Based On Three Colors Patents (Class 348/280)
  • Patent number: 9954018
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup unit includes: a substrate made of a first semiconductor; a substrate made of a first semiconductor; a photoelectric conversion device provided on the substrate and including a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a second electrode in order from the substrate; and a plurality of field-effect transistors configured to perform signal reading from the photoelectric conversion device. The plurality of transistors include a transfer transistor and an amplification transistor, the transfer transistor includes an active layer containing a second semiconductor with a larger band gap than that of the first semiconductor, and one terminal of a source and a drain of the transfer transistor also serves the first electrode or the second electrode of the photoelectric conversion device, and the other terminal of the transfer transistor is connected to a gate of the amplification transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9946123
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pixel arrangement structure, a display panel and a display device. The pixel arrangement structure includes a plurality of first sub-pixels, a plurality of second sub-pixels and a plurality of third sub-pixels. Each pixel includes one first sub-pixel, each second sub-pixel is shared by at least two adjacent pixels and each third sub-pixel is shared by at least two adjacent pixels. A density of the sub-pixels is 1.5 times larger than a density of the pixels in a first direction of a pixel array, and a density of the sub-pixels is 1.5 times larger than a density of the pixels in a second direction of the pixel array. The first direction is different from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lujiang Huangfu, Xiaodan Jin, Yinan Liang, Kelvin Chiang
  • Patent number: 9807368
    Abstract: A plenoptic camera is proposed having a color filter array positioned on an image sensor with an array of pixels, the color filter array having a first filter with a set of unit elements, each unit element covering M×M pixels of the image sensor, with M an integer such that M?2. The plenoptic camera further includes a set of micro-lens, each micro-lens delivering a micro-lens image on the image sensor with a diameter equal to p=k×M, with k being an integer greater than or equal to two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Benoit Vandame, Mathilde Brossard, Valter Drazic
  • Patent number: 9793306
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having pixels with stacked photodiodes in which a first photodiode generates a first image signal in response to light of a first wavelength and a second photodiode generates a second image signal in response to light of a second wavelength. The imaging system may include processing circuitry that applies a color correction matrix to isolate components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of the first and second wavelengths while removing components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of other wavelengths. The processing circuitry may increase noise correlations between the signals to mitigate noise amplification generated by the color correction matrix. The processing circuitry may apply a point filter to increase luma fidelity of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Keelan, Marko Mlinar
  • Patent number: 9743015
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided, including: a first camera module and a second camera module configured to capture an image of a same subject; and a controller configured to map a second image obtained from the second camera module to a first image obtained from the first camera module, and to synthesize a third image of the subject using the first image and the mapped second image, wherein an image sensor included in the first camera module has a first pixel structure in which a pixel has a square shape, and an image sensor included in the second camera module has a second pixel structure that is different from the first pixel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-hee Lee, Chong-sam Chung
  • Patent number: 9719856
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for imaging objects. In one embodiment, a spectral imaging system includes an optical element configured to receive electromagnetic energy of a two-dimensional scene and a filter configured to provide a plurality of spectral filter profiles. The filter also transmits multiple spectral wavebands of the electromagnetic energy substantially simultaneously through at least one of the spectral profiles. The spectral imaging system also includes a detector configured to measure intensities of the multiple spectral wavebands, and a processor configured to generate a spectral image of the scene based on the measured intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Areté Associates
    Inventors: Randall Potter, Brian David Clader
  • Patent number: 9698188
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: one or more photoelectric conversion elements provided on side of a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; a through electrode coupled to the one or more photoelectric conversion elements, and provided between the first surface and a second surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an amplifier transistor and a floating diffusion provided on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, in which the one or more photoelectric conversion elements are coupled to a gate of the amplifier transistor and the floating diffusion via the through electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Togashi
  • Patent number: 9615033
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor including at least three pixel transfer control signal lines, on a per line basis, configured to control exposure start and end timings of a pixel in order for exposure timings of a plurality of the pixels constituting one line in a specific direction to have at least three patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutaka Kimura
  • Patent number: 9560296
