transfer transistors  706  to simultaneously transfer charge from multiple photodetectors  702  (e.g., a pair of photodetectors) to the sense region  708  or floating diffusion node. For example, the gates of first and second charge transfer transistors  706   a  (TX_A) and  706   b  (TX_B) (i.e., the charge transfer transistors of the first row) may be simultaneously driven to transfer charges accumulated by the first and second photodetectors  702   a ,  702   b  to the sense region  708 , where the charges may be summed. After reading the summed charge out of the array of pixels  700 , the gates of third and fourth charge transfer transistors  706   c  (TX_C) and  706   d  (TX_D) (i.e., the charge transfer transistors of the second row) may be simultaneously driven to transfer charges accumulated by the third and fourth photodetectors  702   c ,  702   d  to the sense region  708 , where the charges may be summed. This summed charge may also be read out of the array of pixels  700 . In a subsequent frame of image capture, the gates of the first and third charge transfer transistors  706   a  and  706   c  (i.e., the charge transfer transistors of the first column) may be simultaneously driven to transfer charges accumulated by the first and third photodetectors  702   a ,  702   c  to the sense region  708 . After reading this charge out of the array of pixels  700 , the gates of the second and fourth charge transfer transistors  706   b  and  706   d  (i.e., the charge transfer transistors of the second column) may be simultaneously driven to transfer charges accumulated by the second and fourth photodetectors  702   b ,  702   d  to the sense region  708 . This charge may also be read out of the array of pixels  700 . Additionally or alternatively, charge accumulated by the photodetectors  702  may be read out of the array of pixels  700  individually, or charges accumulated by any combination (including all) of the photodetectors  702  may be read out of the array of pixels  700  together, or charges accumulated by the photodetectors  702  along a left- or right-sloping diagonal may be read out of the array of pixels  700  together. 
     When charges accumulated by different photodetectors  702  are read out of the array of pixels  700  individually, the charges may be summed in various ways, or a processor may interpolate between the values read out of the photodetectors in different pixels of a pixel array (e.g., perform a de-mosaicing operation) to generate an image having an effective 4× resolution for the pixel array. 
     In some embodiments, a shared readout circuit may be configured differently for different subsets of pixels in a pixel array. For example, in a potentially lower cost image sensor, or in an image sensor implemented using front side illumination (FSI) technology, a single charge transfer transistor may be coupled to a pair of photodetectors, and may be operated by a processor to simultaneously read charges out of, and sum charges, integrated by a pair of photodetectors. For example, in one subset of pixels of an image sensor, a single charge transfer transistor could replace both of the charge transfer transistors  706   a  and  706   b  and connect both of the photodetectors  702   a  and  702   b  to the shared readout circuit  704 , and another charge transfer transistor could replace both of the charge transfer transistors  706   c  and  706   d  and connect both of the photodetectors  702   c  and  702   d  to the shared readout circuit  704 . Similarly, in another subset of pixels of the image sensor, a single charge transfer transistor could replace both of the charge transfer transistors  706   a  and  706   c  and connect both of the photodetectors  702   a  and  702   c  to the shared readout circuit  704 , and another charge transfer transistor could replace both of the charge transfer transistors  706   b  and  706   d  and connect both of the photodetectors  702   b  and  702   d  to the shared readout circuit  704 . 
     In some embodiments, an image capture device, such as a camera, may not include a shutter, and thus an image sensor of the image capture device may be constantly exposed to light. When the array of pixels  700  is used in these embodiments, the photodetectors  702  may have to be reset or depleted of charge before an image is captured (e.g., by applying drive signals (e.g., gate voltages) to the reset transistor  710  and charge transfer transistors  706 ). After the charge from the photodetectors  702  has been depleted, the charge transfer transistors  706  and reset transistor  710  may be turned off to isolate the photodetectors  702  from the shared readout circuit  704 . The photodetectors  702  can then accumulate photon-generated charge during a charge integration period. 
       FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  each show an array of pixels  800  (e.g., a 4×4 array of pixels). In some cases, the array of pixels  800  may represent a portion of a much larger array of pixels, such as an array of millions of pixels included in an image sensor. In some cases, the array of pixels  800  may be included in an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or a set of pixels included in the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In some cases, each 2×2 subset of pixels  802  (or quadrant of pixels) in the array of pixels  800  may be configured similarly to the array of pixels described with reference to  FIGS.  5 A- 6    and, in some cases, each 2×2 subset of pixels  802  may be associated with an instance of the shared readout circuit described with reference to  FIG.  7   . 
     By way of example, the array of pixels  800  includes a red subset of pixels  802   a , first and second green subsets of pixels  802   b ,  802   c , and a blue subset of pixels  802   d  arranged in a Bayer pattern. The Bayer pattern may be achieved by disposing a color filter array over the array of pixels  800 . For example, different subsets of filter elements in the color filter array may be disposed over different subsets of pixels in the array of pixels  800 , with each subset of filter elements having a different color (e.g., red filter elements, green filter elements, or blue filter elements). In alternative embodiments, the different subsets of filter elements may be associated with different colors (e.g., cyan, yellow, and magenta filter elements; cyan, yellow, green, and magenta filter elements; red, green, blue, and white filter elements; and so on). In some alternative embodiments, a color filter array may not be provided, or all of the filter elements in the color filter array may have the same color. 
     Each subset of pixels  802   a ,  802   b ,  802   c ,  802   d  may include a two-dimensional array of photodetectors  804 . For example, each subset of pixels  802   a ,  802   b ,  802   c ,  802   d  may include a first photodetector  804   a  and a second photodetector  804   b  arranged in a first row, and a third photodetector  804   c  and a fourth photodetector  804   d  arranged in a second row. The first photodetector  804   a  and the third photodetector  804   c  may be arranged in a first column, and the second photodetector  804   b  and the fourth photodetector  804   d  may be arranged in a second column. 
     Each photodetector  804   a ,  804   b ,  804   c ,  804   d  may be electrically isolated from each other photodetector  804   a ,  804   b ,  804   c ,  804   d  (e.g., by implant isolation or physical trench isolation). 
     A set of 2×1 OCLs  806  may be disposed over each of the red and blue subsets of pixels  802   a ,  802   d , with a pair of adjacent 2×1 OCLs  806   a ,  806   b  disposed over different subsets of pixels in the red and blue subsets of pixels  802   a ,  802   d . As shown, the pair of adjacent OCLs  806  may include a first 2×1 OCL  806   a  disposed over two adjacent photodetectors  804  (e.g., over the first and second photodetectors  804   a ,  804   b ), and a second 2×1 OCL  806   b  disposed over two other adjacent photodetectors  804  (e.g., over the third and fourth photodetectors  804   c ,  804   d ). 
     A set of 1×1 OCLs  808  may be disposed over each green pixel (e.g.,  804   e ,  8040  in the green subsets of pixels  802   b ,  802   c.    
     The photodetectors  804   a ,  804   b ,  804   c ,  804   d  of a subset of pixels  802   a ,  802   b ,  802   c , or  802   d  may be connected to a shared readout circuit (i.e., a readout circuit shared by all of the photodetectors associated with the subset of pixels, as described, for example, with reference to  FIG.  7   ). A set of charge transfer transistors may be operable to connect the photodetectors  804   a ,  804   b ,  804   c ,  804   d  to the shared readout circuit (e.g., each charge transfer transistor in the set may be operable (e.g., by a processor) to connect a respective one of the photodetectors to, and disconnect the respective one of the photodetectors from, the shared readout circuit). In some cases, each charge transfer transistor may be operated individually. In some cases, pairs (or all) of the charge transfer transistors may be operated contemporaneously. 
       FIG.  8 B  shows an alternative to what is shown in  FIG.  8 A . In  FIG.  8 B , the 2×1 OCLs over the red and blue subsets of pixels  802   a ,  802   d  are replaced with 2×2 OCLs, with one 2×2 OCL  810  being placed over the red subset of pixels  802   a , and one 2×2 OCL  812  being placed over the blue subset of pixels  802   d.    
