Solid-State Imaging Device White Checkerboard Color Filter Array
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing digital signal processors (DSPs) designed for RGB Bayer arrangements are not compatible with color filter arrays using a white checkerboard pattern, leading to high development costs and hindered adoption of white-based color coding in solid-state imaging devices, as they require new DSPs to maintain sensitivity and resolution.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state imaging device with a color filter array where a primary color for luminance, such as white, is arranged in a checkerboard pattern, allowing signals to be converted into a Bayer arrangement on the sensor chip, enabling the use of existing DSPs and minimizing resolution loss, by adding adjacent color signals to enhance luminance signal intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a white checkerboard color filter array is used to increase sensitivity, then the sensitivity of the solid-state imaging device is improved, but existing DSPs cannot be used requiring enormous development cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual Bayer arrangement by copying and interpolating the white color signals. The white color information from the checkerboard pattern is replicated and processed to generate luminance signals that are compatible with existing Bayer-based DSP architectures, allowing reuse of existing processing hardware without requiring new DSP development
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate conversion process that transforms the white checkerboard color filter output into a format compatible with Bayer arrangement DSPs. By adding adjacent color signals to enhance luminance signal intensity and performing signal conversion, it creates an intermediary representation that bridges the white checkerboard pattern and existing Bayer-based processing systems
2Measurement precision
If color coding is changed from RGB Bayer to white checkerboard pattern, then sensitivity is increased, but new DSP development is required which increases camera module price
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the white checkerboard color filter array compatible with existing Bayer-based DSP architectures by converting the color arrangement into a Bayer-compatible format. This allows existing DSPs to process white checkerboard color filter data, making the system universally compatible and avoiding the need for new specialized DSP development, thereby reducing camera module costs
3Measurement precision
If white color is arranged in checkerboard pattern for luminance signal, then sensitivity is improved, but resolution may be decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary signal processing by adding adjacent color signals to enhance luminance signal intensity before the main processing stage. This preliminary enhancement of the luminance signal from white color pixels compensates for potential resolution loss, ensuring that sensitivity improvement does not come at the cost of resolution degradation
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.