US 12,003,874 B2
Image sensors and sensing methods to obtain Time-of-Flight and phase detection information
Nadav Geva, Tel Aviv (IL); Michael Scherer, Tel Aviv (IL); Ephraim Goldenberg, Tel Aviv (IL); and Gal Shabtay, Tel Aviv (IL)
Assigned to Corephotonics Ltd., Tel Aviv (IL)
Filed by Corephotonics Ltd., Tel Aviv (IL)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/450,436.
Application 18/450,436 is a continuation of application No. 18/186,151, filed on Mar. 18, 2023.
Application 18/186,151 is a continuation of application No. 17/375,299, filed on Jul. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,637,977, issued on Apr. 25, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/055,912, filed on Jul. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/052,001, filed on Jul. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0007765 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 25/705 (2023.01); G06T 7/593 (2017.01); H04N 13/207 (2018.01); H04N 13/271 (2018.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/705 (2023.01) [G06T 7/593 (2017.01); H04N 13/207 (2018.05); H04N 13/271 (2018.05); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor pixel, comprising:
a plurality of sub-pixels;
a microlens covering the plurality of sub-pixels; and
a read-out circuit (ROC) for extracting time-of-flight (ToF) signals of each sub-pixel individually, wherein the image sensor pixel includes a switch, wherein in one state the switch is closed so that the plurality of sub-pixels form together one pixel and the ROC reads out the one pixel for generating a ToF depth map, and wherein in another state the switch is opened so that the ROC reads out each sub-pixel individually for generating a stereo depth map.