IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,688,368
Granted Patent B2
US 7,688,368 · App. 11/341,210 · Granted Mar 30, 2010

Image sensor with improved light sensitivity

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,688,368
App. No.
11/341,210
Granted
Mar 30, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels; and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group.

Claims (235)

1. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

A

B

P

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

2. The image sensor of claim 1 having the following minimal repeating unit:

P

P

P

P

A

B

P

P

P

P

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

3. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

A

B

P

P

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

4. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) wherein each row or column of a minimal repeating unit is composed only of pixels from either the first group or the second group of pixels and the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is

P

P

A

B

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

5. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) wherein each row or column of a minimal repeating unit is composed only of pixels from either the first group or the second group of pixels and the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is

P

P

A

B

D

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group,

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group, and

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

6. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) wherein each row or column of a minimal repeating unit is composed only of pixels from either the first group or the second group of pixels and the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is:

P

P

A

B

P

P

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

7. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) wherein each row or column of a minimal repeating unit is composed only of pixels from either the first group or the second group of pixels and the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is:

P

P

P

P

A

B

P

P

P

P

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

8. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group; and

c) wherein each row or column of a minimal repeating unit is composed only of pixels from either the first group or the second group of pixels and the minimal repeating unit of the image sensor is:

P

P

P

P

A

B

P

P

P

P

D

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group,

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group, and

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

9. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

A

B

P

P

D

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group,

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group, and

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

10. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

P

P

A

B

P

P

P

P

B

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group.

11. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

P

P

A

B

P

P

P

P

D

C

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group,

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group, and

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

12. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

P

P

A

B

C

D

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group, and

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group,

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

13. An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising:

a) a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors;

b) the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group,

c) means for combining some pixels of like color from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units, and

d) the minimal repeating unit having:

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

A

B

C

D

wherein P represents pixels of the second group,

A represents pixels of a first color of pixels of the first group,

B represents pixels of a second color of pixels of the first group,

C represents pixels of a third color of pixels of the first group, and

D represents pixels of a fourth color of pixels of the first group.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2011
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 026227/0213 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2006
From: KIJIMA, TAKAYUKI; NAKAMURA, HIDEO; COMPTON, JOHN T.; HAMILTON, JOHN F., JR.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017523/0272 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070177236A1 · Aug 2, 2007