With Color Filter Or Operation According To Color Filter Patents (Class 348/273)
  • Publication number: 20120069228
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus having a pixel array region and a peripheral region includes a pixel array, a readout unit, an output unit, a plurality of output lines, and a color filter layer which is arranged in the pixel array region and the peripheral region and includes a color filter arranged above the plurality of pixels. The color filter layer extends to surround the output lines when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and has an opening arranged above the plurality of output lines. The opening of the color filter layer is filled with gas or an insulator lower in dielectric constant than the color filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: SATOSHI KATO, HIROFUMI TOTSUKA
  • Patent number: 8138466
    Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus includes an image sensor and an infrared component remover. The image sensor receives light through a color filter, the color filter including long-pass filters only or a combination of a long-pass filter and an all-transmissive filter. The long-pass filters in the color filter a visible-light transmissive long-pass filter for permitting a visible-light component and an infrared-light component to pass therethrough and an infrared-light transmissive long-pass filter for permitting an infrared-light component to pass selectively therethrough. The infrared-light component remover removes an infrared-light component contained in a signal having passed through the visible-light transmissive long-pass filter, with transmittance data of an infrared-light region of the visible-light transmissive long-pass filter and the infrared-light transmissive long-pass filter applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Hosaka
  • Patent number: 8139166
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes an image processing device, an illuminating device, a light valve, and a projection optical system; wherein the projection optical system is formed in such a way that at least one of a first deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a central wavelength of the red light relative to the green light and a second deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of the blue light relative to the green light is larger than a fixed-pixel pitch, and a third deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a maximum wavelength of the red light relative to a light having a minimum wavelength of the red light is not larger than the fixed-pixel pitch; wherein the first deviation and/or the second deviation is eliminated by supplying the compensated video signal to the light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Muneharu Kuwata, Tomohiro Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 8134633
    Abstract: A color solid-state image capturing apparatus is provided, where a plurality of light receiving sections are arranged on a light receiving surface of an image capturing area, a plurality of color filters are positioned in a constant period above the plurality of light receiving sections, and a plurality of microlenses for focusing light on the plurality of respective light receiving sections are positioned on the plurality of color filters, and a plurality of color signals are output in accordance with the plurality of color filters, where the constant period of the plurality of color filters is defined as a unit, and the size of the plurality of microlenses is variable for each light receiving section so that the ratio of the plurality of color signals is constant in the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120057055
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging area in which a plurality of pixels used to acquire an image are provided; a spectrum area in which a plurality of pixels used to acquire a color spectrum are provided; and a filter that is formed above the pixels provided in the spectrum area and allows an electromagnetic wave with a desired wavelength to pass, wherein the filter is formed of a plasmon resonator that is a conductive metal structure having an unevenness structure at a predetermined pitch, and the imaging area and the spectrum area are provided on a single chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corproration
    Inventor: Sozo Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 8130293
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a color and polarization obtaining section 101 including a single-chip color image capture device that has a color mosaic filter 201 and a patterned polarizer 202 in which a number of polarizer units, having polarization transmission planes defining mutually different angles, are provided for multiple pixels of the same color (G) in the color mosaic filter 201; a polarization information processing section 103 for approximating, as a sinusoidal function, a relation between the intensities of light rays that have been transmitted through the polarizer units for the G pixels and the angles of the polarization transmission planes of the polarizer units; and a color mosaic interpolation section 103 for generating a color intensity image by performing color intensity interpolation and getting a color intensity that cannot be obtained at a pixel of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kanamori, Satoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8131110
    Abstract: An image processing method that demosaicks a mosaic input image to generate a full color output image. The image processing method calculates both vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Next, the image processing method calculates an enhanced version of both vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Then, the image processing method interpolates a G component for each of the original R and B components. Next, the image processing method detects a signal overshoot or undershoot in each interpolated G component and to clamps each interpolated G component with a detected signal overshoot or undershoot to the closest neighboring original G component. Next, the image processing method interpolates missing R and/or B components in each pixel location of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rastislav Lukac
  • Patent number: 8130304
    Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixels of different colors. The pixels may be arranged in a repeating pattern of eight pixels having four rows and two columns. During charge summing operations, the first and third rows may share a floating diffusion and the second and fourth rows may share a floating diffusion. When charge summing is inactive, transfer gates in the first and second columns may be controlled independently, while transfer gates in pairs of rows may be controlled simultaneously. When charge summing is active, summed charges from pixels of the same color in the first and third rows may be placed on the floating diffusion shared by the first and third rows and summed charges from pixels of the same color in the second and fourth rows may be placed on the floating diffusion shared by the second and fourth rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiping Yin, John W. Ladd
  • Patent number: 8125546
    Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image comprising a two dimensional array of light-sensitive pixels including panchromatic pixels and color pixels having at least three different color responses, the pixels being arranged in a rectangular minimal repeating unit having at least eight pixels and having at least two rows and two columns, wherein for a first color response, the color pixels having the first color response alternate with panchromatic pixels in at least two directions, and for each of the other color responses there is at least one row, column or diagonal of the repeating pattern that only has color pixels of the given color response and panchromatic pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Adams, Jr., Mrityunjay Kumar, Bruce H. Pillman, James A. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20120044395
    Abstract: An electronic device may have an image sensor array that captures images. The image sensor array may include antireflective layers that increase the efficiency of the image sensor in gathering incoming light. The image sensor array may include a first antireflective layer between a color filter layer and a passivation layer and a second antireflective layer between the passivation layer and a dielectric stack. The first antireflective layer may have an index of refraction that is between the indexes of refraction of the color filter layer and the passivation layer and the second antireflective layer may have an index of refraction that is between the indexes of refraction of the dielectric stack and the passivation layer, thereby reducing the proportion of incident light that reflects off the interface between the color filter layer and the passivation layer and the interface between the passivation layer and the dielectric stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Andrea Del Monte
  • Patent number: 8120672
    Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Okada, Noriaki Kojima, Hiroshi Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 8120671
    Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Okada, Hiroshi Hanafusa, Noriaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 8115838
    Abstract: A signal processing device for a solid-state imaging device correcting inter-pixel color mixing in the solid-state imaging device in which color filters having a color component constituting a primary component among luminance components and other color components are disposed on a surface of a two-dimensional array of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element is disclosed. The signal processing device includes a parameter distribution unit two-dimensionally distributing correction parameters in a pixel array surface on which a plurality of pixels are arranged and a signal correcting unit correcting a signal for a pixel of interest using each of signals for a plurality of surrounding pixels adjacent to the pixel of interest in the pixel array surface and using two-dimensionally distributed correction parameters for each of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Tamaoki
  • Publication number: 20120033114
    Abstract: An active device array substrate including a substrate, multiple scan lines, multiple data lines, multiple of pixels are provided. The scan lines and the data lines are disposed on the substrate. Each pixel includes multiple sub-pixels including at least a transistor, a pixel electrode, and a color filter. The transistor is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the scan line and the data line correspondingly. A portion of the color filter is disposed between the pixel electrode and the corresponding scan line. The pixel electrode is coupled with the corresponding scan line to form a first capacitor. The drain of the transistor is coupled with the corresponding scan line to form a second capacitor. In a single pixel, the coupling areas of the pixel electrodes corresponding to various color filters with the corresponding scan lines are different, so that capacitance of the first capacitors are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min-Hsiang Hung, Ming-Yung Huang, Chun-Jen Chiu, Yu-Zhi Wu, Yuan-Nan Chiu, Chin-An Tseng, Yen-Heng Huang
  • Publication number: 20120019633
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques which facilitate the automatic synchronization of audio and video signals between an entertainment device and a presentation device. A sensing device detects and records timing information from a video test pattern generated by an entertainment device and output by a presentation device. Using the timing information from the sensing device, the entertainment device synchronizes the audio and video signals it outputs to one or more presentation devices. The presentation device exhibits synchronized audio and video to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Eric Holley
  • Publication number: 20120019695
    Abstract: An apparatus and technique for fabricating an image sensor including the dark sidewall films disposed between adjacent color filters. The image sensor further includes an array of photosensitive elements disposed in a substrate layer, a color filter array (“CFA”) including CFA elements having at least two different colors disposed on a light incident side of the substrate layer, and an array of microlenses disposed over the CFA. Each microlens is aligned to direct light incident on the light incident side of the image sensor through a corresponding CFA element to a corresponding photosensitive element. The dark sidewall films are disposed on sides of the CFA elements and separate adjacent ones of the CFA elements having different colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yin Qian, Hsin-Chih Tai, Duli Mao, Vincent Venezia, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120019669
