Phase-detection auto-focus pixel array and associated imaging system

1. A phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) pixel array comprising:

a first pixel located at a first distance from a center of the PDAF pixel array and including a first inner photodiode and a first outer photodiode with respect to the center, the first inner photodiode and the first outer photodiode occupying respectively a first inner area and a first outer area, the first inner area divided by the first outer area equaling a first ratio; and

a second pixel located at a second distance from the center and including a second inner photodiode and a second outer photodiode with respect to the center, the second inner photodiode and the second outer photodiode occupying respectively a second inner area and a second outer area, the second inner area divided by the second outer area equaling a second ratio;

the second distance exceeding the first distance, and

the second ratio exceeding the first ratio.

2. The PDAF pixel array of claim 1 , a response of the first inner photodiode and the first outer photodiode being equal in response to light incident within five degrees of a design chief-ray angle associated with the first pixel.

3. The PDAF pixel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode with respect to the center, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio, the third distance being less than the second distance, and the third ratio equaling the first ratio.

4. The PDAF pixel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode with respect to the center, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio, the third distance exceeding the second distance, and the third ratio equaling the second ratio.

5. The PDAF pixel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode with respect to the center, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio,

the third distance exceeding the second distance and the third ratio exceeding the second ratio.

6. The PDAF pixel array of claim 5 , the first pixel at least one of (1) overlaps the pixel-array center, (2) is closer to the pixel array center than all other pixels of the PDAF pixel array, and (3) is closer to the pixel-array center than ninety percent of all other pixels in the PDAF pixel array.

7. The PDAF pixel array of claim 5 , further comprising:

a fourth pixel located at a fourth distance from the center and including a fourth inner photodiode and a fourth outer photodiode with respect to the center, the fourth inner photodiode and the fourth outer photodiode occupying respectively a fourth inner area and a fourth outer area, the fourth inner area divided by the fourth outer area equaling a fourth ratio,

the fourth distance exceeding the third distance and the fourth ratio exceeding the third ratio.

the first, second, third, and fourth ratios being representable as a parabolic function of the respective first, second, third, and fourth distances.

8. The PDAF pixel array of claim 7 , the parabolic function being a parabolic curve fit to at least four coordinates {(x 1 ,y 1 ), (x 2 ,y 2 ), (x 3 ,y 3 ), (x 4 ,y 4 )} and having a root-mean-square error relative to the at least four coordinates less than 0.02, where {x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ,x 4 } correspond to the first, second, third, and fourth distances respectively and {y 1 ,y 2 ,y 3 ,y 4 } correspond to the first, second, third, and fourth ratios respectively.

9. A phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) imaging system comprising:

an imaging lens; and

an image sensor aligned with the imaging lens and having a PDAF pixel array that includes:

(a) a first pixel located at a first distance from a center of the PDAF pixel array and including a first inner photodiode and a first outer photodiode with respect to the center, the first inner photodiode and the first outer photodiode occupying respectively a first inner area and a first outer area, the first inner area divided by the first outer area equaling a first ratio, and

(b) a second pixel located at a second distance from the center and including a second inner photodiode and a second outer photodiode with respect to the center, the second inner photodiode and the second outer photodiode occupying respectively a second inner area and a second outer area, the second inner area divided by the second outer area equaling a second ratio;

the second distance exceeding the first distance, and

the second ratio exceeding the first ratio.

10. The PDAF imaging system of claim 9 , the first pixel (a) being located on the PDAF pixel array associated with a first chief-ray angle transmitted by the imaging lens aligned with the PDAF pixel array, and (b) a response of the first inner photodiode and the first outer photodiode being equal in response to light incident within five degrees of the first chief-ray angle.

11. The PDAF imaging system of claim 9 , the PDAF pixel array further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode with respect to the center, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio, the third distance being less than the second distance, and the third ratio equaling the first ratio.

12. The PDAF imaging system of claim 9 , the PDAF pixel array further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode with respect to the center, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio, the third distance exceeding the second distance, and the third ratio equaling the second ratio.

13. The PDAF imaging system of claim 9 , the PDAF pixel array further comprising:

a third pixel located at a third distance from the center and including a third inner photodiode and a third outer photodiode, the third inner photodiode and the third outer photodiode occupying respectively a third inner area and a third outer area, the third inner area divided by the third outer area equaling a third ratio,

the third distance exceeding the second distance and the third ratio exceeding the second ratio.

14. The PDAF pixel array of claim 13 , the first pixel at least one of (1) overlaps the pixel-array center, (2) is closer to the pixel array center than all other pixels of the PDAF pixel array, and (3) is closer to the pixel-array center than ninety percent of all other pixels in the PDAF pixel array.

15. The PDAF imaging system of claim 13 , the first, second, and third ratios being representable a linear function of respective first, second, and third distances.

16. The PDAF imaging system of claim 15 , the linear function being a least-squares line of best fit to three coordinates {(x 1 ,y 1 ), (x 2 ,y 2 ), (x 3 ,y 3 )}, and having a coefficient of determination exceeding 0.98, where {x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 } correspond to the first, second, and third distances respectively and {y 1 ,y 2 ,y 3 } correspond to the first, second, and third ratios respectively.