     The mixed sizes of OCLs shown in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  provide various advantages. For example, the 1×1 OCLs over each pixel in the green subsets of pixels  802   b ,  802   c  enables the capture of a high resolution green image with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The 2×1 or 2×2 OCLs over the pixels in the red and blue subsets of pixels  802   a ,  802   d  enable the capture of good PDAF information. Overall, the arrays of pixels  800  described with reference to  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  enables the capture of an image having a resolution and SNR approaching that of an image sensor having 1×1 OCLs over each pixel, with PDAF information approaching that which is available for an image sensor having 2×2 OCLs over each 2×2 subset of same-colored pixels. 
       FIGS.  9 A- 9 E  show an imaging area  900  of an image capture device (e.g., an image sensor), in which subsets of pixels  902  and color filters of the image capture device are arranged in accordance with a Bayer pattern (i.e., a 2×2 pattern including subsets of red pixels and blue pixels along one diagonal, and subsets of green pixels along the other diagonal). The subsets of pixels  902  may be arranged in Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b  and Bayer pattern columns  908   a ,  908   b . More generally, the subsets of pixels  902  may be arranged in rows extending in a first dimension, and in columns extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. 
       FIGS.  9 A- 9 E  show each subset of pixels  902  as having a 2×2 array of photodetectors  904 , as described, for example, with reference to  FIGS.  5 - 8 B . In some embodiments, the imaging area  900  may be an example of an imaging area of an image sensor associated with one of the image capture devices or cameras described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B and  2   , or the imaging area of the image sensor described with reference to  FIG.  4   , or an imaging area including a plurality of the pixels described with reference to any of  FIGS.  5 A- 8 B . 
     A set of 2×1 or 2×2 OCLs  910  is disposed over the entirety of the red and blue subsets of pixels  902 , and a set of 1×1 OCLs  912  is disposed over the entirety of the green subsets of pixels  902 . 
     In  FIG.  9 A , the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in all of the Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b  of the imaging area  900  are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference (e.g., an out-of-focus condition) in a first set of edges of an image (e.g., vertical edges). Each 2×1 OCL  910  in the set of 2×1 OCLs  910  has a same orientation, with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b.    
     In  FIG.  9 B , the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in all of the Bayer pattern columns  908   a ,  908   b  of the imaging area  900  are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference (e.g., an out-of-focus condition) in a second set of edges of an image (e.g., horizontal edges). Each 2×1 OCL  910  in the set of 2×1 OCLs  910  has a same orientation, with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern columns  908   a ,  908   b.    
     In  FIG.  9 C , the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in the first Bayer pattern row  906   a  of the imaging area  900  are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference (e.g., an out-of-focus condition) in a first set of edges of an image (e.g., vertical edges), and the subsets of red and blue subsets of pixels  902  in the second Bayer pattern row  906   b  are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference in a second set of edges of the image (e.g., horizontal edges, or edges that are otherwise orthogonal to the first set of edges). The 2×1 OCLs  910  in the set of 2×1 OCLs  910  have different orientations, with a first subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  in the set of 2×1 OCLs  910  having a first orientation (e.g., with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b ), and a second subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  in the set of 2×1 OCLs  910  having a second orientation, orthogonal to the first orientation (e.g., with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern columns  908   a ,  908   b ). The first subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  may be disposed over a first set of rows of red and blue subsets of pixels  902  (e.g., over the Bayer pattern row  906   a , or over interspersed rows (e.g., interspersed Bayer pattern rows  906 ) when the imaging area  900  includes more Bayer pattern rows than are shown). The second subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  may be disposed over a second set of rows of red and blue subsets of pixels  902  (e.g., over the Bayer pattern row  906   b , or over interspersed rows (e.g., interspersed Bayer pattern rows  906 ) when the imaging area  900  includes more Bayer pattern rows than are shown). Alternatively, the first and second subsets of 2×1 OCLs  910  may be disposed over interspersed columns, such as interspersed Bayer pattern columns. 
