IP Library Granted Patent US 7,170,046
Granted Patent B2
US 7,170,046 · App. 11/020,987 · Granted Jan 30, 2007

Color image capture element and color image signal processing circuit

Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,170,046
App. No.
11/020,987
Granted
Jan 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A color image capture element comprises a plurality of color component photoelectric conversion elements, each disposed with a color filter on a light receiving surface for respectively transmitting different color components, for receiving incoming light and selectively outputting respective color signals corresponding to the intensity of the different color components, and an infrared component photoelectric conversion element, disposed with an infrared transmitting filter on a light receiving surface for transmitting an infrared component, for selectively outputting an infrared signal. This enables the infrared component included in at least one of a plurality of color signals to be corrected, thereby improving the sensitivity of a color image capture apparatus.

Claims (20)

1. A color signal processing circuit for performing white balance adjustment of color signals by obtaining said color signals and an infrared signal that are output from a color image capture element and controlling the gain of at least two signals among said color signals on the basis of said infrared signal, wherein

the color image capture element comprises:

a plurality of color components photoelectric conversion elements, each disposed with a color filter on a light receiving surface for respectively transmitting different color components, for receiving incoming light and selectively outputting respective color signals corresponding to the intensity of said different color components; and

an infrared component photoelectric conversion element, disposed with an infrared component transmitting filter on a light receiving surface for transmitting an infrared component, for selectively outputting the infrared signal used to correct the infrared component included in at least one of the color signals.

2. A color signal processing circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

said different color components are red, green, and blue; and

the gains of red and blue signals are controlled using the gain of green signal as a reference.

3. A color signal processing circuit according to claim 2 , wherein

when the infrared signal is larger than a predetermined signal amount, a control operation is performed to reduce the gain of the red signal by a first predetermined amount and to increase the gain of the blue signal by a second predetermined amount.

4. A color signal processing circuit according to claim 2 , wherein

when the infrared signal is smaller than a predetermined signal amount, a control operation is performed to equalize the gain of the red signal and the gain of the blue signal.

5. A color signal processing circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

said different color components are three colors or four colors included in one combination of yellow, cyan, and magenta, or combination of yellow, cyan, and green, or combination of yellow, cyan, magenta, and green.

6. A color signal processing circuit for compensating for an infrared component, wherein

the color signal processing circuit obtains color signals and an infrared signal that are output from a color image capture element, wherein the color image capture element comprises:

a plurality of color component photoelectric conversion elements, each disposed with a color filter on a light receiving surface for respectively transmitting different color components, for receiving incoming light and selectively outputting respective color signals corresponding to the intensity of said different color components; and

an infrared component photoelectric conversion element, disposed with an infrared component transmitting filter on a light receiving surface for transmitting an infrared component, for selectively outputting the infrared signal used to correct the infrared component included in at least one of the color signals; and

the color signal processing circuit subtracts, from each of said color signals is, a signal value obtained by multiplying the infrared signal by a coefficient in accordance with a ratio of infrared sensitivity of the corresponding color filter to infrared sensitivity of the infrared component transmitting filter.

7. A color signal processing circuit according to claim 6 , wherein

said color component photoelectric conversion elements and said infrared component photoelectric conversion element are disposed in a mosaic array in two dimensions.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 045520/0764 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045096/0945 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 5859768 AND TO RECITE COLLATERAL AGENT ROLE OF RECEIVING PARTY IN THE SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038620 FRAME 0087. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039853/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038620/0087 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT #12/577882 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026594 FRAME 0385. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032836/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2011
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026594/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2004
From: HIGASHITSUTSUMI, YOSHIHITO
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016124/0660 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2003-425708 · Dec 22, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050133690A1 · Jun 23, 2005