Abstract: A physical information acquisition method in which a corresponding wavelength region of visible light with at least one visible light detection unit coupled to an image signal processing unit is detected, each said visible light detection unit comprising a color filter adapted to transmit the corresponding wavelength region of visible light; a wavelength region of infrared light with at least one infrared light detection unit coupled to the image signal processing unit is detected; and, with the signal processing unit, a first signal received from the at least one visible light detection unit by subtracting a product from said first signal is corrected, said product resulting from multiplication of a second signal received from the at least one infrared light detection unit and a predetermined coefficient factor.

Abstract: A color-unevenness inspection apparatus includes: an image pickup section picking up an image of an inspection target for a color-unevenness inspection; an image generation section generating an uneven-color image by determining one or more uneven-color regions existing in the picked-up image of the inspection target obtained by the image pickup section, and by classifying unit regions included in each of the uneven-color regions into a plurality of color groups; a calculation section calculating, on the uneven-color regions in the uneven-color image, an evaluation parameter to be used in the color-unevenness inspection; a correction section making a correction to the calculated evaluation parameter in consideration of a difference of color-unevenness visibility between the color groups; and an inspection section performing the color-unevenness inspection, based on a resultant evaluation parameter obtained by the correction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a lens optical system L having a first optical region D1 and a second optical region D2 having a different optical power from that of the first optical region D1; an imaging device N having a plurality of pixels P1, P2; and an array optical device K for causing light passing through the first optical region D1 to enter the pixel P1 and causing light passing through the second optical region D2 to enter the pixel P2.

Abstract: In a basic pixel arrangement of a solid-state image sensor, a dispersing element is arranged to face each of pixels that are located at row 1, column 2 and row 3, column 1 positions in order to make a light ray with a first color component incident on a horizontally adjacent pixel and also make a light ray with a complementary color component with respect to the first color component incident on that pixel that faces the dispersing element. A dispersing element is arranged to face each of pixels that are located at row 2, column 1 and row 4, column 1 positions in order to make a light ray with a second color component incident on a horizontally adjacent pixel and also make a light ray with a complementary color component with respect to the second color component incident on that pixel that faces the dispersing element. On the other hand, no dispersing elements are arranged to face pixels that are located at row 1, column 1, row 2, column 2, row 3, column 2 and row 4, column 2 positions.

Abstract: Designs of image sensors with subpixels are disclosed. According to one aspect of an image sensor in one embodiment, subpixels within a pixel are designed without significantly increasing the cell or pixel area of the pixel. The readouts from the subpixels are accumulated to increase the sensitivity of the pixel without increasing the area of the image sensor. According to another aspect of the image sensors in the present invention, some subpixels within a pixel are respectively coated with filters, each designed for a frequency range. Thus the frequency response of a CMOS image sensor can be enhanced significantly according to application.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques relates to the implementation of a raw pixel processing unit using a set of line buffers. In one embodiment, the set of line buffers may include a first subset and second subset. Various logical units of the raw pixel processing unit may be implemented using the first and second subsets of line buffers in a shared manner. For instance, in one embodiment, defective pixel correction and detection logic may be implemented using the first subset of line buffers. The second subset of line buffers may be used to implement lens shading correction logic, gain, offset, and clamping logic, and demosaicing logic. Further, noise reduction may also be implemented using at least a portion of each of the first and second subsets of line buffers.

Abstract: An apparatus having a circuit is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) receive a digital image from an electro-optical sensor, (ii) convert the digital image from a red-green-blue representation to a luminance-and-chrominance representation, (iii) generate a reduced noise representation of the digital image by reducing noise in the luminance-and-chrominance representation and (iv) generate a color corrected representation of the digital image by color correcting the reduced noise representation.

Abstract: In an imaging mode for reading a part of a plurality of pixels, signals of same color adjacent pixels are simultaneously read out to capacities, and at least two capacities in a same pixel row are once short-circuited. Further, capacities of a plurality of the pixel rows are once short-circuited to perform operation for averaging the pixels in vertical and horizontal directions. With the configuration, it is possible to solve deterioration in image quality due to occurrence of moire caused by reduction in sampling frequency in a thinning reading operation mode capable of high-speed reading.

