Solid-State Image Sensor Pixel Split for Chromatic Aberration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solid-state imaging elements suffer from low resolution due to chromatic aberration of the imaging lens, resulting in 'jaggies' on image peripheries, especially during local white balance adjustment processing when red and blue pixels are normalized to green pixel levels.
Innovation Solution
The solid-state imaging element employs a configuration with first pixels having spectral response characteristics in primary colors and second pixels with a spectral response in white, generating chrominance signals from first pixels and luminance signals from second pixels without using first pixel outputs, thereby reducing the impact of chromatic aberration and enhancing resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If luminance signals are generated using output signals from multiple pixels with different spectral response characteristics (red, green, blue pixels), then color information can be captured, but chromatic aberration causes jaggies on image periphery and resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging element divides pixel functions into two distinct groups: first pixels for capturing chrominance signals with color filter arrays, and second pixels for capturing luminance signals with white spectral response characteristics. This segmentation separates the functions of color capture and brightness capture, allowing each pixel type to be optimized for its specific purpose and eliminating the chromatic aberration issues that arise when mixing different spectral response pixels for luminance generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the luminance signal generation function from the color filter array system and assigns it to a separate set of second pixels with white spectral response characteristics. By taking out the luminance generation task from the multi-spectral pixel system, the patent eliminates the harmful chromatic aberration effects while preserving color information through the first pixels.
2Ease of operation
If red pixel and blue pixel output signals are normalized to green pixel level for local white balance adjustment, then white balance can be adjusted, but jaggies appear on image periphery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel population into first pixels (with color filters for chrominance) and second pixels (with white spectral response for luminance). This segmentation allows white balance adjustment to be performed independently on the luminance signals from second pixels without introducing chromatic aberration-related jaggies, as the second pixels provide a stable reference for luminance normalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The second pixels with white spectral response characteristics act as an intermediary reference for luminance measurement. Instead of directly comparing red and blue pixel signals that are affected by chromatic aberration, the system uses second pixels as a neutral mediator to establish accurate luminance levels for white balance adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration increases the resolution of luminance signals while accepting lower color resolution, improving image sensitivity and reducing the appearance of 'jaggies' on image peripheries, thus providing a high-resolution imaging solution.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of second pixels has a spectral response characteristic in white. The solid-state imaging element generates the luminance signals, using output signals from the plurality of second pixels
Implementation Method 2
The solid-state imaging element includes a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels. The solid-state imaging element generates the chrominance signals, using output signals from the plurality of first pixels
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state imaging element synthesizes luminance signals and chrominance signals to obtain an image. The solid-state imaging element includes a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels. Each of the plurality of second pixels has a spectral response characteristic in white. The solid-state imaging element generates the chrominance signals, using output signals from the plurality of first pixels. The solid-state imaging element generates the luminance signals, using output signals from the plurality of second pixels, without using the output signals from the plurality of first pixels.