Abstract: A stereo-image capturing device includes an on-chip color filter attached CCD, a photographing optical system, and an aperture disk. The on-chip color filter includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters, so that the CCD senses images in R, G, and B colors. The photographing optical system produces R, G, and B color images of a subject on the imaging surface of the CCD. The aperture disk has three apertures with R, G, and B color filters.

Abstract: Digital Still Camera (DSC) includes separate preview engine, burst mode compression/decompression engine, image pipeline, CCD plus CCD controller, and memory plus memory controller. ARM microprocessor and DSP share control. Color filter array interpolation by use of green high-frequency added to red and blue plus interpolation.

Abstract: A color image pickup device is provided with image pickup elements having color separation filters, respectively, wherein one array pattern of the color separation filters corresponds to four pixels that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to each other; a storage circuit for storing filter-transmitted signals corresponding to the respective pixels and supplied from the image pickup elements; a signal processing circuit for obtaining a luminance value and a color-difference signal for each pixel, using the filter-transmitted signals corresponding to the respective pixels and stored in the storage circuit; and a resolution conversion circuit for performing interpolation using the luminance values and the color-difference signals outputted from the signal processing circuit, and the filter-transmitted signals corresponding to the respective pixels and outputted from the image pickup elements, thereby generating a luminance value and a color-difference signal corresponding to a pixel to be newly generated.

Abstract: A defective pixel detecting method and an image-pickup apparatus having a plurality of solid-state image-pickup devices each receiving respective one of spectral lights obtained by separating light incident to the image-pickup apparatus, generating, for each spectral light, a value relating to an inspected defective pixel on an associated solid-state image-pickup device located at a corresponding same image-pickup point among the plurality of solid-state image-pickup devices based on a signal level produced from the inspected pixel and signal levels produced from a plurality of pixels of the associated solid-state image-pickup device in the vicinity of the inspected pixel, and determining the solid-state image-pickup device that generated a defective pixel based on the values obtained with respect to the plurality of solid-state image-pickup devices.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, when a color component (e.g. red, green or blue) is reconstructed at a pixel from the intensity values for this component at adjacent pixels, the intensities at the adjacent pixels are assigned weights. Greater weights are assigned to those pixels for which a gradient is smaller. The gradient for each adjacent pixel is indicative of a magnitude of a change of another color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel and/or a magnitude of the rate of change of the other color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel. In some embodiments, the weights are chosen to reduce the impact of noise. In some embodiments, the reconstructed value of a color component is adjusted to incorporate information on color spikes that is carried by another color component.

Abstract: A signal process for interpolating color signals is executed. In this process, color image data output from image sensor covered by a plurality of color filters that form a predetermined matrix is interpolated, horizontal and vertical correlation levels are discriminated on the basis of the color image data, first color difference signals are calculated by color-separating interpolated image data of respective colors in a direction with the higher correlation level on the basis of the discrimination result, and second color difference signals are calculated by a predetermined arithmetic operation different from first color difference signal calculation unit on the basis of the interpolated image data of respective colors. The calculated first or second color difference signals are selected and output based on the first and second color difference signals.

Abstract: An image signal processing method and an image signal processing apparatus for processing the color component signal obtained from a solid-state image pickup device including an arrangement of a plurality of photoelectric elements and a color filter arranged in the light receiving section of each pixel corresponding to the photoelectric element, an image signal generating apparatus and a computer program product for the image signal processing method. A color component signal is fetched from a designated pixel corresponding to the photoelectric element having a filter that can transmit the green light on a line of the solid-state image pickup device. A color component signal is also fetched from a pixel corresponding to the photoelectric element having a filter for transmitting at least the green light on another line, which pixel is located in the neighborhood of the designated pixel.

