Abstract: An image sensing device includes a detector assembly, which includes a matrix of optical sensing elements having a predefined pitch. Each optical sensing element includes an active area having a width that is less than 90% of the pitch. An array of optical apertures are respectively aligned with the optical sensing elements such that each optical aperture is positioned at a distance from a respective optical sensing element that is no less than twice the width of the active area. Objective optics are configured to focus light from a scene onto the detector assembly.

Abstract: A multispectral sensing device includes a first die, including silicon, which is patterned to define a first array of sensor elements, which output first electrical signals in response to optical radiation that is incident on the device in a band of wavelengths less than 1000 nm that is incident on the front side of the first die. A second die has its first side bonded to the back side of the first die and includes a photosensitive material and is patterned to define a second array of sensor elements, which output second electrical signals in response to the optical radiation that is incident on the device in a second band of wavelengths greater than 1000 nm that passes through the first die and is incident on the first side of the second die. Readout circuitry reads the first electrical signals and the second electrical signals serially out of the device.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photodiode, a lens positioned in a light-receiving path of the photodiode, and an anti-reflective coating disposed between the photodiode and the lens and including four layers. The four layers include alternating layers of a higher refractive index material and a lower refractive index material. The higher refractive index material has a refractive index that is higher than the lower refractive index material.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first array of sensing elements, which output a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. A second array of processing circuits are coupled respectively to the sensing elements and comprise a gating generator, which variably sets a start time of the gating interval for each sensing element within each acquisition period, and a memory, which records the time of incidence of the single photon on each sensing element in each acquisition period. A controller sets, in each of at least some of the acquisition periods, different, respective gating intervals for different ones of the sensing elements.

Abstract: A sensor stack is described. The sensor stack includes first and second electromagnetic radiation sensors. The first electromagnetic radiation sensor has a high quantum efficiency for converting a first range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths into a first set of electrical signals. The second electromagnetic radiation sensor is positioned in a field of view of the first electromagnetic radiation sensor and has a high quantum efficiency for converting a second range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths into a second set of electrical signals and a low quantum efficiency for converting the first range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths into the second set of electrical signals. The first range of wavelengths does not overlap the second range of wavelengths, and the second electromagnetic radiation sensor is at least partially transmissive to the first range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths.

Abstract: A method for processing an image includes obtaining a set of pixel values captured from a pixel array during an image capture frame. The set of pixel values includes pixel values for a set of asymmetric pixels having different directional asymmetries. The method further includes detecting, using the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels and the different directional asymmetries of the asymmetric pixels, a directionality of image flare; and processing an image defined by the set of pixel values in accordance with the detected directionality of image flare. In some embodiments, image flare may be distinguished from noise using the set of pixel values.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first array of sensing elements, which output a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. A second array of processing circuits are coupled respectively to the sensing elements and comprise a gating generator, which variably sets a start time of the gating interval for each sensing element within each acquisition period, and a memory, which records the time of incidence of the single photon on each sensing element in each acquisition period. A controller sets, in each of at least some of the acquisition periods, different, respective gating intervals for different ones of the sensing elements.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first array of sensing elements, which output a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. A second array of processing circuits are coupled respectively to the sensing elements and comprise a gating generator, which variably sets a start time of the gating interval for each sensing element within each acquisition period, and a memory, which records the time of incidence of the single photon on each sensing element in each acquisition period. A controller controls the gating generator during a first sequence of the acquisition periods so as to sweep the gating interval over the acquisition periods and to identify a respective detection window for the sensing element, and during a second sequence of the acquisition periods, to fix the gating interval for each sensing element to coincide with the respective detection window.

Abstract: A method for processing an image includes obtaining a set of pixel values captured from a pixel array during an image capture frame. The set of pixel values includes pixel values for a set of asymmetric pixels having different directional asymmetries. The method further includes detecting, using the pixel values for at least the asymmetric pixels and the different directional asymmetries of the asymmetric pixels, a directionality of image flare; and processing an image defined by the set of pixel values in accordance with the detected directionality of image flare. In some embodiments, image flare may be distinguished from noise using the set of pixel values.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an optical image sensor and a pin hole array mask layer above the optical image sensor. The electronic device may also include a display layer above the pin hole array mask layer that includes spaced apart display pixels, and a transparent cover layer above the display layer defining a finger placement surface capable of receiving a finger adjacent thereto.

