Abstract: An imaging apparatus and image capture program are provided that enable an image processing section compatible with a Bayer array to be employed without modification even in cases in which an image pickup device is employed that is provided with a color filter of an array other than a Bayer array. An imaging apparatus (10) includes a color filter (30) having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patterns C, a drive section (22) that drives an image pickup device (14) so as to thin and read pixel data only of pixels on lines at predetermined positions in the vertical direction, and a pixel conversion processing section (18) that converts pixel data of each line thinned and read from the image pickup device (14) into Bayer array pixel data that is in a Bayer array pattern.

Abstract: A method of operating a camera with a microfluidic lens to identify a depth of an object in image data generated by the camera has been developed. The camera generates an image with the object in focus, and a second image with the object out of focus. An image processor generates a plurality of blurred images from image data of the focused image, and identifies blur parameters that correspond to the object in the second image. The depth of the object from the camera is identified with reference to the blur parameters.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device 5 is equipped with sets of pixel cells 53(1)-53(4), each set assuming a Bayer arrangement. A G pixel cell 53(2) is located right-adjacent to a G pixel cell 53(1). A G pixel cell 53(3) is located bottom-adjacent to the G pixel cell 53(2). A G pixel cell 53(4) is located right-adjacent to the G pixel cell 53(3).

Abstract: An image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a light blocking layer formed in an active pixel region of a pixel region on a light incident side so as to surround a photoelectric conversion unit of each pixel and formed in an extending manner to an optical black region, a concave portion formed so as to be surrounded by the light blocking layer in a region corresponding to the photoelectric conversion unit, a first refractive index layer formed on surfaces of the light blocking layer and the concave portion and having a relatively low refractive index, a second refractive index layer formed on the first refractive index layer so as to be buried in the concave portion and having a relatively high refractive index, and an anti-flare layer formed on the first refractive index layer in the optical black region.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus for inputting a first image signal and a second image signal from an input source different from an input source of the first image signal adaptively decides a first bit rate and a second bit rate which are respectively assigned to a first encoding unit for encoding the input first image signal and a second encoding unit for encoding the input second image signal on the basis of the first image signal, on the basis of photographing mode information or distortion ratios of encoding by the encoding units.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a first light-shielding portion and a first light-receiving portion in order from an object. The first pixel outputs a first image signal, and the first light-shielding portion includes a first opening. The second pixel includes a second light-shielding portion and a second light-receiving portion in order from the object. The second pixel outputs a second image signal, and the second light-shielding portion includes a second opening that has area smaller than area of the first opening.

Abstract: A color separating filter array has a configuration in which unit elements 1, each having a triangular pyramid shape, are arranged two-dimensionally. Each unit element 1 includes: first, second, and third filters 1R, 1G, 1B arranged to form the three lateral faces of the triangular pyramid; and a reflective region. The first, second and third filters 1R, 1G and 1B are designed to transmit visible radiations falling within first, second and third wavelength ranges, respectively, and reflect visible radiation falling within any other wavelength range. The reflective region is arranged to further reflect a light ray that has been incident on a region surrounded with the first, second and third filters and reflected from any of the first, second and third filters and to guide the reflected light ray to another one of the first, second and third filters that is different from the one that has already reflected the light ray once.

Abstract: An imager has first and second photosensitive sites and an interpolator located in a semiconductor substrate. The first photosensitive site is configured to receive light having a spectral component, and the second photosensitive site is configured to measure the level of the spectral component in light received by the second photosensitive site. The interpolator is configured to estimate the level of the spectral component in the light received by the first photosensitive site based on the measurement by the second photosensitive site.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging element includes a substrate, and a plurality of color filters. A plurality of photoelectric conversion units is provided in the substrate. The plurality of color filters is provided respectively for the plurality of photoelectric conversion units. The plurality of color filters is configured to selectively transmit light of a designated wavelength band. Each of the plurality of color filters includes a stacked structure unit and a periodic structure unit. A plurality of layers having different refractive indexes is stacked in the stacked structure unit. A plurality of components is provided in the periodic structure unit at different periods according to the designated wavelength band and an incident angle of the light.

Abstract: A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.

