Color signal producing system utilizing spatial color encoding and comb filtering

Claim 1

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for respectively encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative or the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of said first and second gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier freqeuncy during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of substantially 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; an signal processing means coupled to said image pickup device for combining signals derived from a plurality of successively scanned lines to derive separately and simultaneously a first output comprising said first color representative carrier wave components to the substantial exclusion of said second color representative carrier wave components, and a second output comprising said second color representative carrier wave components to the substantial exclusion of said first color representative carrier wave components; said signal processing means including: 1. bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; 2. means, having an input coupled to said bandpass filter means, for delaying said carrier wave components for a line scanning interval; 3. first signal combining means; 4. means for utilizing said first signal combining means to combine signals appearing at the input an output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said first combining means whereas said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said combining means whereby the output of said first combining means constitutes said first output of said signal processing means; 5. second signal combining means; 6. means for utilizing said second combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereas said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereby the output of said second combining means constitutes said second output of said signal processing means; 7. each of said utilizing means incluDing respective couplings (a) between said line interval delaying means output and a first input of the respective combining means, and (b) between said line interval delaying means input and a second input of the respective combining means, one of said couplings including a phase shift network for subjecting carrier wave components to a phase shift corresponding to 90* at said nominal carrier frequency.

Claim 2

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for respectively encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative or the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of said first and second gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier freqeuncy during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of substantially 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; an signal processing means coupled to said image pickup device for combining signals derived from a plurality of successively scanned lines to derive separately and simultaneously a first output comprising said first color representative carrier wave components to the substantial exclusion of said second color representative carrier wave components, and a second output comprising said second color representative carrier wave components to the substantial exclusion of said first color representative carrier wave components; said signal processing means including: 1. bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; 2. means, having an input coupled to said bandpass filter means, for delaying said carrier wave components for a line scanning interval; 3. first signal combining means; 4. means for utilizing said first signal combining means to combine signals appearing at the input an output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said first combining means whereas said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said combining means whereby the output of said first combining means constitutes said first output of said signal processing means; 5. second signal combining means; 6. means for utilizing said second combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereas said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereby the output of said second combining means constitutes said second output of said signal processing means; 7. each of said utilizing means incluDing respective couplings (a) between said line interval delaying means output and a first input of the respective combining means, and (b) between said line interval delaying means input and a second input of the respective combining means, one of said couplings including a phase shift network for subjecting carrier wave components to a phase shift corresponding to 90* at said nominal carrier frequency.

Claim 22

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising first, second, and third gratings for encoding first, second, and third colors, respectively, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of said first and second gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning prodUces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning internal and a nominal phase shift of substantially 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; said stripes of said third grating having the stripe width selected and the angle of inclination of the stripes of said third grating so disposed such that the width of each of the stripes of said third grating in the direction of scan is different than the width of the stripes of said first and second gratings such that said scanning of the encoded image on said photosensitive medium produces third amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components having a different nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval than said first and second color representative carrier wave components; first bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said first and second color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; means, having an input coupled to said first bandpass filter means, for delaying said first and second carrier wave components for a line scanning interval; first signal combining means; means for utilizing said first signal combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said combining means whereas said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said first combining means; second signal combining means; means for utilizing said second combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereas said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said second combining means; each of said utilizing means including respective couplings (a) between said line interval delaying means output and a first input of the respective combining means, and (b) between said line interval delaying means input and a second input of the respective combining means, one of said couplings including a phase shift network for subjecting carrier wave components to a phase shift corresponding to 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; second bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said third color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal.

Claim 23

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising first, second, and third gratings for encoding first, second, and third colors, respectively, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of said first and second gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning prodUces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning internal and a nominal phase shift of substantially 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; said stripes of said third grating having the stripe width selected and the angle of inclination of the stripes of said third grating so disposed such that the width of each of the stripes of said third grating in the direction of scan is different than the width of the stripes of said first and second gratings such that said scanning of the encoded image on said photosensitive medium produces third amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components having a different nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval than said first and second color representative carrier wave components; first bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said first and second color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; means, having an input coupled to said first bandpass filter means, for delaying said first and second carrier wave components for a line scanning interval; first signal combining means; means for utilizing said first signal combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said combining means whereas said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said first combining means; second signal combining means; means for utilizing said second combining means to combine signals appearing at the input and output of said line interval delaying means in such manner that said second carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in reinforcing phase relationship in the output of said second combining means whereas said first carrier wave components from said input and output of said line interval delaying means combine in cancelling phase relationship in the output of said second combining means; each of said utilizing means including respective couplings (a) between said line interval delaying means output and a first input of the respective combining means, and (b) between said line interval delaying means input and a second input of the respective combining means, one of said couplings including a phase shift network for subjecting carrier wave components to a phase shift corresponding to 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; second bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said third color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal.

Claim 32

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of first and second of said gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having substantially the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; delay means coupled to said bandpass filtEr means for delaying said carrier wave components for one line scanning interval; inverting means coupled to said bandpass filter means for inverting the polarity of said carrier wave components; first phase shifting means coupled to said delay means for subjecting said delayed carrier wave components to a phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; first combining means coupled to said first phase shifting means and to said inverting means for combining the carrier wave components obtained from said first phase shifting means and from said inverting means for producing first separated color representative carrier wave components; second phase shifting means coupled to said inverting means for subjecting said inverted carrier wave components to a phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; and second combining means coupled to said delay means and to said second phase shifting means for combining the carrier wave components obtained from said delay means and from said second phase shifting means for producing second separated color representative carrier wave components.

