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US 2003/0197793 A1Published application
Imaging device
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsTomoo Mitsunaga, Seiji Kobayashi, Hiroaki Ono
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AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsTomoo Mitsunaga, Seiji Kobayashi, Hiroaki Ono
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus which can produce a color and sensitivity mosaic image which can be converted into a color image signal having a wide dynamic range by performing a predetermined image process. Light receiving elements of a CCD image sensor are arranged in a lattice arrangements where attention is paid to the color G irrespective of the sensitivities. Where attention is paid to the color R irrespective of the sensitivities, the light receiving elements are arranged on every other line. Also where attention is paid to the color B irrespective of the sensitivities, the light receiving elements are arranged on every other line similarly. Consequently, where attention is paid only to the colors of the pixels, the pattern P2 has a Bayer arrangement. A mosaic arrangement of a color is realized by disposing an on-chip color filter on an upper face of the light receiving elements of the CCD image sensor. A mosaic arrangement of a sensitivity is realized by an optical method or an electronic method. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a CCD image sensor built in a digital camera.
(As amended) An image pickup apparatus which includes photo-electric conversion means for photo-electrically converting an optical image of a subject to produce a color and sensitivity mosaic image wherein each pixel has one of a plurality of color components and has one of a plurality of sensitivity characteristics to light intensity, characterized in that
(As amended) An image pickup device for photo-electrically converting an optical image of a subject to produce a color and sensitivity mosaic image wherein each pixel has one of a plurality of color components and one of a plurality of sensitivity characteristics to light intensity, characterized in that
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Charge-coupled device [CCD] image sensors: geometry or disposition of pixel elements, address lines or gate electrodes
For processing colour signals: demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
Characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements: based on three different wavelength filter elements
Based on four or more different wavelength filter elements: using complementary colours
Term end not estimated
This invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus for use with a case wherein a color and sensitivity mosaic image which can be converted into, for example, a color image signal having a wide dynamic range is produced.
A solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Mental-Oxide Semiconductor) is utilized widely in image pickup apparatus such as a video camera and a digital still camera, part inspection apparatus in the field of the FA (Factory Automation) and optical measuring instruments such as an electronic endoscope in the field of the ME (Medical Electronics).
Conventionally, a method is known wherein light intensity signals measured with different sensitivities among different pixels are synthesized in order to increase the dynamic range of image pickup apparatus and optical measuring instruments in which a solid-state image pickup device is used. In the following, first to fourth related-art methods of the type mentioned are described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a digital still camera to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating general operation of the digital still camera;
FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a subject;
FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a digital still camera which is an embodiment of the present invention. The digital still camera is roughly composed of an optical system, a signal processing system, a recording system, a display system and a control system.
The optical system includes a lens 1 for condensing an optical image of a subject, an iris 2 for adjusting the amount of light of the optical image, and a CCD image sensor 4 for photo-electrically converting the condensed optical image into an electric signal of a wide dynamic range.
The signal processing system includes a correlation double sampling circuit (CDS) 5 for sampling an electric signal from the CCD image sensor 4 to reduce noise of the electric signal, an A/D converter 6 for converting an analog signal outputted from the correlation double sampling circuit 5 into a digital signal, and an image processing section 7 for performing a predetermined image process for the digital signal inputted thereto from the A/D converter 6. It is to be noted that details of the process executed by the image processing section 7 are hereinafter described.