Pattern conversion for interpolation

1. A method of processing a digital image having a predetermined color pattern, the method comprising:

creating, by a processing device, a panchromatic image from the digital image, wherein the creating the panchromatic image comprises interpolating a partial panchromatic image to create a full panchromatic image:

creating, by the processing device, a color image from the digital image; and

enhancing, by the processing device, the color image using the panchromatic image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating the panchromatic image further comprises:

extracting panchromatic pixels from the digital image; and

interpolating alternating panchromatic pixels from the extracted panchromatic pixels to create the partial panchromatic image.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the creating the color image comprises:

interpolating color pixel values from the digital image to create a partial color image; and

interpolating the partial color image to create a full color image.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the color pixel values comprise green pixel values.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the partial color image comprises Bayer color image.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the interpolating the partial color image comprises performing Bayer pattern interpolation.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the enhancing the color image comprises using the full panchromatic image to enhance the full color image and to produce an enhanced full resolution color image.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the using the full panchromatic image to enhance the full color image comprises using the full panchromatic image to reduce noise and sharpen resolution of the full color image.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the panchromatic image has a checkerboard pattern.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the color image comprises pixels having three different effective spectral sensitivities.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital image comprises a predetermined color pattern having a minimal repeating unit of:

P

G

P

R

G

P

R

P

P

B

P

G

B

P

G

P

wherein P represents a panchromatic pixel, G represents a green pixel, R represents a red pixel, and B represents a blue pixel.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital image comprises a predetermined color pattern having a minimal repeating unit of:

P

Y

P

C

Y

P

C

P

P

M

P

Y

M

P

Y

P

wherein P represents a panchromatic pixel, Y represents a yellow pixel, C represents a cyan pixel, and M represents a magenta pixel.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, are configured to cause a processing device to perform operations comprising:

creating a panchromatic image from the digital image, wherein the creating the panchromatic image comprises interpolating a partial panchromatic image to create a full panchromatic image;

creating a color image from the digital image; and

enhancing the color image using the panchromatic image.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the creating the panchromatic image further comprises:

extracting panchromatic pixels from the digital image; and

interpolating alternating panchromatic pixels from the extracted panchromatic pixels to create the partial panchromatic image.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the creating the color image comprises:

interpolating color pixel values from the digital image to create a partial color image; and

interpolating the partial color image to create a full color image.

16. A digital camera system comprising:

an image sensor configured to generate a digital image; and

a processor configured to:

create a panchromatic image from the digital image by interpolating a partial panchromatic image to create a full panchromatic image;

create a color image from the digital image; and

enhance the color image using the panchromatic image.

17. The digital camera system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

extract panchromatic pixels from the digital image;

interpolate alternating panchromatic pixels from the extracted panchromatic pixels to create the partial panchromatic image;

interpolate color pixel values from the digital image to create a partial color image;

interpolate the partial color image to create a full color image; and

use the full panchromatic image to enhance the full color image and to produce an enhanced full resolution color image.