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating image sensors. In some embodiments, a processing module of an image system can automatically perform a self-calibration process after a production unit of an image sensor has been integrated into an end product system. For example, the processing module can calibrate a production unit based on one or more reference pixels of the production unit, where the one or more reference pixels have minimal color filtration. In some embodiments, the processing module may perform local calibrations by correcting specifically for spatial variations in a color filter array (“CFA”). In some embodiments, the processing module can perform global calibrations by correcting for optical density variations in the CFA. In some embodiments, a processing module can determine whether the cause of production variations is related to production variations of a CFA or production variations of an infrared (“IR”) cutoff filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Brian Keelan, Gennadiy Agranov
  • Publication number: 20120019694
    Abstract: The recording of successive frames of raw sensor data depicting a moving scene is provided. The raw sensor data comprises pixel data for an image sensor having pixels arranged in correspondence to a mosaic of plural different colors in a color filter array. A first sampling mosaic pattern for sampling the pixel data at a first resolution is designated. A second sampling mosaic pattern for sampling the pixel data at a second resolution which is lower than the first resolution is designated. One of the first or the second sampling mosaic patterns is selected for a frame by applying a predetermined rule. Pixel data of the frame is sampled using the selected sampling mosaic pattern. The sampled pixel data for the frame is recorded onto a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Publication number: 20120008023
    Abstract: A method is described of capturing an image. The method comprising the steps of: exposing an image sensor to radiation from a first part of the electromagnetic spectrum using a first aperture and to radiation from a second part of the spectrum using a second aperture having a different size than the first aperture; and, forming an image on the basis of first image data generated by the radiation from the first part of the spectrum and second image data generated by radiation from the second part of the spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: IPLINK LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Augustine Wajs
  • Patent number: 8094208
    Abstract: Color filter arrays or mosaics are provided for imaging a scene with diffraction limited optics. A distribution of color types in a color filter array is biased toward smaller wavelengths to avoid or reduce loss of spatial resolution information at higher wavelengths due to a larger extent of diffraction at the higher wavelengths. Demosaicing methods for reconstructing a partial or full color image from raw image data involve applying correction factors to account for diffraction. The correction factors are based on pixel size and/or a measure of the extent of diffraction (e.g., an Airy disk diameter) for each wavelength in the color filter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Nathan P. Myhrvold
  • Publication number: 20110317047
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for an image processing pipeline having a hardware module to spatially filter a raw image in the horizontal direction to obtain intermediate image data. The pipeline can also include a set of instructions which, if executed by a processor, cause the pipeline to spatially filter the intermediate image data in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: David Stanhill
  • Patent number: 8084729
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus having a pixel array region and a peripheral region includes a pixel array, a readout unit, an output unit, a plurality of output lines, and a color filter layer which is arranged in the pixel array region and the peripheral region and includes a color filter arranged above the plurality of pixels. The color filter layer extends to surround the output lines when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and has an opening arranged above the plurality of output lines. The opening of the color filter layer is filled with gas or an insulator lower in dielectric constant than the color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kato, Hirofumi Totsuka
  • Publication number: 20110310276
    Abstract: An optical apparatus and an imaging apparatus capable of facilitating capturing images with a simpler structure are provided. The imaging apparatus includes a color filter divided into a plurality of regions, each of the regions configured to allow light of a preset wavelength range to pass therethrough, a main lens disposed at a front or a rear of the color filter to allow light to pass therethrough, and an optic unit to allow the light passing through the color filter or the main lens to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Jae-Guyn Lim, Byung-Kwan Park, Won-Hee Choe, Seong-Deok Lee
  • Publication number: 20110310014
    Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, a visible light cut filter allows infrared components to pass through, and blocks visible light components. A plurality of image pickup devices receive the light transmitted through the visible light cut filter such that a plurality of color components are received separately from each other. The visible light cut filter allows part of the visible light components to transmit such that the visible light component enters at least one of the plurality of image pickup devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori MIZUNO, Kazuo Ishimoto, Toru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110310277
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to perform photoelectric conversion on incident light. The device also includes a color filter array including at least three kinds of color filters different in filtering wavelength region. Any of the color filters is placed for each of the photoelectric conversion elements to filter the incident light. The spectral transmittances of the color filters are equal to each other in a predetermined wavelength region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiro IMAMURA, Keiichi MORI