Abstract: A color camera comprises a light sensitive area (13) comprising light sensitive elements, and a color filter layer (12) associated with the sensitive elements comprising Red, Green and Blue (R-G-B) filter layer elements. The color filter layer (12) comprises a repetitive sub-pattern of eight adjacent lines or columns, which sub-pattern comprises color filter elements in the following sequence: line (column) 1: G-R line (column) 2: B-G line (column) 3: G-R line (column) 4: G-B line (column) 5: G-R line (column) 6: B-G line (column) 7: R-G line (column) 8: B-G.

Abstract: A video signal is produced from a color imaging array of the type having luminance elements of a first color (typically green) and chrominance elements of second and third colors (typically red and blue). The video signal processing includes, for each element of the second color, estimating a chrominance value of the third color as a function of the actual chrominance value of that element, the local neighborhood of actual chrominance values of the third color, and an anti-aliasing control value derived from the local neighborhood of actual luminance values and actual third color chrominance values. In preferred forms, a similar estimation of the second color at each third color element is performed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising a plurality of image pickup portions for receiving different wavelength components of object light, and a plurality of integrally formed optical systems for guiding the object light to the plurality of image pickup portions, respectively, the plurality of integrally formed optical systems being constructed so as to satisfy the following relation: 2×A×(&agr;L−0.26×10−5)×20 <½P wherein &agr;L is the coefficient of linear expansion and A is the interval between object images formed by the plurality of image pickup portions.

Abstract: The invention is a method for determining at least two corrected color values for a pixel, said pixel being embedded in a configuration of pixels and having a color filter for filtering substantially one color type while obtaining a measurement on the pixel. The method comprises the steps of measuring at least one signal on said pixel; transforming the measured signal into a representation having at least a luminance and a chrominance part; and transforming said representation into a color space representation of said pixel, said pixel having at least two color values in said color space representation.

Abstract: Demosaicing convolution kernels are incorporated into the framework of bilateral filtering in order to reduce artifacts at abrupt intensity transitions when a color mosaic pattern is converted to an output image. As a consequence of the bilateral filtering within a window that is selected without intensity considerations, intensity values of pixels that are physically close are given greater weight than intensity values of more distant pixels and, simultaneously, intensity values that are quantitatively similar (i.e., photometrically similar) are given greater weight than intensity values that are quantitatively dissimilar. Using photometric similarity in a demosaicing operation reduces the effects of pixels on one side of an abrupt intensity transition in determining interpolated intensity values for pixels on the opposite side of the abrupt intensity transition.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for transferring image signals to readout electronics from image sensors. Electronic charges from multiple photosensitive elements are combined during and after transfer to detection electronics resulting in a greater signal to noise ratio. This enhanced signal to noise ratio provides the ability to make focus and exposure level measurements at lower light levels and often at greater speeds.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic image sensing device applicable to a digital camera includes signal lines for feeding transfer gate pulses to transfer gates. The signal lines on an “N+1”, an “N+5” and an “N+13” row are connected together while the signal lines on an “N+3”, an “N+7”, an “N+11” and an “N+15” row are connected together. Likewise, the signal lines on an “N+4”, an “N+8”, an “N+12” and an “N+14” row are connected together. Further, the signal lines on an “N+6”, an “N+10” and an “N+14” row are connected together. Six kinds of signal lines, i.e.

Abstract: A combination interpolation and lowpass filtering for Bayer color-filtered arrays with the green high frequency used as an estimate for red and blue high frequency.

Abstract: Management data for managing an image sensing device can be read from the device even after the device has been mounted. To accomplish this, the management data is recorded in a non-effective imaging zone that surrounds an effective imaging area in the read-out area of the image sensing device. The non-effective imaging zone is a zone from which an output signal is not used in generating a sensed target image. The management data can be sensed from the signal output by the image sensing device. In another aspect, management data for managing an image sensing device can be read from the device even after the device has been mounted on a circuit board. To accomplish this, the management data is recorded on a protective glass, which covers the device, using an ink that reflects infrared radiation. A target image having a uniform pattern is sensed using a light source whose emission includes infrared radiation, and the image obtained by such sensing is displayed on a display.