Abstract: An image pickup device which makes it possible to expand the dynamic range of photometry. The image pickup device comprises a pixel array, a pixel reader, a row selector, a column selector, a gain circuit, a gain selector. The pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements and arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The pixel reader reads out selected pixel signals from the pixel array. The gain circuit is capable of having at least two gains set therein, and amplifies and outputs the pixel signals read out from the pixel array by the pixel reader. The gain selector sets different gains in the gain circuit such that pixel signals amplified by the different gains can be obtained for one-time read-out from the pixel array by the pixel reader.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene using an image capture device having an array of pixels, wherein the array of pixels includes pixels of different colors, includes, for a first duration, capturing a first portion of the scene with a first plurality of the pixels of a first color, and for a second duration, capturing a second portion of the scene with a second plurality of the pixels of a second color. The first and second durations are different and the first and second durations are chosen, at least in part, to improve the signal to noise ratio of the image capture device.

Abstract: A light-collecting device includes at least one first annular region having a first refractive index, and at least one second annular region having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, the at least one first annular region and the at least one second annular region are adjacently and alternately arranged in a concentric manner, and at least one of the at least one first annular region and the at least one second annular region includes a gap at a portion where a width of the annular region gradually decreases.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a control unit for controlling a color gamut conversion method that converts a color gamut of content data into a desired color gamut in accordance with the use of the content data; and a color gamut conversion unit for performing the color gamut conversion with respect to the content data by a method based on the control of the control unit.

Abstract: Digital camera or device with a digital camera unit is controlled in a process in which light spectrum power distribution is detected by a detector that has a plurality of narrow-band photo-electric sensors at locations spaced apart on an image capture unit of a digital camera unit. Each sensor has a given sensitive bandwidth within the frequency range of visible light. The number of the sensitive bandwidths is N that is greater than 3. A signal indicative of the light spectrum power distribution as detected by the detector is produced.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor including at least three pixel transfer control signal lines, on a per line basis, configured to control exposure start and end timings of a pixel in order for exposure timings of a plurality of the pixels constituting one line in a specific direction to have at least three patterns.

Abstract: To enable an imaging apparatus to achieve high resolution and sufficient color reproducibility. A diffraction grating 1 is provided on the incident light side of a spectral image sensor 10, the diffraction grating 1 including scatterers such as scatterers 3, slits 5, and scatterers 7 which are disposed in that order. An electromagnetic wave is scattered by the scatterers to produce diffracted waves, and by using the fact that interference patterns between the diffracted waves change with wavelengths, signals are detected for respective wavelengths by photoelectric conversion elements 12B, 12G, and 12R in each photodiode group 12.

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: A solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging unit wherein a plurality of light sensing units formed in a matrix and a plurality of interconnections are formed among the plurality of light sensing units; a color filter that is disposed over the imaging unit, and delivers colors to the light sensing units in accordance with a predefined rule; and on-chip lenses that are disposed corresponding to the light sensing units on a one-by-one basis over the color filter, and have light-collection characteristics varying in accordance with differences among sensitivities of the light sensing units, where the differences among the sensitivities of the light sensing units are generated, when the same colors are delivered to the light sensing units in accordance with the same rule, owing to the fact that positions of the individual interconnections relative to the light sensing units vary periodically.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus that shortens a time for reading out pixel signals of all pixels and improves the aperture ratio of pixels is provided. The solid-state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels (3) arranged in a matrix along a plurality of rows and columns, in which each of the pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element and a color filter; a plurality of buffers (2) arranged with each one corresponding to a plurality of pixels; and a plurality of vertical output lines (1) arranged such that two or more of the vertical output lines (1) are arranged correspondingly to one of the columns of the pixels; in which an input node of each of the buffers is connected commonly to a plurality of pixels having color filters of different colors, and output nodes of the plurality of buffers are connected alternately to a plurality of vertical output lines.

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: Methods and systems are disclosed for producing color-image data representative of a color optical code or other color objects, particularly with a monochrome imager. Monochrome image-sensor data is produced by receiving a sequence of colored light emitted by an artificial light source and reflected from the color object. The sequence of colored light may be a red, green, and blue sequence of colored light emitting diode lights according to some embodiments. The monochrome imager produces the monochrome image-sensor data based at least in part on the portion of the reflected sequence of colored light. The monochrome image-sensor data is processed to produce color-image data representing the color optical code.