Abstract: A spectrum information measurement method may include steps of; controlling a reference pixel accumulating charges based on an amount of light irradiated from a test specimen; controlling a plurality of measurement pixels accumulating the charge based on an amount of light that is irradiated from the test specimen and has a prescribed wavelength; generating and outputting a reference signal based on an amount of change in the charge that is accumulated in the reference pixel over the prescribed measurement time; generating and outputting a plurality of measurement signals based on an amount of change in the charge that is accumulated in each of the plurality of measurement pixels over the prescribed measurement time; determining whether or not any one or more of the plurality of measurement signals is greater than the reference signal, and determining that the measurement signal that is greater than the reference signal includes saturated output.

Abstract: Embodiments of imaging devices of the present disclosure obtain color images from a monochromatic image sensor based on a series of several images taken at different focal positions of an optical imaging lens possessing a chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A color imaging apparatus comprising: a color imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels and color filters of a color filter array arranged on the plurality of pixels, the color filter array including first filters corresponding to a first color that most contributes to obtaining luminance signals and second filters corresponding to two or more second colors, and the first filters including two or more sections adjacent each other in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions; a direction determination unit acquiring pixel values of pixels of the two or more sections of the first filters near a target pixel of demosaicking processing and determining a correlation direction of luminance; a demosaicking processing unit that calculates a pixel value of another color at a pixel position of the target pixel and that uses one or more pixels of another color in the correlation direction to calculate the pixel value.

Abstract: A color filter enhancement method for a portable digital image acquisition device includes digitally exposing color pixels of a color sensor array for a first digital exposure duration and digitally exposing white pixels of a color sensor array for a second digital exposure time shorter than the first digital exposure duration. A color filter enhanced digital image is generated using data from both the color pixels exposed for the first digital exposure duration and the white pixels exposed for the second digital exposure duration.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprises: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each having a photo-sensing surface; insulation films; a plurality of light-guiding portions arranged above the insulation films, each of the plurality of light-guiding portions guiding light on the photo-sensing surface of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and boundary portions, each of the boundary portions defines a boundary between the adjacent light-guiding portions and is formed of a material lower in refractive index than a material that forms the plurality of light-guiding portions, wherein a width of each of the boundary portions is not more than half a shortest wavelength in a wavelength range of visible light, and a height from a lower surface to an upper surface of each of the plurality of light-guiding portions is not less than double a longest wavelength in the wavelength range of visible light.

Abstract: A fixed pattern noise removal method for an image sensor includes steps of calculating each compensation value corresponding to each pixel column according to a plurality of compensation pixel values of the each pixel column; and sampling a plurality of active pixel values in an active pixel area and compensating the plurality of active pixel values according to the each compensation value of the each pixel column, to generate a plurality of compensated active pixel values. A plurality of active pixels sense light to generate the plurality of active pixel values.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus that includes an array of color filters for green, red, and magenta colors arranged over a semiconductor substrate in the manner of a primary color Bayer pattern except a magenta color replaces the blue color. Light passing through the magenta color filter is integrated separately in a magenta pixel for a shallow photodiode signal and a deep photodiode signal in a first photodiode and a deeper second photodiode in the substrate, respectively. A mezzanine photodiode may be disposed between the first and second photodiodes and held at a fixed voltage level or reset multiple times during charge integration. A red pixel value for the magenta pixel is a function of the deep photodiode signal and an adjacent red pixel's red pixel signal. A minimum exists in its derivative with respect to the former at a value of the former that varies with the latter.

Abstract: It is an imaging element in which pixels which are photoelectric conversion elements are placed at respective square lattice positions, in which, when, in a predetermined region where pixels of the imaging element are placed, a plurality of pairs are arranged in a first line which is any one line among lines and a second line which is parallel to the first line, each pair having pair pixels which are first and second phase difference detection pixels placed adjacent to each other to detect a phase difference among the pixels of the imaging element, the pairs in the first line are placed to be spaced apart from each other by at least two pixels, and the pairs in the second line are placed at positions, which correspond to positions where the pair pixels in the first line are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a first photodiode receiving light of a first color; a second photodiode that is arranged next to the first photodiode in a first direction and receives light of a second color; a third photodiode that is arranged next to the second photodiode in a second direction and receives light of the first color; a fourth photodiode that is arranged next to the third photodiode in the first direction and receives light of a third color; a first reset transistor for discharging a charge generated in the first photodiode and the second photodiode; and a second reset transistor for discharging a charge generated in the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode. The first photodiode and the third photodiode have a small difference in area.