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for full well capacity extension. For example, a storage capacitor included in the pixel readout architecture can enable multiple charge dumps from a pixel in the analog domain, extending the full well capacity of the pixel. Further, multiple reads can be integrated in the digital domain using a memory, for example DRAM, in communication with the pixel readout architecture. This also can effectively multiply a small pixel's full well capacity. In some examples, multiple reads in the digital domain can be used to reduce, eliminate, or compensate for kTC noise in the pixel readout architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Biay-Cheng Hseih, Jiafu Luo, Sergiu Radu Goma
  • Patent number: 9531971
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: a plurality of pixels disposed to form a matrix having pixel rows, the pixels including a pixel electrode formed on a silicon substrate for one of the pixels by being separated away from another pixel electrodes formed for one of the other pixels, a photoelectric conversion film formed on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film; and a driving section configured to apply an electric potential to the photoelectric conversion film on each of the pixel rows at least having read timings different from each other with a predetermined timing outside an exposure period of the pixels in a direction opposite to that of an electric potential applied to the photoelectric conversion film during the exposure period of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9517353
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device including a CIGS photovoltaic module having a so-called top surface, intended to be exposed to light radiation; and a light emitting diode emitting light at a wavelength of less than 600 nm and transparent to radiation in the near infrared, attached to the top surface of the photovoltaic module. A photovoltaic generation system having: at least one such photovoltaic device; a system of switches to selectively connect the photovoltaic module to the light emitting diode or to a terminal supplying an external load; and a control circuit for controlling the system of switches. An electrical system having: such a photovoltaic generation system; a battery connected to the supply terminal; and at least one electronic circuit connected to the battery in order to be powered. An implantable medical device having such an electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Nicolas Karst, Simon Perraud
  • Patent number: 9462236
    Abstract: In some examples, a light source is controlled to output light. A sensor element outputs first detections responsive to a combined light comprising ambient light and the light output by the light source when the light source is on, and outputs second detections responsive to ambient light when the light source is off. The first detections are routed to a first accumulator to produce a first accumulation, and the second detections are routed to a second accumulator to produce a second accumulation. An adjusted output image is generated by removing a contribution of the second accumulation from the first accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Kurt Eugene Spears
  • Patent number: 9363456
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels and a row driver. Each pixel includes a photodiode, a first transfer gate, a second transfer gate, a first storage node, and a second storage node. The row driver is configured to provide signals to the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate of each pixel such that charge is transferred from the photodiode to the first storage node through the first transfer gate while a signal representing charge stored at the second storage node is output from the pixel to a column readout line. The row driver is also configured to provide signals to the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate such that charge is transferred from the photodiode to the second storage node through the second transfer gate while a signal representing charge stored at the first storage node is output from the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Luxima Technology LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Krymski
  • Patent number: 9337223
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of image pixels. Some image pixels in the array may be provided with responsivity adjustment structures. For example, broadband pixels in a pixel array may include responsivity adjustment circuitry. The responsivity adjustment circuitry may be configured to narrow the spectral response or to reduce the conversion gain of the broadband pixels in high light conditions. For example, a deep photodiode may divert charge away from a signal photodiode during an integration period. The deep photodiode may divert charge to a power supply or the charge may be transferred to a storage node and used in image processing, if desired. The responsivity adjustment circuitry may include channel-dependent conversion circuitry that is formed in pixels corresponding to a first color channel, while the conversion gains of pixels corresponding to a second color channel may remain fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIESS, LLC
    Inventors: Shung Chieh, Brian Keelan
  • Patent number: 9318534
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup device that makes it possible to enhance image quality, and a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic apparatus. A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel section that includes a plurality of pixels, the pixels each including one or more organic photoelectric conversion sections, wherein the pixel section includes an effective pixel region and an optical black region, and the organic photoelectric conversion sections of the optical black region include a light-shielding film and a buffer film on a light-incidence side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Joei
  • Patent number: 9313424
    Abstract: A two-dimensional solid-state image capture device includes pixel areas arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, each pixel area being constituted by multiple sub-pixel regions, each sub-pixel region having a photoelectric conversion element. A polarization member is disposed at a light incident side of at least one of the sub-pixel regions constituting each pixel area. The polarization member has strip-shaped conductive light-shielding material layers and slit areas, provided between the strip-shaped conductive light-shielding material layers. Each sub-pixel region further has a wiring layer for controlling an operation of the photoelectric conversion element, and the polarization member and the wiring layer are made of the same material and are disposed on the same virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sozo Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 9251602