  • Publication number: 20110304753
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging device in which an additional member for switching an installation state of an IR cut filter does not have to be provided and which can flexibly use infrared light. An imaging device (1) receives light and performs photoelectric conversion. The imaging device (1) includes a first photoelectric conversion portion (10) configured to receive light including infrared light and allow the light to pass therethrough, second filters (26) configured to filter infrared light from the light which has passed through the first photoelectric conversion portion (10), and a second photoelectric conversion portion (20) configured to receive light transmitted through the second filters (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 8071416
    Abstract: A method of forming a uniform color filter array. In one embodiment, a first compensation layer is formed over a non-planar color filter array and is patterned to form material structures. A second compensation layer is blanket deposited over the first layer. A technique, such as etching or polishing, is then performed to remove the first and second compensation layers, creating a substantially planar color filter array surface. In another embodiment, the planar color filter array is formed in a recessed trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saijin Liu, Ulrich C. Boettiger
  • Publication number: 20110285880
    Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor includes a sensor layer comprising photosensitive elements of the pixel array, an epitaxial layer formed on a frontside surface of the sensor layer, and a color filter array formed on a backside surface of the sensor layer. The epitaxial layer comprises polysilicon color filter array alignment marks formed in locations corresponding to respective color filter array alignment mark openings in the frontside surface of the sensor layer. The color filter array is aligned to the color filter array alignment marks of the epitaxial layer. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Frederick T. Brady
  • Patent number: 8063948
    Abstract: A proximity-based system for, and method of, reducing Gr-Gb gain imbalance and a digital camera incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a sensor configured to provide a input Bayer pattern array containing amplitudes corresponding to Gr and Gb cells and (2) a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to (2a) compute for at least some of the Gr and Gb cells: closeness measures for pluralities of adjacent, same-type cells, weights for pluralities of adjacent, opposite-type cells based on the closeness measures and weighted averages of the pluralities of the adjacent, opposite-type cells based on the weights and (2b) use the weighted averages to form an output Bayer pattern in which the Gr-Gb gain imbalance is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Munenori Oizumi
  • Patent number: 8063352
    Abstract: A color separation filter (100), for a solid state image sensor includes a micro lens array (108) adapted to collect a full color spectrum light source (104), a mask layer (120) is attached to the micro lens array (108), the mask layer (120) includes plurality of openings (124), each opening is positioned in front of a single micro lens from the micro lens array. Additionally it includes a first array of prisms (204), each prism is positioned in front of each of the openings, a second array of prisms (212) is attached to the first array of prisms with an optical glue layer (208). Each prism from the first array of prisms is positioned in front of a prism from the second array of prisms to create a symmetrical optical path for the color spectrum light source (304).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Vladislav Blayvas
  • Patent number: 8059174
    Abstract: There is provided a CMOS imager system for providing a viewable image having increased dynamic range including an image sensor including a number of sets of pixels. Each set of pixels is configured to receive one of a number of exposures and to generate image data corresponding to the received exposure in the interleaved mode. The image sensor is configured to operate in either an interleaved mode or a non-interleaved mode and to output the image data generated by each set of pixels as a frame of interleaved image data in the interleaved mode. The imager system further includes an interleaved image pipeline in communication with the image sensor, where the interleaved image pipeline is configured to receive the interleaved image data from the image sensor, combine the image data generated by each set of pixels corresponding to one of the exposures to form the viewable image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: ESS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Mann, Selim Bencuya, Jiafu Luo, Alexandre G. Grigoriev, Heng Zhang, Miaohong Shi, Robert Blair, Max Safai
  • Publication number: 20110273596
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes a signal processing unit which processes a signal generated by separating a luminous signal into wavelength components of two or more colors by use of a sensor unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels to which a wavelength separating unit for separating light wavelengths is arranged at a front face of a photoelectric converting element which converts the luminous signal condensed by an optical lens unit into electric signals, wherein the optical lens unit includes at least one optical lens having different focusing positions in accordance with the wavelengths of the luminous signal, and the signal processing unit includes an outline signal generating unit which extracts an outline signal from an output signal of the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Egawa
  • Patent number: 8054357
    Abstract: An image sensor system with an image sensor that generates a first image and a second image. The first and second images are transmitted to a processor in a time overlapping manner. By way of example, the images may be transferred to the processor in an interleaving manner or provided on separate dedicated busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Candela Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiok Nam Tay
