US6476865B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sparsely sampled image sensing device with color and luminance photosites
Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2001-03-07
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Granted: 2002-11-05
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Expires: 2021-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, including: a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward B. Gindele
- 👤 Andrew C. Gallagher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/06; A61B1/0638; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/843; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/133; H04N25/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, comprising a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns such that over at least a major portion of the array, all four types of elements occur in equal numbers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, comprising a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns such that over at least a major portion of the array, all four types of elements occur in equal numbers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The image sensing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns are such that over at least a major portion of the array all four types of elements occur at every other element position along both of two orthogonal directions of the array of light-sensitive elements.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of capturing a color digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing an image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, which array includes at least a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns; b) employing the image sensing device to produce a sparsely sampled digital image; and c) interpolating missing color pixel values in the sparsely sampled digital image to generate the color digital image having a red, green and blue pixel value for each location in the array by employing a first interpolation technique that uses neighboring luminance values when the neighboring luminance values are not clipped, and a second interpolation technique that does not use neighboring luminance values when the neighboring luminance values are clipped.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of capturing a color digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing an image sensing device having an array of light-sensitive elements, which array includes at least a first type of element sensitive to a spectral region corresponding to luminance; a second type of element sensitive primarily to red light; a third type of element sensitive primarily to green light; and a fourth type of element sensitive primarily to blue light, the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns; b) employing the image sensing device to produce a sparsely sampled digital image; and c) interpolating missing color pixel values in the sparsely sampled digital image to generate the color digital image having a red, green and blue pixel value for each location in the array by employing a first interpolation technique that uses neighboring luminance values when the neighboring luminance values are not clipped, and a second interpolation technique that does not use neighboring luminance values when the neighboring luminance values are clipped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method claimed in claim 3 , wherein the four types of elements occurring in repeating patterns are such that over at least a major portion of the array all four types of elements occur at every other element position along both of two orthogonal directions of the array of light-sensitive elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 3 , wherein the image sensing device is in a camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 5 , wherein the interpolation step is performed in the camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method claimed in claim 3 , wherein the interpolation step includes the steps of: c1) calculating a first set of interpolated pixel values for each color at each pixel location; c2) calculating color difference pixel values for each pixel location using the first set of interpolated pixel values; and c3) calculate a final set of interpolated pixel values using the color difference pixel values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first set of interpolated pixel values are calculated by computing a Laplacian pixel value for pixels of one color and adding the Laplacian pixel value to a pixel value of a different color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 7 , wherein the final set of interpolated pixel values are calculated for clipped pixels using a nearest neighbor averaging technique.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method claimed in claim 7 , wherein the luminance pixel values and the color difference pixel values are used to calculate the final set of interpolated pixel values.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-04 | 2006-05-06 | 2006-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-04 | 2010-05-06 | 2010-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-04 | 2014-05-06 | 2014-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |