Abstract: A rearranger circuit rearranges data elements of each raw image of a plurality of raw images according to a plurality of raw color channel arrays. The data elements of each raw image are input to the rearranger circuit according to instances of a pattern of color channels of a color filter array (CFA). The data elements specify values of the color channels in the instances of the pattern, and each raw color channel array has the data elements of one color channel of the color channels in the instances of the pattern. The rearranger circuit can be used in neural network training or in generating raw color channel arrays for performing neural network inference.

Abstract: Electronic apparatuses that prevent image quality deterioration of an image captured by a camera while reducing a bezel width are disclosed. In one example, an electronic app mprises a display including a display surface, a first image sensor configured to detect light in a direction incident upon the display surface and arranged under the display surface in a cross sectional view, and a second image sensor disposed separately from the first image sensor, the second image sensor being configured to detect light in the direction incident upon the display surface and arranged at a level lower than the display surface in the cross sectional view. The sensitivity of the first image sensor to a first wavelength band that includes blue light is higher than sensitivity of the second image sensor to the first wavelength band.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, light detection and ranging (lidar) systems, and vehicles involving solid-state, single photon detectors. An example device includes a substrate defining a primary plane and a plurality of photodetector cells disposed along the primary plane. The plurality of photodetector cells includes at least one large-area cell and at least one small-area cell. The large-area cell has a first area and the small-area cell has a second area and the first area is greater than the second area. The device also includes read out circuitry coupled to the plurality of photodetector cells. The read out circuitry is configured to provide an output signal based on incident light detected by the plurality of photodetector cells.

Abstract: Dual-aperture digital cameras with auto-focus (AF) and related methods for obtaining a focused and, optionally optically stabilized color image of an object or scene. A dual-aperture camera includes a first sub-camera having a first optics bloc and a color image sensor for providing a color image, a second sub-camera having a second optics bloc and a clear image sensor for providing a luminance image, the first and second sub-cameras having substantially the same field of view, an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc, and a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured to control the AF mechanism, to calculate a scaling difference and a sharpness difference between the color and luminance images, the scaling and sharpness differences being due to the AF mechanism, and to process the color and luminance images into a fused color image using the calculated differences.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, the wavelength-selective optical filter being disposed remotely from the optical sensor, an area disposed in the wavelength-selective optical filter, the area having a transmission spectrum different from a transmission spectrum of a portion of the wavelength-selective optical filter not in the area and a reflector, the wavelength-selective optical filter and a measurement subject each being disposed between the reflector and the optical sensor along an optical path.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the same, and an electronic apparatus can achieve a high dynamic range based on multiple exposure technique, where images captured with different exposure durations are combined, with it being possible to prevent motion artifacts and LED flickers. A pixel has a 4:0 configuration. The pixel is divided into, for example, four sub-pixels all of which have the same color (for example, G (green)). An access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times between photoelectric conversion parts PD of the sub-pixels and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other. In other words, the access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times, the number of which corresponds to the number of sub-pixels having the same color, and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other.

Abstract: A display substrate and a fabrication method thereof, a display panel and a display device are provided. The display substrate includes pixels. Each of the pixels includes sub-pixels that emit light of different colors, each of the sub-pixels includes a light emitting element, and at least one of the sub-pixels further includes a color filter. The color filter of the at least one of the sub-pixels covers a portion of a light emitting region of the light emitting element of the at least one of the sub-pixels, and a color of the color filter of the at least one of the sub-pixels is the same as a color of light emitted by the light emitting element of the at least one of the sub-pixels.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes an image sensor disposed within a first substrate. A first band-pass filter and a second band-pass filter are disposed on the first substrate. A dielectric structure is disposed on the first substrate. The dielectric structure is laterally between the first band-pass filter and the second band-pass filter and laterally abuts the first band-pass filter and the second band-pass filter.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a filter array and to a method for processing image data in a camera. The camera is configured to receive light and generate image data using an image sensor having an associated filter array. The image sensor includes an array of pixels, each of which corresponds to a filter element in the filter array, so that each pixel has a spectral response at least partly defined by a corresponding filter element. The filter array includes a pattern of wideband filter elements and at least two types of narrowband filter elements. The method includes the step of generating a luminance image comprising a wideband filter element value that is calculated for each pixel of the image sensor.