  • Patent number: 8054371
    Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface, pixels formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and grid arrays aligned with one of the pixels. One of the grid arrays is configured to allow a wavelength of light to pass through to the corresponding one of the pixels. The grid arrays are disposed overlying the front or back surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chun Wang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Patent number: 8049797
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion element group, and color filters of at least two colors arranged on respective photoelectric conversion elements of the photoelectric conversion element group. The color filters are arranged on the respective photoelectric conversion elements such that a spatial frequency component of array of color filters of each color includes a reduced amount of component in a low-frequency region and a band component in a high-frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihito Machida, Tomokazu Yanai
  • Publication number: 20110261238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pattern of a color filter array. The pattern includes a plurality of pixel arrays, which has four color filters arranged in an array. The color of the neighboring color filters is distinct to each other. Moreover, the pattern of the color filter array has enlarged color filters or extended edges in corners of the pattern. These enlarged color filters or extended edges increase the contact area between the pattern and a substrate that the pattern formed on. Therefore, the adhesion strength between the pattern and the substrate can be augmented to prevent peeling from the substrate. According to the invention, the yield of the product will be raised substantially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Chung-Jung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8045022
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a first luminance signal generating unit and a correcting unit. The imaging device includes at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements and a luminance detecting photoelectric converting element. The first luminance signal generating unit generates a first luminance signal corresponding to the color detecting photoelectric converting element from a color signal obtained from each of the at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements. The correcting unit corrects, based on the color signal, at least a second luminance signal corresponding to the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element which is obtained from the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element so as to generate a luminance signal which constitutes image data corresponding to each of the photoelectric converting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Wada
  • Patent number: 8045816
    Abstract: An image quantization method and apparatus are provided in which a block with a high possibility of having color distortion is more elaborately quantized using a predetermined color distortion removing quantization matrix. The image quantization method includes determining a possibility of color distortion in the block using discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients and pixel values of the block of predetermined size of an image and performing initial quantization on the block using a predetermined color distortion quantization matrix to remove color distortion if the block has a high possibility of color distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mi-yeon Lee, Bo-gun Park
  • Patent number: 8040440
    Abstract: A projection device comprises a light source, a color wheel which is inserted into an optical path of the light source and in which a plurality of color segments are formed along a peripheral direction of the color wheel. The color segments are configured to transmit a plurality of wavelength band components in the white light in a time division manner during a rotation of the color wheel. A light source driving unit alternating-current discharges the light source at a period shorter than a rotation period of the color wheel while reverses a polarity at a timing to switch the segment of the color wheel inserted into the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Haraguchi, Takashi Kokubo, Hideo Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8040412
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, plural types of color filters, an imaging device including a plurality of pixels each receiving a light incident to the imaging apparatus through a predetermined type of color filter and being operable to generate image data with the plurality of pixels from the image formed by the optical system, a light information acquiring section operable to acquire information on the incident light, and a correction processing section operable to convert a position of a pixel of the image data formed by the pixels, according to at least type of the color filter provided for the pixel and the information on the incident light acquired by the light information acquiring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Norikazu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110249157
    Abstract: The present invention aims to capture two images simultaneously in the visible part of the spectrum and a NIR image. This is achieved through a camera for simultaneously capturing a visible and near-infrared image by at least a sensor producing sensor response data and having at least one colour filter array (CFA) comprising at least four different filters, said colour filter array having visible and near-infrared light filters, and said camera comprising means to obtain a visible image while using the sensor response data from the visible part of the spectrum and a NIR image using the sensor response data from the near-infrared part of the spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Clément Fredembach, Yue Lu, Sabine Süsstrunk
  • Patent number: 8035707
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises an image-capturing element that outputs image signals representing a plurality of color components and an analyzing device that analyzes a captured photographic image based upon image signals with linearity, which are output from the image-capturing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshige Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8035708
