Abstract: An image processing device includes a first calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal corresponding to an H-th interpolation color for a pixel of interest, a second calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal by multiplying a J-th capture color signal corresponding to the capture color for the pixel of interest by the ratio of the H-th two-dimensional low-pass filter output to the J-th two-dimensional low-pass filter output, and a third calculation means for calculating a non-capture color signal corresponding to the H-th interpolation color for the pixel of interest using the calculation result according to the first calculation means and the calculation result according to the second calculation means.

Abstract: A method for producing a noise-reduced digital color image, includes providing an image having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the image a panchromatic image and at least one color image; and using the panchromatic image and the color image to produce the noise-reduced digital color image by setting a plurality of color characteristics equal to the corresponding panchromatic characteristics at each color pixel location.

Abstract: An imager having color sensitivity in any lighting condition is provided by replacing at least one of the green color filtered pixels in a Bayer pattern array with an non-color filtered pixel and providing a different integration period for each color channel. When replacing a color filtered pixel with a non-color filtered pixel, the benefits of both color sensitivity and light sensitivity may be harnessed by providing the color filtered pixels with a longer integration period than the non-color filtered pixels. Color information may be interpolated by performing subtraction logic using non-color and color filter information from adjacent pixels in back-end processing. Integration times for each color channel can be adapted to minimize filter transmission and sensor absorption differences within each frame of data. Temporal displacement of colors of moving objects by having different integration periods may be corrected in back-end processing. Back-end processing may also correct motion blur.

Abstract: A method for producing a noise-reduced digital color image, includes providing an image having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the image a panchromatic image and at least one color image; and using the panchromatic image and the color image to produce the noise-reduced digital color image.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprises a color filter, a pixel, and first and a second output lines. The color filter has color filter components of a first and second color. Each pixel is covered by the color filter component and has a photoelectric conversion element. The photoelectric conversion element generates color pixel signals according to amount of light received by the photoelectric conversion element. A first pixel is covered by the first color filter component. A first color pixel signal is generated by the first pixel. The first output line outputs only the first color pixel signal. A second pixel is covered by the second filter component. A second color pixel signal is generated by the second pixel. The second output line outputs only the second color pixel signal. The first and second pixels are arranged in two dimensions.

Abstract: A method of implementing high-performance color filter mosaic arrays (CFA) using luminance pixels. The introduction of luminance pixels greatly improves the accuracy of the image acquisition process for a given pixel and image sensor size.

Abstract: There is described an image display apparatus that includes an image data processing section to convert (n+m)-bit monochromatic image data to a n-bit color display image-data group, based on a predetermined correlation, and a color image display section to display a color image on it, based on the n-bit color display image-data group. The image data processing section includes: a candidate selection section to select “H” sets of signal-values out of all combinations of signal-values included in the n-bit color display image-data group as the candidate color display signal-value sets; a signal value decision section to determine a color display signal-value set, to be correlated with the (n+m)-bit monochromatic image data, from among the “H” sets of candidate color display signal-value sets; and a correlation establishing section to establish the correlation between the (n+m)-bit monochromatic image data and the n-bit color display image-data group.

Abstract: A method for forming a final digital color image, includes: capturing an image using an image sensor having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the captured image a digital high resolution panchromatic image and a digital high resolution color differences image; and using the digital high resolution panchromatic image and the digital high resolution color differences image to produce the final digital high resolution full color image.

Abstract: A pixel array in an image sensor, the image sensor and a digital camera including the image sensor. The image sensor includes a pixel array with colored pixels and unfiltered (color filter-free) pixels. Each unfiltered pixel occupies one or more array locations. The colored pixels may be arranged in uninterrupted rows and columns with unfiltered pixels disposed between the uninterrupted rows and columns. The image sensor may in CMOS with the unfiltered pixels reducing low-light noise and improving low-light sensitivity.

