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EP0926901A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Colour image pickup apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-23
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-12-23
Abstract
Abstract To provide an image pickup apparatus that generates an image signal having a high resolution both horizontally and vertically, the filter arrangement for a color filter array used in the apparatus is so designed that the colors of the filters in a cyclic patterned unit of N rows × N columns (4 lines × 4 columns) differ from each other not only on the same line but also in the same column. Thus, from all the pixel blocks, pixel signals for each predetermined pixel block unit can be obtained that are required for the generation of a luminance signal and of color signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Isamu Ueno
- 👤 Katsushisa Ogawa
- 👤 Tetsunobu Kochi
- 👤 Hiroki Hiyama
- 👤 Shigetoshi Sugawa
- 👤 Toru Koizumi
- 👤 Katsuhito Sakurai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:42
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/135; H04N25/136; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N25/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; and a color filter array for four colors arranged in
said plurality of pixels, wherein said color filter array has a cyclic
pattern of four rows × four columns, and wherein, in the cyclic pattern unit comprising
four rows and four columns, colors of color filters on
the same row differ from each other and colors of said
color filters in the same column differ from each
other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
1, further comprising: first addition means for adding signals for pixels
that are adjacent to each other horizontally or/and
vertically.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
2, further comprising: subtraction means for performing a subtraction
between a plurality of signals that are added together
by said first addition means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
2, further comprising: second addition means for adding together a
plurality of signals that are added together by said
first addition means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
1, further comprising: first addition means for adding signals for pixels
that are adjacent to each other horizontally and/or
vertically; subtraction means for performing a subtraction
between a plurality of signals that are added together
by said first addition means; and second addition means for adding together a
plurality of signals that are added together by said
first addition means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image pickup apparatus according to one of
claims 1 to 5, wherein said color filters are a filter
for transmitting only green light within a visible
radiation range, a filter for absorbing only a blue
light within said visible radiation range, a filter for
absorbing only green light within said visible
radiation range, and a filter for absorbing only red
light within said visible radiation range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; and a color filter array of N colors (N is an integer)
arranged in said plurality of pixels, wherein said color filter array is so arranged
that luminance signals are generated from all the rows
and all the columns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
7, further comprising: luminance signal generation means for generating a
luminance signal by using signals that are read from
said plurality of pixels; and color signal generation means for generating a
color signal by using signals that are read from said
plurality of pixels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
8, wherein said luminance signal generation means adds
together signals for a plurality of pixels that are
adjacent to each other horizontally or/and vertically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
7, further comprising: first addition means for adding signals from
pixels that are adjacent to each other horizontally
or/and vertically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
10, further comprising: subtraction means for performing a subtraction
between a plurality of signals that are added together
by said first addition means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
8, further comprising: second addition means for adding together a
plurality of signals that are added together by said
first addition means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
7, further comprising: first addition means for adding signals for pixels
that are adjacent to each other horizontally and/or
vertically; subtraction means for performing a subtraction
between a plurality of signals that are added together
by said first addition means; and second addition means for adding together a
plurality of signals that are added together by said
first addition means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
An image pickup apparatus according, to one of
claims 7 to 13, wherein said color filters are for four
colors, and are a filter for transmitting only green
light within a visible radiation range, a filter for
absorbing only a blue light within said visible
radiation range, a filter for absorbing only green
light within said visible radiation range, and a filter
for absorbing only red light within said visible
radiation range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; and a color filter array of four colors arranged in
said plurality of pixels, wherein said color filter array is so arranged
that two color difference signals are generated by a
cyclic pattern of two rows × two columns by using
addition signals of pixels in the horizontal direction
and by using addition signals of pixels in the vertical
direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
15, further comprising: first addition means for adding signals for pixels
that are adjacent to each other horizontally and/or
vertically; subtraction means for performing a subtraction
between a plurality of signals that are added together
by said first addition means; and second addition means for adding together a
plurality of signals that are added together by said
first addition means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
15 or 16, wherein said color filters are for four
colors, and are a filter for transmitting only green
light within a visible radiation range, a filter for
absorbing only a blue light within said visible
radiation range, a filter for absorbing only green
light within said visible radiation range, and a filter
for absorbing only red light within said visible
radiation range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; a plurality of vertical output lines along which
signals produced by said plurality of pixels are read; a plurality of storage means, provided along said
vertical output lines, for the storage of said signals
produced by said plurality of pixels; first addition means, provided along said vertical
output lines, for adding together signals produced by
pixels on the same row that are output by said
plurality of storage means; second addition means, provided along said
vertical output lines, for adding together signals
