Imager Arrays Including an M x N Array of Focal Planes in which Different Types of Focal Planes are Distributed Around a Reference Focal Plane

摘要

Architectures for imager arrays configured for use in array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, where the control circuitry is configured so that the capture of image information by the pixels in at least two of the focal planes is separately controllable, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data.