Abstract: Systems and related methods have been achieved to convert in an analog domain the output of color image sensors into another color space. A chosen implementation converts the output of red, green, blue and white image sensors to the YcrCb color space, wherein the white image sensors are either extended dynamic range (XDR) image sensors or are of the same type as the other image sensors but have a larger size. The output of the white pixels can be used without conversion directly for the luminance Y value, thus achieving a very simple method for a conversion to YCbCr color space. Analog amplifiers, assigned to each of the red, green, and blue image sensors, have a gain according to the matrix describing the conversion from RGB to CbCr. Analog adders, assigned to Cb and Cr are adding the coefficients required for the computation of Cb and Cr. Finally the values of Y, Cb and Cr are converted to digital values. White pixels are advantageous but not required using the present invention.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a sensor system having a sensor, an analog-to-digital converter and a digital signal-processing device, an analog signal from the sensor being transmitted to the analog-to-digital converter, the analog signal being converted to a digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter with a sampling frequency, the digital signal being transmitted to the digital signal-processing device, and the analog signal further being transmitted to a clock generator, the sampling frequency of the analog-to-digital converter being controlled by the clock generator as a function of the analog signal.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a pixel group that has pixels arranged two dimensionally therein, each including a photoelectric converting unit. The pixel arrangement of the pixel group is m rows by n columns. In the pixel group, a pixel area of an arbitrary two rows by two columns respectively includes a red pixel, a green pixel, a blue pixel and a non-color pixel. A red color signal for a given red pixel is a signal value obtained from the pixel. A green signal for the red pixel is obtained by averaging the signal values of two green pixels adjacently on the right and the left of the pixel. A blue signal for the red pixel is obtained by averaging the signal values of four blue pixels adjacently on the upper-right, the upper-left, the lower-right, and the lower-left of the pixel.

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

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

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

Abstract: A color filter array pattern for use in a solid-state imager comprising red sensitive elements located at every other array position, with alternating blue sensitive and green sensitive elements located at the remaining array positions, is disclosed. Since red color is sampled most frequently, the color filter may be part of an in vivo camera system for imaging internal human body organs and tissues.

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

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided and includes a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and a image data-generation unit that generates image data represented by a first luminance signal and a color-difference signal, based on signals from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements include a photoelectric conversion element for obtaining a second luminance signal. In the image data-generation unit, a signal in each pixel position of image data to be generated is interpolated, a third luminance signal is generated in the each pixel position from the interpolated signal, and the first luminance signal in the each pixel position is generated by synthesizing the second and third luminance signals.

Abstract: An image apparatus has signal slicing unit for two-dimensionally slicing a signal from an imaging device; pixel correlation detection unit for detecting correlation between a center pixel of the signal sliced by the signal slicing unit and its peripheral pixels; correction unit for executing a correction processing for each pixel signal sliced on the basis of the degree of correlation; and synchronization unit for extracting each color signal at the center pixel position of the area sliced by using a signal after correction.

Abstract: The use of a Bayer pattern array in digital image sensors to enhance the dynamic range of the sensors is disclosed. Each Bayer pattern in the array can include three different pixels having a first exposure, and a fourth pixel (which is the same color as one of the other pixels in the array) having a second exposure. The dynamic range of the Bayer pattern array can be enhanced by using different exposure times for the pixels. Each pixel can capture only one channel (i.e. either red (R), green (G) or blue (B) light). Interpolation of neighboring pixels, including those having different exposure times, can enable the pixels in the Bayer pattern array to generate missing color information and effectively become a color pixel, and can allow the Bayer pattern array to have a higher dynamic range.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heterogeneity-projection hard-decision interpolation method for color reproduction, which utilizes a heterogeneity-projection method to determine the optimal edge direction and then utilizes a hard-decision rule to determine the optimal interpolation direction and obtain the information of the green color elements. The high-frequency information of the plane of the green color elements is incorporated into the processing of the planes of the red color elements and the blue color elements to reduce the restoration errors of the red and blue color elements. Therefore, the present invention can decrease the interpolation-direction errors and achieve a higher PSNR and a better visual effect.

Abstract: A color sensor comprises: light reception elements that generate color signals corresponding to stimulus values of colors in an RGB color system, the stimulus values of colors comprising a stimulus value of blue (B) and a stimulus value of red (R), wherein the light reception elements comprise a first light reception element that generates a red (R) color signal corresponding to the stimulus values of red (R); and a first portion that adds a signal corresponding to the stimulus value of blue (B) as a positive sensitivity component to one of: the first light reception element; and a red (R) color signal generated by the first light reception element.

Abstract: An imaging device having a hybrid RGBYC color filter using a primary color system RGB filter and a complementary color system YC filter is composed. Four G filters that directly relate to resolution and that is close to a luminance signal that human eyes sense are arrayed in a checker shape so that the number of the G filters is four times larger than the number of filters of each of the other colors. An array shown in FIG. 10A is composed of low resolution rows (G, R, G, and B) and high resolution rows (C, G, Y, and G) that are alternately arrayed in each line. When signals are read if exposure times are varied for individual lines, the signals that are read can easily have a wide dynamic range. An array shown in FIG. 10B has two Gs, a low sensitivity color, and a high sensitivity color in each line and each row. Thus, the luminance difference is small in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Thus, the reading method in the array shown in FIG.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of light-receptive elements arranged in a matrix in a semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of color filters corresponding to the plurality of light-receptive elements, respectively. The color filters include a colored film formed by depositing colored particles at an upper layer of the plurality of light-receptive elements, and a resin with which gaps between the colored particles are filled. The resin with which the gaps between the colored particles are filled may be transparent or be colored.

