Sony has filed a patent for a new dual-layer image sensor. Spotted by Egami, the patent describes a sensor architecture where the top layer is made up of regular pixels with a standard RGB colour filter array, and the second consists of monochromatic pixels suitable for phase-detect auto focus (PDAF) operation. If implemented in a camera or smartphone, this sensor could enable users to pick their focus point with pixel-level accuracy (which is probably more than what any of us bargained for, but it could also improve focusing accuracy when using continuous, subject tracking auto-focus). According to Egami, this is but one of several examples given by Sony, as the patent itself covers a broader range of multi-layer sensors.

Via SαR

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