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a signal processing unit, and a pixel interpolation processing unit. The apparatus calculates a correlation degree for pairs in two orthogonal directions for an image signal obtained by the imaging unit including a single-chip image sensor having a four-color filter, such as a WRGB color filter, using pixel data in an area around a target pixel, using the correlation degree as a determination criterion in the interpolation. When a color component pixel with an identical color of a color component pixel subjected to pixel interpolation is not located in the direction having the high correlation, the pixel interpolation apparatus changes ratio in a direction orthogonal to the direction having the high correlation by using a pixel value resulting from color space conversion in the direction orthogonal to the direction having the high correlation, and performs pixel interpolation based on the change ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9225923
    Abstract: Pixels output a first signal based on signal charge of a part of photoelectric conversion units of multiple photoelectric conversion units, and a second signal based on signal charge of multiple photoelectric conversion units. An imaging apparatus outputs signals based on the first signals and signals based on the second signals by reducing the number of signals based on the first signals as compared to the number of signals based on the second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hashimoto, Atsushi Furubayashi, Takeru Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sonoda, Daisuke Yoshida, Hirofumi Totsuka, Takashi Muto, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 9197791
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first horizontal line having a first sequence of colored pixels, and a second horizontal line having a second sequence of colored pixels. The display device also includes a signal controller for detecting a first input video signal and a second input video signal for pixels respectively disposed on a left outermost vertical line and a right outermost vertical line of the display from an input video signal. The signal controller also corrects the first input video signal and the second input video signal so that they have grayscales that are less than a threshold value. The image quality characteristic is improved by removing the color shift phenomenon of the right and left outermost vertical lines in the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wook Lee, Jong-Woong Park
  • Patent number: 9159758
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tanaka, Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9153610
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the pixel array includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer arranged above the first wiring layer, the first wiring layer includes first column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array, and the second wiring layer includes second column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Hideaki Takada, Toshiaki Ono
  • Patent number: 9060159
    Abstract: For a mosaic image in a repeated cycle with “I”דJ” (“I” and “J” are integers of 2 or more) pixels, a color mix ratio is stored in a memory unit by being associated with a pixel position in I×J pixels so that a color mix ratio A associated with a pixel position in I×J pixels of an object pixel for mixed color correction is read from the memory unit, and a mixed color component included in the object pixel is removed based on the color mix ratio A and a color signal of the object pixel to calculate a white balance gain based on a color signal of each of pixels in the mosaic image for which the mixed color correction is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Kousuke Irie, Hidekazu Kurahashi, Seiji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150146054
    Abstract: An image sensor may be provided with an array of imaging pixels. A color filter array may be formed over photosensitive elements in the pixel array. The color filter array may include color filter elements of different sizes. The color filter array may include color filter elements of at least three different sizes. The color filter array may include color filter elements of only two different sizes. Each color filter element by be square, octagonal, or rectangular. Microlenses of different sizes may also be formed on top of the color filter elements of different sizes. Forming color filter elements with different sizes may help skew the quantum efficiency for light at particular wavelengths of interest so that smaller pixel sizes can be used without suffering from diffraction limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Vaartstra, Mitchell J. Mooney, Stanley Micinski
  • Patent number: 9036061
    Abstract: A single-plate color imaging element where the color filter array includes a basic array pattern with first filters corresponding to a first color and second filters corresponding to a second color with contribution ratios for obtaining luminance signals lower than the first color, the basic array pattern is repeatedly arranged in a diagonal grid shape, one or more first filters are arranged in horizontal, vertical, upper right, and lower right directions of the color filter array, one or more second filters corresponding to each color of the second color are arranged in the upper right and lower right directions of the color filter array 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20150124129
    Abstract: According to the present invention, since a color image for a moving image including that for live view display includes image data on pixel lines including first and second phase difference pixels, phase difference AF can be accurately performed during the moving image taking. A color image for the moving image includes not only the image data on the pixel lines including the first and second phase difference pixels, but also image data on pixel lines that do not include the first and second phase difference pixels and only include normal pixels. Accordingly, the image quality of the color image for the moving image is improved, an image interpolation process can be accurately performed, and reduction in image quality of a taken image (still image and moving image) through the phase difference pixels can be prevented or alleviated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi AOKI, Hiroshi ENDO, Yoichi IWASAKI, Kenkichi HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150116555