Abstract: A method of processing digital video signals produced by a sensor that are to be presented on a viewfinder, the method involving: a first pair of processing operations for scaling and color interpolation; and a second pair of processing operations for the formation of a color matrix and for white balancing. The operations of at least one, and preferably of both of the pairs of processing operations are executed in a single step. The operation of white balancing is moreover performed only for one frame out of K frame in the frame sequence. The preferential application is in the construction of viewfinders for videocameras and digital still cameras.

Abstract: A gray-scale power supply line supplied to a source signal line driving circuit is made only one system, and each of D/A conversion circuits drives source signal lines in which three source signal lines corresponding to RGB are made a unit and the number of which is a multiple of 3. The periods in which respective source line selecting circuits select source signal lines corresponding to respective colors of the RGB are made synchronous with each other, and the power supply voltage applied to the gray-scale power supply line is changed in one horizontal writing period, so that power supply voltages corresponding to R, G and B are respectively applied to the gray-scale power supply line in periods while the source signal lines of R. G and B are respectively selected.

Abstract: The luminous elements of the three colours red, green and blue of a plasma video display have different time responses. Therefore, a coloured trail/edge appears behind and in front of the edges of a moving object. In order to reduce the disturbing character of such coloured trails/edges, correcting the video data for blue and red phosphor elements to compensate for the different time responses discolour them. Then only a discoloured trail/edge appears which is less disturbing.

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: A color imaging device comprised of a plurality of light selective elements. The light selective elements include a first light selective element selective to light having a wavelength corresponding to the Orange region of the spectrum, a second light selective element selective to light having a wavelength corresponding to the Green region of the spectrum, and a third light selective element sensitive to light having a wavelength corresponding to the Blue region of the spectrum.

Abstract: A television signal processor generates a wide dynamic range video signal on the basis of a first video signal matched to the brightness of a low-brightness region of an object image, and a second video signal matched to the brightness of a high-brightness region of the object image, and adjusting means for subjecting the first and second video signals individually to white balance process. The television signal processor further has means for detecting histogram values of particular signal level regions of the second video signal, means for detecting the peak value of the second video signal, means for determining a combining ratio of the first and second video signals according to the detected peak value and combining ratio, nonlinear processing means for nonlinear-processing the first video signal according to the detected histogram value, and combining means for combining the nonlinear-processed first and second video signals at a predetermined combining ratio.

Abstract: An image interpolating device comprises a color filter, in which R, G, and B color filter elements are disposed in a checkerboard arrangement, and an imaging device which generates R, G, and B-signals corresponding to the color filter elements. In an interpolation process, the difference between a first comparative value V1 and a second comparative value V2 is compared. V1 is determined using color signals of pixels offset in the right and left directions to an objective pixel. V2 is determined using color signals of pixel offset in the upper and lower directions to the objective pixel. When V1 is less than V2, an arithmetic mean of G-signals of pixels offset in the right and left directions by one pixel is obtained as an interpolated G-signal. When V1 is not less than V2, an arithmetic mean of G-signals of pixels offset in the upper and lower directions by one pixel is obtained as the interpolated G-signal.

Abstract: In a video camera apparatus, a proper iris control operation can be carried out based upon pseudo-luminance information, and the iris control operation and also the focus control operation can be independently performed. The R, G, B pixel data which are outputted from a CCD image sensor and are acquired before being inputted to an image signal processing unit are multiplied with each other so as to produce the pseudo-luminance information instead of the luminance signal. The iris control operation is carried out based on this pseudo-luminance information. Also, the respective R, G, B pixel data acquired before being inputted to a white balance amplifier are multiplied with each other to produce the pseudo-luminance information.

