Image pickup device and method for processing an interpolated color signal

An image pickup device comprising:

• a lens;
• first, second and third color filters which are provided by each pixel and arranged in a bayer array, the first color filter being arranged in a checkerboard pattern and one pixel of pixels corresponding to the second color filter or the third color filter being used as a reference pixel;
• an image sensor which photoelectrically converts light passing through the first to third filters via the lens to generate a first color signal corresponding to the first color filter, a second color signal corresponding to the second color filter and a third color signal corresponding to the third color filter;
• and
• a signal processing part configured to perform a signal process for the first to third color signals,
• wherein the signal processing part includes:
• a first color generator configured to generate a fourth color signal corresponding to the reference pixel based on a ratio between the second color signal at a pixel located in the vicinity of the reference pixel and the third color signal at a pixel located in the vicinity of the reference pixel;
• a second color generator configured to generate a fifth color signal corresponding to the reference pixel based on a ratio between the third color signal at a pixel located in the vicinity of the reference pixel and the second color signal at a pixel located in the vicinity of the reference pixel;
• and
• a image quality converter configured to generate color signals by performing a predetermined image process based on the first to fifth color signals.

An image pickup method of an image pickup device including

• a lens;
• first, second and third color filters which are provided by each pixel and arranged in a bayer array, the first color filter being arranged in a checkerboard pattern and one pixel of pixels corresponding to the first color filter being used as a reference pixel;
• an image sensor which photoelectrically converts lights passing through the first to third filters via the lens to generate a first color signal corresponding to the first color filter, a second color signal corresponding to the second color filter and a third color signal corresponding to the third color filter;
• and
• a signal processing part configured to perform a signal process for the first to third color signals,
• wherein the image pickup method comprises:
• generating a fourth color signal corresponding to the reference pixel by multiplying
• (i) a ratio between an average of the second color signals at a plurality of pixels located in the vicinity of the reference pixel and
• (ii) an average of the first color signals at a plurality of pixels located in the vicinity of the reference pixel
• by the first color signal at the reference pixel;
• generating a fifth color signal corresponding to the reference pixel by multiplying
• (i) a ratio between an average of the third color signals at a plurality of pixels located in the vicinity of the reference pixel and
• (ii) an average of the first color signals at a plurality of pixels located in the vicinity of the reference pixel
• by the first color signal at the reference pixel;
• and
• generating color signals by performing a predetermined image process based on the first to fifth color signals.