Global-shutter image sensor with time-of-flight sensing capability

Apparatus for optical sensing, comprising:

• a semiconductor substrate;
• a first matrix of optical sensing elements, arranged on the substrate in rows and columns such that any given sensing element within any given row of the first matrix has first and second neighboring sensing elements disposed on opposing sides of the given sensing element along the given row in the first matrix;
• a second matrix of storage nodes, arranged on the substrate and interleaved with the sensing elements along the rows of the first matrix such that respective first and second storage nodes in the second matrix are disposed in proximity to each of the sensing elements within the first matrix;
• switching circuitry configured to couple each of the sensing elements to transfer photocharge to the respective first and second storage nodes;
• control circuitry, which is configured to control the switching circuitry in a depth sensing mode such that over a series of detection cycles comprising at least first and second detection intervals in each cycle, each of the sensing elements and the first neighboring sensing element are connected together to the respective first storage node during the first detection interval, and each of the sensing elements and the second neighboring sensing element are connected together to the respective second storage node during the second detection interval;
• and
• readout circuitry, which is configured to output the photocharge from the storage nodes.