H04N25/133

Multi-spectrum-based image fusion apparatus and method, and image sensor

A multi-spectrum based image fusion apparatus is disclosed, which includes a light acquisition device, an image processor, and an image sensor having five types of photosensitive channels. The five types of photosensitive channels including red, green and blue RGB channels, an infrared IR channel and a full-band W channel. The light acquisition device acquires target light corresponding to incident light. The image sensor converts the target light into an image signal through the RGB channels, the IR channel and the W channel. The image processor analyzes the image signal into RGB color signals and a brightness signal, and fuses the RGB color signals and the brightness signal to obtain a fused image. The collection of the channels based on which the RGB color signals and the brightness signal are obtained includes the five types of photosensitive channels.

Generating narrow-band spectral images from broad-band spectral images

System and method for narrowing the transmission curves obtained using a spectral imager in which spectral images are acquired using a MEMS Fabri-Perot (FP) tunable filter. A method includes acquiring a first plurality of broad-band spectral images associated with respective MEMS FP etalon states and processing the first plurality of broad-band spectral images into a second plurality of narrow-band spectral images.

High dynamic range split pixel CMOS image sensor with low color crosstalk

A pixel cell includes a plurality of subpixels to generate image charge in response to incident light. The subpixels include an inner subpixel laterally surrounded by outer subpixels. A first plurality of transfer gates disposed proximate to the inner subpixel and a first grouping of outer subpixels. A first floating diffusion is coupled to receive the image charge from the first grouping of outer subpixels through a first plurality of transfer gates. A second plurality of transfer gates disposed proximate to the inner subpixel and the second grouping of outer subpixels. A second floating diffusion disposed in the semiconductor material and coupled to receive the image charge from each one of the second grouping of outer subpixels through the second plurality of transfer gates. The image charge in the inner subpixel is received by the first, second, or both floating diffusions through respective transfer gates.

IMAGE DEVICE, IMAGE SENSOR, AND OPERATION METHOD OF IMAGE SENSOR
20220394219 · 2022-12-08 · ·

An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a row driver configured to control the plurality of pixels; and an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize a result sensed by the pixel array to generate a first image, wherein the pixel array includes: first pixel groups, wherein each first pixel group of the first pixel groups includes first white pixels and first color pixels among the plurality of pixels; and second pixel groups, wherein each second pixel group of the second pixel groups includes second white pixels and second color pixels among the plurality of pixels, and wherein first pixel data of the first image are generated based on the first white pixels and the first color pixels, and second pixel data of the first image are generated based on the second color pixels.

PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS, PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION SYSTEM, AND MOVABLE OBJECT
20220384494 · 2022-12-01 ·

A first avalanche diode including a first semiconductor region and a second avalanche diode including a second semiconductor region are provided, a first isolation portion is arranged between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, the first isolation portion is constituted by a third semiconductor region, or a fourth semiconductor regions and the third semiconductor regions arranged to sandwich the fourth semiconductor region in plan view, and in the fourth semiconductor regions, an impurity concentration Nd of the third semiconductor region, an impurity concentration Na of the fourth semiconductor region, an elementary electric charge q, a dielectric constant ε of a semiconductor, a potential difference V between a P-N junction of the third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region, and a length D of the third semiconductor region sandwiched by the fourth semiconductor regions satisfy Expression 1.

[00001] 2 × 2 ε Nd V q Na ( Na + Nd ) > D

IMAGE SENSOR

An image sensor includes a plurality of red pixel groups, a first red pixel and a second red pixel adjacent to each other in a first direction; a plurality of green pixel groups, a first green pixel and a second green pixel adjacent to each other in the first direction; a plurality of blue pixel groups, a first blue pixel and a second blue pixel adjacent to each other in the first direction; and at least one color pixel group including a first color pixel and a second color pixel each configured to sense a certain color, the first color pixel and the second color pixel adjacent to each other in a second direction, the at least one color pixel group being between the red pixel groups and the green pixel groups and between the green pixel groups and the blue pixel groups.

IMAGING DEVICE
20220368867 · 2022-11-17 ·

Provided is an imaging device (1) capable of improving quality of an image captured using a color filter. An imaging device according to an embodiment includes a pixel array (110) including a plurality of pixel blocks (130) each including 6×6 pixels, and each pixel block includes a first pixel on which a first optical filter that transmits light in a first wavelength range is provided, a second pixel on which a second optical filter that transmits light in a second wavelength range is provided, a third pixel on which a third optical filter that transmits light in a third wavelength range is provided, and a fourth pixel on which a fourth optical filter that transmits light in a fourth wavelength range is provided. The first pixels are alternately arranged in each of a row direction and a column direction of the arrangement, one second pixel, one third pixel, and one fourth pixels are alternately arranged in each row and each column of the arrangement, and the pixel block further includes a line including at least one second pixel, one third pixel, and one fourth pixel in a first oblique direction that is parallel to a diagonal of the pixel block of the arrangement, and a line including at least one second pixel, one third pixel, and one fourth pixel in a second oblique direction that is parallel to a diagonal of the pixel block and is different from the first oblique direction.

IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD
20220368873 · 2022-11-17 ·

An image sensor includes multiple photoelectric conversion elements and multiple individual color filters to generate multiple colors. The multiple individual color filters are arranged corresponding to the multiple photoelectric conversion elements, respectively. At least one of the multiple individual color filters includes a primary color type individual color filter. The primary color type individual color filter allows light of a corresponding primary color to permeate. The primary color type individual color filter has a first given transmittance for one of other primary colors other than the corresponding primary color, at which one of the other primary colors permeates the primary color type individual color filter. The first given transmittance is higher than a lower limit of a transmittance improving a sensitivity of the image sensor.

MOBILE TERMINAL AND IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD
20220367550 · 2022-11-17 ·

Mobile terminal and image photographing method are provided. The mobile terminal includes first camera module and second camera module. First pixel array corresponding to first image sensor of the first camera module includes preset quantity of first pixel units arranged in first predetermined manner, and the first pixel unit includes first and second pixels. Second pixel array corresponding to the second image sensor includes preset quantity of second pixel units arranged in second predetermined manner, and the second pixel unit includes first pixel. The first pixel includes red, green, and blue subpixels. The second pixel includes the green subpixel and infrared subpixel, and at least one of the red subpixel and the blue subpixel. The first pixel and the second pixel are full-pixel dual-core focus pixels, and each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes four full-pixel dual-core focus subpixels.

DENOISING METHOD AND DENOISING DEVICE FOR REDUCING NOISE IN AN IMAGE
20220368874 · 2022-11-17 ·

A method of reducing noise in an input image by setting, as a local window among color pixels included in the input image, a target pixel and neighboring pixels adjacent to the target pixel, determining color pixel values for the target pixel and each of the neighboring pixels included in the local window, generating local color average values are generated by averaging, color by color, the color pixel values, generating offset color pixel values by converting the color pixel values of the target pixel and the neighboring pixels based on the local color average values, and generating a compensated color pixel value of the target pixel by adjusting the color pixel value of the target pixel based on the offset color pixel values.