High dynamic range imaging systems having differential photodiode exposures

An image sensor, comprising:

• an array of photodiodes arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array comprises a plurality of photodiode clusters, wherein each photodiode cluster includes at least four adjacent photodiodes that capture light of a common color and that are coupled to a common charge storage node via respective charge transfer gates;
• and
• row control circuitry, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to:
• control at least a first photodiode in each cluster to capture an image using a first integration time;
• control at least a second photodiode in each cluster to capture the image using a second integration time that is approximately equal to the first integration time;
• and
• control a third photodiode in each cluster to perform pulsed integration operations to capture the image, wherein performing the pulsed integration operations comprises transferring charges from the third photodiode to the common charge storage node during at least first and second intervals, and wherein the first and second intervals overlap with the first integration time of the first photodiode.

A system, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• memory;
• input-output circuitry;
• and
• an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises:
• an array of photosensitive regions arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array comprises a plurality of groups of photosensitive regions, wherein each group includes at least first, second, third, and fourth adjacent photosensitive regions on the array that share a common floating diffusion node;
• a camera lens that focuses image light onto the array;
• and
• a substantially opaque element formed over the first photosensitive region in each of the groups of photosensitive regions, wherein the first photosensitive region in each of the groups of photosensitive regions is configured to generate charge in response to crosstalk from the second, third, and fourth photosensitive regions of that group without generating charge in response to the image light.