US 12,302,016 B2
Image sensing pixel configurations for reduced sensor noise
Raymond Kirk Price, Carnation, WA (US); Michael Bleyer, Seattle, WA (US); and Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Carnation, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/494,592.
Application 18/494,592 is a continuation of application No. 17/682,972, filed on Feb. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,849,227.
Prior Publication US 2024/0056696 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 25/671 (2023.01); G06T 5/70 (2024.01)
CPC H04N 25/671 (2023.01) [G06T 5/70 (2024.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor configured to capture imagery with mitigated noise, the image sensor comprising:
a plurality of image sensing pixels arranged to form a sensor array, wherein:
each image sensing pixel of the plurality of image sensing pixels comprises an active area configured to receive photons to facilitate image capture,
each active area comprises a length and a width,
for at least one image sensing pixel of the plurality of image sensing pixels, the length of the active area is smaller than about 80% of a pixel pitch measurement between the at least one image sensing pixel and an adjacent image sensing pixel, wherein a size of the active area relative to the pixel pitch measurement contributes to mitigating sensor noise for the image sensor, and
the at least one image sensing pixel of the plurality of image sensing pixels further comprises a reflective component configured to extend an optical path length associated with an active region of the at least one image sensing pixel.