Abstract: There is provided a method of driving a solid-state image sensor, including the steps, in sequence, of (a) converting a light into a plurality of electric charges, (b) selectively reading out the thus converted electric charges in every predetermined number of vertical pixel lines by a first number which is smaller than the predetermined number, into a vertical charge coupled device, (c) repeating the step (b) by the desired number of times, (d) vertically transferring the thus read out electric charges towards a horizontal charge coupled device, (e) adding one of the electric charges read out in the step (b) to associated one of the electric charges read out in the step (c) in the horizontal charge coupled device by vertically transferring electric charges by the predetermined number of vertical pixel lines in the vertical charge coupled device in a horizontal blanking period, and (f) horizontally transferring the thus added electrical charges through the horizontal charge coupled device.

Abstract: A semiconductor based image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels formed upon a major surface of a semiconductor substrate, a majority of the pixels having a photodetector with a plurality of color filters of at least two different colors arranged over a second majority of the pixels a sense node formed within each of the pixels and operatively connected to CMOS control circuitry a plurality of busses arranged such that there is at least one unique bus operatively connected to the pixels for each color and interface means for providing an electrical connection to a timing circuit, the interface means having individual connections to each of the busses and capable of providing the predetermined voltage on the busses at a desired time.

Abstract: A digital image system and method for combining bad pixel correction and demosaicing in a single process is provided by interpolating sensor values for pixels immediately spatially adjacent to the current pixel being examined to detect defective pixels, and using the interpolated values for demosaicing. If the sensor value of the current pixel being examined is outside of a range of sensor values determined from the interpolated values by more than a configurable threshold amount, the current pixel is considered defective, and replaced using an estimated value from the neighboring pixels.

Abstract: Photographing for one image plane is conducted by CCD1 under the completely dark condition created by closing aperture 12 when the power supply is turned on, then image data obtained from this photographing are compared with a threshold value, and when the image data show higher luminance than the threshold value, the image data are detected to be defective pixels (white flaws) and positional information thereof is stored. Further, under the condition that the mode for detecting defective pixels is selected by mode switch 16, photographing for one image plane is conducted by CCD1 while a camera is directed to an exclusive subject, then image data obtained through this photographing are compared with a threshold value, and when the image data show lower luminance than the threshold value, the image data are detected to be defective pixels (black flaws), and positional information thereof is stored.

Abstract: A system for controlling photosensitive charge transfers utilizes an array of photosensitive elements, a transfer gate, a charge transfer register, and a controller. The transfer gate is coupled to the photosensitive elements, and the charge transfer register is coupled to the transfer gate. The charge transfer register is configured to receive charges from the array of photosensitive elements, via the transfer gate, and to shift the charges out of the charge transfer register. The controller is configured to control the transfer gate such that charges are collected in each of the photosensitive elements and transferred, via the transfer gate, to the charge transfer register. The controller is further configured to enable the transfer gate during a time period when the charge transfer register is shifting a set of charges previously transferred from the array of photosensitive elements to the charge transfer register.

Abstract: Reducing or eliminated color-dependent vignetting in a digital camera includes: providing a raw array of data corresponding to an image of a scene for each color that the camera can image; and adjusting the raw arrays such that the array for each color exhibits substantially the same amount of vignetting.

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, 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: In some embodiments of the invention, when a color component (e.g. red, green or blue) is reconstructed at a pixel from the intensity values for this component at adjacent pixels, the intensities at the adjacent pixels are assigned weights. Greater weights are assigned to those pixels for which a gradient is smaller. The gradient for each adjacent pixel is indicative of a magnitude of a change of another color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel and/or a magnitude of the rate of change of the other color component in the direction of the adjacent pixel. In some embodiments, the weights are chosen to reduce the impact of noise. In some embodiments, the reconstructed value of a color component is adjusted to incorporate information on color spikes that is carried by another color component.