Abstract: This solid-state image sensor includes an array of photosensitive cells and an array of dispersing elements. The photosensitive cell array is comprised of multiple unit blocks, each of which includes four photosensitive cells arranged two dimensionally. The dispersing element array is arranged so as to face the photosensitive cell array and includes a plurality of dispersing elements. The dispersing element array directs light respectively onto the four photosensitive cells by selectively subtracting certain complementary color components from the incoming white light, and adding a light ray with a selected complementary color component to the remainder. The dispersing element array is configured such that the combination of color component that is subtracted from the incoming light and the color component in the added light ray is selected for the incident light on each of the four photosensitive cells.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a touch panel that outputs a press position pressed by a finger as coordinate information in a sub-scanning direction, the finger being placed on the surface of the touch panel, a CCD that takes an image of the finger placed on the touch panel from the rear side of the touch panel in a main-scanning direction, and outputs an image signal, and a motor that moves the CCD in the sub-scanning direction so as to follow a rotational movement of the finger based on the movement amount detected by the movement detection unit.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling operation of an electronic device, such as a TV. The system includes a first sensor located at or near the electronic device and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect motion of a user within an operating zone associated with the electronic device. A processor is coupled to the electronic device and the first and second sensors, the processor being configured to input a signal from the first and second sensors. Memory is coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a sensing algorithm configured to process the input signal from the first and second sensors and determine the location of the user with respect to the operating zone. The processor is configured to send a control command to the electronic device based on an output of the sensing algorithm.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an imaging device includes a first CCD which converts a first color component into a first electric signal, a second CCD which converts a second color component different from the first color component into a second electric signal, a third CCD which converts a third color component different from the first and second color components into a third electric signal, and a heat sink having first to third radiators which radiate heat from the first to third CODs. The first to third radiators are maintained at the same temperature by the function of the heat sink.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an R pixel provided with an R filter for transmitting red-color light; a B pixel provided with a B filter for transmitting blue-color light; an S1 pixel which is provided with an S1 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in a visible light region and has a sensitivity higher than that of the R pixel; and an S2 pixel which is provided with an S2 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in the visible light region and lower than the visible light transmittance of the S1 filter and has a sensitivity lower than the sensitivity of the S1 pixel.

Abstract: An image capturing element is provided with: a color filter in which a basic arrangement pattern having first and second arrangement patterns arranged to be symmetrical about a point is repeated. The first arrangement pattern comprises first filters arranged on pixels in 2×2 arrangement located at the upper-left portion and a pixel located at the lower-right in a 3×3 pixel square arrangement, second filters arranged on the center and lower end lines in the vertical direction of the square arrangement, and third filters arranged on the center and right lines in the horizontal direction of the square arrangement. The second arrangement pattern comprises the first filters having the same arrangement as in the first arrangement pattern, and the second filters and the third filters having the arrangements interchanged with each other compared to the arrangements in the first arrangement pattern.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises a pixel array comprising multiple unit pixels each configured to generate multiple color signals in response to incident light, and a data processing unit configured to generate output image data by processing the color signals in parallel in a first operating mode, and further configured to generate two image signals for each unit pixel based on the color signals and to generate the output image data by processing the two image signals in parallel in a second operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying a color image of a scene are provided. The systems and methods involve illuminating at least a portion of the scene with a light having a known spectral power distribution, and detecting a finite number of spectral components of light received from the scene under such illumination. The detected values of spectral components of light received from the scene are used to modify the color image or rendition of the scene.

Abstract: A spectrum information measurement method may include steps of; controlling a reference pixel accumulating charges based on an amount of light irradiated from a test specimen; controlling a plurality of measurement pixels accumulating the charge based on an amount of light that is irradiated from the test specimen and has a prescribed wavelength; generating and outputting a reference signal based on an amount of change in the charge that is accumulated in the reference pixel over the prescribed measurement time; generating and outputting a plurality of measurement signals based on an amount of change in the charge that is accumulated in each of the plurality of measurement pixels over the prescribed measurement time; determining whether or not any one or more of the plurality of measurement signals is greater than the reference signal, and determining that the measurement signal that is greater than the reference signal includes saturated output.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a control unit provided to perform first control or second control on the same type of plural pixel rows as phase difference pixel rows which are arranged in parallel in a column direction at regular intervals, in which pixel rows on which the first control is performed and pixel rows on which the second control is performed are alternately arranged in parallel in the column direction, in the first control, a signal is not read out from each pixel of the pixel rows to be controlled but a signal is read out from each pixel of two pixel rows which are adjacent to the pixel row to be controlled, in the second control, a signal is read out from each pixel of the pixel row to be controlled, and the control unit performs the first control at least on the phase difference pixel rows.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not an input image is an image converted from an image with a relatively low resolution based on one frame of an image. A resolution determination device includes: an edge strength calculator configured to obtain an edge strength of a pixel included in an input image based on luminance of the pixel and luminance of a pixel adjacent to the pixel, for each of a plurality of pixels included in the input image; and a resolution determiner configured to determine whether or not the input image is an image upconverted from an image with a predetermined resolution or less, based on distribution of the edge strengths.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital image having a predetermined color pattern, includes converting the predetermined color pattern of the digital image into a converted digital image having a different desired color pattern; and using algorithms adapted for use with the desired color pattern for processing the converted digital image.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photosensitive region and pixel circuitry. The photosensitive region accumulates an image charge in response to light incident upon the image sensor. The pixel circuitry includes a transfer-storage transistor, a charge-storage area, an output transistor, and a floating diffusion region. The transfer-storage transistor is coupled between the photosensitive region and the charge-storage area. The output transistor has a channel coupled between the charge-storage area and the floating diffusion region and has a gate tied to a fixed voltage potential. The transfer-storage transistor causes the image charge to transfer from the photosensitive region to the charge-storage area and to transfer from the charge-storage area to the floating diffusion region.