    Abstract: According to a color imaging element and an imaging device of the present invention, because one or more pixels of first filters corresponding to transparence are disposed within a pixel line of each direction of a first direction to a fourth direction of a color filter array, it is possible to acquire brightness information in a high frequency range with high precision and reduce occurrence of a false color (color moire), thereby obtaining image data with excellent resolution. Further, because one or more pixels of the first filters corresponding to transparence are disposed within the pixel line of each direction of the first direction to the fourth direction, it is possible to realize color filters with excellent optical sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenkichi HAYASHI, Seiji TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20150117832
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention thinning-reads pixel signals from the multiple pixels according to a thinning pattern from an image pickup element, or extracts pixel signals from the multiple pixels according to the thinning pattern from a color image that is read from the image pickup element and corresponds to the color filter array, and acquires a thinned color image. Then, moving image data is generated on the basis of the thinned color image. Adoption of the thinned color image as a target image to be subjected to moving image processing can facilitate reduction in processing time per frame, and prevent the frame rate from decreasing. Furthermore, thinning-reading pixels from the image pickup element can facilitate reduction in time of reading an image from the image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi AOKI, Yoichi IWASAKI, Hiroshi ENDO, Kenkichi HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150109497
    Abstract: The color imaging element and the imaging device according to the present invention can improve reproduction precision of demosaicing processing in a high frequency region and suppress aliasing. Further, the color imaging element can achieve high resolution by reducing occurrence of color moire (false color). Furthermore, the color imaging element and the imaging device can perform pixel demosaicing processing with high precision. Still furthermore, a basic array pattern including a square pattern and a grating filter line is repeated in a first direction and a second direction, and thus a color filter array can perform signal processing in a subsequent stage according to a repeating pattern of the square pattern and the grating filter line, and can simplify the processing in a subsequent stage more than a conventional random array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji TANAKA, Kenkichi HAYASHI, Noriko KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150109498
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the first and second phase difference pixels are arranged on the pixel lines in the first direction in the color image that is thinned during imaging of a moving image including that for live view display. Therefore, even during moving image taking, phase difference AF can be accurately performed. Furthermore, the pixel values at the pixel positions of the first and second phase difference pixels in the thinned color image can be accurately acquired on the basis of the pixel values of the surrounding pixels. Accordingly, reduction in the image quality of the taken image (still image or moving image) due to the phase difference pixels can be prevented or alleviated. Furthermore, the pixel values can be accurately acquired on the basis of the pixel values of the surrounding pixels during simultaneous processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi AOKI, Hiroshi ENDO, Yoichi IWASAKI, Kenkichi HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9013623
    Abstract: A color image sensor having a plurality of sensor elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein the sensor elements each include an optical filter whose transmission behavior is electrically adjustable, and wherein the color image sensor includes a control for controlling the optical filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Stephan Gick
  • Publication number: 20150103216
    Abstract: An image processing device according to the invention includes: a lens information acquisition unit; a color mixture information determination unit; mosaic image acquisition unit that, when the color mixture information determination unit determines that the color mixture information is unidentified, reads, from the color imaging element, a second mosaic image obtained by reducing the number of types of first pixels in the first mosaic image which includes a pixel of a first color formed by at least one color and a pixel of a second color formed by at least one color and in which the number of types of first pixels determined by the arrangement of pixels that are adjacent to a first pixel, which is the pixel of the first color, at a minimum pixel pitch in four directions is equal to or greater than 4; a color mixture correction unit; and a synchronization unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidekazu KURAHASHI
  • Patent number: 9006566
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising: an inorganic photoelectric conversion film; and an organic photoelectric conversion film, wherein an insulating film between the inorganic photoelectric conversion film and the organic photoelectric conversion film has a thickness of from 1 to 6 ?m, wherein the organic photoelectric conversion film has a multilayer structure comprising four or more layers, or wherein a protective film having a multilayer structure comprising three or more layers is provided on the organic photoelectric conversion film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Ihama
  • Patent number: 9007492
