Imaging sensor and method for color night vision

A method for low light level color imaging, the method comprising:

• for each pixel in an array of pixels in an imaging sensor, wherein each pixel comprises a first pixel portion responsive to light in a panchromatic spectral range, wherein the panchromatic spectral range includes visible light and near infrared light, a second pixel portion and a readout node connected to the first pixel portion via at least one first transfer transistor and connected to the second pixel portion via at least one second transfer transistor, wherein the first pixel portion has a photosensitive area that is greater than a photosensitive area of the second pixel portion, filtering light incident on the second pixel portion so that only light in a sub-band spectral range that is narrower than and contained within the panchromatic spectral range is incident on the photosensitive area of the second pixel portion;
• reading panchromatic image data for an image formed on the array of pixels, wherein reading the panchromatic image data comprises disabling the second transfer transistors and enabling the first transfer transistors to transfer charge to the readout nodes;
• and
• reading sub-band image data for the image formed on the array of pixels, wherein reading the sub-band image data comprises disabling the first transfer transistors and enabling the second transfer transistors to transfer charge to the readout nodes.