Method and apparatus for adding watermarks to images and/or video data streams
AssigneeOmniVision Technologies, Inc.
InventorRonald R. Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watermark can be permanently and simultaneously added to image data, such as to a video data stream, produced by an image sensor. To produce the watermark in the image data, color filters of a filter array overlying pixels of a sensor array can be arranged in a watermark pattern different from the normal pattern of other color filters of the filter array. The color filters in the watermark pattern can have different colors than other color filters of the filter array. Alternatively or in addition to the watermark pattern of the color filters, a pattern can be formed in a microlens array overlying the filter array. The pattern in the microlens array can have regions devoid of microlenses, microlenses having different shapes, or microlenses having different colors.
Claims20
A CMOS integrated circuit comprising:
- a sensor array formed in a semiconductor substrate;
- and
- a filter array formed as part of said integrated circuit and over the sensor array, the filter array having a plurality of filters arranged in a pattern representative of a watermark that is combined with image data derived from the sensor array.
A CMOS integrated circuit comprising:
- a sensor array formed in a semiconductor substrate;
- and
- an array of microlenses formed as part of said integrated circuit and over the sensor array;
- the array of microlenses having a pattern representative of a watermark that is combined with image data derived from the sensor array.
A CMOS image sensor formed on a single integrated circuit die, said image sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixels formed in a semiconductor substrate;
- and
- a color filter layer formed over said plurality of pixels and as part of said integrated circuit die, said color filter layer having a watermark pattern formed therein such that images captured and output by said image sensor include said watermark pattern.
A CMOS image sensor formed on a single integrated circuit die, said image sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixels formed in a semiconductor substrate;
- and
- an array of microlenses formed over said plurality of pixels and as part of said integrated circuit die, said array of microlenses having a watermark pattern formed therein such that images captured and output by said image sensor include said watermark pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.