Image sensor with scaled filter array and in-pixel binning

A process comprising:

• in an image sensor including:
• a pixel array including a plurality of individual pixels grouped into pixel kernels having two or more individual pixels, wherein each pixel kernel includes a floating diffusion that is electrically coupled to all individual pixels in the kernel, and
• a color filter array positioned over and optically coupled to the pixel array, the color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each minimal repeating unit including scaled filters, each scaled filter having a photoresponse selected from among two or more photoresponses, wherein the individual pixels within each pixel kernel are optically coupled to a corresponding scaled filter,
• programming circuitry and logic coupled to the pixel array to cause the image sensor, when operated, to include multiple image-capture modes, including:
• a first mode wherein signals from individual pixels within a subset of the pixel array are individually transferred to their floating diffusion and read, resulting in a high-resolution, low-sensitivity sub-image, and
• a second mode wherein signals from all individual pixels in every pixel kernel are binned into the floating diffusion of the kernel and read, resulting in a low-resolution, high-sensitivity image.