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing device including: a 3D-NR unit that performs, using first image data and second image data obtained by capturing images at temporally different times, 3D noise reduction (NR) processing for reducing noise in the first image data; an edge detection unit that detects an edge strength in an image indicated by the 3D-NR processed image data; and a synthesization unit that determines, based on the detected edge strength obtained by the edge detection unit, a synthesis ratio of the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data, synthesizes the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data, using the determined synthesis ratio, and outputs synthesized image data obtained by synthesizing the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakashima, Takeshi Hamasaki, Tadashi Nagai, Koichi Toyomura
  • Patent number: 9001239
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus having a plurality of Bayer arrays each including 4 pixels sharing a common electrode connected to a vertical signal line wherein: each of the pixels has a pixel electrode connected to a horizontal signal line; and the location of each of the horizontal signal lines and the location of each of the pixel electrodes each connected to one of the horizontal signal lines are determined so that the locations in a neighboring Bayer array are a mirror image of counterpart locations in another Bayer array adjacent to the neighboring Bayer array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Okumura
  • Publication number: 20150092092
    Abstract: An imaging element having a plurality of pixel cells which is arranged in a row direction and a column direction which is perpendicular to the row direction in a lattice, in which two adjacent pixel cells which include photoelectric convening units which detect the same color light form a pair and the pairs are periodically arranged, in each of pixel cell rows in which pixel cells are arranged in the row direction, the micro lenses are arranged such that the micro lenses in odd-numbered pixel cell rows is off-centered in the row direction from the micro lenses in even-numbered pixel cell rows by a half of an arrangement pitch of the micro lenses, and each micro lens which is provided in at least one of the odd-numbered row and the even-numbered row is disposed over two photoelectric converting units which detect different color light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru OKIGAWA
  • Patent number: 8988567
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Kwan, Angela Y. C. Lee
  • Patent number: 8982253
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kawai, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150070539
    Abstract: An image capture element includes phase difference pixel groups (first and second pixel groups) corresponding to first and second images with a phase difference according to a focus shift, includes a third pixel group corresponding to a normal third image, outputs a first image and a second image with Bayer arrays from the first and second pixel groups, and outputs a third image with the same color array as a RAW image from the third pixel group. A color split image is generated based on the first and second images acquired from the image capture element, a color image for display is generated based on the third image, and the color split image is synthesized with part of the generated color image for display to thereby display a live-view image in which the split image is synthesized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki KAWAI, Katsutoshi IZAWA, Junji HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8976276
    Abstract: When various reverse operations are performed using a scan reverse function that reverses an image vertically or horizontally, there is a problem in that color information of the first pixel of an image after being reversed is different from color information of the first pixel of a Bayer image before interpolation processing. An image processing apparatus performs interpolation processing on a first image of a Bayer pattern, generates a second image in which colors are arranged in an order reverse to the predetermined order from an interpolated image, and stores the second image in a memory. The image processing apparatus reverses the second image when reading the second image from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Kano
  • Patent number: 8976275
    Abstract: A single-plate color imaging element, where a basic array pattern in which the color filters are arrayed according to an array pattern corresponding to M×N (M and N are even numbers equal to or more than 6) pixels in horizontal and vertical directions is formed, the basic array pattern includes two each of two types of a first sub array and a second sub array in which the color filters are arrayed according to an array pattern corresponding to (M/2)×(N/2) pixels, the color filters include first filters corresponding to a first color and second filters corresponding to a second color whose contribution rates are lower than a contribution rate of the first color, a ratio of a number of pixels of the first color being greater than a ratio of a number of pixels of each color of the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kawai, Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8976260
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains moving image data having a pixel array of a Bayer structure, transmits the obtained moving image data in accordance with a transmission method of transmitting image data having a pixel array different from the Bayer structure and auxiliary data indicating transparency of a plurality of pieces of color data included in the image data by using a plurality of channels, and controls image data of predetermined one of a plurality of colors where the number of pixels corresponding to the predetermined color is larger than that of other color of the plurality of colors, by using a channel for transmitting the auxiliary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Kachi
  • Publication number: 20150062391
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of microlenses arranged in a two-dimensional pattern; and a plurality of pixels that are provided in correspondence to each of the microlenses and receive lights of different color components, respectively. Pixels that are provided at adjacent microlenses among the microlenses and that receive lights of same color components, are adjacently arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 8970748