Abstract: Optimizations are provided for a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor. This sensor is a spatially multiplexed image sensor that includes at least two sets of red, green, and blue (RGB) pixels. Each red pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately and sometimes, adjacently, to at least one red pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each green pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one green pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each blue pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one blue pixel in the first set of RGB pixel. This spatially multiplexed image sensor is able to generate a digital image with reduced motion blurring artifacts.

Abstract: A high sensitivity image sensor with panchromatic and color pixels arranged to enable high sensitivity, efficient binning and minimize aliasing is disclosed. Efficient binning is enabled by composing the color filter array of tiles containing pixels of at most two types, one panchromatic and the other colored, so that like color pixels to be binned are adjacent to each other. Aliasing is minimized by the twin methods of evenly spacing out tiles containing pixels of like color over the image sensor, and optimizing the arrangement of panchromatic and color pixels within each tile if the tile contains both panchromatic and colored pixels. An image sensor with these color filter arrays can be used to realize cameras with high sensitivity and a plurality of resolutions, with the lower resolutions consuming less power, while minimizing alias artifacts in each supported resolution. A variant of this image sensor with both infrared and color pixels is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix form, and a plurality of systematic pixel drive lines to transmit drive signals to read out signals from the pixels are arranged for each pixel row; and a row scanning section to simultaneously output the drive signals through the plurality of systematic pixel drive lines to a plurality of pixel rows for different pixel columns.

Abstract: Optimizations are provided for a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor. This sensor is a spatially multiplexed image sensor that includes at least two sets of red, green, and blue (RGB) pixels. Each red pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately and sometimes, adjacently, to at least one red pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each green pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one green pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each blue pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one blue pixel in the first set of RGB pixel. This spatially multiplexed image sensor is able to generate a digital image with reduced motion blurring artifacts.

Abstract: The resolution of a low-resolution image is made high and a stereoscopic image is displayed. Resolution is made high by super-resolution processing. In this case, the super-resolution processing is performed after edge enhancement processing is performed. Accordingly, a stereoscopic image with high resolution and high quality can be displayed. Alternatively, after image analysis processing is performed, edge enhancement processing and super-resolution processing are concurrently performed. Accordingly, processing time can be shortened.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a display panel, a production method, and a display apparatus. The display panel comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is provided with a black matrix, and the second substrate is provided oppositely to the first substrate and is provided with a light-shielding layer pattern. A surface of the light-shielding layer pattern has a light-reflecting property, and a projection of at least a part of the light-shielding layer pattern on the second substrate extends beyond a projection of the black matrix on the second substrate.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a first compound semiconductor layer 31 made of a first compound semiconductor material having a first conductivity type; a photoelectric conversion layer 34 formed on the first compound semiconductor layer 31; a second compound semiconductor layer 32 covering the photoelectric conversion layer 34 and made of a second compound semiconductor material having the first conductivity type; a second conductivity type region 35 formed at least in a part of the second compound semiconductor layer 32, having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, and reaching the photoelectric conversion layer; an element isolation layer 34 surrounding a lateral surface of the photoelectric conversion layer; a first electrode 51 formed on the second conductivity type region; and a second electrode 52 electrically connected to the first compound semiconductor layer 31.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a photoelectric detection device and a photoelectric detection apparatus. The photoelectric detection device includes a substrate, a reflective structure provided on the substrate and a photoelectric conversion layer provided on the reflective structure, and has a plurality of pixel regions and a plurality of interval regions each provided between two adjacent pixel regions. The photoelectric conversion layer includes a pixel photoelectric conversion portion in the pixel region; the reflective structure includes a pixel reflective portion in the pixel region and an interval reflective portion in the interval region, and the interval reflective portion is configured to reflect light directed to the interval reflective portion from the pixel photoelectric conversion portion back to the pixel photoelectric conversion portion.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can achieve a higher resolution while increasing sensitivity. In a pixel array unit, pixels are formed with a combination of a first pixel that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a first color component with a first photoelectric conversion unit, and photoelectric conversion on light of a third color component with a second photoelectric conversion unit; a second pixel that performs photoelectric conversion on light of the first color component with a first photoelectric conversion unit, and on light of a fifth color component with a second photoelectric conversion unit; and a third pixel that performs photoelectric conversion on light of the first color component with a first photoelectric conversion unit, and on light of a sixth color component with a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first color component and the sixth color component are mixed, to generate white (W).

