Sony patents camera sensor that can switch to infrared-only mode
Sony describes an image sensor that mixes pixels designed to see infrared light with standard pixels that see visible light. The device uses selectable channels to let the sensor read all pixels at once or focus exclusively on the infrared pixels.
In the filing’s own words
An Imaging sensor device configured to produce image data comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital-converters, a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels in a row and column arrangement, the pixels being of at least two different types, at least one type of pixels being a type of IR-pixels and at least one type of pixels being a type of non-IR-pixels, the types of IR-pixels being configured to primarily sense infrared light, the types of non-IR-pixels being configured to primarily sense electromagnetic radiation that is not infrared light, a connection between individual pixels and the individual analog-to-digital-converters being configured to provide a plurality of selectable channels, a first channel causing the plurality of analog-to-digital-converters to access the plurality of pixels as pixels being accessed, a second channel causing the plurality of analog-to-digital-converters to access only pixels of a type of IR-pixels as pixels being accessed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. Imaging sensor device configured to produce image data comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital-converters; a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels in a row and column arrangement; the pixels being of at least two different types; at least one type of pixels being a type of IR-pixels and at least one type of pixels being a type of non-IR-pixels; the types of IR-pixels being configured to primarily sense infrared light; the types of non-IR-pixels being configured to primarily sense electromagnetic radiation that is not infrared light; a connection between individual pixels and the individual analog-to-digital-converters being configured to provide a plurality of selectable channels; a first channel causing the plurality of analog-to-digital-converters to access the plurality of pixels as pixels being accessed; a second channel causing the plurality of analog-to-digital-converters to access only pixels of a type of IR-pixels as pixels being accessed.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD
- Publication number
- US20260281587A1
- Application number
- 19163857
- Filed
- Mar 20, 2024
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 25/78 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/10 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/531 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/702 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.