    Abstract: Correction processing load is reduced even when employing a color filter with a basic array pattern that is large in size. An imaging apparatus divides image data output from an image pickup device into line image data running along a predetermined direction for each line, and when a basic array pattern configuring a color filter has been divided into pattern lines running along the predetermined direction, line correction data that corresponds to the divided line image data is read, the line correction data being configured by plural correction data corresponding to each filter on the pattern line. The read line correction data is used to correct the line image data for each pattern line of the basic array pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8970768
    Abstract: A unit pixel array of an image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of unit pixels, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on a front side of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters disposed on a back side of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of light path converters, each of the light path converters being disposed adjacent to at least one color filter and having a pair of slanted side edges extending from opposing ends of a horizontal bottom edge, and a plurality of micro lenses disposed on the color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Chak Ahn, Bum-Suk Kim, Kyung-Ho Lee, Eun-Sub Shim
  • Patent number: 8958000
    Abstract: Efficient thinned reading is performed in a case in which an image pickup device equipped with a color filter having an array different from a Bayer array is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tanaka, Kenkichi Hayashi, Tomoyuki Kawai, Hidekazu Kurahashi, Noriko Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150029367
    Abstract: A color imaging apparatus comprising: a color imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels and color filters of a color filter array arranged on the plurality of pixels, the color filter array including first filters corresponding to a first color that most contributes to obtaining luminance signals and second filters corresponding to two or more second colors, and the first filters including two or more sections adjacent each other in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions; a direction determination unit acquiring pixel values of pixels of the two or more sections of the first filters near a target pixel of demosaicking processing and determining a correlation direction of luminance; a demosaicking processing unit that calculates a pixel value of another color at a pixel position of the target pixel and that uses one or more pixels of another color in the correlation direction to calculate the pixel value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8928785
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and image capture program are provided that enable an image processing section compatible with a Bayer array to be employed without modification even in cases in which an image pickup device is employed that is provided with a color filter of an array other than a Bayer array. An imaging apparatus (10) includes a color filter (30) having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patterns C, a drive section (22) that drives an image pickup device (14) so as to thin and read pixel data only of pixels on lines at predetermined positions in the vertical direction, and a pixel conversion processing section (18) that converts pixel data of each line thinned and read from the image pickup device (14) into Bayer array pixel data that is in a Bayer array pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20150002708
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning an imaging device comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit that generates imaging signals corresponding to imaging light received from an imaging object; a summation unit that performs summation of the imaging signals generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; a summation controller that controls the summation unit such that the summation unit performs, per line, an operation of summation of imaging signals acquired from the photoelectric conversion unit during the time period of one line for the number of plural times in periods that are twice as much as that of the spatial frequency of the imaging object or more; and a signal generator that generates and outputs an imaging signal of each line from plural sum outputs generated per line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Kohei MARUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150002709
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which color filters of a plurality of colors are arrayed with four pixels of vertical 2 pixels×horizontal 2 pixels as a same color unit that receives light of the same color, shared pixel transistors that are commonly used by a plurality of pixels are intensively arranged in one predetermined pixel in a unit of sharing, and a color of the color filter of a pixel where the shared pixel transistors are intensively arranged is a predetermined color among the plurality of colors. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a solid state imaging device such as a back-surface irradiation type CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Atsushi Masagaki
  • Patent number: 8922684
    Abstract: A deterioration in image quality caused by correction can be prevented in comparison to when consideration is not given to the sequence in which correction is performed on an image captured by an image pickup device. An imaging apparatus 10 is configured including an optical system 12, an image pickup device 14, an image capture correction processing section 16, and an image processing section 18. The image capture correction processing section 16 is configured including a color mixing correction section 20, a noise correction section 22, an offset correction section 24 and a gain correction section 26. The color mixing correction section 20 reads image data from the image pickup device 14 and performs color mixing correction processing thereon. The noise correction section 22 performs noise correction processing on the image data on which the color mixing correction section 20 has performed color mixing correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi