Photo-array layout for monitoring image statistics

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a lens adapted to focus a scene onto an image sensor array;
• wherein:
• the image sensor array comprises:
• a plurality of sensors, each sensor including:
• an active area portion adapted to detect light and having a cross shape and a first surface area;
• and
• a support hardware area portion having a rectangular shape and a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area;
• and
• a reference sensor;
• the plurality of sensors are separated into:
• a first set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the first set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a first concavity of the cross shape;
• and
• the first set of sensors tile a first region of the image sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the first set are aligned to a regular rectangular grid;
• a second set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the second set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a second concavity of the cross shape;
• the second set of sensors tile a second region of the image sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the second set are aligned to the regular rectangular grid;
• the second region of the image sensor array adjoins the first region of the image sensor array such that at least one freed area that does not include the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the first set or the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the second set is formed between the first region and the second region of the image sensor array, each freed area having the rectangular shape and the second surface area;
• and
• the reference sensor is formed in the at least one freed area.

A photo sensor array comprising:

• a plurality of sensors, each sensor including:
• an active area portion adapted to detect light and having a cross shape and a first surface area;
• and
• a support hardware area portion having a rectangular shape and a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area;
• and
• a reference sensor;
• wherein,
• the plurality of sensors are separated into four sets of sensors, including:
• a first set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the first set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a first concavity of the cross shape;
• and
• the first set of sensors tile a first region of the photo sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the first set are aligned to a regular rectangular grid;
• a second set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the second set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a second concavity of the cross shape;
• the second set of sensors tile a second region of the photo sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the second set are aligned to the regular rectangular grid;
• a third set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the third set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a third concavity of the cross shape;
• the third set of sensors tile a third region of the photo sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the third set are aligned to the regular rectangular grid;
• and
• a fourth set of sensors sized and arranged such that:
• the support hardware area portion of each sensor of the fourth set adjoins the active area portion of the sensor along a fourth concavity of the cross shape;
• the fourth set of sensors tile a fourth region of the photo sensor array so that the active area portions of the sensors of the fourth set are aligned to the regular rectangular grid;
• the first region of the photo sensor array adjoins the second region and the third region of the photo sensor array, the second region of the photo sensor array adjoins the first region and the fourth region of the photo sensor array, the third region of the photo sensor array adjoins the first region and the fourth region of the photo sensor array, and the fourth region of the photo sensor array adjoins the second region and the third region of the photo sensor array;
• the plurality of sensors are arranged such that at least one freed area is formed within the photo sensor array;
• the at least one freed area does not include:
• the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the first set;
• the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the second set;
• the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the third set;
• or
• the support hardware area portion of any sensor of the fourth set;
• each freed area has the rectangular shape and the second surface area and adjoins four sensors of the plurality of sensors, the four sensors adjoining each freed area include:
• at least one sensor from one set of the four sets of sensors;
• and
• at least one sensor from another set of the four sets of sensors;
• and
• the reference sensor is formed in the at least one freed area.