Abstract: An image sensor includes a two dimensional array of pixel elements, a color filter array, and a digital circuit. The color filter array is superimposed on and in registration with the two dimensional array of pixel elements. The color filter array includes a first group of selectively transmissive filters and a second group of selectively transmissive filters. The first group of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to selectively transmit spectral energy in M colors of the visible spectrum, wherein M is larger than two. The second group of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to selectively transmit spectral energy in N colors of the visible spectrum, wherein any selectively transmissive filter of the first and the second groups of selectively transmissive filters is arranged to transmit spectral energy in one specific color of the visible spectrum, and N is larger than M. An associated illuminant estimation method is also provided.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided. The sensing device includes a plurality of pixel groups and a readout circuit. The pixel groups are arranged on a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns to form a pixel array. The pixel groups include a first pixel group and a second pixel group which are arranged on the different rows and the same column. The readout circuit is coupled to the pixel groups. When the first pixel group is triggered to perform a readout operation to generate a first sensing signal, the second pixel group performs a coupling operation to generate a reference signal. The readout circuit performs a subtraction operation based on the first sensing signal and the reference signal to generate a first readout data corresponding to the readout operation of the first pixel group.

Abstract: A shared active pixel sensor with a shared photodiode, a shared sense node, a transfer gate, a shared reset gate and a shared source follower gate is disclosed. A shared photodiode includes at least a first signal node and a second signal node. A shared sense node electrically connected to the shared photodiode. A transfer gate disposed between the first signal node and the shared sense node to control the first signal node and the shared sense node. A shared reset gate is electrically connected to the shared sense node and a shared source follower gate reads a photocurrent from the shared photodiode.

Abstract: A camera array system includes an image sensor device, a hybrid color filter array disposed above the image sensor device, and a lens array disposed above the hybrid color filter array. The hybrid color filter array includes plural kinds of monochromatic color filters and at least one mosaic filter; and the lens array includes a number of optic lenses. The at least one mosaic filter is utilized to perform stereo matching in order to estimate depth information.

Abstract: In a system and method of reducing noise, an image sensor with a color filter array (CFA) outputs raw data, and a noise reduction device corrects the raw data according to distances between an original current pixel and neighboring same-color pixels in a process mask, thereby generating a new current pixel so as to output corrected raw data. A color interpolation device couples to receive the corrected raw data to result in full-color data.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes: a photodetector, a signal adjustment circuit and a switch circuit. The photodetector is employed for generating an output signal in response to light that is incident thereon. The signal adjustment circuit is coupled to the photodetector, and employed for selectively adjusting the output signal to allow the output signal to have a plurality of different logarithmic functions in respect to an intensity of the light. The switch circuit is coupled to the signal adjustment circuit and the photodetector, and employed for coupling the photodetector to the signal adjustment circuit.

Abstract: A lens shading correction (LSC) system includes an illuminant estimator configured to calculate at least one spectral association-measurement of a current frame according to pixel data of an LSC circuit, and then to correlate the at least one calculated spectral association-measurement with spectral association-measurements of a plurality of pre-defined illuminants to determine at least one correlated illuminant. An LSC parameter generator retrieves at least one set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters from a pre-calibrated LSC parameter memory. The LSC parameter generator generates a set of LSC parameters based on the at least one retrieved set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters according to the at least one correlated illuminant.

Abstract: A bad pixel correction method for an image is provided. The bad pixel correction method includes the steps of determining whether each of pixels of a predetermined block in the image is a bad pixel sequentially; when a current pixel of the block is determined to be bad and a temperature value is higher than a threshold, re-determining that at least one previously determined pixel in the predetermined block to be bad; and correcting the current pixel and the previously determined pixel, wherein the previously determined pixel is adjacent to the current pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an M-shared pixel architecture, an N-shared pixel architecture and a switch unit, wherein M is an integer not smaller than two and N is an integer not smaller than two. The switch unit is coupled between a floating diffusion node of the M-shared pixel architecture and a floating diffusion node of the N-shared pixel architecture.

Abstract: A camera array system includes an image sensor device, a hybrid color filter array disposed above the image sensor device, and a lens array disposed above the hybrid color filter array. The hybrid color filter array includes plural kinds of monochromatic color filters and at least one mosaic filter; and the lens array includes a number of optic lenses. The at least one mosaic filter is utilized to perform stereo matching in order to estimate depth information.

