$objPHPExcel->setActiveSheetIndex(0)->rangeToArray('A1:C3');

/**
 *  Create array from a range of cells
 *
 *  @param   string    $pRange              Range of cells (i.e. "A1:B10"),
 *                                             or just one cell (i.e. "A1")
 *  @param   mixed     $nullValue           Value returned in the array entry
 *                                             if a cell doesn't exist
 *  @param   boolean   $calculateFormulas   Should formulas be calculated?
 *  @param   boolean   $formatData          Should formatting be applied to cell values?
 *  @param   boolean   $returnCellRef       False - Return a simple array of rows
 *                                             and columns indexed by number counting
 *                                             from zero
 *                                         True - Return rows and columns indexed by
 *                                             their actual row and column IDs
 *  @return array
 */