# US 7,613,359 B2 · Single-chip color camera for high accuracy image measurements

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- Number: US 7,613,359 B2
- Document ID: US7613359B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/335,507
- Filed: 2006-01-20
- Published: 2007-02-15
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-01-26
- Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation
- Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613359B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/84: for processing colour signals
- G06T 7/12: Edge-based segmentation
- H04N 25/134: {based on three different wavelength filter elements}
- H04N 25/136: {using complementary colours}
- H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
- G06T 2207/10056: Microscopic image
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An image measuring apparatus comprises an imaging portion with pixels, each pixel being allocated with one color, four pixels constituting one set, one set being allocated with a plurality of colors to express a color, and the sets being arranged in matrix, configured to image a measuring object and output four image data based on the four pixels, respectively; and a calculation portion which calculates, based on the four image data, respectively, positions of the measuring object and contrast values at one side and an other side across the measuring object as a boundary, and which generates a position data of the measuring object based on the positions and contrast values, and outputs the position data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image measuring apparatus comprising:
an imaging portion with pixels, each pixel being allocated with one color, four pixels constituting one set, one set being allocated with a plurality of colors to express a color, and said sets being arranged in a matrix, configured to image a measuring object and output four image data based on said four pixels, respectively; and
a calculation portion which calculates, based on the four image data, respectively, positions of the measuring object and contrast values at one side and an other side across the measuring object as a boundary, and which generates a position data of the measuring object based on the positions and contrast values, and outputs the position data,
wherein the position data of the measuring object is generated by calculating an average position of the measuring object by:
multiplying the positions by the corresponding contrast values;
calculating the sum of the products of the positions and the contrast values; and
dividing the sum of the products by the sum of the contrast values.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a single-chip color camera comprising the imaging portion; and
a personal computer comprising a pseudo-colorization portion which performs pseudo-colorization with the four image data from the imaging portion, and the calculation portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different colors are allocated to the four pixels.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein G component is allocated to two of the four pixels, and R component and B component are respectively allocated to the other two pixels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Y component is allocated to two of the four pixels, and C component and M component are respectively allocated to the other two pixels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein R component, G component, B component, and C component are respectively allocated to the four pixels.

### Claim 7

An image measuring method comprising the steps of:
imaging a measuring object using an imaging portion with pixels, each pixel being allocated with one color, four pixels constituting one set, one set being allocated with a plurality of colors to express a color, and said sets being arranged in a matrix, to output four image data based on said four pixels, respectively;
calculating, based on the four image data, respectively, positions of the measuring object and contrast values at one side and an other side across the measuring object as a boundary; and
generating a position data of the measuring object based on the positions and contrast values, and outputting the position data,
wherein the position data of the measuring object is generated by calculating an average position of the measuring object by:
multiplying the positions by the corresponding contrast values, respectively;
calculating the sum of the products of the positions and the contrast values; and
dividing the sum of the products by the sum of the contrast values.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The image measuring method according to claim 7, wherein different colors are allocated to the four pixels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The image measuring method according to claim 7, wherein G component is allocated to two of the four pixels, and R component and B component are respectively allocated to the other two pixels.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The image measuring method according to claim 7, wherein Y component is allocated to two of the four pixels, and C component and M component are respectively allocated to the other two pixels.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The image measuring method according to claim 7, wherein R component, G component, B component, and C component are respectively allocated to the four pixels.