Abstract: An improved color image linear sensor is disclosed to minimize the registration problems commonly seen in a sensor using three rows of photodetectors. In particular, according to one embodiment, the photodetectors in the improved color image linear sensor are shaped in triangle so that the triangular-like shaped photodetectors are interspersed with the upside-down triangular-like shaped photodetectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital camera and the methods for using a digital camera. The digital camera includes a programmable processor that provides for flexible operation of the digital camera. The programmable processor also provides the digital camera manufacturer the capability of economically configuring the digital camera as desired. The programmable processor also provides the digital camera user with on demand specialized imaging modes such as the capture mode and the cineview mode.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel sensors, e.g., CMOS pixel sensors, including a plurality of dark pixels. A dark level compensation circuit that controls an offset applied to an image signal generated by a pixel sensor responsive to an aggregate dark level metric, e.g., a mean dark level, derived from dark pixel image signals produced by the dark pixel sensors. For example, the dark level compensation circuit for CMOS image sensor using a column parallel architecture may generate an offset control signal that varies an offset of a reference signal used by an analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit that converts an analog image signal from a pixel sensor to a dark level compensated digital image signal.

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: In one embodiment, the invention involves a method for processing an image. A sensor output is provided. An automatic gain control of the sensor output is performed to generate a first output. An automatic white balance correction to the first output is performed to generate a second output. A gamma correction of the second output is performed to generate a third output. A color interpolation is performed to the third output to generate a fourth output. A low-pass spatial filtration of the fourth output is performed to generate a fifth output. A color saturation and correction of the fifth output is performed to generate a sixth output, and a high-pass spatial filtration of the sixth output is performed to generate an image output.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to generate a second image from a first image having partially sampled color values at each pixel. The first image includes a two-dimensional array of pixel values, each of the pixel values corresponding to the light intensity in one of a plurality of spectral bands at a location in the first image. The second image includes a second two-dimensional array of color vectors. Each color vector has a light intensity value for each of the spectral bands. There is one such vector corresponding to each location having a pixel value in the first image. One component of the vector is equal to the pixel value in the first image at that location. The present invention computes the missing color components at each location. The method begins by providing an estimate for each component that is not equal to one of the pixel values from the first image for each vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which suppresses appearance of a color moire of a color image signal of a wide dynamic range which is produced using an image signal acquired using, for example, a CCD image sensor of the single plate type or the like.

Abstract: An electronic color image capture system includes an optical section for separating an input image into its separate color content and directing the separate color content toward an imaging section, which generates a plurality of color image signals from the input image. The spectral responses of the optical section and the imaging section are selected so as to cascade together to provide all-positive, symmetrical system curves modeled upon red, green and blue color matching functions representative of the human visual system. The color matching functions are derived from three monochromatic light sources and contain no more than three positive lobes as well as one or more negative lobes, wherein the areas under the color matching functions determined by (a) summation of all negative lobes and (b) overlap between the green and red color matching functions are minimized.

Abstract: An image reading system includes an imaging optical system for forming an image of an object, the optical system including at least one refractive lens and a diffractive grating blazed at a predetermined wavelength, an aperture stop positioned close to the diffractive grating, main image sensors for receiving the images of respective color components, and a flare compensating unit for compensating the image signals input from the main image sensors to eliminate flare components due to unnecessary order diffractive light.

Abstract: A pixel interpolation circuit in the digital still camera according to the present invention, filters unnecessary pixel data from pixel data read out from a CCD which has captured an image, and stores only necessary pixel data for a pixel interpolation operation, in a dual-port data buffer. At the same time, the pixel interpolation circuit reads out necessary data for the pixel interpolation operation, from the data buffer, performs the pixel interpolation operation, and stores the result in a video memory. The pixel interpolation operation is performed by weighting pixels to be used for the pixel-interpolation operation, in accordance with the distance between a pixel to be interpolated and each of the to-be-weighted pixels.