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 photoelectric conversion device comprising a photoelectric conversion part including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein light is made incident from an upper part of the second electrode layer into the photoelectric conversion layer; the photoelectric conversion layer generates a charge containing an electron and a hole corresponding to the incident light from the upper part of the second electrode layer; and the first electrode layer works as an electrode for extracting the hole.

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: An apparatus includes a pixel array in which pixels for outputting an analog signal are arranged in a matrix, vertical output lines each of which is connected to pixels in a same column, A/D conversion units, which are individually connected to the vertical output lines, for converting the analog signal into a digital signal, and a constant current supply unit for supplying a constant current to the A/D conversion units. Each of the A/D conversion units includes an integration unit for integrating the constant current, a comparison unit for comparing the integrated constant current with the analog signal and outputting a comparison signal, and a digital signal storage unit for storing a digital signal corresponding to the comparison signal. The integration unit includes an input capacitor for receiving the constant current. The comparison unit is connected to the constant current supply unit via the input capacitor.

Abstract: A low light noise reduction mechanism may perform denoising prior to demosaicing, and may also use parameters determined during the denoising operation for performing demosaicing. The denoising operation may attempt to find several patches of an image that are similar to a first patch, and use a weighted average based on similarity to determine an appropriate value for denoising a raw digital image. The same weighted average and similar patches may be used for demosaicing the same image after the denoising operation.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, there is provided an image processing apparatus including: an acquisition section configured to acquire 3×3 pixel block data to have one red pixel at a center; an estimation section configured to compute blue value differences between blue values of diagonal pairs of blue pixels in the block data, and to estimate a direction of a contrast boundary based on the blue value differences; and a processing section configured to compute a computed blue value based on the blue values of the four blue pixels within the block data according to the estimated direction of the contrast boundary, to compute a computed green value based on green values of two green pixels within the block data, and to output a color image pixel to have a red value of the red pixel and the computed blue and green values.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and photographing method for the same are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes an optical section receiving optical signals, an image sensor comprising color sensor elements detecting sensing-image information from a transmitted optical signal, and infrared sensor elements detecting infrared-image information from the transmitted optical signal and an image processing unit producing infrared-image information of the color sensor elements, using the detected infrared-image information.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for capturing images by applying different color filters to two pixel regions with IR blocking filters removed so that optical signals in the visible band and IR signals can be received. The apparatus includes a filter unit having a plurality of filters having different wavelength bands; a sensor unit sensing optical signals passing through the filters; and a signal-extraction unit extracting detailed optical signals in respective wavelength bands by using the difference between the sensed optical signals.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of pixels comprising a plurality of kernels that repeat periodically and each kernel includes n photosensitive regions for collecting charge in response to light, n is equal to or greater than 2; and a transparent layer spanning the photosensitive regions having n optical paths, at least two of which are different, wherein each optical path directs light of a predetermined spectral band into specific photosensitive regions.

Abstract: Both a high signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range of the output video signal of a one-CCD color television camera are realized.

Abstract: An imaging element includes: a plurality of color filters arranged in a Bayer array; photoelectric conversion elements provided for the respective color filters; a signal adder circuit which carries out additions in each of the unit grids, by (i) adding up signals outputted from two photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to different colors of two color filters out of four color filters, and (ii) adding up signals outputted from two photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to remaining two color filters; and an A/D converter. The imaging element outputs: (i) a first digital image signal where signals of one color out of Ye (yellow) and Cy (cyan), and signals of G, are alternately placed; and (ii) a second digital image signal where signals of an other color out of Ye and Cy, which is different from the one color, and signals of Mg (magenta), are alternately placed.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pairs of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element which have different spectral sensitivity characteristics. A wavelength range where the first photoelectric conversion element of each pair mainly has a spectral sensitivity and a wavelength range where the second photoelectric conversion element of each pair mainly has a spectral sensitivity respectively fall within a wavelength ranges of specific colors of visible light. The plurality of pairs include a plurality of types of pairs having different specific colors of visible light. The half width in the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the first photoelectric conversion element of the each pair is wider than a half width in the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the second photoelectric conversion element of the each corresponding pair.

Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a first image sensor equipped with first and second image-capturing pixels and first focus detection pixels, each of which receives one of light fluxes formed by splitting subject light having passed through an optical system, the first and the second image-capturing pixels generating first and second color signals respectively and the first focus detection pixels outputting focus detection signals indicating a state of focus detection pertaining to the optical system; and a second image sensor equipped with third image-capturing pixels and second focus detection pixels, each of which receives another light flux, the third image-capturing pixels generating third color signals and the second focus detection pixels outputting focus detection signals, wherein: when n represents a quantity of the first image-capturing pixels, quantities of the second and the third image-capturing pixels, and the first and the second focus detection pixels are n, 2n, 2n and 2n respectively.

Abstract: A movable sensor including a plurality of photo pixel sites arranged in an array comprising a photo sensor and a neutral density filter filtering the photo sensor. Each of the neutral density filters have a density value that are graduated over a range of densities. The sensor is linearly movable across an image. Each point in the image is exposed to at least one pixel site with the graduated density values and each of the photo pixel sites of the array is exposed to a same light input during a time span of exposure, such that the image is captured at a defined range of exposure values and can be combined into a single high dynamic range image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a light incident side; a circuit formation surface being opposite to the light incident side; and an inorganic photoelectric conversion unit having a pn junction and an organic photoelectric conversion unit including an organic photoelectric conversion layer, which are laminated in the same pixel in a depth direction from the light incident side and on which light is incident without passing through a color filter. Signals of the inorganic photoelectric conversion unit and the organic photoelectric conversion unit are read on the circuit formation surface.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an imaging area including a plurality of cells arrayed in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate, each of the cells including an avalanche photodiode, the avalanche photodiode including: an anode region buried in an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate; a cathode region buried in the upper portion of the semiconductor substrate separated from the anode region in a direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an avalanche multiplication region defined between the anode and cathode regions, the avalanche multiplication region having an impurity concentration less than the anode and cathode regions; wherein depths of the anode and cathode regions from the surface of the semiconductor substrate are different from each other.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a color image from a sensor which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns is provided. The sensor is provided with a color filter array such that each pixel corresponds to one of three basic colors. The three basic colors are provided on the sensor in a predetermined pattern. The sensor outputs a detected value for each of the plurality of pixels. The method comprises the steps: for each of the plurality of pixels: accepting a detected value obtained for the corresponding one of the three basic colors and, for each of the respective two other basic colors, calculating a vertical interpolation value and a horizontal interpolation value and selecting either the vertical interpolation value or the horizontal interpolation value; outputting the accepted detected value and the selected interpolation values.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for demosaicing colors in an image sensor can accurately locate edge directionality by detecting a successive 1-line edge precisely. The embodiments may include an image sensor containing information on a color signal detected from each pixel, a first line memory receiving and storing output data from the image sensor, a missing green information extractor extracting missing green pixel information from the data of the first line memory, a delayer receiving the data of the first line memory, the delayer delaying the received data for a prescribed duration, the delayer outputting the delayed data, a second line memory temporarily storing the data outputted from the missing green information extractor and the data provided via the delayer, and a missing red/blue information outputter extracting missing red/blue information from the data of the second line memory.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor including a color filter having pixels of different colors arranged in a predetermined order and a demosaic processor. The image sensor receives a subject image and outputs an image signal including color signals of the different colors. The demosaic processor generates color signals of the different colors for each of pixels of the image from the image signal. The demosaic processor includes a generation unit and a noise reduction unit. The generation unit performs computation using a target color signal representing a predetermined target color signal included in the image signal and a predetermined different color signal so as to generate a color-related signal that associates the target color signal with the predetermined different color signal for a pixel of the target color signal. The noise reduction unit performs a noise reduction process on the color-related signal generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: Image processors and methods of processing image data from monochrome and color sensors, for example, pixels, are provided. The exposure time of the monochrome pixels is limited and the exposure time of the color pixels is extended to enhance image quality while limiting the “cross talk” that can interfere with prior art methods and devices. The monochrome and color sensors may be provided in two-dimensional image sensor arrays which can be provided in optical readers, for example, portable hand-held optical readers. Aspects of the invention can be applied to visual imaging, for example, in bar code or image handling applications, and to the detection and processing of any form of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Methods of optimizing the diameters of nanowire photodiode light sensors. The method includes comparing the response of nanowire photodiode pixels having predetermined diameters with standard spectral response curves and determining the difference between the spectral response of the photodiode pixels and the standard spectral response curves. Also included are nanowire photodiode light sensors with optimized nanowire diameters and methods of scene reconstruction.

