Television – Camera – system and detail – Solid-state image sensor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2004-10-26
Christensen, Andrew (Department: 2615)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Solid-state image sensor
C348S311000, C348S317000, C348S273000, C348S279000, C257S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06809770
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to imaging devices and, more particularly, to an imaging device which is applied, for example, for a digital camera having a plurality of pixel signals outputted through thinning out from a CCD imager.
This invention is also concerned with a digital camera having such an imaging device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIG. 32
, a conventional imaging device has had a CCD imager that is mounted, at its front, with a complementary color filter having color components Ye, Cy, Mg and G so that pixel signals containing all kinds of complementary color components can be read from pixel blocks each having 2
8
pixels×lines. That is, G and Mg pixel signals are read from a first line of each pixel block, while Ye and Cy pixel signals are from a sixth line. The pixel signals thus read are then subjected to an interpolation process. As a result, thinned-out image signals are created wherein each pixel has all the color components.
In the prior art, however, there has been a problem that each pixel block requires twice horizontal transfers, consuming a considerable time in outputting pixel signals. This problem becomes more prominent as the number of pixel signals read from each pixel block is increased in order to improve resolution of the images having been thinned out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an imaging device which is reduced in time needed to output pixel signals.
Another object of the invention is to provide an imaging device which can output an increased number of pixel signals in a brief time.
A still another object of the invention is to provide a digital camera which is reduced in time needed to create an image.
A further object of the invention is to provide a digital camera which can create an image with increased resolution in a brief time.
An imaging apparatus according to the present invention, comprises: a color filter formed by a plurality of kinds of color elements; a CCD imager having pixels corresponding, in a one-to-one relation, to the color elements; and a timing generator for supplying a drive pulse to the CCD imager; wherein the color filter having color blocks formed by a plurality of rows each row having the plurality of kinds of color elements respectively assigned to the plurality of rows; the CCD imager having a plurality of rows of pixel blocks corresponding to the color blocks; the drive pulse including a read pulse to read from each of the plurality of rows pixel signals different in kind of said plurality of color elements, a vertical transfer pulse to cause vertical transfer of the pixel signals, and a horizontal transfer pulse to cause horizontal transfer of the pixel signals each time vertical transfer related to the number of vertical pixels of the pixel block has been completed.
In this invention, a color filter having a plurality of kinds of color elements is mounted on a light receiving surface of a CCD imager of an interline transfer scheme. The pixels of the CCD imager correspond, in a one-to-one relation, to color components of the color filter. The timing generator supplies a drive pulse to the CCD imager thus constructed. Here, the color filter has a plurality of rows of color blocks each row of which is assigned with the plurality of kinds of color elements at least one in number per kind. Also, the CCD imager has a plurality of rows of pixel blocks corresponding to the color blocks. If a read pulse is supplied to the CCD imager, pixel signals corresponding to different color elements are read from a plurality of rows forming the pixel block. The pixel signals read from the pixel block are vertically transferred by a vertical transfer pulse. Horizontal transfer is implemented according to a horizontal transfer pulse each time vertical transfer has been completed by the number of vertical pixels of the pixel block.
According to the invention, because the pixel signals read from the pixel block is horizontally transferred in a collective fashion, it is possible to reduce a time required for output as compared to the conventional, or to output much more pixel signals in a same time as that of the conventional.
According to one embodiment, the read pulse is a pulse to read one pixel of the pixel signals from each row of the pixel blocks.
According to another embodiment, the color block includes different kinds of color elements on a same row. Also, the read pulse includes a first read pulse to read from the plurality of rows pixel signals corresponding to one part of the plurality of kinds of color elements and a second read pulse to read from the plurality of rows pixel signals corresponding to the remaining part of the plurality of kinds of color elements.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the color block includes two pixels or more of a same kind of a color element on a same row, and the read pulse is a pulse to read a plurality of pixels of pixel signals from each row of the pixel block.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, the CCD imager has a plurality of pixel blocks, and the read pulse is a pulse to read the pixel signals from each of the pixel blocks in such a manner as to give an even distance between lines including pixels to be read out.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the color filter has one part of the plurality of kinds of color elements on an odd-numbered line and another part of the plurality of kinds of color elements on an even-numbered line. Preferably, the plurality of kinds of color elements are an element G, an element Mg, an element Ye and an element Cy, the element G and the element Mg being arranged alternately every pixel on one of the odd numbered and even numbered lines, and the element Ye and the element Cy being arranged alternately every pixel on the other of the odd numbered and even numbered lines.
A digital camera according to the present invention, comprises: a color filter formed by a plurality of kinds of color elements; a CCD imager having pixels corresponding, in a one-to-one relation, to the color elements; a timing generator for supplying a drive pulse to the CCD imager; and an interpolation circuit for performing interpolation on a pixel signal outputted from the CCD imager; wherein the color filter having color blocks formed by a plurality of rows having the plurality of kinds of color elements respectively assigned to the plurality of rows; the CCD imager having a plurality of rows of pixel blocks corresponding to the color blocks; the drive pulse including a read pulse to read from each of the plurality of rows pixel signals different in kind of the plurality of color elements, a vertical transfer pulse to cause vertical transfer of the pixel signals, and a horizontal transfer pulse to cause horizontal transfer of the pixel signals each time vertical transfer related to the number of vertical pixels of the pixel blocks has been completed.
In this invention, a color filter having a plurality of kinds of color elements is mounted on a light receiving surface of a CCD imager of an interline transfer scheme. The pixels of the CCD imager correspond, in a one-to-one relation, to color components of the color filter. The timing generator supplies a drive pulse to the CCD imager thus constructed. Responsive to the drive pulse, the pixel signals outputted from the CCD imager is interpolated by an interpolation circuit. Here, the color filter has a plurality of rows of color blocks each row of which is assigned with the plurality of kinds of color elements at least one in number per kind. Also, the CCD imager has a plurality of rows of pixel blocks corresponding to the color blocks. If a read pulse is supplied to the CCD imager, pixel signals corresponding to different color elements are read from a plurality of rows forming the pixel block. The pixel signals read from the pixel block are vertically transferred by a vertical transfer pulse. Horizontal transfer is implemented according to
Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks, LLP
Christensen Andrew
Sanyo Electric Co,. Ltd.
Wu Dorothy
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