Claim 33

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of first and second of said gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings having substantially the same pitch and the stripes of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components each having the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; delay means coupled to said bandpass filtEr means for delaying said carrier wave components for one line scanning interval; inverting means coupled to said bandpass filter means for inverting the polarity of said carrier wave components; first phase shifting means coupled to said delay means for subjecting said delayed carrier wave components to a phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; first combining means coupled to said first phase shifting means and to said inverting means for combining the carrier wave components obtained from said first phase shifting means and from said inverting means for producing first separated color representative carrier wave components; second phase shifting means coupled to said inverting means for subjecting said inverted carrier wave components to a phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency; and second combining means coupled to said delay means and to said second phase shifting means for combining the carrier wave components obtained from said delay means and from said second phase shifting means for producing second separated color representative carrier wave components.

Claim 36

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of first and second of said gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components having substantially the same frequency during a scanning interval; bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; first and second delay means serially coupled to said bandpass filter means for producing, respectively, first and second delayed carrier wave components, the delay of each of said first and second delay means being substantially equal to one line scanning interval; third delay means coupled to said second delay means for delaying said second delayed carrier wave components for a first portion of the period of said carrier waves; inverting amplifier means coupled to said first delay means for inverting said first delayed carrier wave components; four delay means coupled to said inverting amplifier means for delaying said inverted carrier wave components for a second portion of The period of said carrier waves; fifth delay means coupled to said bandpass filter means for delaying said carrier wave components for a first portion of the period of said carrier waves; first signal combiner means coupled to said third, fourth, and fifth delay means for combining the carrier wave components obtained therefrom for producing first separated color representative carrier wave components; and second signal combiner means coupled to said second, fourth and fifth delay means for combining the carrier wave components obtained therefrom for producing second separated color representative carrier wave components.

Claim 37

A system for producing signals representative of the color of a scene, comprising: an image pickup device; striped spatial color encoding filter means comprising at least first and second gratings for encoding at least first and second colors, said gratings being disposed between said scene and a photosensitive electrode of said image pickup device for filtering the scene light reaching said electrode such that a composite signal representative of the color of said scene is derived from said image pickup device during scanning of said photosensitive electrode, the encoding stripes of first and second of said gratings being angularly disposed relative to the stripes of each other, said stripes of both of said first and second gratings being disposed at equal and opposite angles from the direction of scanning such that said scanning produces said composite signal including first and second amplitude modulated color representative carrier wave components having substantially the same frequency during a scanning interval; bandpass filter means coupled to said image pickup device for separating said color representative carrier wave components from said composite signal; first and second delay means serially coupled to said bandpass filter means for producing, respectively, first and second delayed carrier wave components, the delay of each of said first and second delay means being substantially equal to one line scanning interval; third delay means coupled to said second delay means for delaying said second delayed carrier wave components for a first portion of the period of said carrier waves; inverting amplifier means coupled to said first delay means for inverting said first delayed carrier wave components; four delay means coupled to said inverting amplifier means for delaying said inverted carrier wave components for a second portion of The period of said carrier waves; fifth delay means coupled to said bandpass filter means for delaying said carrier wave components for a first portion of the period of said carrier waves; first signal combiner means coupled to said third, fourth, and fifth delay means for combining the carrier wave components obtained therefrom for producing first separated color representative carrier wave components; and second signal combiner means coupled to said second, fourth and fifth delay means for combining the carrier wave components obtained therefrom for producing second separated color representative carrier wave components.

Claim 40

A system for encoding a plurality of colors, comprising: a photosensitive medium; a stripped spatial color encoding filter assembly disposed between an object and said photosensitive medium for spatially encoding colored light from said object onto said photosensitive medium, said filter assembly including; first and second superimposed encoding gratings each having a pattern of stripes of material for encoding a respectively different one of first and second colors as amplitude modulation of a spatial carrier frequency, said stripes of both of said gratings having the same pitch and said stripes of each of said gratings disposed at substantially equal and opposite angles from a common reference line such that subsequent scanning of the encoded image on said photosensitive medium in a direction normal to said reference line produces first and second amplitude moduated carrier wave components each having substantially the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; means for scanning said photosensitive medium in said direction normal to said reference line; and signal processing means including comb filter means responsive to the scanning of said photosensitive medium for separating said first and second carrier wave components for producing separated signals representative of light of respectively different ones of said first and second colors; said comb filter means including:

Claim 41

A system for encoding a plurality of colors, comprising: a photosensitive medium; a stripped spatial color encoding filter assembly disposed between an object and said photosensitive medium for spatially encoding colored light from said object onto said photosensitive medium, said filter assembly including; first and second superimposed encoding gratings each having a pattern of stripes of material for encoding a respectively different one of first and second colors as amplitude modulation of a spatial carrier frequency, said stripes of both of said gratings having the same pitch and said stripes of each of said gratings disposed at substantially equal and opposite angles from a common reference line such that subsequent scanning of the encoded image on said photosensitive medium in a direction normal to said reference line produces first and second amplitude moduated carrier wave components each having substantially the same nominal carrier frequency during a scanning interval and a nominal phase shift of 90* at said nominal carrier frequency between corresponding points in successive scanning intervals; means for scanning said photosensitive medium in said direction normal to said reference line; and signal processing means including comb filter means responsive to the scanning of said photosensitive medium for separating said first and second carrier wave components for producing separated signals representative of light of respectively different ones of said first and second colors; said comb filter means including: