One chip, low light level color camera
US7012643B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2209/047
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high sensitivity, single chip, low light level imaging device is provided. The imaging device of the present invention utilizes sparse color sampling, to maximize the luminance information gathered. In particular, color information is gathered by a small proportion of the pixels included in an image sensor, while the remaining pixels operate at full spectrum sensitivity. The present invention allows the correct hue of objects to be determined, while providing high sensitivity to available luminance information in a scene. In addition, the present invention allows hue information to be ascribed to objects in a scene, even in combination with luminance data collected over a spectrum that includes the near infrared and infrared wavelengths.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.