Abstract: A color image capture systems comprised of: a lens 110; a light sensitive sensor 114; a first wavelength dependent mask 120 located on an optical path 128 between the lens and sensor, wherein the first wavelength dependent mask 120 includes a first attenuation pattern for modulation of a light field; and a second wavelength dependent mask 130, wherein the second wavelength dependent mask includes a second attenuation pattern to modulate the modulated light field from the first wavelength dependent mask, the second wavelength dependent mask located on the optical path 128 between the first wavelength dependent mask and the sensor, further wherein the second wavelength dependent mask is separated from the sensor by a distance d.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imagine lens, an imaging sensor having a color filter array with color filters of a plurality of colors having a plurality of pixels which are arranged on a light-receiving surface, a computing section obtaining a pixel value of an objective pixel by adding pixel values of a plurality of adjacent pixels which are adjacent to the objective pixel and which have one of the color filters of same color as the objective pixel among pixel values output from the imaging sensor, and a control section making the computing section compute, while shifting the objective pixel one by one in one direction, a pixel row formed of pixel values of the objective pixel in the one direction with respect to each predetermined pixel width in other direction, and generating an image thinned out at the predetermined pixel width in the other direction.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes: a color filter having repeatedly disposed basic array patterns configured with first and second array patterns disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern has a first filter placed at the 4 corner and center pixels of a 3×3 pixel square array, a second filter placed in a line at the horizontal direction center of the square array, and a third filter placed in a line at the vertical direction center of the square array, and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filter as the first array pattern and has placement of the second filter and placement of the third filter swapped over to that of the first array pattern; and phase difference detection pixels placed at positions corresponding to the first filter at a top and bottom edge sides in the array pattern.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device capable of taking more light into light receiving regions is provided.

Abstract: At least one green filter G having a filter characteristic for transmitting a green light component is formed in all of horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions in a block consisting of six optoelectronic transducers in each of the horizontal and vertical directions. Further, at least one blue filter B and red filter R having filter characteristics for transmitting a blue light component and a red light component are formed in the horizontal and vertical directions. Even an image obtained after ½ subsampling along each of the horizontal and vertical directions will contain pixels having a green component in all of the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions in blocks of 6×6 pixels. The precision of reproducibility in interpolation processing is thus improved.

Abstract: In an aspect of the present invention, only by storing the first correction coefficients corresponding to the colors of the color filters of the image pickup element and the second correction coefficients corresponding to the relative positions of the pixels to the position of the specific circuit element of the image pickup element, in the storage device, an adequate combination of the first correction coefficients and the second correction coefficients is selected for each pixel, and a calculation with it is performed with respect to the signal value of each of the pixels. Therefore, with an essential minimum number of correction coefficients, it is possible to quickly and accurately correct the variation in signal values caused by the color array for the color filters of the image pickup element and the variation in signal values caused by the structure in which multiple pixels share the specific circuit element.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a preprocessing unit interpolating a G color component to positions of a pixel of interest and a pixel having the same color component as the pixel of interest so as to produce a first G interpolation signal; a proximity G pixel G color difference and R/B pixel producing unit producing a first R-G/B-G color difference signal on the positions of the pixel of interest and the pixel having the same color component, producing a second R-G/B-G color difference signal on a position of a proximity G pixel, and interpolating the R/B color component to the position of the proximity G pixel; a G color difference re-constitution processing unit re-constituting a third R-G/B-G color difference signal on the position of the pixel of interest; and a G color difference interpolation processing unit interpolating an R-G/B-G color difference signal to a position of a predetermined pixel.