Abstract: A video processing system may include a video input and a video output for outputting manipulated video images. The system may have a video processing chain connecting the video input to the video output. The chain may include a series connection of two or more video processing components. The components may each include a component input for receiving video images and a component output for outputting processed video images. A control input may be present for controlling the video processing component to be in an enabled or a disabled state. The video processing component may be arranged to obtain in the enabled state the processed video images by performing a respective processing operation on the received video images; and to obtain in the disabled state the processed video images by forwarding the received video images to the component output without performing the processing operation.

Abstract: Image sensors and color filter arrays for in-pixel charge summing and interlaced readout modes may be provided. An image sensor that supports charge summing and interlaced readout modes may include an array of pixels with pairs of adjacent green, red, and blue light-sensitive pixels. An image sensor may implement an in-pixel charge summing readout mode in which charges from pairs of pixels are summed onto a common node and then read out from the common node. An image sensor may implement an interlaced readout mode in which image data is read out from alternating rows of the image sensor. An image sensor may use a shared readout scheme in which a group of four pixels is formed from two pairs of commonly-colored pixels. The four pixels may share circuitry such as a reset transistor, a buffer transistor, and a row select transistor and may connect to a single readout line.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging terminal comprising an image sensing and processing circuit that includes a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array having a first subset of pixels provided by monochrome pixels without color filter elements and a second subset of pixels provided by color pixels having color filter elements. The terminal can be operative so that the image sensing and processing circuit can output a frame of image data for storing in a CPU addressable image frame memory. The image sensing and processing circuit can be operative so that a frame of image data output by the image sensing and processing circuit for storing in a CPU addressable image frame memory can include monochrome pixel values that correspond to color pixel positions of the image sensor pixel array.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus calculates a smoothed value obtained by smoothing signal levels of a plurality of pixels including a processing target pixel in a local area of an input image and a feature amount representing an edge degree of the processing target pixel using a pre-noise reduction image obtained by reducing an impulse noise of the input image. The image processing apparatus weighted-adds a signal level of the processing target pixel and the smoothed value at a ratio corresponding to the feature amount and outputs the weighted-addition result as a signal level after noise reduction processing.

Abstract: A color image sensor is disclosed. The color image sensor includes a pixel array including a color filter array (“CFA”) overlaying an array of photo-sensors for acquiring a color image. The CFA includes first color filter elements of a first color overlaying a first group of the photo-sensors and second color filter elements of a second color overlaying a second group of the photo-sensors. The first color filter elements contribute to a first color channel of the color image and the second color filter elements contribute to a second color channel of the color image. The color image sensor further includes a color combiner unit coupled to combine the first color channel with the second color channel to generate a third color channel of the color image based on the first and second color channels. An output port is coupled to the pixel array to output the color image having three color channels including the first, second, and third color channels.

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: An imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a unit pixel that outputs an analog electric signal in accordance with a signal charge; a local voltage supply circuit that generates a local voltage different from an operation voltage; a reference signal generation section that generates a reference signal based on the local voltage provided by the local voltage supply circuit; and a processing section that converts, by referring to the reference signal generated by the reference signal generation section, the analog signal provided by the unit pixel into a digital signal. In the imaging device, the reference signal generation section keeps constant a load current of the local voltage supply circuit in an operating state.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device; a microlens array; an image processing section; and a data storage section, in which the image processing section produces a plurality of arbitrary viewpoint images based on image pickup data obtained by the image pickup device by synthesizing pixel data extracted from pixels located at the same position in image regions each of which corresponds to each of microlenses included in the microlens array, and the arbitrary viewpoint images are stored in the data storage section, and a plurality of pixel data recorded at pixel positions adjacent to one another are collectively read out as a read-out unit from each of the arbitrary viewpoint images stored in the data storage section, and a predetermined sorting process and a predetermined integration process are performed on the pixel data read out, thereby the refocus image is produced.