Abstract: A semiconductor imaging sensor utilizes a color filter pattern. The imaging sensor includes light sensitive-elements, each of which is sensitive to photon energy in a spectral region or color band associated with the light-sensitive elements. Select light-sensitive elements in the array are sensitive to energy in a wide band spectral region or “white” color band. This permits the capture of color information which can be lost with the use of typical semiconductor imaging sensors in digital photography. This capture of the additional color information in digital photography allows for better quality of reproduction of an image on a selected medium such as color prints.

Abstract: A system and method for reading out pixel signals from a multi-color imaging array. The imaging array includes light-sensitive elements which are arranged in rows and columns. Each of the light-sensitive elements is sensitive to photon energy in one of a plurality of spectral regions or color bands. Read-out circuits extract signals representative of an intensity of the photo exposure of the light-sensitive elements at extraction intervals one row at a time. At any particular extraction interval, all of the signals extracted by a particular read-out circuit originate at light-sensitive elements which are sensitive to photon energy in the same spectral region or color band.

Abstract: A color optimized CMOS photodiode pixel array is provided. The pixel array employs different dimensions to take advantage of different characteristics of the photodiode physics to produce an enhanced image while minimizing the need for post processing. The design includes a relatively shallow blue pixel photodiode, a deeper green pixel photodiode, and a relatively deep red pixel photodiode. The red pixel photodiode is larger and deeper than the green pixel photodiode, which is larger and deeper than the blue pixel photodiode. Each color pixel photodiode comprises a junction diode and a depletion region. The CMOS construction of the three color pixel photodiodes may vary, but one possible construct of the red pixel photodiode would be an N Well/P Sub diode construct, the green pixel photodiode a N+/P Sub diode construct, and the blue being a N+/P Well or N+/P Sub diode construct.

Abstract: A nonlinear resistive network, which includes switches in the data paths, is provided for identifying, isolating, and/or rejecting outliers in a sensor image. During normal operation, images are received with all the switches in a closed (conducting) state. If the data at a given pixel is different from its immediate neighbors by a predetermined threshold voltage, its switch is opened. A readout of the state of all the switches in the network yields a map of points sources, and a readout of the network voltages yields a noise-free image. Because the threshold voltage can be controlled externally, various strategies may be implemented for identification of the outliers in a computer vision system.

Abstract: An analog VLSI circuit having a network of resistive elements and switches is provided for discriminating between an object and the background in a sensor image of a scene. A sensor system captures two-dimensional visual images and identifies edges of objects. The output of the imaging system is mapped onto the switched resistive grid. The presence of object edges causes switches to open at corresponding grid points in the resistive network. The periphery of the grid is connected to a first voltage, while a central point of the grid is connected to a second voltage. An edge map contour of open switches surrounding the central point causes the voltage at every point within the contour to rise to the second voltage, while every grid point outside the contour settles to the first voltage. Thus, the object enclosed by the edge map contour is labeled or tagged with the second voltage and the surrounding background is characterized by the first voltage.

Abstract: A vehicular traffic monitoring system incorporates an array of photosensors and a nonlinear resistive network for identifying, locating, and processing outliers in sensor images of a highway or intersection. The camera system can be mounted on a pole or overpass to provide an image of the roadway or intersection. Areas of the outlier network ("video loops") are designated to correspond to selected areas of the roadway. Images are received by the outlier detection network with all data path switches closed between sensor elements and their corresponding network nodes. The system detects the presence of objects in the image by comparing the brightness or intensity of each pixel with that of the background. If the intensity of a pixel is significantly different from the background level, the data path switch corresponding to that pixel is opened. A readout of the state of all the switches in the network yields a map of outlier points for each video frame.

Abstract: A low cost, real time vehicle lane position detection system is provided for determining and maintaining the position of the vehicle on a highway. The system comprises an image sensor mounted on the front of an automotive vehicle and an integrated processor for performing real-time lane mark detection. The sensor/processor system identifies highway lane marks on the detector image plane by using a nonlinear resistive network for detecting outliers. A line detection algorithm, such as the Hough transform, is used to determine the lane marks from the outliers on the image plane. Because the expected lane position can be determined in advance, an added degree of signal-to-noise discrimination is achieved by providing feedback to the processor for outlier detection. The position of the vehicle in the lane is determined and tracked from the position of the detected lane marks on the image plane given the sensor position and optical geometry.

Abstract: A system of active emitters and sensors is provided for measuring distance and communicating between vehicles on an automated highway. The preferred system utilizes a pair of spaced apart sensors at the front of each vehicle for stereo depth perception, two temporally modulated emitters on the rear of each vehicle for redundancy and inter-vehicle communication, and temporally modulated emitters positioned at intervals along the highway for communication from the highway to the vehicles. The emitters may transmit radiation at a wavelength, such as 1 .mu.m IR, for example, that can be detected by low cost detectors. The emitters are modulated temporally to transmit a binary code, resulting in signal-to-noise improvement and increased clutter rejection and operational range.

Abstract: An electronic image processing system uses data provided by one or more sensors to perform cooperative computations and improve image recognition performance. A smoothing resistive network, which may comprise an integrated circuit chip, has switching elements connected to each node. The system uses a first sensory output comprising primitives, such as discontinuities or object boundaries, detected by at least a first sensor to define a region for smoothing of a second sensory output comprising at least a second, distinct output of the first sensor or a distinct output of at least a second sensor. A bit pattern for controlling the switches is generated from the detected image discontinuities in the first sensory output. The second sensory output is applied to the resistive network for data smoothing. The switches turned off by the data from the first sensory output define regional boundaries for smoothing of the data provided by the second sensory output.