Abstract: A digital color imager providing an extended luminance range, an improved color implementation and enabling a method for an easy transformation into another color space having luminance as a component has been achieved. Key of the invention is the addition of white pixels to red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels have either an extended dynamic rang as described by (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,852 to Levine et al.) or have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values and have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus and system for demosaicing. The image processing apparatus comprises an edge determination module configured to determine whether a target pixel is an edge pixel and a direction of an image edge if the target pixel is an edge pixel; and a demosaicing module configured to extract a luminance component value of the target pixel using a Bayer image pattern having the target pixel in a central portion of the Bayer image pattern, wherein the demosaicing module is configured to extract the luminance component value of the target pixel using the Bayer image pattern by a weighting process if the target pixel is determined as an edge pixel.

Abstract: This solid-state image sensor 10 includes an array of photosensitive cells and an array of dispersing elements. The photosensitive cell array is comprised of multiple unit blocks 40, each of which includes four photosensitive cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel unit which has an array of a plurality of groups each including a plurality of pixels arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, and an adding unit configured to add, of pixel signals output from the plurality of pixels arrayed in the groups, homochromatic pixel signals. The adding unit has, for each group, a common pixel amplifier commonly connected to homochromatic pixels. The adding unit adds the pixel signals of the homochromatic pixels in the gate portion of the common pixel amplifier so that the spatial centers of gravity of the pixels added in the group are arranged at equal pitches in at least one of the row direction and the column direction.

Abstract: The image generation device generates a new moving picture of a subject based on first and second moving pictures shot with a single-chip color image sensor, which detects two light rays including first and second color components, respectively, to represent the first and second color components of the subject. As the first moving picture has been shot in a longer exposure time than the second moving picture, the first picture has a lower frame rate than the second picture. The image generation device includes: a getting section which gets video signals representing the first and second moving pictures, respectively; a processing section which generates a new moving picture with as high a frame rate as the second moving picture based on the respective video signals representing the first and second moving pictures gotten; and an output section which outputs the new moving picture.

Abstract: Previously available analog domain decimation techniques are limited to simple equally-weighted averaging of photosite outputs. Decimation of a Bayer pattern image by an even-factor, such as by two or six, using simple equally-weighted averaging of photosite outputs in the analog domain results in effective sampling locations that are unevenly spaced apart. Standard interpolation of the unevenly spaced effective sampling locations generates image artifacts that reduce the quality of the reconstructed image in the smaller format because standard interpolation methods assume that the effective sampling locations are evenly spaced. Implementations of systems, methods and apparatus disclosed herein aim to produce substantially evenly spaced effective sampling locations in the analog domain.

Abstract: An adaptive pixel compensation method for an image processing apparatus includes receiving an image array data, calculating an average of luminance values of a first plurality of green sub-pixels surrounding the green sub-pixel as a first average value, calculating an average of luminance values of a second plurality of green sub-pixels surrounding the green sub-pixel as a second average value, calculating an absolute luminance difference value of the first average value and the second average value, calculating an average luminance gradient value of the green sub-pixel and a third plurality of green sub-pixels surrounding the green sub-pixel, and determining whether to compensate the green sub-pixel according to a luminance value of the green sub-pixel, the absolute luminance difference value and the average luminance gradient value.

Abstract: A system for processing images may comprise a pixel configuration circuitry enabled to set for each pixel in a pixel array one of a plurality of integration times and one of a plurality of signal gains. A column analog-to-digital converter may be enabled to generate a corresponding digital data for a pixel in the pixel array, and digital processing circuitry may be enabled to interpolate output data from the corresponding digital data for pixels grouped into pixel groups, wherein the pixel group comprises a target pixel and neighboring pixels in a same color plane.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device which can prevent color mixture by using a layout of a capacitor region provided separately from a floating diffusion region and a camera using such a device are provided. A photodiode region is a rectangular region including a photodiode. A capacitor region includes a carrier holding unit and is arranged on one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region as a region having a side longer than the one side. In a MOS unit region, an output unit region including an output unit having a side longer than the other side which crosses the one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region is arranged on the other side. A gate region and the FD region are arranged between the photodiode region and the capacitor region.