Abstract: A device and a method for color data correction during color data transmission from a pickup device to an output device. Raw data of the pickup device are converted to uncorrected interim color values with a smaller number of pixels than the pickup device, and the uncorrected interim color values are then subjected to a color correction calculation and are finally converted into corrected interim color values for the output device.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a photoelectric conversion portion for generating signal electric charges in accordance with an amount of incident light, a plurality of color filters, and a flattening layer formed on the plurality of color filters. A thickness of a projection or a recess on a surface of the flattening layer, provided on a region where color filters are adjacent to each other, is equal to or less than 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are arranged in a matrix form on the semiconductor substrate; and color filter layers of a plurality of colors that are formed in a predetermined pattern above the photoelectric conversion elements. A green color filter portion having a predetermined width is formed above a boundary region between each pair of adjacent ones of the photoelectric conversion elements so as to have a cross section of a mountain shape or a trapezoidal shape. Each of the color filter layers is formed between respective ridgelines of adjacent ones of the green color filter portions. Each of the color filter layers has a thickness that is smaller at a peripheral portion corresponding to a ridgeline portion than at a central portion.

Abstract: A color camera includes at least three sub-cameras, each sub-camera having an imaging lens, a color filter, and an array of detectors, The color camera combines images from the three sub-cameras to form a composite multi-color image, wherein the three sub-cameras include a total number of detectors N and a total number of different color sets X, wherein a first number of signals of a first color set is less than N/X and a second number of signals of a second color set is greater than N/X, signals of the second color set being output from at least two of the three sub-cameras, wherein resolution of a composite image of the second color set is greater than resolution of an individual sub-camera and a resolution of the composite image. Corresponding images of the same color set may be shifted, either sequentially or simultaneously, relative to one another.

Abstract: A display device for capturing and displaying images along a single optical axis, having an image capture device for capturing the objective image through the display panel when the display device is in a second transmissive state; an image supply source for providing an image to a display panel when the display panel is in a first display state; a mechanism for alternating placing the display panel between the first display state and second transmissive state such that an image can be viewed on the display screen and the object can be captured such that the alternating between the first display state and the second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of the display panel; and a mechanism for providing digitally image processing for captured images prior to display.

Abstract: An embodiment generally relates a device for rotating images. The device includes an image memory configured to store an image and a plurality of buffers. The plurality of buffers are configured to interface with the image memory to read data words of the image from the image memory and to write rotated data words to the image memory. The device also includes a logic module configured to interface with the plurality of buffers and to micro-rotate and macro-rotate an image based on a selection of three orientations. The logic module is also configured to execute a read of data words from the image memory to a first buffer of the plurality of buffers, a rotation of a data word, and a write of rotated data words from a second buffer of the plurality of buffers to the image memory substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A multiband camera control apparatus comprises a multiband camera section configured to be capable of capturing a plurality of color bands, a computer configured to control the multiband camera section, a user interface configured to transmit instruction information for the control from the user to the computer, and parameters configured to control the corresponding band in each of the plurality of bands. The user interface includes a switching instruction section configured to switch between the plurality of bands. The computer is configured to control the multiband camera section by using the parameter corresponding to the band selected according to the instruction to switch between the plurality of bands from the switching instruction section.

Abstract: A color solid-state image sensing device including: a semiconductor substrate having a surface portion where high density impurity regions connected to signal reading circuits respectively are formed; a blue light detecting photodiode formed in a shallow portion of the semiconductor substrate; and a red light detecting photodiode formed in a deep portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein connection regions which are provided so as to be continued to the photodiodes respectively and exposed to the surface of the semiconductor substrate are formed only in portions adjacent to the high density impurity regions so that electric charge accumulated in each photodiode can be transferred to corresponding one of the corresponding high density impurity regions.

Abstract: Imaging device analysis methods, imaging device analysis systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, an imaging device analysis method includes providing a plurality of first responsivity values corresponding to a first responsivity function of an imaging device, first determining that error associated with the first responsivity values is unacceptable, providing a plurality of second responsivity values corresponding to a second responsivity function of the imaging device responsive to the first determining, wherein the providing the second responsivity values comprises constraining the second responsivity values to comprise values of the same sign, second determining error associated with the second responsivity values, and selecting the second responsivity values responsive to the second determining yielding acceptable error.

Abstract: A color interpolation apparatus includes: an area determination unit determining an area between a flat area and an edge area, to which a sampling unit formed with two pixels of the photoelectric device, vertically adjacent to each other, and to be interpolated belongs; a linear interpolation unit performing linear interpolation of the sampling unit determined to belong to a flat area and outputting a luminance signal or a chrominance signal; a weight value calculation unit calculating the weight value of an adjacent sampling unit to be used for weight interpolation of the sampling unit determined to belong to an edge area; and a weight interpolation unit performing weight interpolation of the sampling unit determined to belong to an edge area, by using the weight and outputting a luminance signal or a chrominance signal.

Abstract: The present invention solves a smear problem caused by mixing of a noise signal with signal electric charge being transferred in an operation to transfer the signal charge obtained as a result of a process carried out on a received light beam having a large wavelength. In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a solid-state image pickup device including a layered structure which includes photosensors and an electric-charge transfer section. The photosensors include a first photosensor (21) and a second photosensor (22) for receiving a light beam with a wavelength smaller than the wavelength of a light beam received by the first photosensor (21). The first photosensor (21) and the second photosensor (2) are provided at adjacent locations separated away from each other by a potential barrier section (12).

Abstract: A physical information acquisition device uses a device including a detection unit for detecting electromagnetic waves, and a unit signal generating unit for generating and outputting the corresponding unit signal based on the amount of electromagnetic waves detected by the detection unit for detecting a physical quantity distribution in which the unit components are disposed on the same substrate in a predetermined sequence, for acquiring physical information for a predetermined application based on the unit signal.

Abstract: This invention of a color interpolation method for correcting color values of an image, comprising the steps of: constructing a color interpolation matrix having a plurality of points and a center point as an interpolation point, where each point being expressed by one known color and two unknown colors; correcting the known color value of the center point as a function of the color values of the center point and the points in the matrix having the same known color; choosing the horizontal direction or the vertical direction with respect to the center point as the benchmark direction for interpolation calculation; and interpolating one or more unknown color values of the center point as a function of the known color values of the points in the benchmark direction and the known color value of the center point.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a pixel array including pixels. Each of the pixels includes a transducer for generating signal charge according to the intensity of an incident light beam. The image-capturing apparatus further includes an output circuit for outputting a pixel signal outside the pixel array at a frame rate depending on the pixel position in the pixel array, based on the signal charge; and an output-controlling unit for controlling the operation of the output circuit.

Abstract: A method of creating an image file in an imaging device, and an imaging device are provided. The method comprises providing an image sensor comprising pixels with an infrared filter arrangement so that some of the pixels of the sensor may be exposed to all wavelengths and some of the pixels of the sensor are blocked from infrared wavelengths. The pixels of the sensor that may be exposed to all wavelengths are utilized when taking an infrared image and the pixels of the sensor that are blocked from infrared wavelengths are utilized when taking a normal image.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a solid-state image pickup device, including a pixel portion in which a plurality of light receiving areas corresponding to different wavelengths, respectively, are disposed, and transistors used commonly to the plurality of adjacent light receiving areas in the pixel portion, and disposed so as to be brought near to a side of the light receiving area, corresponding to the shorter wavelength, of the plurality of adjacent light receiving areas.

Abstract: A color solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas provided in an array pattern on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The inside of each of photoelectric conversion areas 10 is two-dimensionally partitioned into a plurality of segments R, G1, G2, and B which output a plurality of photoelectric conversion signals of different spectral sensitivities. As a result, occurrence of a false signal and a false color is suppressed, and high-sensitivity, high-resolution image data having superior color reproducibility can be obtained.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an array of active pixels and an infrared cut filter formed over the sensor. Optionally, a slot in the infrared cut filter allows infrared illumination to reach the sensor to be detected by pixels covered by a visually opaque filter and surrounded by pixels of special types that limit charge leakage and enable high dynamic range sensing of infrared illumination. A ratio of average infrared signal to average brightness indicates an amount of infrared illumination reaching the imaging device.