Abstract: The image pickup system of the present invention is an image pickup system for processing an image signal at each pixel which is composed of more than one color signals and one or more of the color signals are dropped out according to the location of the pixel, comprising a first interpolating unit for interpolating the color signals dropped-out from the image signals by a first interpolation method based on the edge detection, a verifying unit for verifying the interpolation precision on the basis of the image signals and the color signals interpolated by the first interpolating unit, and a second interpolating unit for interpolating the color signals dropped-out from the image signals by a second interpolation method based on the color correlation that is different from the first interpolation method in cases where it is judged that the interpolation precision by the first interpolation method is insufficient.

Abstract: An imaging system comprising a filter array adapted to filter electromagnetic waves, a lens array adapted to focus electromagnetic waves, and an image sensor configured to receive the focused electromagnetic waves. The filter array and the lens array are configured into elements that filter and focus electromagnetic waves that represent an object image window onto portions of the image sensor and each portion of the image sensor receives filtered electromagnetic waves that represent the object image window from one of the elements.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided. One exemplary system incorporates multiple lenses that are individually configured to receive visible light from an object to be imaged, and to direct this light upon a corresponding sensor array. Luminance information is then derived from signals generated in one or more of the sensor arrays. When chrominance information is desired, an optical filter is interposed between a lens and the corresponding sensor array. The mosaic pattern contained in the optical filter is tailored to provide advantageous chrominance information. One or more such filters with different mosaic patterns may be employed. The luminance and chrominance information obtained from the sensor arrays are combined to generate an image of the object.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed that includes an image-pickup portion having a plurality of image-pickup regions, and a plurality of image-forming portions respectively corresponding to the plurality of image-pickup regions. The plurality of image-forming portions of the image-taking apparatus include a combination of image-forming portions that form object images on the corresponding image-pickup regions, by using light of mutually different wavelength regions. The image-forming portions constituting the combination have mutually different F numbers or mutually different apertures diameters of stops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectral filter for an optical sensor. The spectral filter includes a substrate having a focus region and a defocus region, a panchromatic filter region disposed on the focus region of the substrate and a multi-spectral filter region disposed on the defocus region of the substrate. The panchromatic filter region includes a plurality of panchromatic pixels, while the multi-spectral filter region includes a plurality of multi-spectral pixels. Each of the multi-spectral pixels includes a plurality of color pixels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating an output signal that represents light with a desired color profile. A first sensor is provided to receive light and based thereon to generate a first signal with a first color profile. A color sensor is also provided that receives light and based thereon generates a second signal with a second color profile. A signal generation mechanism that is coupled to the first sensor and the color sensor and receives the first signal with a first color profile, receives the second signal with a second color profile, and performs a predetermined operation on the first signal and the second signal to generate the output signal with the desired color profile.

Abstract: A pixel area of a megapixel solid-state color imaging device is divided into unit areas for pixel adding and all the pixels for the same color are added together in each unit area. Accordingly, the percentage of utilized pixels is raised to 100% and aliasing noise to low frequencies in a high-frequency video signal is greatly suppressed by a spatial LPF (low pass filter) effect of the pixel addition in the area units.

Abstract: Voltage signals outputted from a CCD are subjected to correlated double sampling processing by a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS), after which digital gain processing is carried out at a gain control amplifier (GCA). A gain difference between G color signals and R/B color signals outputted from the CCD is caused by a difference between a G exposure duration tG and an R/B exposure duration tR/B. When the value of a ratio between the tG and the tR/B falls below a predetermined value, the GCA applies digital gain for compensating for the gain difference by multiplying respective signal values of R, G and B by gain correction coefficients as follows: (gain compensation coefficient ?)=(G exposure duration tG)/(R/B exposure duration tR/B)=(G exposure duration tG)/((G exposure duration tG)+(exposure duration difference ?t)).

Abstract: A color sensor for measuring light from a light source and the method for fabricating the color sensor. The color sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors, a plurality of primary color filters and a trim filter. Each primary color filter includes a layer of material between the light source and a corresponding one of the photodetectors. Each primary color filter preferentially transmits light in a corresponding band of wavelengths about a characteristic wavelength. The trim filter is located between the light source and the photodetectors and includes a layer of material that preferentially attenuates light at a first trim wavelength between two of the characteristic wavelengths. In one embodiment, the trim filter further preferentially attenuates light at a second trim wavelength, the first wavelength being less than one of the characteristic wavelengths and the second wavelength being greater than that characteristic wavelength.