Abstract: An image sensor device and a signal processing method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, and at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a micro lens, a filter which includes a first area for filtering a first color signal from a light signal transmitted through the micro lens, and a second area for filtering a second color signal from the transmitted signal, and a first photodiode for converting the first color signal into an electric signal, and a second photodiode for converting the second color signal into an electric signal.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for broadcasting video in a dual HDR/LDR format such that the video can be displayed in real time by both LDR and HDR display devices. Methods and devices of the invention process streams of pixels from multiple sensors in a frame-independent manner to produce an HDR video signal in real time. That HDR video signal is then tone-mapped to produce an LDR video signal, the LDR signal is subtracted from the HDR signal to calculate a residual signal, and the LDR signal and the residual signal are merged into a combined signal that is broadcast via a communications network.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus has a body portion to which a lens portion is mountable and to which an image forming luminous flux is conducted from the lens portion, and the photographing apparatus includes an image pickup device having pixels for image pickup and pixels for focus detection, a storage section that retains information of sensitivity characteristics of the pixels for focus detection, and a control amount calculation section that obtains information about an incident angle and an angular range of the image forming luminous flux from the lens portion and calculates information for focus control based on the obtained information and information read from the storage section. The focus control of high precision is enabled with simple configuration, irrespective of a lens system.

Abstract: A display may have an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel may have a transistor for controlling the amount of output light associated with that pixel. The transistors may be thin-film transistors having active areas, first and second source-drain terminals, and gates. Gate lines may be used to distribute gate control signals to the gates of the transistors in each row. Data lines that run perpendicular to the gate lines may be used to distribute image data along columns of pixels. The gate lines may be connected to gate line extensions that run parallel to the data lines. The data lines may each overlap a respective one of the gate line extensions. Vias may be used to connect the gate line extensions to the gate lines. The gate line extensions may all have the same length.

Abstract: A method of color processing includes providing a color and white filter array placed over an image sensor, thereby generating converted color and white signals; interpolating the converted white signals to generate interpolated white signals; interpolating white-chroma differences between the converted color signals and the converted white signals to generate interpolated white-chroma difference signals; and transforming the interpolated white signal and the interpolated white-chroma difference signals into a color space, thereby generating transformed color signals.

Abstract: According to a color imaging element and an imaging device of the present invention, it is possible to simplify processing in a subsequent stage compared to the case of a random array, improve reproduction precision of de-mosaic processing in a high frequency range, facilitate de-mosaic processing as a result of increase in types of peripheral colors, discern a direction with high correlation between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and suppress aliasing upon de-mosaic processing.

Abstract: According to a color imaging element and an imaging device of the present invention, it is possible to simplify processing in a subsequent stage compared to the case of a random array, improve reproduction precision of de-mosaic processing in a high frequency range, facilitate de-mosaic processing as a result of increase in types of peripheral colors, discern a direction with high correlation between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and suppress aliasing upon de-mosaic processing.

Abstract: In the color imaging element and the imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention, a basic array pattern is repeatedly placed in a first direction and in a second direction, the basic array pattern includes four or more rectangular patterns each corresponding to 3×2 pixels each composed of a first filter, a color filter array includes therein grating filter lines surrounding the four directions of the rectangular pattern, the color filter array includes therein the first filters each disposed in each line in the first direction, in the second direction, in a third direction, and in a fourth direction, and the basic array pattern includes therein one or more second filters of each color, each disposed in each line in the first direction in the second direction.

Abstract: According to a color imaging element and an imaging device of the present invention, it is possible to simplify processing in a subsequent stage compared to the case of a random array, improve reproduction precision of de-mosaic processing in a high frequency range, facilitate de-mosaic processing as a result of increase in types of peripheral colors, discern a direction with high correlation between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and suppress aliasing upon de-mosaic processing.

Abstract: A color filter array is configured with a 3×3 basic array pattern repeatedly disposed in a horizontal and a vertical direction. The basic array pattern is configured with a G filter array formed by disposing a G filter in the horizontal direction, and first and the second RGB filter arrays formed by disposing RGB filters in the horizontal direction. The ratio of the pixel number of the G color is made larger than the ratio of the pixel number of each color of RB. The G filter is disposed in each filter line in the horizontal, vertical and oblique directions of the color filter array. The RB filters are each disposed in one filter line in the vertical direction of the basic array pattern, and any of the RB filters is disposed in other filter lines.

