CCD AREA IMAGE SENSOR AND COLOR IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

摘要

A solid state area image sensor for producing color video information comprises an array of like-shaped, color-responsive photoelements arranged in successive horizontal rows such that, except at the edges of the array, any one photoelement having one color response is surrounded by six adjacent photoelements all having color responses differing from the one surrounded photoelement, in an approximately hexagonal array. Color video information is produced in response to combined signals from three mutually adjacent photoelements by processing the photoelement output signals two rows at a time and producing color video information in response to signals from three mutually adjacent photoelements of three different color responses in adjacent rows. The three different color responses are white (w), yellow (Ye), and cyan (Cy), and luminance (L) and chrominance (RGB) information is produced in accordance with the equations: L = Cy + Ye + 0.66aW ; R = W - Cy ; G = Cy + Ye - W ; B = W - Ye ; where L is luminance, R is red, G is green, B is blue and a is an adjustable quantity near unity.