     In  FIG.  9 D , the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in a first lattice of pixels are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference (e.g., an out-of-focus condition) in a first set of edges of an image (e.g., vertical edges), and the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in a second lattice of pixels are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference in a second set of edges of the image (e.g., horizontal edges, or edges that are otherwise orthogonal to the first set of edges). The lattices of pixels may be overlapping checkerboard lattices of pixels, or overlapping checkerboard lattices of Bayer pattern sets of pixels (e.g., each segment of each lattice may be a 2×2 array of pixels). The 2×1 OCLs  910  in the array of 2×1 OCLs  910  have different orientations, with a first subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  in the array of 2×1 OCLs  910  having a first orientation (e.g., with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b ), and a second subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  in the array of 2×1 OCLs  910  having a second orientation, orthogonal to the first orientation (e.g., with its longer dimension extending parallel to the Bayer pattern columns  908   a ,  908   b ). The first subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  may be disposed over the first lattice of red and blue subsets of pixels  902 , and the second subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  may be disposed over the second lattice of red and blue subsets of pixels  902 . 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG.  9 D , at least some of the 2×1 OCLs  910  in the first subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  and at least some of the 2×1 OCLs  910  in the second subset of 2×1 OCLs  910  are disposed over a subset of pixels disposed under a same-colored subset of filter elements. In this manner, PDAF information for detecting the focus of two orthogonal sets of edges may be collected from pixels  902  having the same color. 
     In  FIG.  9 E , the subsets of red and blue pixels  902  in all of the Bayer pattern rows  906   a ,  906   b  of the imaging area  900  are configured (or are operable) to detect a phase difference (e.g., an out-of-focus condition) in a first or second set of edges of an image (e.g., vertical or horizontal edges). A 2×2 OCL  910  is positioned over each subset of red and blue pixels  902 . 
       FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  show imaging areas  1000 ,  1010  that include multiple instances of the imaging area shown in  FIG.  9 A . However, the imaging areas  1000 ,  1010  may alternatively include multiple instances of the imaging areas shown in any of  FIGS.  9 B- 9 E . Each of the imaging areas  1000 ,  1010  also includes multiple instances of an imaging area  1002  or  1012  that includes a 4×4 subset of pixels in which a color filter pattern disposed over the 4×4 subset of pixels defines a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×1 subset of pixels sensitive to green light. A set of 1×1 OCLs may include a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs may include a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels. A fifth 2×1 subset of pixels in the 4×4 subset of pixels may be covered by an opaque material, such as a metal grid. The fifth 2×1 subset of pixels may have a white, gray, or clear portion of the color filter pattern positioned over it. In some cases, the fifth 2×1 subset of pixels may be read out in a summed mode. The fourth and fifth 2×1 subsets of pixels may be useful, in particular, when each 2×2 subset of red, green, or blue pixels is read out in a summed (or binned) mode. In these instances, the fourth and fifth 2×1 subsets of pixels may still provide PDAF information. 
       FIG.  11    shows an example method  1100  of reading out the charges accumulated by the pixels of an image sensor. At  1102 , the method  1100  may include acquiring a raw hybrid OCL image (i.e., an image acquired using any of the image sensors or imaging areas described herein, in which different size OCLs are disposed over red and blue versus green subsets of pixels). The operations at  1102  may include exposing an array of pixels to light during an integration period. 
     At  1104 , the method  1100  may include binning charges of red and blue subsets of pixels (e.g., for each 4×4 subset of pixels under a Bayer pattern color filter, binning charges of a first 2×2 subset of red pixels to generate a binned red value, and separately binning charges of a second 2×2 subset of blue pixels to generate a binned blue value). The binning may be performed before, during, or after readout of a red value (or values) for the red subset of pixels and a blue value (or values) for the blue subset of pixels. 
     At  1106 , the method  1100  may include interpolating a high resolution green channel from green subsets of pixels. For example, an interpolated green value may be determined for each 2×2 subset of green pixels under a Bayer pattern color filter, and then a green value corresponding to each binned red value and each binned blue value may be determined. Alternatively, and as another example, an interpolated green value may be determined for each pixel in a 2×2 subset of red pixels, and for each pixel in a 2×2 subset of blue pixels, and then a green value corresponding to each binned red value and each binned blue value may be determined from the per pixel green values. 
