Image pickup apparatus having an interpolation function

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a pickup element having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and a plurality of first color filters, second color filters, and third color filters, said first filters being arranged in a checker state for said plurality of pixels;
• wherein said pickup element outputs a first color sample information from first pixels which correspond to the first color filters, a second color sample information from second pixels which correspond to the second color filters, and a third sample information from third pixels which correspond to the third color filters;
• correlation value detecting means, based on color sample information from a plurality of pixels positioned in the vicinity of a reference sample position within a frame composed by the first, second, and third sample information outputted from the respective pixels of said image pickup element, for detecting a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a horizontal direction, a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a vertical direction, and a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a diagonal direction;
• dispersion degree detecting means for detecting a dispersion degree of color sample information of a plurality of pixels corresponding to the third color filters positioned in the vicinity of said reference sample position;
• and
• interpolation means for executing interpolation for said reference sample position according to the correlation values excluding the correlation value in the direction related to the position of said third color filters when said dispersion degree is below a threshold value.

A signal processing apparatus for executing an interpolation based on a reference sample position within a frame composed by sample information outputted from a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and provided in an image pickup element which outputs sample information according to a light quantity received by each of the pixels, said interpolation being executed according to sample information of pixels around said reference sample position,

• said apparatus comprising:
• correlation value detecting means for detecting a correlation value of a plurality of sample information in the vertical direction, a correlation value of a plurality of sample information in the horizontal direction, and a correlation value of a plurality of sample information in the diagonal directions according to sample information of a plurality of pixels position in the vicinity of said reference sample position;
• and
• interpolation means for executing an interpolation for said reference sample position according to sample information of pixels positioned in a direction having the greatest correlation value detected by said correlation value detecting means.

A signal processing apparatus for executing an interpolation for an output from an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and a plurality of first color filters arranged in a checker state corresponding to said plurality of pixels, a plurality of second color filters, and a plurality of third color filters and outputting a first color sample information from first pixels which correspond to said first color filters, a second color sample information from second pixels which correspond to said second color filters, and a third color sample information from third pixels which correspond to said third color filters, wherein said signal processing apparatus comprises:

• input means for inputting said first color sample information, said second color sample information, and said third color sample information from said image pickup element;
• storage means for temporarily storing said first color sample information, said second color sample information, and said third color sample information supplied from said input means;
• and
• interpolation means for generating a luminance component equivalent to positions of said third pixels by way of interpolation according to color sample information outputted from first pixels and second pixels which are positioned in the vicinity of the respective third pixels.

A signal processing apparatus for executing an interpolation based on color sample information from a plurality of pixels positioned in the vicinity of a reference sample position within a frame composed by first, second, and third color sample information outputted form pixels of an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and a plurality of first color filters arranged in a checker state corresponding to said plurality of pixels, a plurality of second color filters, and a plurality of third color filters wherein the first color sample information is outputted from first pixels which correspond to said first color filters, the second color sample information is outputted from second pixels which correspond to said second color filters, and the third color sample information is outputted from third pixels which correspond to said third color filters,

• said apparatus comprising:
• correlation value detecting means for detecting a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a vertical direction, a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a horizontal direction, and a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a diagonal direction, according to color sample information of a plurality of pixels positioned in the vicinity of said reference sample position;
• dispersion degree detecting means for detecting a dispersion degree of color sample information of a plurality of pixels which correspond to the third color filters positioned in the vicinity of said reference example position;
• and
• interpolation means for executing an interpolation for said reference sample position according to the correlation values excluding a correlation value in the direction related to an arrangement of said third color filters when said dispersion degree is below a threshold value.

An interpolation method for executing an interpolation to an output of an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and a plurality of first color filters arranged in a checker state corresponding to said plurality of pixels, a plurality of second color filters, and a plurality of third color filters and outputting a first color sample information from first pixels which correspond to said first color filters, a second color sample information from second pixels which correspond to said second color filters, and a third color sample information from third pixels which correspond to said third color filters, said method comprising steps of:

• inputting said first color sample information, said second color sample information, and said third color sample information from said image pickup element;
• temporarily storing said first color sample information, said second color sample information, and said third color sample information which have been inputted;
• and
• generating by way of interpolation a luminance component equivalent to positions of said third pixels, according to color sample information outputted from the first pixels and the second pixels positioned in the vicinity of the respective third pixels.

An interpolation method for executing an interpolation based on color sample information from a plurality of pixels positioned in the vicinity of a reference sample position within a frame composed by first, second, and third color sample information outputted form pixels of an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix state and a plurality of first color filters arranged in a checker state corresponding to said plurality of pixels, a plurality of second color filters, and a plurality of third color filters wherein the first color sample information is outputted from first pixels which correspond to said first color filters, the second color sample information is outputted from second pixels which correspond to said second color filters, and the third color sample information is outputted from third pixels which correspond to said third color filters,

• said method comprising steps of:
• detecting a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a vertical direction, a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a horizontal direction, and a correlation value of a plurality of color sample information in a diagonal direction, according to color sample information of a plurality of pixels positioned in the vicinity of said reference sample position;
• detecting a dispersion degree of color sample information of a plurality of pixels which correspond to the third color filters positioned in the vicinity of said reference example position;
• and
• executing an interpolation for said reference sample position according to the correlation values excluding a correlation value in the direction related to an arrangement of said third color filters when said dispersion degree is below a threshold value.