Reference data encoding in image sensors

摘要

A method of encoding data on an image sensor and an image sensor is disclosed in which the image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels including one or more bio-sensing pixels and one or more data encoding pixels, the method comprising the steps of applying a covering material selectively to the or each data encoding pixels depending on the data to be encoded, the covering material having a detectable difference in opacity relative to having no covering material present, reading the or each data encoding pixels, in the presence of light, and decoding data according to a pre-determined scheme depending on the presence of the covering material on the or each data encoding pixel. As bio-reagents are typically applied after manufacture of the image sensor, an image sensor such as disclosed herein can have information encoded for electronic detection subsequent to manufacture.