Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image pixels arranged in color filter unit cells that each have at least one red image pixel that generates red image signals, at least one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, at least one clear image pixels that generate clear image signals, at least one infrared image pixel that generates infrared image signals, and optionally at least one green image pixel that generates green image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs chroma demosaicking operations on the image signals. The processing circuitry may generate an infrared image using the infrared image signals and a luminance value using the clear, red, blue, and infrared image signals. The processing circuitry may perform point filter operations on the image signals based on the generated luminance value to produce corrected visible light image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in pairs, with two adjacent pixels covered by a single microlens. The phase detection pixel pairs may be arranged in dashed lines, with image pixels interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. There may be only one image pixel interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. The phase detection pixels may all include color filter elements of the same color. The phase detection pixels may all include green color filter elements. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may include color filter elements that match the surrounding color pattern. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may all include color filter elements of the same color.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having pixels with stacked photodiodes in which a first photodiode generates a first image signal in response to light of a first wavelength and a second photodiode generates a second image signal in response to light of a second wavelength. The imaging system may include processing circuitry that applies a color correction matrix to isolate components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of the first and second wavelengths while removing components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of other wavelengths. The processing circuitry may increase noise correlations between the signals to mitigate noise amplification generated by the color correction matrix. The processing circuitry may apply a point filter to increase luma fidelity of the signals.

Abstract: Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive. The stacked-chip image sensor may be configured to capture image frames at a capture frame rate and to output processed image frames at an output frame rate that is lower that the capture frame rate. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to process image frames concurrently with image capture operations. Processing image frames concurrently with image capture operations may include adjusting the positions of moving objects and by adjusting the pixel brightness values of regions of image frames that have changing brightness.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in pairs, with two adjacent pixels covered by a single microlens. The phase detection pixel pairs may be arranged in dashed lines, with image pixels interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. There may be only one image pixel interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. The phase detection pixels may all include color filter elements of the same color. The phase detection pixels may all include green color filter elements. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may include color filter elements that match the surrounding color pattern. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may all include color filter elements of the same color.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having pixels with stacked photodiodes in which a first photodiode generates a first image signal in response to light of a first wavelength and a second photodiode generates a second image signal in response to light of a second wavelength. The imaging system may include processing circuitry that applies a color correction matrix to isolate components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of the first and second wavelengths while removing components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of other wavelengths. The processing circuitry may increase noise correlations between the signals to mitigate noise amplification generated by the color correction matrix. The processing circuitry may apply a point filter to increase luma fidelity of the signals.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in pairs, with two adjacent pixels covered by a single microlens. The phase detection pixel pairs may be arranged in dashed lines, with image pixels interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. There may be only one image pixel interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. The phase detection pixels may all include color filter elements of the same color. The phase detection pixels may all include green color filter elements. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may include color filter elements that match the surrounding color pattern. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may all include color filter elements of the same color.

Abstract: An image sensor may include a pixel array having image pixels for capturing image data and phase detection pixels for gathering phase information during automatic focusing operations. Phase detection pixels may form phase detection pixel pairs having first and second pixels with different angular responses. The first and second pixels may have color filters of the same color or may have color filters of different colors. The phase detection pixel pairs may be isolated from other phase detection pixel pairs in the array or may be arranged consecutively in a line. The phase detection pixels may, for example, be provided with color filters to match the color filter pattern of the pixel array. Processing circuitry may adjust red and green pixel signals from a phase detection pixel pair having a red and green color filter and may subsequently determine a phase difference using the adjusted pixel signals.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in pairs, with two adjacent pixels covered by a single microlens. The phase detection pixel pairs may be arranged in dashed lines, with image pixels interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. There may be only one image pixel interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. The phase detection pixels may all include color filter elements of the same color. The phase detection pixels may all include green color filter elements. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may include color filter elements that match the surrounding color pattern. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may all include color filter elements of the same color.

Abstract: An imaging system may capture image data and use the captured image data to detect a privacy request. Depending on the specific privacy request, the imaging system may delete or blur the captured image to comply with the detected privacy request. The imaging system may use face recognition software and only blur faces that are present in the captured image, leaving the rest of the image unobscured. The imaging system may only comply with the privacy request if the imaging system is in a predetermined area or within a predetermined distance of a privacy seeking external device. The imaging system may be disabled if the system enters a geo-fenced area that restricts the capture of images. The imaging system may recognize a given temporal pattern of light as a privacy request and modify any captured images accordingly.

Abstract: Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the processing circuitry through an array of vertical metal interconnects. The image pixel array may be partitioned into image pixel sub-arrays configured to capture image data at a capture frame rate. The processing circuitry may compress image data associated with each image pixel sub-array in parallel and may output the compressed image data to off-chip image processing circuitry at an output frame rate that is less than the capture frame rate. The processing circuitry may determine respective compression block sizes for each image pixel sub-array with which to compress the associated image data and may determine respective output frame rates for image data from each image pixel sub-array.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of image pixels. Some image pixels in the array may be provided with spectral response adjustment structures. For example, a plurality of broadband pixels in the array may include spectral response adjustment structures. The spectral response adjustment structures may be configured to narrow the spectral response of the broadband pixels in high light conditions. For example, the spectral response of the broadband pixels may transition from clear to gray, from clear to green, or from yellow to green as the light level increases. The spectral response adjustment structures may, for example, be formed from photochromic materials or electrochromic elements. Processing circuitry in the imaging system may generate a color correction matrix for an image based at least partly on the state of the spectral response adjustment structures.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of image pixels. Some image pixels in the array may be provided with responsivity adjustment structures. For example, broadband pixels in a pixel array may include responsivity adjustment circuitry. The responsivity adjustment circuitry may be configured to narrow the spectral response or to reduce the conversion gain of the broadband pixels in high light conditions. For example, a deep photodiode may divert charge away from a signal photodiode during an integration period. The deep photodiode may divert charge to a power supply or the charge may be transferred to a storage node and used in image processing, if desired. The responsivity adjustment circuitry may include channel-dependent conversion circuitry that is formed in pixels corresponding to a first color channel, while the conversion gains of pixels corresponding to a second color channel may remain fixed.

Abstract: Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the processing circuitry through an array of vertical metal interconnects. The image pixel array may be partitioned into image pixel sub-arrays configured to capture image data using one or more integration times. The processing circuitry may determine motion information for the image data captured by each pixel sub-array and may determine integration times for each pixel sub-array. The pixel sub-arrays may capture additional image data using the determined integration times. The additional image data may be combined to generate final image frames having short integration pixel values and long integration pixel values. The processing circuitry may output the final image frames to off-chip image processing circuitry.

Abstract: Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive. The stacked-chip image sensor may be configured to capture image frames at a capture frame rate and to output processed image frames at an output frame rate that is lower that the capture frame rate. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to process image frames concurrently with image capture operations. Processing image frames concurrently with image capture operations may include adjusting the positions of moving objects and by adjusting the pixel brightness values of regions of image frames that have changing brightness.