Abstract: A single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus constructed to prevent a color deviation, using as a color filter array, complementary color filters that are sequentially arranged in color filter columns in a horizontally repeating cycle of four pixels of first, second, third, and fourth, such that: first color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in a certain number of pixels from “first+second” and “third+fourth” pixel columns; second color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in the same pixel number as the first color-difference signals from “second+third” and “fourth+fifth” pixel columns; and the first and second color-difference signals obtained from the pixel columns of “third+fourth” and “fourth+fifth” are different in phase by 180 degrees from the first and second color-difference signals obtained from the pixel columns of “first

Abstract: In a display apparatus that receives and then displays R, G, B signals transmitted from a computer via a cable, when correcting phase differences between the respective signals that are generated while the signals are being transmitted, the phase correction amount can be reduced and phase adjustment performed automatically by a simple circuit structure. In a phase detection section, the phases of R, G, B signals input from a PC relative to a horizontal synchronization signal HD are detected, and based on the result of these detections, a calculation section 11 determines which color signal from the R, G, B signals has the greatest delay relative to the horizontal synchronization signal HD, and also determines the phase differences of the remaining two signals relative to the most delayed signal.

Abstract: In a solid-state image capturing device including a pixel array arranged in a row direction and a column direction orthogonal thereto, and a vertical register having a plurality of transfer electrodes which serves to read signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . generated by light receipt of each of pixels A, B, . . . and to sequentially transfer the signal charge in the column direction upon receipt of a transfer pulse, an electric potential well for a smear charge is generated and an unnecessary charge q in the vertical register is collected into the electric potential well for a smear charge before the signal charge is read from the pixels A, B, . . . onto the vertical register (a timing t707), an electric potential well for signal charge transfer is then generated and the signal charges Qa, Qb, . . . are read from the pixels A, B, . . .

Abstract: In order to reduce the frame rate, when all photodiodes contributing to output of a video signal in a CMOS image sensor must be simultaneously exposed (at the timing of strobe flashing &Dgr;ts), as in a case where strobe is flashed, readout pixels composing the CMOS type image sensor are thinned such that the number of photodiodes contributing to the video signal outputted from the CMOS type image sensor is reduced. A time period &Dgr;tp2 required for processing (of the video signal caused by a row of photodiodes) in an analog processing circuit connected to the succeeding stage of the CMOS type image sensor is shortened, thereby reducing the frame rate.

Abstract: A method of processing digital images in devices for acquiring both individual images and image sequences, comprising the step of acquiring images in color filter array (CFA) format and the step of reducing the resolution of the images acquired. In order to reduce computing time and energy consumption, the resolution-reduction step processes the images directly in CFA format.

Abstract: An n-type semiconductor substrate 11 has a p-type well 12 in which are formed a charge transfer channel 13, a flowing diffusion region 14 made of an n-type impurity region, an n-type buried region 16 and a reset drain region 15. Transfer gates 51 and 52 of a horizontal CCD and an output gate 41 are formed on the surface of the charge transfer channel 13, with an insulation film 20 interposed; reset electrodes 31 and 32 are formed on the surface of the buried region 16, again with the insulation film 20 interposed. The floating diffusion region 14 is connected to a source follower circuit 6. The reset electrodes 31 and 32 are provided adjacent to each other in the channel direction of a reset gate section 3 and can be driven independently of each other.

Abstract: A control system and method for the CCD scanner, wherein the CCD can process multiple primary colors and includes a shift register and a transfer gate. The control system at least includes a transfer controller. The characteristic includes providing a transfer signal and multiple charge-shift clock signals, wherein any each one charge-shift clock signal corresponds to one primary color. All charge data with respect to the primary colors are transferred to the shift register through the transfer gate in once operation when the transfer signal is true. The shift register shifts out the charge data according to each of the charge-shift clock signals.

Abstract: A method of forming a microlens including, in one aspect, depositing a substantially non-photo-imageable microlens material over an area of a chip, a portion of which contains an array of photosensitive circuits, and patterning the microlens material over the array of photosensitive circuits to define a microlens over each photosensitive circuit.