produced by pixels in the same column that are output
by said plurality of storage means; and a horizontal output line along which are read
resultant signals produced by said first addition means
and said second addition means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
18, wherein said first and said second addition means
employ a switch to add signals stored in said storage
means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
19, wherein said switch includes an MOS transistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
18, wherein a color filter array for four colors
arranged in said plurality of pixels; wherein said
color filter array has a cyclic pattern of four rows ×
four columns; and wherein, in the cyclic pattern unit
comprising four rows and four columns, colors of color
filters on the same row differ from each other and
colors of said color filters in the same column differ
from each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
18, wherein a color filter array of N colors arranged
in said plurality of pixels; and wherein said color
filter array is so arranged that luminance signals are
generated from all the rows and all the columns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
An image pickup apparatus according to claim
18, wherein a color filter array of four colors
arranged in said plurality of pixels; and wherein said
color filter array is so arranged that two color
difference signals are generated by a cyclic pattern of
two rows × two columns by using addition signals of
pixels in the horizontal direction and by using
addition signals of pixels in the vertical direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; and addition means for adding together pixels that are
located adjacent to each other horizontally and/or
vertically, while shifting said plurality of pixels by
one pixel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged horizontally and
vertically; readout means for reading out signals produced by
said plurality of pixels as a unit, comprising a pixel
block that is composed of P rows × Q columns (P and Q
are integers), while shifting said plurality of pixels
horizontally or/and vertically by one pixel or
predetermined number of pixels; and saving means for saving signals produced in an
area that overlaps the next pixel block that is shifted
said predetermined number of pixels away from said
pixel block, in the area of the pixel block that is
read by said readout means, wherein said readout means employs said signals
stored in said saving means to read a succeeding pixel
block.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for reading an image signal produced
by an image pickup apparatus in which four color
filters ire disposed, comprising the step of: calculating A + B - C - D for signals A, B, C and
D produced by pixels at which ore positioned said four
color filters, wherein pixels from which signals A and B are
output are located adjacent to each other horizontally
or vertically; and wherein said color filters have a cyclic pattern
of four rows × four columns, and, in said cyclic
pattern of four lines and four columns, colors of color
filters on the same row differ from each other and
colors of said color filters in the same column differ
from each other.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for reading an image signal produced
by an image pickup apparatus in which four color
filters are disposed, comprising the step of: calculating A + B - C - D for signals A, B, C and
D produced by pixels at which are positioned said four
color filters, wherein pixels from which signals A and B are
output are located adjacent to each other horizontally
or vertically; and wherein said color filters have a cyclic pattern
of four lines × four columns, and are so arranged that
luminance signals are generated from all said rows and
all said columns.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for reading an image signal produced
by an image pickup apparatus in which four color
filters are disposed, comprising the step of: calculating A + B - C - D for signals A, B, C and
D produced by pixels at which are positioned said four
color filters, wherein pixels by which signals A and B are output
are located adjacent to each other horizontally or
vertically; and wherein said color filters are so arranged that
two color difference signals are generated by a cyclic
pattern of two rows × two columns by using addition
signals of pixels in the horizontal direction and by
using addition signals of pixels in the vertical
direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
142 words
An image processing system comprising: an image pickup apparatus in which is mounted a
color filter array for four colors; a compressor for compressing data; a decompressor for decompressing compressed data;
and a color processor for at the least performing an
adjustment for white balance or for γ correction, wherein a signal from said image pickup apparatus
is transmitted to said compressor without passing
through said color processor, and a signal compressed
by said compressor is decompressed by said
decompressor, the resultant signal being transmitted to
said color processor; wherein said color filter array has a cyclic
pattern of four rows × four columns; and wherein, in said cyclic pattern of four lines and
four columns, colors of color filters on the same row
differ from each other and colors of said color filters
in the same column differ from each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image processing system comprising: an image pickup apparatus in which is mounted a
color filter array for N colors (N is an integer); a compressor for compressing data; a decompressor for decompressing compressed data;
and a color processor for at the least performing an
adjustment for a white balance or for γ correction, wherein a signal from said image pickup apparatus
is transmitted to said compressor without passing
through said color processor, and a signal compressed
by said compressor is decompressed by said
decompressor, the resultant signal being transmitted to
said color processor; and wherein said color filter array is so arranged
that luminance signals are generated from all the rows
and all the columns.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image processing system comprising: an image pickup apparatus in which is mounted a
color filter array for N colors (N is an integer); a compressor for compressing data; a decompressor for decompressing compressed data;
and a color processor for at the least performing an
adjustment for white balance or for γ correction, wherein a signal from said image pickup apparatus
is transmitted to said compressor without passing
through said color processor, and a signal compressed
by said compressor is decompressed by said
decompressor, the resultant signal being transmitted to
said color processor; and wherein said color filter array is so arranged
that two color difference signals are generated for a
cyclic pattern of two rows × two columns by using
addition signals of pixels in the horizontal direction
and by using addition signals of pixels in the vertical
direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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