Color filters for sub-diffraction limit-sized light sensors

A method, comprising:

• illuminating a light receiving surface of an array of sub-diffraction limit-sized light receptors, each sub-diffraction limit-sized light receptor being configured to output a scalar valued multi-bit element and to change state based on the absorption of at least one photon, where illuminating occurs through an optical filter structure disposed over the light receiving surface, the optical filter structure comprised of an array of filter pixels with each filter pixel having an associated passband spectral characteristic;
• and
• at the end of an exposure period, reading out scalar valued multi-bit elements and forming a data element comprised of a combination of a plurality of multi-bit elements output from a plurality of sub-diffraction limit-sized light receptors that underlie filter pixels having at least two different passband spectral characteristics.