Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Fujifilm Corporation

Masaru Osada

Masafumi Inuiya

Koji Ichikawa

Takeshi Misawa

Kenkichi Hayashi

Osamu Saito

Satoru Okamoto

A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a color filter including complementary color filter segments. When a shutter release bottom is pressed to its half-stroke or full-stroke position, light incident via the filter is picked up in a movie/photometry or a still picture mode, respectively. While signal charges are read out of an image sensor in accordance with the mode, the signal charges are digitized to become pixel data. In the movie/the photometry mode, despite that a plurality of pixel data are mixed together, a set of primary color pixel data are generated as if pixel signals were thinned out by mixture. In the still picture mode, all the pixels are sequentially read out and interpolated to generate primary color pixel data greater in number than photosensitive cells. The primary color data are raised in frequency to enhance the resolution of a picture.

Solid-state honeycomb type image pickup apparatus using a complementary color filter and signal processing method therefor

In a digital camera, an image pickup section feeds pixel data to a signal processor that uses green pixel data as high-frequency luminance data. To generate luminance for a subject pixel that is either a red pixel or a blue pixel, the signal processor determines a direction of correlation by using the subject pixel and pixel data identical in color with the subject pixel and adjoining it in horizontal and vertical directions. The signal processor then generates, based on the subject pixel and the pixel data used for the above decision, a color complementary to green as high-frequency luminance data while attaching a flag indicative of the direction of correlation to the pixel data. Further, by comparing flag patterns, the signal processor corrects the above flag and then generates high-frequency luminance data from pixel data positioned in a direction indicated by the flag. This obviates a difference in level between nearby pixels in a direction of length.

Method of processing an image signal with the result from decision on a correlation corrected

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an image pick-up section in which photosensitive devices are arranged in, e.g., a honeycomb G square lattice, RB full-checker pattern due to shifted pixels. Regions void of the photosensitive devices are assumed to be virtual photosensitive devices. A signal processing section generates data for the virtual photosensitive devices by using the data of surrounding photosensitive devices while attaching importance to accurate color reproduction and horizontal and/or vertical resolution. As a result, the number of pixel data are increased in a square lattice arrangement. Therefore, high quality image signals are readily achievable with a smaller number of photosensitive devices than conventional with a conventional apparatus. Interpolation can be executed with the high quality signals to the limit of resolution with an adequate circuit scale. The honeycomb arrangement guarantees the required size of the individual pixel and thereby the sensitivity of the entire apparatus while increasing yield on a production line. False colors particular to a single photosensitive portion can be reduced by, e.g., uniform interpolation. Particularly, when a digital camera is constructed by using an imaging apparatus including optics operable with a silver halide sensitive type of film, false colors can be reduced without resorting to an optical low pass filter.

Solid-state imaging apparatus and signal processing method for transforming image signals output from a honeycomb arrangement to high quality video signals

A solid-state image sensor capable of enhancing efficient use of incident light and increasing the resolution of an image and a signal processing method therefore are disclosed. A digital camera includes an image pickup section having a photosensitive array in which photosensitive cells or photodiodes are arranged. Signal charges, or pixel data, are read out of the photodiodes, two lines at a time, three lines at a time, or three lines at a time with line-by-line shift in accordance with a color filter using complementary colors. A signal processing section includes a data correcting circuit for correcting the pixel data. Pixel data of one of three primary colors R, G and B is interpolated in the position of each virtual photosensitive cell or that of each real photosensitive cell. The above color filer uses more efficiently incident light than a filter using the primary colors and improves the sensitivity of the photosensitive cells in a dense pixel arrangement, thereby contributing to the enhancement of image quality. Further, the generated pixel data are used to interpolate pixel data in the real photosensitive cells or the virtual photosensitive cells. This is successful to broaden the frequency band of the pixel data of the real photosensitive cells or those of the virtual photosensitive cells and therefore to improve image quality while obviating false colors.

Growing community of inventors

Asaka, Japan

Masaru Osada