Abstract: A method for demosaicking a digital image is provided. Pixels of the digital image are processed in an order from the upper-left to lower-right of the digital image. If a current-processed pixel is a second color or a third color, a first sub-window centered at the current-processed pixel is generated. A first mask is used to select a first plurality of prior-processed pixels. A set of direction weightings of the current-processed pixel is calculated according to stored direction weightings of the first plurality of prior-processed pixels. An interpolating direction of the current-processed pixel is determined according to the set of direction weightings of the current-processed pixel. A value of a first color for the current-processed pixel is calculated based on the set of direction weightings of the current-processed pixel and values of the first color of pixels of the first color in the first sub-window.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a sensor array having a plurality of light sensors, configured to receive reflected light of a scene and generate an image array; an exposure controller, configured to receive the image array from the sensor array, and segment the image array into at least one regions; at least two timing controllers, wherein each timing controller is configured to receive pixel data of one of the at least one regions, respectively, and apply an individual exposure setting to the corresponding region; and an image processor, configured to generate an exposed image by organizing the exposed regions from the timing controllers.

Abstract: A lens shading correction (LSC) system includes an illuminant estimator configured to calculate at least one spectral association-measurement of a current frame according to pixel data of an LSC circuit, and then to correlate the at least one calculated spectral association-measurement with spectral association-measurements of a plurality of pre-defined illuminants to determine at least one correlated illuminant. An LSC parameter generator retrieves at least one set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters from a pre-calibrated LSC parameter memory. The LSC parameter generator generates a set of LSC parameters based on the at least one retrieved set of pre-calibrated LSC parameters according to the at least one correlated illuminant.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for generating HDR images. Steps of the method include capturing a spatially varying exposure image data of a scene by an image sensing array using a first exposure value and a second exposure value, wherein the first exposure value is larger than the second exposure value; re-sampling the spatially varying exposure image data to obtain a first image data corresponding to the first exposure value and second image data corresponding to the second exposure value; determining a motion index of each pixel of a HDR image data according to the first image data and the second image data; determining a pixel value of each pixel of the HDR image data according to a corresponding first pixel value of the first image data, a corresponding second pixel value of the second image data and the motion index; and outputting the HDR image data.

Abstract: A lens shading correction method for pixels of an image is provided. The method includes the steps of: inputting coordinates of the pixels and setting a threshold range on the image; providing a first gain function and a second gain function, each relating the coordinates of the pixels to brightness gains; performing the first gain function on the pixels located at the interior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains; and performing a blended gain function on the pixels located at the exterior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains, wherein the blended gain function is the combination of the first gain function and the second gain function.

Abstract: An image processing module is provided. A de-mosaic unit in the image processing module includes an edge direction detection unit and a multi-pixel directional interpolation unit. The edge direction detection unit is used to determine a first color row luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel row of raw data, and determine a first color column luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel column of raw data. The multi-pixels directional interpolation unit is used to determine pixel luminance of a third color array according to the first color column luminance difference, the first color row luminance difference, the third color pixels adjacent to a first color pixel and the third color pixels adjacent to a second color pixel.

Abstract: An image processing module is provided. A de-mosaic unit in the image processing module includes an edge direction detection unit and a multi-pixel directional interpolation unit. The edge direction detection unit is used to determine a first color row luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel row of raw data, and determine a first color column luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel column of raw data. The multi-pixels directional interpolation unit is used to determine pixel luminance of a third color array according to the first color column luminance difference, the first color row luminance difference, the third color pixels adjacent to a first color pixel and the third color pixels adjacent to a second color pixel.

Abstract: A lens shading correction method for pixels of an image is provided. The method includes the steps of: inputting coordinates of the pixels and setting a threshold range on the image; providing a first gain function and a second gain function, each relating the coordinates of the pixels to brightness gains; performing the first gain function on the pixels located at the interior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains; and performing a blended gain function on the pixels located at the exterior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains, wherein the blended gain function is the combination of the first gain function and the second gain function.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided in the present invention, including a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer and a color filter set. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of photosensitive units. The dielectric layer is disposed above the semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of notches. The color filter set is disposed above the dielectric layer and includes a plurality of filter units and a plurality of convex substances corresponding to the filter units, and the convex substances and the notches are engaged with each other, wherein the convex substances and the notches change in accordance with the distance to the center of the image sensor.

Abstract: A bad pixel correction method for an image is provided.