Image sensor for camera module of electronic device having a pixel array with an imaging area and a light sensing area

A camera module, comprising:

• an image sensor comprising:
• a pixel array comprising a light sensing area configured to detect an illumination intensity and an imaging area configured to acquire an image;
• and
• a control circuit connected to the pixel array and configured to control the light sensing area to detect the illumination intensity according to a first instruction, and to control the imaging area to acquire the image according to a second instruction;
• and
• an optical filter arranged opposite to the imaging area and configured to be passed through by light to allow the light to reach the imaging area,
• wherein the imaging area is inscribed within the pixel array, and an area of the pixel array other than the inscribed imaging area is the light sensing area,
• wherein the pixel array has a rectangular shape, the imaging area has a circular or elliptical shape, and an area of the rectangular pixel array other than the inscribed circular or elliptical imaging area is the light sensing area.

An electronic device, comprising:

• a camera module comprising:
• an image sensor comprising:
• a pixel array comprising a light sensing area configured to detect an illumination intensity and an imaging area configured to acquire an image;
• and
• a control circuit connected to the pixel array and configured to control the light sensing area to detect the illumination intensity according to a first instruction, and to control the imaging area to acquire the image according to a second instruction;
• and
• an optical filter arranged opposite to the imaging area and configured to be passed through by light to allow the light to reach the imaging area;
• and
• a processor connected to the control circuit and configured to generate the first instruction and the second instruction,
• wherein two camera modules are provided, one of the two camera modules is a front camera module arranged to a front face of the electronic device, and the other one of the two camera modules is a rear camera module arranged to a back face of the electronic device,
• wherein the light sensing area of the front camera module is configured to detect the illumination intensity to obtain a front-face illumination intensity, the light sensing area of the rear camera module is configured to detect the illumination intensity to obtain a back-face illumination intensity, and the processor is configured to select a larger illumination intensity from the front-face illumination intensity and the back-face illumination intensity as a final illumination intensity.