Abstract: A method for sampling a Bayer image having two dimensional planes of red, green and blue pixels, the method including the steps of: rotating the green plane by 45 degrees; sequentially sampling an m×m pixel block of the rotated image, where m is an integer greater than 1; providing an address for the m2 samples by determining a starting address for a first of the samples and thereafter applying a predetermined fixed sequence of offsets to obtain the addresses of the remaining samples.

Abstract: A system for providing high-resolution color separation in electronic imaging. Comb drives controllably oscillate a red-green-blue (RGB) color strip filter system (or otherwise) over an electronic imaging system such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or active pixel sensor (APS). The color filter is modulated over the imaging array at a rate three or more times the frame rate of the imaging array. In so doing, the underlying active imaging elements are then able to detect separate color-separated images, which are then combined to provide a color-accurate frame which is then recorded as the representation of the recorded image. High pixel resolution is maintained. Registration is obtained between the color strip filter and the underlying imaging array through the use of electrostatic comb drives in conjunction with a spring suspension system.

Abstract: Geometric configurations for photosites found on photosensitive chips for creating electrical signals from an original image, as would be found, for example, in a digital scanner, copier, printer, facsimile machine, or other document generating or reproducing device. The photosensitive chips are mounted on a substrate to form a photosensitive array in a full width scanner or other photosensitive device. The geometric configurations reduce the Moiré patterns to provide a higher quality image.

Abstract: A color signal processing device for processing color signals outputted by an image pickup device provided with a color filter having color areas of N colors (N≧3) corresponding to each pixel is provided. The color signal processing device comprises a vector operation section for executing color space conversion, in stead of a matrix operation section in conventional color signal processing devices. The vector operation section is supplied with a color signal which corresponds to the intensity of light that reached a pixel of the image pickup device through a color area of the color filter on the pixel, obtains a color signal component vector by multiplying the color signal by a vector having N vector elements, and thereby extracts N color signal components corresponding to the N colors from the color signal. The vector operation section extracts a red signal component, a green signal component and a blue signal component, for example.

Abstract: A CCD image sensor with a color filter array (CFA) for color imaging involves stripes of Cyan and of Yellow filter material on the imaging surface of a CCD array, preferably a full-frame (FF) CCD imager, with the two sets of color stripes arranged perpendicular to each other and one set parallel to the array axes to form two layers at the areas where they cross. Unit color cells comprise 2-pixel by 2-pixel blocks, each containing a Cyan, a Yellow, a Green (where the stripes overlap), and a White (where there is no stripe) pixel. Also, the longitudinal set can be segmented into two pixels or more in length, and the segments transversely displaced or staggered to form an elongated checkerboard pattern to compensate for devices with single-column blemishes.

Abstract: An image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, including: a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns.

Abstract: A CCD 10, a solid state imaging device is driven by a driving circuit 102 to perform an independent reading driving to all the pixels. A CLCRCB generation circuit 104 receives a signal output from CCD 10 to make RAM 106 store the signal, generates a luminance signal CL and color differential signals CR and CB for a pixel (x, y) in the y-th row and the x-th column in CCD 10 by an operation based on the output signal from the two rows and two columns stored in RAM 106. Matrix circuit 108 receives signals CL, CR and CB and separates and generates an RGB signal to each of all the pixels in CCD 10 by a prescribed linear operation.

Abstract: Color separating characteristics which are preferable in case of obtaining the primary color components are obtained from an image pickup signal by using a color separation matrix. A luminance signal is obtained by a luminance signal formation processing section from the signal supplied from an image pickup device through an A/D converter and chrominance signals are obtained by a chrominance signal separation processing section. In the chrominance signal separation processing section, the signals obtained from the image pickup signal are multiplied with a color separation matrix, thereby obtaining primary color components RGB. The color separation matrix is constructed by coefficients for white balance adjustment and coefficients for adjustment in consideration of the primary color components of the image pickup signal.

Abstract: Active pixel sensor with separated pixel areas, each sensing a different primary color, red, green or blue. Each of the colors is sensed using a different size color filter element to allow receiving an amount of light dependent on the responses of the image sensor to the specific color.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system for a still video camera has a light detector for outputting an image signal corresponding to an intensity of light which is incident on the light detector. An image signal is output for each of a plurality of colors of light that are incident on the light detector. The autofocusing system also includes a processor for determining the value of an AF signal corresponding to the focus condition of each of the image signals. A controller executes the autofocus operation. The AF signal having the highest value is used by the controller to execute the autofocus operation.