     At  1108 , the method  1100  may include interpolating a low resolution red channel and a low resolution blue channel from respective red and blue subsets of pixels (e.g., from the respective binned red values or binned blue values) to generate interpolated red values and interpolated blue values. 
     At  1110 , the method  1100  may include combining the interpolated channels (e.g., performing a demosaicing operation) to form a full red, green, blue (RGB) image. For example, the binned red value, the interpolated red values, the binned blue value, the interpolated blue values, the first and second subsets of green values, the at least first interpolated green value, and the at least second interpolated green value may be combined. 
       FIG.  12    shows a sample electrical block diagram of an electronic device  1200 , which may be the electronic device described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B,  2 ,  4   , and so on. The electronic device  1200  may include a display  1202  (e.g., a light-emitting display), a processor  1204 , a power source  1206 , a memory  1208  or storage device, a sensor  1210 , and an input/output (I/O) mechanism  1212  (e.g., an input/output device and/or input/output port). The processor  1204  may control some or all of the operations of the electronic device  1200 . The processor  1204  may communicate, either directly or indirectly, with substantially all of the components of the electronic device  1200 . For example, a system bus or other communication mechanism  1214  may provide communication between the processor  1204 , the power source  1206 , the memory  1208 , the sensor  1210 , and/or the input/output mechanism  1212 . 
     The processor  1204  may be implemented as any electronic device capable of processing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions. For example, the processor  1204  may be a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or combinations of such devices. As described herein, the term “processor” is meant to encompass a single processor or processing unit, multiple processors, multiple processing units, or other suitably configured computing element or elements. 
     It should be noted that the components of the electronic device  1200  may be controlled by multiple processors. For example, select components of the electronic device  1200  may be controlled by a first processor and other components of the electronic device  1200  may be controlled by a second processor, where the first and second processors may or may not be in communication with each other. 
     The power source  1206  may be implemented with any device capable of providing energy to the electronic device  1200 . For example, the power source  1206  may be one or more batteries or rechargeable batteries. Additionally or alternatively, the power source  1206  may be a power connector or power cord that connects the electronic device  1200  to another power source, such as a wall outlet. 
     The memory  1208  may store electronic data that may be used by the electronic device  1200 . For example, the memory  1208  may store electrical data or content such as, for example, audio and video files, documents and applications, device settings and user preferences, timing signals, control signals, data structures or databases, image data, or focus settings. The memory  1208  may be configured as any type of memory. By way of example only, the memory  1208  may be implemented as random access memory, read-only memory, Flash memory, removable memory, other types of storage elements, or combinations of such devices. 
     The electronic device  1200  may also include one or more sensors  1210  positioned substantially anywhere on the electronic device  1200 . The sensor(s)  1210  may be configured to sense substantially any type of characteristic, such as but not limited to, pressure, light, touch, heat, movement, relative motion, biometric data, and so on. For example, the sensor(s)  1210  may include a heat sensor, a position sensor, a light or optical sensor, an accelerometer, a pressure transducer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a health monitoring sensor, and so on. Additionally, the one or more sensors  1210  may utilize any suitable sensing technology, including, but not limited to, capacitive, ultrasonic, resistive, optical, ultrasound, piezoelectric, and thermal sensing technology. 
     The I/O mechanism  1212  may transmit and/or receive data from a user or another electronic device. An I/O device may include a display, a touch sensing input surface such as a track pad, one or more buttons (e.g., a graphical user interface “home” button), one or more cameras, one or more microphones or speakers, one or more ports such as a microphone port, and/or a keyboard. Additionally or alternatively, an I/O device or port may transmit electronic signals via a communications network, such as a wireless and/or wired network connection. Examples of wireless and wired network connections include, but are not limited to, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR, and Ethernet connections. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220915
Publication Date: 20240820
Grant Date: 20240820
Priority Date: 20210923
Inventors: LI, XIANGLI
MICHAEL, GILAD
SHI, LILONG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H10F39/182", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10F39/182", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/704", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T3/4015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/704", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/134", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/135", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/704", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L27/14645", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T3/4015", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N25/135", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 85573629