The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 2019

Filed:

Sep. 08, 2017
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Xiangli Li, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Manoj C. Patel, Moutain View, CA (US);

Assignee:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G03B 13/00 (2006.01); H04N 5/369 (2011.01); G02B 7/09 (2006.01); G02B 7/36 (2006.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 5/378 (2011.01); H04N 9/04 (2006.01); H04N 9/07 (2006.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/3696 (2013.01); G02B 7/09 (2013.01); G02B 7/36 (2013.01); H01L 27/1463 (2013.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14627 (2013.01); H01L 27/14641 (2013.01); H01L 27/14645 (2013.01); H04N 5/232122 (2018.08); H04N 5/36961 (2018.08); H04N 5/378 (2013.01); H04N 5/37457 (2013.01); H04N 9/045 (2013.01); H04N 9/04559 (2018.08); H04N 9/07 (2013.01); H04N 2209/042 (2013.01);
Abstract

An image capture device, pixel, and method of determining a focus setting for an image capture device are described. The image capture device includes an imaging area and a pixel readout circuit. The imaging area includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels includes multiple pixels in which each pixel of the multiple pixels includes a two-dimensional array of photodetectors and a microlens. Each photodetector in the array of photodetectors for a pixel is electrically isolated from each other photodetector in the array of photodetectors. A microlens is disposed over the array of photodetectors for the pixel. The pixel readout circuit includes, per pixel, a shared readout circuit associated with the array of photodetectors for the pixel and a set of charge transfer transistors. Each charge transfer transistor is operable to connect a photodetector in the array of photodetectors to the shared readout circuit.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…