Omnivision Technologies, Inc.

Aptina Imaging Corporation

Changmeng Liu

Jizhang Shan

Chengming Liu

Yingjun Bai

Hui Wei

Qun Sun

An imaging system and method for generating a three-dimensional color image include an opening for allowing light from an object to enter the imaging system. Each sensor element in an array of sensor elements receives a portion of the light and generates a signal indicative of an intensity of the received portion of the light. Light from an optical element impinges on a filter comprising a plurality of filter regions, each filter region passes a predetermined band of wavelengths of the light and is associated with and disposed in alignment with one of the sensor elements such that light passing through each filter region impinges on the sensor associated and in alignment with the filter element. At least one of the filter regions is constructed to pass a visible color band, and at least one other of the filter regions is constructed to pass an infrared band.

Multi-band image sensor for providing three-dimensional color images

A brightness-sensitive automatic white balance method includes (a) determining the brightness of a scene captured in an electronic color image, (b) selecting a color-weighting map based upon the brightness of the scene, (c) extracting auto white balance parameters from the color-weighting map, and (d) white balancing the electronic color image according to the auto white balance parameters. An adaptive automatic white balance method includes (a) refining, based upon a first electronic color image of a scene illuminated by an illuminant of a first spectral type, a color-weighting probability distribution for the illuminant of the first spectral type, wherein the color-weighting probability distribution may be brightness-specific, (b) extracting auto white balance parameters from the refined color-weighting probability distribution, and (c) white balancing, according to the auto white balance parameters, an electronic color image of a scene illuminated by the illuminant of the first spectral type.

Automatic white balance methods and systems for electronic cameras

A system for brightness-sensitive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory with (a) brightness-specific color-weighting maps each specifying illuminant-specific auto white balance parameters, (b) brightness range definitions respectively indicating applicability range of the brightness-specific color-weighting maps, and (c) instructions for white balancing the electronic color image according to scene brightness and based upon the brightness-specific color-weighting maps. A system for adaptive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory having (a) a color-weighting map specifying a probability distribution of color ratios defining auto white balance parameters, the probability distribution composed of a plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions respectively associated with a plurality of different spectral types of illuminant, and (b) instructions for processing one or more electronic color images to refine at least one of the plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions.

A method for calibrating auto white balancing in an electronic camera includes (a) obtaining a plurality of color values from a respective plurality of images of real-life scenes captured by the electronic camera under a first illuminant, (b) invoking an assumption about a true color value of at least portions of the real-life scenes, and (c) determining, based upon the difference between the true color value and the average of the color values, a plurality of final auto white balance parameters for a respective plurality of illuminants including the first illuminant. An electronic camera device includes an image sensor for capturing real-life images of real-life scenes, instructions including a partly calibrated auto white balance parameter set and auto white balance self-training instructions, and a processor for processing the real-life images according to the self-training instructions to produce a fully calibrated auto white balance parameter set specific to the electronic camera.

Apparatus and method for automated self-training of white balance by electronic cameras

A method of white balancing an image includes mapping pixels of the image to a color space diagram. Each of the pixels of the image include a red ('R'), a green ('G'), and a blue (&#x201c;B&#x201d;) subvalue. A first central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a first pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined and a second central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a second pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined. The first pre-defined region is associated with a first illuminating source and the second pre-defined region is associated with a second illuminating source. RGB values of a white pixel are generated based on the first and second central tendencies.

Automatic white balance based on dynamic mapping

An imaging system may include a dual-band image sensor that captures visible and near-infrared light and image processing circuitry that performs color corrections on images captured by the dual-band image sensor. The image processing circuitry may analyze each captured image in two different color spaces to determine what type of light source lit each image. The image processing circuitry may determine whether an image was lit by a light source having a relatively high proportion of near-infrared emissions such as an incandescent light, a light source having a relatively low proportion of near-infrared emissions such as a fluorescent light, or a light source having an intermediate proportion of near-infrared emissions such as sunlight or other blackbody radiator. After determining what type of light source lit an image, the image processing circuitry may adjust color balances in that image using a color correction matrix associated with that type of light source.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Changmeng Liu