# US 2019/0174077 A1 · Examination device, examination method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174077 A1 - Document ID: US20190174077A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/301,987 - Filed: 2017-08-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-17 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Hitoshi Mitani; Masafumi Wakazono - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174077A1 ## CPC - G06T 3/4038: Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images - H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths - H04N 23/698: for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture - G01N 21/21: Polarisation-affecting properties (G01N21/19 takes precedence) - G01N 21/255: {Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems} - G01N 2021/3148: {using three or more wavelengths} - G02B 5/3025: {Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence)} - G06T 2207/10036: Multispectral image; Hyperspectral image - G06T 2207/30188: Vegetation; Agriculture - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The present disclosure includes an imaging sensor, an imaging method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The imaging sensor includes a plurality of wavelength detection regions. The plurality of wavelength detection regions including at least a first wavelength detection region. The first wavelength detection region comprises a plurality of pixels configured to detect light within a first pre-determined wavelength range, and detect the light at different pre-determined polarization directions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging sensor comprising: a plurality of wavelength detection regions, the plurality of wavelength detection regions including at least a first wavelength detection region, wherein the first wavelength detection region comprises a plurality of pixels configured to detect light within a first pre-determined wavelength range, and detect the light at different pre-determined polarization directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wavelength detection regions further includes a second wavelength detection region, the second wavelength detection region comprises a second plurality of pixels configured to detect the light within a second pre-determined wavelength range, and detect the light at different pre-determined polarization directions, the second pre-determined wavelength range is different than the first pre-determined wavelength range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging sensor according to claim 2, wherein the first wavelength detection region and the second wavelength detection region are adjacent to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels includes groups of pixels, each pixel of one of the groups of pixels is configured to detect the light at a pre-determined polarization direction, the groups of pixels are arranged to repeat within the first wavelength detection region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein each wavelength detection region of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is formed in a rectangular shape elongated along a first direction, and when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the each wavelength detection region of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is arranged at one or more points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging sensor according to claim 5, wherein the second direction is a direction of movement relative to an examination target. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein each wavelength detection region of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is arranged at one or more points when viewed in a row direction and a column direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein each wavelength detection region of the plurality of wavelength detection regions includes an array of at least sixteen pixels, the array of at least sixteen pixels including at least four row pixels and at least four column pixels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The imaging sensor according to claim 8, wherein the array of at least sixteen pixels is configured to detect the light in at least three or more polarization directions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is configured to detect the light within a red wavelength range, a second one of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is configured to detect the light within a green wavelength range, a third one of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is configured to detect the light within a blue wavelength range, and a fourth one of the plurality of wavelength detection regions is configured to detect the light with a near-infrared wavelength range. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The imaging sensor according to claim 10, further comprising: a detection region configured to detect non-polarized light in all wavelength ranges. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The imaging sensor according to claim 10, further comprising: a detection region comprising a second plurality of pixels, a first pixel of the second plurality of pixels is configured to detect a non-polarized light within the red wavelength range, a second pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to detect the non-polarized light within the green wavelength range, and a third pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to detect the non-polarized light within the blue wavelength range, the plurality of pixels is arranged in a Bayer array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, wherein four of the plurality of pixels are configured to detect the light in one of four different polarization directions, the four of the plurality of pixels are arranged as a single set, and the single set is disposed in a matrix of four rows×four columns. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The imaging sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: signal processing circuitry, wherein each wavelength region of the plurality of wavelength detection regions includes a different plurality of pixels, wherein the signal processing circuitry is configured to generate an image acquired for a wider area on a basis of a detection value detected by each pixel of the plurality of wavelength regions. ### Claim 15 An imaging method, the method comprising: detecting, with an imaging sensor, incident light; and outputting, with the imaging sensor, a plurality of image signals based on different polarizations of the incident light, wherein a first one or more image signals of the plurality of image signals are indicative of the different polarizations of the incident light in a first pre-determined wavelength range, wherein a second one or more image signals of the plurality of image signals are indicative of the different polarizations of the incident light in a second pre-determined wavelength range, wherein the first pre-determined wavelength range and the second pre-determined wavelength range are different from each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The imaging method according to claim 15, wherein the first one or more image signals are from a first wavelength detection region, and wherein the second one or more image signals are from a second wavelength detection region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The imaging method according to claim 16, wherein the first wavelength detection region and the second wavelength detection region are adjacent to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The imaging method according to claim 15, further comprising: outputting, with the imaging sensor, a third one or more image signals of the plurality of image signals based on non-polarized light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The imaging method according to claim 15, further comprising: generating, with signal processing circuitry, an image acquired for a wider area on a basis of the plurality of image signals. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by electronic processor, causes the electronic processor to perform a set of operations comprising: receiving a plurality of image signals from an image sensor, wherein a first one or more image signals of the plurality of image signals are indicative of different polarizations of incident light in a first pre-determined wavelength range, wherein a second one or more image signals of the plurality of image signals are indicative of the different polarizations of the incident light in a second pre-determined wavelength range, wherein the first pre-determined wavelength range and the second pre-determined wavelength range are different from each other; and processing the plurality of image signals to generate an image that is based on a combination of the plurality of image signals.