Image sensor with improved light sensitivity

An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

• a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;
• b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, the minimal repeating unit having a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions;
• and
• c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.