EP0057923A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state color imaging device
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-02-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-02-05
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a color imaging device which suppresses false color signals appearing in an area where the difference of brightnesses is great in the horizontal or vertical direction. When the correlation between picture elements adjacent in the vertical direction is little and the false signal appears in a boundary part in the vertical direction, the false signal is detected, whereupon a color signal is demodulated by utilizing the correlation between the signals of picture elements in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, when the correlation between picture elements adjacent in the horizonta( direction is little and the false signal appears in a boundary part in the horizontal direction, the false signal is detected, whereupon a color signal is demodulated by utilizing the correlation between the signals of picture clements in the vertical direction. As a result, the moire phenomenon attributed to the false color signals can be conspicuously reduced. While embodiments of the present invention refer to color imaging devices which employ MOS type solid-state imaging devices, the invention is also applicable to an imaging device which employs CCDs and color image pickup tube which separates colors by means of a mosaic color filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoki Ozawa
- 👤 Shusaku Nagahara
- 👤 Kenji Takahashi
- 👤 Masuo Umemoto
- 👤 Kazuhiro Sato
- 👤 Morishi Izumita
- 👤 Toshiyuki Akiyama
- 👤 Masanori Sato
- 👤 Koji Kudo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/10; H04N23/12; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/134; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N25/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A color imaging device having a filter assembly in which a first filter adapted to transmit a specified color light and a second filter consisting of a plurality of filter elements adjacent to the first filter in horizontal and vertical directions, at least one of the filter elements being adapted to transmit a color light different from that of the first filter, are arrayed in two-dimensions in large numbers, photoelectric conversion means (1) to receive an object image through the filter assembly and to convert it into image signals, signal readout means (2...9) to sequentially read out the image signals from the photoelectric conversion means, first color signal demodulation means (28) to form a plurality of color signals by combining, among the signals from the readout means, an image' signal concerning the color light transmitted through the first filter and an image signal concerning the color light transmitted through the second filter, and a circuit (30) which synthesizes a luminance signal out of the image signals from the signal readout means, characterized by sensing means (31, 32) to sense the horizontal or vertical direction in which a change in the luminance signal provided from the luminance signal synthe- i sizing circuit (30) is greater, and a control circuit (33) which controls said first color signal demodulation means (28) so as to select the combination of the image signals transmitted through the vertical or horizontal filter elements respectively, in accordance with an output of said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A color imaging device having a filter assembly in which a first filter adapted to transmit a specified color light and a second filter consisting of a plurality of filter elements adjacent to the first filter in horizontal and vertical directions, at least one of the filter elements being adapted to transmit a color light different from that of the first filter, are arrayed in two-dimensions in large numbers, photoelectric conversion means (1) to receive an object image through the filter assembly and to convert it into image signals, signal readout means (2...9) to sequentially read out the image signals from the photoelectric conversion means, first color signal demodulation means (28) to form a plurality of color signals by combining, among the signals from the readout means, an image' signal concerning the color light transmitted through the first filter and an image signal concerning the color light transmitted through the second filter, and a circuit (30) which synthesizes a luminance signal out of the image signals from the signal readout means, characterized by sensing means (31, 32) to sense the horizontal or vertical direction in which a change in the luminance signal provided from the luminance signal synthe- i sizing circuit (30) is greater, and a control circuit (33) which controls said first color signal demodulation means (28) so as to select the combination of the image signals transmitted through the vertical or horizontal filter elements respectively, in accordance with an output of said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said photoelectric conversion means consist of a large number of photosensors (1) which are arrayed in correspondence with said first and-second filters, and said signal readout means (2...9) sequentially scans two rows of said photosensors adjacent to each other every horizontal period and reads out the image signals from said photosensors onto signal output lines (10a, 10b) prepared respectively for said first and second filters in each row.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said photoelectric conversion means consists of a plurality of photosensors (1) which are arranged in correspondence with said first and second filters, said signal readout means (2...9) sequentially scans two rows of said photosensors adjacent to each other every horizontal period and reads out the image signals of picture elements from said photosensors onto two signal output lines (10a, 10b) corresponding to the scanned rows, and said signal processing circuit includes means (24) to separate said image signals read out on said signal output lines, respectively for the corresponding first and second filters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said photoelectric conversion means consists of a plurality of photosensors (1) which are arranged in correspondence with the respective filters, said signal readout means (2...9) sequentially scans said photosensors horizontally and reads out the image signals of picture elements from said photosensors onto a single signal output line (10), and said signal processing circuit includes means to separate said image signais of said picture elements respectively for the corresponding color filters in a train of signals preceding one horizontal scanning period as obtained through signal delay means (51) and a train of signals obtained directly from said signal output line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
The device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first signal supply means includes time adjusting means (26) for supplying the image signals of three picture elements corresponding to said first filter and said second filter having two filter elements as are to be fed to said first color signal demodulation means (28), to said demodulation means at an identical timing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
83 words
The device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first color signal demodulation means consists of a selection circuit (34, 35) which delivers a selected one of the image signals from two picture elements corres-ponding to said second filter in accordance with said control signal (33S), and an arithmetic circuit (28, 29) which forms the first color signal by operating the image signal delivered from said selection circuit and the image signal from a picture element corresponding to said first filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said selection circuit delivers the image signals from the two picture elements corresponding to said second filter in accordance with said control signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
90 words
The device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first color signal demodulation means consists of a first arithmetic circuit (28A) which forms the first color signal from said image signals of said two picture elements proximate in the horizontal direction, a second arithmetic circuit (28B) which forms the first color signal from said image signals of said.two picture elements proximate in the vertical direction, and a circuit (41) which delivers a selected one of the outputs of said two arithmetic circuits in accordance with said control signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 8, wherein the selection circuit (41) delivers the two color signals in a proportion according to said control signal (33S)..
Claim 11
Independent Claim
188 words
The device of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein a third filter which has a light transmissivity capable of forming a second color different from the predetermined colors is included; each of said first filter and said third filter has said second filter in proximity thereto in the horizontal or vertical direction; said signal processing circuit includes second color signal demodulation means (29) to form a color signal of said second color by operating the two sorts of image signals corresponding to said second and third filters, and second signal supply means to supply said second color signal demodulation means with that of said image signals read out from said photoelectric conversion means which is from a picture element corresponding to said third filter and those thereof which are from two picture elements corresponding to said second filter and being respectively proximate to the aforecited picture element in the horizontal and vertical directions; and said second color signal (33S) and demodulates said second color signal on the basis of a combination of the image signals dependent upon a direction of a brightness change of the picture to-be-imaged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Tne device of claim 10, wherein a row in which said first filter and said second filter are alternately arranged and a row in which said second filter and said third filter are alternately arranged are comprised, and the two rows are alternately arrayed in the vertical direction so that the elements of said second filter may form' a checkered pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device of claim 10 or 11, wherein said first filter (Y ) has a yellow light transmissivity, said second filter (W 1 , W2 ) has a panchromatic light transmissivity, and said third filter (C ) has a cyan light transmissivity, and wherein a blue color signal is obtained from said first color signal demodulation means (28), and a red color signal from said second color signal demodulation means (29).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 10 or 11, wherein said first filter (Y ) has a yellow light transmissivity, said second filter (G) has a green light transmissivity, and said third filter (C ) has a cyan light transmissivity, and wherein a blue color signal is obtained from said first color signal demodulation means (28), and a red color signal from said second color signal demodulation means (29).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.