Abstract: A photoelectric converter device comprises a semiconductor substrate including a photoelectric converter element formed on its surface, a visible light filter arranged to at least partially cover the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a support member attached to the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric converter device further comprises, in an internal portion, a resin layer which absorbs infrared light. With this arrangement, undesirable influences of infrared light can be reduced.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a two-dimensional array of pixel elements where the array of pixel elements outputting pixel data representing an image of a scene, and a two-dimensional array of selectively transmissive filters superimposed on the two-dimensional array of pixel elements, whereby each pixel element in the array of pixel elements is disposed to capture a first and a second color spectra of visible light. In one embodiment, the image sensor is a digital pixel sensor where the array of pixel elements is a sensor array of digital pixels, each of the digital pixels outputting digital signals as pixel data. In another embodiment, the pixel elements of the image sensor output analog signals as pixel data. In this manner, light intensity values for two different color spectra are optically summed at the pixel level, providing pixel values that are suitable for use in interlaced video display.

Abstract: A hybrid pixel interpolating apparatus (1) has a function of converting raw image data (D1) having one color component for each pixel into pixel interpolated data in which each pixel has a plurality of color components. This hybrid pixel interpolating apparatus (1) includes: a register (2) for holding pixel data in a predetermined pixel region in the raw image data (D1) to be inputted; a plurality of pixel interpolating parts (41, 42, . . . , 4n?1, 4n (n: integer not less than 2)) for sampling pixel data (D2) inputted from the register (2) to execute a pixel interpolating process; and a mixing coefficient calculating part (3) for calculating mixing coefficients (?1, ?2, . . . , ?n), and also includes a mixing part (5) for fetching and mixing interpolated data (DI1, DI2, . . . , DIn) outputted from the respective pixel interpolating parts (41 to 4n) to output the resultant.

Abstract: A spectral device is disposed above a semiconductor substrate formed with a number of photoelectric conversion elements. The spectral device has a plurality of spectral regions each corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, each of the spectral regions spectroscopically splitting light fluxes of a plurality of colors necessary for color imaging and contained in incidence light toward different directions, each of the spectroscopically split light fluxes becoming incident upon an associated photoelectric conversion element among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to each of the spectral regions.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes photoelectric converters in row-column matrix configuration, VCCDs, one for each column, a color filter disposed above each converter to form a color filter array including layouts each including n rows, and a drive circuit for conducting readout treating (m*n) rows as one set, and selecting from the sets a plurality of units symmetrically distributed. Electric charge is read from the plural units. A first readout operation reads electric charge from a first group of rows having asymmetric distribution. A j-row transfer operation transfers the electric charge for j rows. A second readout operation reads electric charge from a second group of rows having asymmetric distribution at positions to which the electric charges are transferred by the j-row transfer operation. The electric charges are added in the VCCDs.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor and a digital cameral capable of executing accurate image-shooting adjustment even in a low illumination environment. A charge coupled device type of image sensor includes red, green and blue pixel cells provided with color filter segments and control cells not provided with color filter segments. When a controller determines that the illumination of a scene to be picked up is short, a digital signal processor generates estimated luminance and contrast values for automatic exposure and automatic focus controls in accordance with the outputs of the control cells. An exposure value and the focal position of a lens are adjusted in accordance with those estimated values. The scene is shot in the form of a still picture in response to a shutter release signal.

Abstract: A color filter arrangement (11) is used, in which a plurality of filter units are each made of 2×2 arrangements of red (R), green (G), green (G) and blue (B) color elements. First, signal charges are added up for all pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel blocks made of quadratic arrangements of 3×3 of pixels, which are larger than the filter units (2×2 arrangement). Then, compressed color information for each of the pixel blocks is obtained from a result of the addition for each pixel block, taking the 2×2 arrangements of pixel blocks as large filter units.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a color filter including complementary color filter segments. When a shutter release bottom is pressed to its half-stroke or full-stroke position, light incident via the filter is picked up in a movie/photometry or a still picture mode, respectively. While signal charges are read out of an image sensor in accordance with the mode, the signal charges are digitized to become pixel data. In the movie/the photometry mode, despite that a plurality of pixel data are mixed together, a set of primary color pixel data are generated as if pixel signals were thinned out by mixture. In the still picture mode, all the pixels are sequentially read out and interpolated to generate primary color pixel data greater in number than photosensitive cells. The primary color data are raised in frequency to enhance the resolution of a picture.