Abstract: A color filter array of a color imaging element is formed with a basic array pattern repeatedly disposed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The basic array pattern is formed with RGB filters arrayed in an array pattern corresponding to 5×5 pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. A ratio of all pixel numbers of a G pixel is made larger than a ratio of a pixel number of each color of RB. The G filter is disposed in each line in the horizontal, vertical and oblique directions of the color filter array. One or more R and B filters are disposed in each filter line in the horizontal and vertical directions of the color filter array in the basic array pattern. Filters of different colors are adjacently disposed in each of the horizontal, vertical and oblique directions of the R and B filter.

Abstract: A color filter array of a color imaging element includes a basic array pattern P of 4×4 pixels in which RGB filters corresponding to red (R), green (G) and blue (B) are arrayed, this basic array pattern P is repeatedly disposed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, a G filter is disposed in each pixel line in four directions of horizontality, verticality, oblique upper right and oblique lower right, and R and B filters are disposed in each pixel line in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the color filter array. Moreover, the color filter array includes consecutive first filters of two or more pixels in four directions of horizontality, verticality, oblique upper right and oblique lower right.

Abstract: A single array of pixels is used to obtain a plurality of different images at different levels of admitted exposure light from a common source level of exposure light. More particularly, first and second matrices of light-admitting elements are deployed in a single camera and disposed relative to focal lens light in front of corresponding first and second matrices of light-sensitive image sensors that are arrayed in a singular focal plane array in the camera and react equally to equal levels of color image information. The respective matrices of light-admitting elements transmit color image information from exposed focal lens light at different levels of brightness to their corresponding matrices of light-sensitive image sensors, wherein first and second images are acquired at the respective different levels of brightness from the respective matrices of the image sensors, and pixel data from the images combined to produce an HDR image.

Abstract: A single-plate color imaging element where an array of the color filters includes a basic array pattern of M×N provided with first filters corresponding to a first color with one or more colors and second filters corresponding to a second color with two or more colors with contribution ratios for obtaining luminance signals lower than the first color, the first filters are arranged in a check pattern shape in the basic array pattern, one or more second filters corresponding to each color of the second color are arranged in each line in the horizontal and vertical directions of the array of the color filters in the basic array pattern, and a proportion of the number of pixels of the first color corresponding to the first filters is greater than a proportion of the number of pixels of each color of the second color corresponding to the second filters.

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 9 pixel-by-9 pixel working window slides over an input Bayer image. For each such window, a demosaicing operation is performed. For each such window, corrective processing is performed relative to that window to produce relative differences for that window. For each such window for which relative differences have been produced, those relative differences are regulated. For each window, a maximum is found for that window's regulated relative differences; in one embodiment of the invention, this maximum is used to select which channel is sharp. For each window, the colors in that window are corrected based on the relative difference-based maximum found for that window. For each window, edge oversharpening is softened in order to avoid artifacts in the output image. The result is an output image in which axial chromatic aberrations have been corrected.

Abstract: Generalized assorted pixel camera systems and methods are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, the generalized assorted pixel camera systems include a color filter array, where the color filter array includes a plurality of primary filters and a plurality of secondary filters. Each filter has a particular spectral response and each filter is formed on a corresponding pixel of a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of primary filters and the plurality of secondary filters enhances an attribute of image quality and the information obtained using the plurality of primary filters and the plurality of secondary filters is used to balance spectral resolution, dynamic range, and spatial resolution for generating an image of a plurality of image types.

Abstract: A color display has continuous areas of a single color covering a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes. Each sub-pixel of a given color has sub-pixels of the same given color disposed along at least two of its adjacent edges. Each area of a single color may cover a 2×2 array of sub-pixel electrodes. The colors used may be red/green/blue/white (RGBW), red/green/blue/yellow (RGBY), or orange/lime/purple/white.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array and an infrared light eliminating portion. The pixel array has a plurality of pixel cells arranged as being array-shaped. The pixel array detects a signal level of each color light as being shared for each pixel cell. The infrared light eliminating portion eliminates infrared light from light proceeding toward a photoelectric conversion element. The infrared light eliminating portion is arranged for each pixel cell. The infrared light eliminating portion has selection wavelength being set in accordance with color light to be a detection target of the pixel cell.

Abstract: A chromaticity correction device corrects chromaticity of a video signal displayed on a display panel of a display device to correspond to a change in a luminance value of the display panel. The chromaticity correction device includes a luminance detection unit which detects the luminance value, a backlight driving level detection unit which detects a backlight driving level, a temperature detection unit which detects an internal device temperature or an ambient temperature, a reference luminance value calculation unit which estimates a reference luminance value in a characteristic of an initial state, a chromaticity calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity change amount of white point chromaticity and estimated white point chromaticity that is an estimated value of current white point chromaticity, a chromaticity correction value calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity correction value and a chromaticity correction circuit which corrects the chromaticity of the video signal.

