Monolithically integrated tri-color pixel array and z-pixel array

Abstract

An apparatus is described that includes a first pixel array and a second pixel array integrated on the same semiconductor chip. The first pixel array contains visible light pixels and does not contain Z pixels. The second pixel array includes Z pixels and no visible pixels. The first pixel array and the second pixel array do not overlap on the same semiconductor chip.

Description

technical field [0001] The field of the invention relates generally to the field of electronics, and more particularly to monolithically integrated RGB pixel arrays and Z pixel arrays. Background technique [0002] Many existing computing systems include one or more conventional image capture cameras as integrated peripherals. The current trend is to enhance computing system imaging capabilities by integrating depth capture into the computing system's imaging components. Depth capture can be used, for example, to perform various smart object recognition functions such as facial recognition (eg, for security system unlocking) or gesture recognition (eg, for contactless user interface functions). [0003] One method of capturing depth information, called "time-of-flight" imaging, emits light from the system onto the object and, for each of the multiple pixels of the image sensor, measures the emission of light versus the reception of its reflected image on the sensor time be...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] Because many computing systems with imaging capabilities are mobile in nature (e.g., laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.), the integration of time-of-flight operation with traditional image capture presents many design challenges, such as cost challenges and packaging challenges

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