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US 2006/0221218 A1Published application
Image sensor with improved color filter
OwnerDoron Adler, David Hanukainventors
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Abstract
An image sensor assembly includes a solid-state image sensor, the sensor including a matrix of detector elements including respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities. The sensor assembly includes a signal extraction circuit, including first and second amplifiers for amplifying the first and second signals, respectively, with different, respective first and second amplification gains responsive to the first and second sensitivities.
Claims25
An image sensor assembly, comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements comprising respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities;
- and
- a signal extraction circuit, comprising first and second amplifiers for amplifying the first and second signals, respectively, with different, respective first and second amplification gains responsive to the first and second sensitivities.
An image sensor assembly, comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements;
- and
- a mosaic filter comprising filter elements associated respectively with the detector elements, the filter elements comprising at least a first plurality of red elements, a second plurality of green elements and a third plurality of elements having a spectral response between red and green regions of the optical spectrum.
An image sensor assembly comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements comprising respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities;
- and
- an electronic shutter circuit, which is coupled to set first and second exposure times, respectively, for the first and second pluralities of detector elements, responsively to the first and second sensitivities.
An endoscope comprising:
- an insertion tube having a distal end;
- and
- a camera head assembly disposed in the distal end of the insertion tube, the camera head assembly comprising:
- an image sensor assembly, comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements comprising respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities;
- and
- a signal extraction circuit, comprising first and second amplifiers for amplifying the first and second signals, respectively, with different, respective first and second amplification gains responsive to the first and second sensitivities;
- and
- an optical assembly for collecting optical radiation from an object outside the distal end of the insertion tube and focusing the optical radiation onto the image sensor assembly.
6 more elements
An endoscope comprising:
- an insertion tube having a distal end;
- and
- a camera head assembly disposed in the distal end of the insertion tube, the camera head assembly comprising:
- an image sensor assembly, comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements;
- and
- a mosaic filter comprising filter elements associated respectively with the detector elements, the filter elements comprising at least a first plurality of red elements, a second plurality of green elements and a third plurality of elements having a spectral response between the red and green regions of the optical spectrum;
- and
- an optical assembly for collecting optical radiation from an object outside the distal end of the insertion tube and focusing the optical radiation onto the image sensor.
6 more elements
A camera head assembly comprising:
- an image sensor assembly, comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements;
- and
- a mosaic filter comprising filter elements associated respectively with the detector elements, the filter elements comprising at least a first plurality of red elements, a second plurality of green elements and a third plurality of elements having a spectral response between the red and green regions of the optical spectrum;
- and
- an optical assembly for collecting optical radiation from an object and focusing the optical radiation onto the image sensor.
3 more elements
A method for image sensing, comprising:
- forming a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements comprising respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities;
- determining first and second amplification gains responsively to the respective first and second sensitivities;
- and
- amplifying the first and second signals, respectively, using the respective first and second amplification gains.
1 more element
A method for image sensing, comprising:
- forming a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements;
- and
- applying a mosaic filter to the image sensor, the mosaic filter comprising filter elements associated respectively with the detector elements, the filter elements comprising at least a first plurality of red elements, a second plurality of green elements and a third plurality of elements having a spectral response between red and green regions of the optical spectrum.
A method for image sensing comprising:
- forming a solid-state image sensor, the sensor comprising a matrix of detector elements comprising respective first and second pluralities of the detector elements producing respective first and second signals and having different, respective first and second sensitivities;
- determining first and second exposure times, responsively to the respective first and second sensitivities;
- and
- exposing the first and second pluralities of the detector elements for a duration of the respective first and second exposure times.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.