Abstract: An imaging method includes imaging a scene using an imaging system, which includes an array of radiation sensing elements, including first sensing elements with symmetrical angular responses and second sensing elements with asymmetrical angular responses, interspersed among the first sensing elements, and optics configured to focus radiation from the scene onto the array. The method further includes processing first signals output by the first sensing elements in order to identify one or more areas of uniform irradiance on the array, and processing second signals output by the second sensing elements that are located in the identified areas, in order to detect a misalignment of the optics with the array.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an optical image sensor and a pin hole array mask layer above the optical image sensor. The electronic device may also include a display layer above the pin hole array mask layer that includes spaced apart display pixels, and a transparent cover layer above the display layer defining a finger placement surface capable of receiving a finger adjacent thereto.

Abstract: An imaging method includes imaging a scene using an imaging system, which includes an array of radiation sensing elements, including first sensing elements with symmetrical angular responses and second sensing elements with asymmetrical angular responses, interspersed among the first sensing elements, and optics configured to focus radiation from the scene onto the array. The method further includes processing first signals output by the first sensing elements in order to identify one or more areas of uniform irradiance on the array, and processing second signals output by the second sensing elements that are located in the identified areas, in order to detect a misalignment of the optics with the array.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first array of sensing elements, which output a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. A second array of processing circuits are coupled respectively to the sensing elements and comprise a gating generator, which variably sets a start time of the gating interval for each sensing element within each acquisition period, and a memory, which records the time of incidence of the single photon on each sensing element in each acquisition period. A controller controls the gating generator during a first sequence of the acquisition periods so as to sweep the gating interval over the acquisition periods and to identify a respective detection window for the sensing element, and during a second sequence of the acquisition periods, to fix the gating interval for each sensing element to coincide with the respective detection window.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in unit pixel cells each having at least one modified clear image pixel. Each modified clear image pixel may include a modified clear color filter element formed from a transparent material such as an oxide material that is modified with a colored pigment or colored dye such as yellow pigment. Each unit pixel cell may include one or more color pixels of other colors such as red pixels, blue pixels, and green pixels. Image signals such as yellow image signals from the modified clear pixels may be processed along with other color image signals such as red image signals and blue image signals to generate standard red, green, and blue image data. Image processing operations may include chroma demosaicing or point filtering of the image signals from the modified clear image pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels having varying light collecting areas. The light collecting area of each image pixel may vary with respect to other image pixels due to varied microlens sizes and varied color filter element sizes throughout the array. The light collecting area may vary within unit pixel cells and the variability of the light collecting areas of pixels within each pixel cell may depend on the location of the pixel cell in the pixel array. Each unit pixel cell may include at least one clear pixel having a light collecting area that is smaller than the light collecting areas of other single color pixels in the unit pixel cell.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in unit pixel cells each having at least one modified clear image pixel. Each modified clear image pixel may include a modified clear color filter element formed from a transparent material such as an oxide material that is modified with a colored pigment or colored dye such as yellow pigment. Each unit pixel cell may include one or more color pixels of other colors such as red pixels, blue pixels, and green pixels. Image signals such as yellow image signals from the modified clear pixels may be processed along with other color image signals such as red image signals and blue image signals to generate standard red, green, and blue image data. Image processing operations may include chroma demosaicing or point filtering of the image signals from the modified clear image pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels having varying light collecting areas. The light collecting area of each image pixel may vary with respect to other image pixels due to varied microlens sizes and varied color filter element sizes throughout the array. The light collecting area may vary within unit pixel cells and the variability of the light collecting areas of pixels within each pixel cell may depend on the location of the pixel cell in the pixel array. Each unit pixel cell may include at least one clear pixel having a light collecting area that is smaller than the light collecting areas of other single color pixels in the unit pixel cell.