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 sensor includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a first light sensitive element, a first light filter, and a first microlens. The second pixel is disposed adjacent to the first pixel and includes a second light sensitive element, a second light filter, and a second microlens. The first pixel is configured to direct at least some of the light received at the first microlens to the second light sensitive element of the second pixel to increase optical crosstalk so as to reduce color aliasing.

Abstract: In an image pickup element, basic array patterns are repeatedly arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, each of the basic array patterns being made of I×J color filters, the color filters of each of three or more colors being arrayed in a mixed state, an arrangement cycle (I×J) of a basic array pattern is different from an arrangement cycle (2×2) of a sharing configuration pattern, the basic array pattern includes at least one same-color square array pattern which is made of 2×2 color filters of a same color respectively arranged on the 2×2 pixels of the sharing configuration pattern, a characteristic information storage unit stores information on sensitivity calculated from output values of the 2×2 pixels, and a control unit and a digital signal processing unit correct a sensitivity difference between all the pixels of the image pickup element with use of the information on the sensitivity.

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: Provided are an apparatus and method for executing sensitivity difference correction processing of an image signal, which is generated by a single plate-type image sensor through a color filter. The sensitivity difference correction is executed for Gr and Gb signals included the image signal, for example, an RGB signal, which is generated by the single plate-type image sensor through the color filter. A pixel value of a color filter unit which has the same color as a correction target pixel and is present in surroundings of the correction target pixel is acquired. An additional value is calculated by adding a difference between weighted mean pixel values “a” and “b” of two kinds of pixel groups “A” and “B” classified according to positions of pixels to the pixel value of the correction target pixel in which the weighted mean values correspond to distances of the pixel groups from the correction target pixel.

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: A digital camera system having at least two independent digital cameras, which capture image signals in different narrow-band spectral ranges, wherein each of the at least two independent digital cameras comprises at least one separate two-dimensional digital image sensor, preferably a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and at least one filter element corresponding to the particular narrow-band spectral range connected upstream of the at least one two-dimensional digital image sensor and having at least one filter region. The at least one color filter element additionally comprises at least one neutral region, which is translucent in a spectral range that includes at least the different narrow-band spectral ranges of the at least two independent digital cameras, in particular in a panchromatic spectral range, and which is assigned to at least one specific neutral, in particular unused, pixel region of the associated at least one two-dimensional digital image sensor.

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 white balancing method includes capturing an original image with red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color channels; computing and converting the R, G and B color channels into original color histogram; stretching the original color histograms over the entire grayscale width from 0 to 255 values; and adjusting a color of the original image based on the stretched color histograms to obtain a white balanced image. In the computing and converting the original color histograms, a sampling length follows a formula of spanm=min{(2h, H), (2w, W)}, wherein h=[log2 H]+1, w=[log2 W]+1, H represents a height of the original image, W represents a width of the original image, [ ] is the Gaussian symbol, ( ) is greatest common divisor function, and min{ } means selecting the minimum value. An image capturing device using the white balancing method is also provided.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a light receiving surface sectioned for red, green, blue, and white pixels arranged in a matrix with photodiodes formed thereon; color filters formed on the semiconductor substrate in light incident paths to the photodiodes of the respective formation regions of the red, green, and blue pixels and respectively transmitting lights in red, green, and blue wavelength regions; and photochromic films formed on the semiconductor substrate in the light incident path to the photodiodes in the formation regions of at least some of the white pixels, and containing a photochromic material having light transmittance varying in response to incident light intensity in a predetermined wavelength region, wherein a half period of the light transmittance of the photochromic films is shorter than one frame as a period in which pixel signals obtained in the pixels are read out with respect to all pixels.

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. patent (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: A color filter array of a color imaging device is formed by repeatedly arranging a basic array pattern in which RGB filters are arrayed in an array pattern of 8×12 pixels, in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The basic array pattern is arranged in a matrix manner in the horizontal direction and/or the vertical direction and includes A array to D array having an array pattern of 4×4 pixels. In each of arrays, G filters are arranged in a checkered pattern and the arrangements of G filters have a mirror image relationship between arrays that are adjacent to each other.