Abstract: A color image pickup device including: a pixel group placed in array of a plurality of pixels of photoelectric conversion elements; and a color coding array corresponding to the pixel group, the color coding array arranged in a randomized array, or arranged in a randomized array satisfying predetermined array restricting conditions, or arranged in a randomized array satisfying predetermined color distributing conditions. Thereby an object image can be picked up in accordance with a randomized color coding array having no regularity, making it possible without using an optical low-pass filter to achieve a color image pickup device and color image pickup apparatus using the color image pickup device capable of keeping color moiré from occurring even of an object having a cyclic luminance change.

Abstract: In image input devices such as digital still cameras, processing is speeded up and power consumption is reduced by arranging in a RPU (23) performing real time processing of a pixel data from a CCD (21), such that only special exceptional image processing not being prepared previously is subjected to a software program processing in a CPU (24) and, in post processing in which a general image processing is carried out, a pixel data temporarily stored in a main memory (29) is inputted again to the RPU (23) and then processed. This enables to sharply speed up processing, and minimize a prolonged processing in the CPU (24) to reduce power consumption, when compared to the case of executing by software problem processing.

Abstract: An imaging camera apparatus (20) for capturing images electronically and providing output data for four separate color channels, red, green, blue, and a fourth saturated primary color, expanding the color gamut over conventional three color channel cameras. An image acquisition unit (120) directs input light to one, two, or four photosensors (30) for obtaining four-color image data.

Abstract: We disclose an electronic imaging method and apparatus capable of effectively and accurately sensing and interpolating color image data received from a two-dimensional array of discrete image sensing elements, particularly, from a so-called “Bayer Pattern” array. In operation, the method and apparatus both extract one-color image data from the two-dimensional array and generate therefrom fully color-recovered image data by a combination of interpolation and non-linear filtering. Efficiency is accomplished, without departure from good accuracy, by performing two one-dimensional color recovery applications and essentially incrementally combining the results thereof. The first one-dimensional color recovery application generates a partially color-recovered image in which, for each row in that dimension, values are recovered for all of the colors present in that row. The second one-dimensional color recovery application then generates all the remaining colors at each pixel by operating along a second dimension.

Abstract: A method of displaying a color video picture according to a field sequential process is provided. A display device displays an image comprising a matrix of pixels. One frame image is composed of four field images ranging from a first field image to a fourth field image. With four adjacent pixels handled as one unit, the colors R, G, B, W of illuminating lights applied to the pixels in each unit are different from each other, and the arrangement of the colors is successively switched or changed in each field period. Information representing the colors R, G, B, W separated from a video signal is displayed sequentially in successive fields at positions corresponding to the colors of the illuminating lights applied to the pixels and times at which the illuminating lights are applied to the pixels.

Abstract: A vertical-color-filter detector group comprises a semiconductor body including a plurality of alternating silicon layers of first and second conductivity types, the second conductivity type being opposite that of the first conductivity type, formed over a substrate of the first conductivity type. Each of the layers of the second conductivity type are disposed at a depth from an upper surface of the silicon body selected to preferentially absorb radiation of a selected color, there being at least first and second layers of the second conductivity type. First and second conductive contacts extend, respectively, from the first and second layers of the second conductivity type to the upper surface of the silicon body. A peripheral isolation trench defines a perimeter of the detector group.

Abstract: A method for electronic imaging, consisting of forming an image having a background color and a non-background color on a plurality of pixels in a color mosaic image sensor, and receiving from each of the plurality of pixels a respective initial signal responsive to the image. The method further includes determining the background color of the image responsive to the initial signals, determining the non-background color of the image responsive to the initial signals, and calculating an adjusted signal for each pixel of the plurality of pixels responsive to the initial signal of the pixel and to at least one of the background color and the non-background color.

Abstract: An interpolation for a Bayer pattern color filtered array with red and blue interpolation using weightings as ratios of corresponding green pixel values.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to control an acquisition of a number of pixels in a scanning system. In one embodiment, the system includes an interface circuit with a multiplexer to route at least one color component of one of a number of pixels from a sensor to a register. In another embodiment, the system includes at least three registers to receive a color component associated with one of a number of pixels from a sensor, where at least one of the color components is acquired by a multiplexer having a number of inputs. For both embodiments, logic is included that controls the acquisition of various color components, where color components are acquired in random patterns and/or only a predetermined number of the total color components are acquired to reduce an amount of time necessary to scan a document and to eliminate the problem of color artifact.