Vertical color filter detector and array method for storing and retrieving digital image data from an imaging array

A method for processing digital information from an image sensor that is formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups, wherein each of said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups has three detector layers configured to collect photo-generated carriers of a first polarity, separated by intervening reference layers configured to collect and conduct away photo generated carriers of opposite polarity, said three detector layers disposed substantially in vertical alignment with one another and having different spectral sensitivities as a function of different depths of said three detector layers in said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing three-color image data of a full RGB data set of an image using said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups;
• storing said three color output data as digital data in a digital storage device without performing interpolation on said three color output data;
• and
• retrieving said three color output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

A method for storing digital information from a single-chip image sensor that captures images using pixel sensor array of a plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups wherein each of said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups is formed on a semiconductor substrate and has three detector layers configured to collect photo generated carriers of a first polarity, separated by intervening reference layers configured to collect and conduct away photo generated carriers of opposite polarity, said three detector layers disposed substantially in vertical alignment with one another and having different spectral sensitivities as a function of different depths of said three detector layers in said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• capturing three color output data of a full RGB data set of an image from said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups;
• storing said three color output data as digital data in a digital storage device without performing interpolation on said three color output data;
• and
• retrieving said three-color output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

A method for processing digital information from a pixel sensor array formed on a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups, wherein each of said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups has three detector layers configured to collect photo generated carriers of a first polarity, separated by intervening reference layers configured to collect and conduct away photo-generated carriers of opposite polarity, said three detector layers disposed substantially in vertical alignment with one another and having different spectral sensitivities as a function of different depths of said three detector layers in said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving three-color image data of a full RGB data set of an image from said plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups;
• storing said three-color image data as digital data in a digital storage device without performing interpolation on said three-color image data;
• and
• retrieving said three-color image data as digital data from said digital storage device.