Abstract: A multi-spectrum sensing device comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer comprises sensing pixels for sensing a first group of colors. The bottom layer comprises sensing pixels for sensing a second group of colors. At least one of the layers comprises sensing pixels having at least two or more than two spectra.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for estimating noise determination criteria in an image sensor. The method includes calculating a color characteristic value for each of a plurality blocks constituting an input image, comparing the color characteristic value of a first block among the blocks with a initial noise criterion, sorting the color characteristic value of the first block as a first group of a color characteristic class and accumulating a result of the comparing into the first group, and modifying the initial noise criterion using a result of the accumulating and calculating a first group noise criterion to be applied to corresponding blocks belonging to the sorted first group of the color characteristic class.

Abstract: The present invention sets out to make available a method for reducing noise in an image sequence. This method can be implemented in an acquisition device such as a digital video camera or the like. The aim of this invention is attained with a method for filtering a sequence of digital images in CFA format.

Abstract: The present invention relates to interpolating a missing color value of a given pixel in an array of pixels. The missing color value is determined from color values of neighboring pixels using a median-based technique in which the median is taken of the four pixels values of the horizontally and vertically neighboring pixels (G1-G4) having a same color as the missing color value, and color information from at least one other color (R/B) at the given pixel.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion film laminated color solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a semiconductor substrate in which a first signal read circuit for a first color among the three primary colors, a second signal read circuit for a second color and a third signal read circuit for a third color are formed by MOS transistor circuits, and in which first and second photodiodes for respectively receiving incident light of the first and second colors are formed; a photoelectric conversion film provided above the semiconductor substrate, for receiving incident light of the third color to generate an optical charge; a longitudinal wiring for connecting a pixel electrode film attached to the photoelectric conversion film separately for each pixel to a contact part formed in the semiconductor substrate; and a potential barrier part between the contact part and the third signal read circuit, being formed on the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a plurality of pixels; and a color filter array of four colors disposed on the plurality of pixels, wherein the color filter away has a periodicity of two rows×two columns, and colors of four color filters in a periodical unit of two rows×two columns are all different.

Abstract: When pixel signals are separately read from a plurality of horizontal signal lines to achieve high-speed processing, color difference in image signals and stripes are eliminated. In the operation of reading the pixel signals from the (2n)th row, the pixel signals from R pixels on odd columns are output to an output system A through a horizontal signal line (60A). On the other hand, the pixel signals from Gr pixels on even columns are output to an output system B through a horizontal signal line (60B). In the operation of reading the pixel signals from the (2n+1)th row, the pixel signals from Gb pixels on the odd columns are output to the output system B through the horizontal signal line (60B) by the switching operation in a switching circuit (50). Similarly, the pixel signals from B pixels on the even columns are output to the output system A through the horizontal signal line (60A) by the switching operation in the switching circuit (50).

Abstract: A solid-state image device is provided which has a semiconductor substrate, pixels A each containing a photoelectric conversion portion in which at least two PN junction parts are provide in a depth direction of the semiconductor substrate, pixels B each containing a photoelectric conversion portion in which at least one PN junction part is provided, first color filters provided above the pixels A, second color filters provided above the pixels B; and a detection mechanism for detecting a first color signal and a second color signal from the two PN junction parts of each of the pixels A and a third color signal from the PN junction part of each of the pixels B. According to the above solid-state image device, light can be more efficiently used than a color filter separation method, and superior color reproducibility to that of a three-well structure can be realized.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device, a primary color Bayer color filter is provided on an imaging pixel area defined by pixels having different structures. Color-component filters for the same color in the color filter are disposed correspondingly to pixels having the same structure. More specifically, pixels are arranged in consideration of the arrangement of color-component filters of the color filter, or the color-component filters are arranged in consideration of the arrangement of the pixels.

Abstract: A scene is captured. A two-dimensional matrix comprising a plurality of image detection components is generated according to the captured scene. Each image detection component corresponds to one color component. A plurality of matrixes are generated according to the image detection components. One image detection component and a portion of matrixes are calculated to obtain the missing color components.

Abstract: The present invention, in the various exemplary embodiments, provides a RGB color filter array. The red, green and blue pixel cells are arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The honeycomb layout provides the space to vary the size of pixel cells of an individual color so that, for example, the photosensor of blue pixels can be made larger than that of the red or green pixels. In another aspect of the invention, depicted in the exemplary embodiments, the honeycomb structure can also be implemented with each pixel rowing having a same color of pixel cells which can simplify can conversion in the readout circuits. In another aspect of the invention, the RGB honeycomb pixel array may be implemented using a shared pixel cell architecture.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel structure including: a photosensitive area surrounded with a peripheral area placed at the surface of a semiconductor substrate, a stack of several insulating layers alternately exhibiting different refraction coefficients and placed above the peripheral area, a microlens placed at the top of the pixel to have the pixel light converge towards the photosensitive area, and a transparent block placed substantially above the photosensitive area.

Abstract: An image capture device capable of capturing high quality images is disclosed. The image capture device comprises a shift register, each pixel of which has a plurality of transfer electrodes extending in a direction crossing a transfer direction of information charges. A potential well formed by function of the transfer electrodes is used to store and transfer information charges generated in response to light incident on a pixel. In this image capture device, during image capture, information charges are stored in a plurality of potential wells substantially separated from each other, and, during transfer, information charges stored in at least two of the plurality of potential wells are combined by addition to be transferred.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, a plurality of read-out channels each including a read-out circuit and an amplifier circuit, a parallel-serial conversion circuit which sequentially selects pixel signals output via the plurality of read-out channels and outputs a series of pixel signals, and a clamp unit which clamps the reset level included in an output signal from the read-out circuit in order to remove an offset generated in each read-out channel.

Abstract: A method of image processing an image in a camera module, said method comprising the steps of capturing an image as a Color Filter Array image having non-linear RGB pixel data from an image sensor of said camera module; linearizing said image from said image sensor to generate a linearized image by using at least three lookup tables, one lookup table for each of three RGB colors, said linearizing step performed by using an address for current RGB pixel data being read to index the at least three lookup tables and incrementing the addresses for the RGB pixel data; generating at least three histograms of said linearized image data, one histogram for each of at least three RGB image color planes, and storing at least a high and a low threshold for each histogram; planarizing said linearized image by using at least the high and the low threshold to generate a planarized linear RGB image; and transforming said image from planarized linear RGB form to L*a*b* form.

Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels; and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric converting units arrayed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and an adder for adding signals including the same color component from the a plurality of photoelectric converting units such that the centers of gravity of the signals after addition are at the same pitch for respective signals.

Abstract: An interpolator and method for high image resolution by interpolation with adaptive filtering of Bayer pattern color signals, and a digital image signal processor implementing the same. The digital image signal processor can generate interpolation data close to actual pixel data by applying a nonlinear low pass filter (LPF) that reflects the change rate of the data centered around a center pixel and the data of the center pixel, and by simultaneously applying a LPF, a band pass filter (BPF), and a high pass filter (HPF) having linear characteristics, and can generate interpolation data that reduces aliasing (at “edges”) and emphasizes a high frequency component.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity are arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal, wherein in the pixel array part, among a first color filter pixel, a second color filter pixel, and a third color filter pixel, each including a color filter, at least a plurality of the first color filter pixels and the second color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system, and a clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column in the oblique pixel array with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed, in which a partial light-shielding layer is additionally arranged on a path of a particular colored light, for example, a red colored light that may cause excessive permeation, to partially shield the corresponding red colored light in a state that red colored light, green colored light and blue colored light are permeated into each photodiode of a semiconductor substrate, so that the permeation position of the red colored light coincides with that of the green colored light and the blue colored light each having the wavelength shorter than that of the red colored light, thereby normally generating optical charges caused by the red colored light in an effective depletion area of the photodiode like those caused by the green colored light and the blue colored light.

Abstract: A CCD color solid-state image pickup device has a plurality of light-receiving sections arranged in an array on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a vertical transfer path by way of which signal electric charges stored in electric charge storage sections of the respective light-receiving sections are read and transferred to a horizontal transfer path. In the image pickup device, the electric charge-storage section of each of the light-receiving sections has a plurality of electric charge storage layers which are provided in a depthwise direction of the semiconductor substrate with potential barriers interposed therebetween. Signal electric charges stored in the respective electric charge storage layers are read independently to the vertical transfer path.

Abstract: A single plate system color solid-state image pick-up device of a microlens loading type, the device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of light receiving portions formed in a two-dimensional array in a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate; color filters each of which is for any of red, green and blue colors; and microlenses, wherein each of the color filters and each of the microlenses are laminated above on each of the light receiving portions, wherein first ones of the microlenses, corresponding to ones of the light receiving portions on which ones for the red color of the color filters are laminated, have smaller light receiving areas than those of second ones of the microlenses, corresponding to ones of the light receiving portions on which ones for the green color of the color filters are laminated.

Abstract: To achieve more appropriate interpolation of a missing pixel, an image is input to a processing section for interpolation. The interpolation is applied utilizing image data of pixels located around the pixel to be interpolated. Specifically, correlations between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated, and pixel data in a horizontal direction, vertical direction, and diagonal direction, are compared to one another; pixel data having stronger correlation is used for the interpolation. Correlation between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated and which direction is strong is determined, so that different weighting for interpolation is used accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for recording a color image, comprises an image sensor (22) having a plurality of pixels (24) formed in a monolithic substrate. Each of the plurality of pixels (24) includes three floating gate semiconductor devices (80, 82, 84). A color tunable filter (30) is positioned between a photosensitive semiconductor device (86) and an electromagnetic radiation source. A FET transistor (130) has a drain (134) connected to the cathode (120) of the photodiode (86), and a source (136) connected to the anode (118) of the photodiode (86) and to control gates (94, 104, 114) of each of the three floating gate semiconductor devices (80, 82, 84). The color tunable filter (30) allows all desired combinations of colors to pass while each of the three floating gate semiconductor devices (80, 82, 84) are respectively selected to store the color image.

Abstract: Provided are a solid state image sensing device and method for sub-sampling using inter-column analog domain signal summation, where, in the solid state image sensing device, a CDS unit receives reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color in an APS array, receives video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generates modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals, the modulation signals are activated according to activation of the previous modulation signals, and a digital signal output circuit generates a corresponding digital signal based on the final modulation signal corresponding to the sum of inter-column analog video signals among the modulation signals.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric converting units arrayed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and an adder for adding signals including the same color component from the a plurality of photoelectric converting units such that the centers of gravity of the signals after addition are at the same pitch for respective signals.

Abstract: An image sensor array includes a substrate having at least three image sensors located therein. The image sensor array also includes a blue filter positioned proximate to the first image sensor; a green filter proximate to the second image sensor; and a red filter proximate to the third image sensor. A first microlens is positionally arranged with the blue filter and the first image sensor; a second microlens is positionally arranged with the green filter and the second image sensor; and a third microlens is positionally arranged with the red filter and the third image sensor. The first microlens has a larger effective area than the second microlens, and the second microlens has a larger effective area than the third microlens.

Abstract: In a color signal matrix adjustment method, a single first color signal matrix related value is adjusted (VAC) to obtain a color signal matrix adjustment, and at least two color signal matrix parameters other than the single first color signal matrix related value are automatically adapted (AAC) in dependence upon the color signal matrix parameter adjustment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving high-dynamic range operation with a set of spatially distributed pixel cells is provided. A pixel array with a row of pixels having apertures of varying sizes in a metal mask formed thereon controls the sensitivity of each pixel cell to light. A neutral density filter having varying light transparency values is also provided over the set of pixel cells to control the sensitivity of each pixel cell to light. The pixel cells voltage outputted is combined to obtain high-dynamic range operation.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a single board type color image sensor which can suppress the reduction of detection luminance range while enlarging detection color range. The color image sensor of the present invention has pixel blocks arranged in an array state, each pixel block comprising a first pixel detecting red light, a second pixel detecting green light, a third pixel detecting blue light, and a fourth pixel detecting light having a wavelength between the green light and the blue light or between the green light and the red light. Further, sensitivity of the fourth pixel to the above-mentioned light is kept lower than sensitivity of the second pixel to the green light.

Abstract: An image sensor device formed in an integrated circuit (IC) having a filter device in which filter elements are arranged to provide color symmetry with respect to an optical center of the imaging array of pixels. This color symmetry ensures that any color cross-talk that occurs will be symmetrical with respect to the optical center of the imaging array and will result in a color error that is radial and easily correctable using color interpolation.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals. The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.