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels that are provided on a semiconductor substrate, and that include a plurality of photoelectric-conversion units and metal oxide semiconductor transistors that selectively read signals from the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units, an organic-photoelectric-conversion film disposed on the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units, and an organic-color-filter layer disposed on the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units. Only a signal corresponding to a first color is extracted through the organic-photoelectric-conversion film. Signals corresponding to a plurality of colors not including the first color are extracted by absorption spectroscopy using the organic-color-filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ritsuo Takizawa, Taichi Natori
  • Patent number: 8035710
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a color filter having a filter characteristic more approaching to a human visual sensitivity is provided. The color filter including a group of dielectric layers has high-refractive-index-material films and low-refractive-index-material films, the high-refractive-index-material film and the low-refractive-index-material film being n films and (n?1) films, respectively, which are laminated alternately, n being an integer equal to or larger than 4. The color filter includes at least a red-transmission filter, a green-transmission filter, and a blue-transmission filter. The group of dielectric layers is common in the color filter and includes two of the high-refractive-index-material films and one of the low-refractive-index-material films positioned between and in contact with the two of high-refractive-index-material films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Koyama
  • Patent number: 8035069
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Genta Sato
  • Patent number: 8035068
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of light receiving portions. A color filter is provided on a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element with filters for red, green, and blue arranged corresponding to the light receiving portions, such that R, G, and B pixels including the light receiving portions and the filters are arranged in a two-dimensional array. A transfer unit transfers a light in a wavelength range other than lights of green and blue incident on the G pixel and a light in a wavelength range other than lights of blue and green incident on the B pixel to a neighboring R pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoko Ishigaki, Ryosuke Kasahara, Toshiyuki Kawasaki, Ippei Matsumoto, Masahiro Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20110242349
    Abstract: A solid-state image capturing device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a photosensitive surface including a matrix of pixels as respective photoelectric converters; and a photochromic film disposed in a light path through which light is applied to each of the photoelectric converters, the photochromic film being made of a photochromic material having a light transmittance variable depending on the intensity of applied light in a predetermined wavelength range; wherein the light transmittance has a half-value period shorter than one frame during which pixel signals generated by the pixels are read from all the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Kouichi Harada
  • Publication number: 20110242351
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a plurality of common pixel sections arranged in a matrix form so that pixel signals of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the same row can be output; a plurality of row address lines used to select some of the photoelectric conversion elements in each row; and a scan section that allows for the pixel signals of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to be output through addressing adapted to select the plurality of row address lines one at a time in sequence, in which the plurality of row address lines are connected to the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the same row in each of the common pixel sections so that the scan section can individually select the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the same row in each of the common pixel sections during addressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SHOJI
  • Patent number: 8031969
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selecting appropriate anisotropic filtering levels for images. An image is obtained, that image is Fourier transformed into its frequency components, and then those frequency components are normalized. The Fourier transformed into its frequency components are assigned to Fourier buckets (or bins) having dimensions selected in accord with the number of available anisotropic filtering levels. A predetermined threshold value is used to select one of the Fourier buckets by comparing the predetermined threshold value with the contents of the Fourier buckets. The selected Fourier bucket is used to determine an appropriate anisotropic filtering level for the image. Some embodiments of the present invention can provide for an automatic selection and setting of the appropriate anisotropic filtering level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Kiel
  • Patent number: 8031243
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for generating an image is provided. The apparatus includes an optical module, a filter module which includes a wide-band filter area that allows transmission of optical signals within a wavelength band corresponding to a color of a predetermined color, a narrow-band filter area that allows transmission of optical signals within a wavelength band corresponding to the predetermined color, and an all-pass filter area that allows transmission of optical signals in all wavelength bands, and an image generation module which generates an image by processing optical signals that transmit through the filter module, wherein the image generation module applies different weights to optical signals according to which of the wide-band filter area, the narrow-band filter area, and the all-pass filter area the optical signals respectively transmit through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Francisco Imai, Won-hee Choe, Jae-hyun Kwon, Seong-deok Lee, Sung Ho Park