Hybrid imaging sensor with high sampling point distribution

An imaging system, comprising:

• a pixel circuit including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the plurality of pixels includes a first subset of the pixels and a second subset of the pixels, and wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes:
• a first photodiode configured to photogenerate a first image charge in response to incident light;
• a second photodiode configured to photogenerate a second image charge in response to incident light;
• a floating diffusion coupled to receive the first image charge from the first photodiode and receive the second image charge from the second photodiode;
• a first transfer transistor coupled between the first photodiode and the floating diffusion to transfer the first image charge from the first photodiode to the floating diffusion;
• and
• a second transfer transistor coupled between the second photodiode and the floating diffusion to transfer the second image charge from the second photodiode to the floating diffusion;
• a color filter array disposed over the pixel array, wherein the color filter array includes a plurality of color filters, each color filter of the plurality of color filters corresponding to one of a plurality of colors and disposed over at least one of the pixels;
• a first readout circuit selectively coupled to each of the plurality of pixels to read out a first set of data signals;
• a second readout circuit selectively coupled to the pixels of the second subset;
• and
• a mode select switch circuit coupled to the pixels of the second subset but not to the pixels of the first subset,
• wherein the mode select switch circuit is operable such that, while the pixels of the first subset are coupled to the first readout circuit and are disconnected from the second readout circuit, the pixels of the second subset are selectively coupled to the second readout circuit via the mode select switch circuit to read out a second set of data signals different from the first set of data signals
• wherein each pair of pixels arranged in two adjacent rows includes a first pixel included in the second subset of the pixels and a second pixel included in the first subset of the pixels, and
• wherein the first pixel is disposed underneath a first corresponding one of the color filters and the second pixel is disposed underneath a second corresponding one of the color filters.