Abstract: A color image pickup apparatus includes a solid state image pickup element having one of four types of color filters, comprising first to fourth color filters, arranged on an element surface. Respective color filters are arranged to be separated from each other by a two-pitch interval in horizontal and vertical directions. The first to fourth color filters are arranged to form a square sampling structure.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including: an image pickup device; a mode selection circuit for selecting a mode from a group consisting of a video camera mode and a still video camera mode; a first drive circuit for, when the video camera mode is selected by the mode selection circuit, driving the image pickup device to perform an interlace-scanning operation so as to read vertically-disposed two pixels while being mixed with each other; a second drive circuit for, when the still video camera mode is selected by the mode selection circuit, driving the image pickup device to perform an interlace-scanning operation so as to read each row; a memory for recording a first field signal and a second field signal of the image pickup device at the time of the operation performed by the second drive circuit; an addition circuit for adding the first field signal of the memory and the second field signal of the same to each other; and a signal processing circuit for performing a signal process so as to generate a luminance si

Abstract: A method of approximating the pixel intensity values of a current block using the pixel intensity values of a search window, wherein the precision of the number of bits used to represent the pixel intensity values is reduced. The pixel intensity values of the pixels in the current block are averaged to determine a first average pixel intensity value. The pixel intensity values of the current block which have a pixel intensity value less than the first average pixel intensity value are averaged to determine a second average pixel intensity value. The pixel intensity values of the current block which have a pixel intensity value greater than the first average pixel intensity value are averaged to determine a third average pixel intensity value. The first, second and third average pixel intensity values are used to determine thresholded pixel intensity values for the current block pixels and the search window pixels, thereby creating a thresholded current block and a thresholded search window.

Abstract: A solid-state color image pickup device which is capable of simplifying signal processing with respect to picture signals. A color filter mounted on the solid-state image pickup device is composed of first to fourth filter elements E1 to E4. The sum E1+E2 of the signals of color components obtained by adding the color components of the first filter element E1 and the second filter element E2 which are disposed in an odd-numbered row is equal to the sum E3+E4 of the signal of color components obtained by adding the color components of the third filter element E3 and the fourth filter element E4 which are disposed in an even-numbered row. A brightness signal having color components in a predetermined ratio is obtained for each of E1+E2, and E3+E4.

Abstract: Light reflected from a document surface is given first color dispersion when passing through a prism interface and second color dispersion when passing through another prism interface. The second color dispersion is in an opposite direction to and has larger partial dispersion in a blue range than the first color dispersion. The prism interface may be replaced by an interface of two lenses which interface is a curved surface whose center of curvature is deviated from the optical axis of the reflected light in the auxiliary scanning direction.

Abstract: An imaging device which includes an optical unit passing light from a subject and having an exit pupil position. An image pickup element receives the light from the subject passing through the optical unit, and produces an image signal from the received light. The image signal has corresponding color excitation values. A color compensation mechanism adjusts a ratio of the color excitation values of the image signal produced by the image pickup element by adjusting at least one of the color excitation values in correspondence with the exit pupil position of the optical unit. Further, the imaging device can include an aperture positioned between the optical unit and the image pickup element to limit the amount of light received by the image pickup element from the optical unit. The size of the aperture is adjustable.

Abstract: Apparatus described for processing a digitized image signal obtained from an image sensor having red, green, and blue color photosites aligned in rows and columns that generate at least three separate color values but only one color value for each photosite location. An arrangement is disclosed for averaging existing green values for green photosite locations which includes structure for storing the digitized image signal, defining green classifiers based upon adding the Laplacian second-order values, and the gradient values to define a classsifier, and modifying a measured green pixel based upon adjacent pixel classifiers. The apparatus further includes structure for determining which classifiers represent a pixel neighborhood of slowly changing scene detail, and replacing the measured green values for a green photosite location with an average of surrounding predicted green pixels as a function of the number of classifiers which are below a predetermined value.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for processing a digitized image signal obtained from an image sensor having color photosites aligned in rows and columns that generate at least three separate color values but only one color value for each photosite location, a structure is provided which interpolates color values for each photosite location so that it has three different color values. The apparatus includes an image buffer for storing the digitized image signal and a processor operative with the buffer storing means for generating an appropriate color value missing from a photosite location by the interpolation of an additional color value for such photosite locations from color values of different colors than the missing color value at nearby photosite locations.

Abstract: A filter member which can alternatively arrange a proper one of a plurality of kinds of color temperature converting filters onto an optical axis of an image pickup device is provided and the driver of the filter member is controlled by using a plurality of color signals which are generated from the image pickup device, so that a proper color temperature converting filter can always be used. An adjusting mechanism for adjusting relative gains of a plurality of color signals which are generated from the image pickup device is further provided. By also adjusting the adjusting mechanism by using a plurality of color signals which are generated from the image pickup device, an automatic white balance control in a wide color temperature range can be accomplished.

Abstract: An image detection apparatus includes a color filter for receiving light and for passing luminance components and color components of the light. The color filter has first and second lines which filter elements for luminance components disposed in each line and offset from filter elements for luminance components in an adjacent line, the first line including filter elements for two color components, and the second line including filter elements for a single color component. An image sensor unit receives the luminance and color components passed by the color filter, and outputs signals corresponding to the respective luminance components and color components. A signal processing unit receives the signal output by the image sensor unit, and generates a color difference signal from the received signals.