# US 11,310,434 B2 · Image sensor for camera module of electronic device having a pixel array with an imaging area and a light sensing area

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,310,434 B2
- Document ID: US11310434B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/603,766
- Filed: 2018-04-13
- Published: 2021-04-01
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
- Applicants: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yibao Zhou; Jiao Cheng; Haiping Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310434B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/71: Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
- H04M 1/0264: {for a camera module assembly}
- H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
- H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
- H04N 25/11: Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
- H04N 25/702: SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout
- H04N 25/706: Pixels for exposure or ambient light measuring
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

An image sensor, a camera module, and an electronic device are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array and a control circuit. The pixel array includes a light sensing area and an imaging area. The light sensing area is configured to detect an illumination intensity, and the imaging area is configured to acquire an image. The control circuit is configured to receive a first instruction to control the light sensing area to detect an illumination intensity, and to receive a second instruction to control the imaging area to acquire an image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image sensor, comprising:
a pixel array comprising a light sensing area and an imaging area, the light sensing area being configured to detect an illumination intensity and the imaging area being configured to acquire an image; and
a control circuit coupled to the pixel array and configured to receive a first instruction to control the light sensing area to detect the illumination intensity, and to receive a second instruction to control the imaging area to acquire the image,
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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the imaging area is continuously distributed and arranged in a center of the pixel array, and the light sensing area is arranged at a periphery of the imaging area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image sensor according to claim 2, wherein the light sensing area comprises a plurality of sub light sensing areas, and the plurality of sub light sensing areas are equal in size and are spaced apart from one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an area of the imaging area to an area of the pixel array is greater than or equal to 0.6.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the first instruction and the second instruction at the same time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an area of the light sensing area to an area of the pixel array is greater than or equal to 0.1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an area of the imaging area to an area of the pixel array is greater than or equal to 0.6, and a ratio of an area of the light sensing area to an area of the pixel array is greater than or equal to 0.1.

### Claim 8

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The camera module according to claim 8, further comprising a visible light filter arranged opposite to the light sensing area and configured to be passed through by a visible part of the light to allow the visible part of the light to reach the light sensing area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The camera module according to claim 8, wherein the optical filter is a RGB filter.

### Claim 11

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to generate and send the first instruction and the second instruction at the same time.