Edge mapping using panchromatic pixels
View Patent ↗A method of enhancing a full-color image of a scene includes capturing an image of the scene using a two-dimensional sensor array having both color and panchromatic pixels, forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels, forming a reference panchromatic image in response to the captured panchromatic pixels, forming an edge map in response to the reference panchromatic image and using the edge map to enhance the full-color image.
1. A method of providing an enhanced full-color image of a scene, comprising using a processor (or computer) to perform the steps of:
a. using a captured image of the scene that was captured by a two-dimensional sensor array having both color pixels corresponding to at least three color photoresponses and panchromatic pixels;
b. forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels;
c. forming a reference panchromatic image in response to the captured panchromatic pixels;
d. forming an edge map in response to the reference panchromatic image; and
e. using the edge map to enhance the full-color image.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein element b includes using both the captured color pixels and the captured panchromatic pixels to form the full color image.
3. The method according to claim 2 further using the reference panchromatic image to form the full color image.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein element c includes using both the captured color pixels and the captured panchromatic pixels to form the reference panchromatic image.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the edge map is used to provide noise cleaning.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the edge map is used to provide color correction.