Color filter imaging array and method of formation

• US 20040234873A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Venkataraman, Kartik
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14603 Special geometry or disposition of pixel-elements, address-lines or gate-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 600/921 Manipulating image characteristics

Abstract

A color filter array pattern for use in a solid-state imager comprising red sensitive elements located at every other array position, with alternating blue sensitive and green sensitive elements located at the remaining array positions, is disclosed. Since red color is sampled most frequently, the color filter may be part of an in vivo camera system for imaging internal human body organs and tissues.

Claims

1-51. -51. (Canceled)

52. A method of obtaining an image from a tissue of a body organ, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning an in vivo detecting system in the proximity of said tissue of said body organ;

sampling the red color of said tissue of said body organ at a first frequency; and

sampling the green color of said tissue of said body organ at a second frequency, wherein said first frequency is twice said second frequency.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of sampling the blue color of said tissue of said body organ at said second frequency.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said step of positioning said in vivo detecting system further comprises attaching said in vivo detecting system to an endoscope.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said endoscope is a fiber optic endoscope or a video endoscope.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said in vivo detecting system is a swallowable capsule.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein said in vivo detecting system is an imager, said imager comprising:

an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensor cells formed at an upper surface of a substrate and providing output data representing said image from said tissue of said body organ; and

a color filter layer formed on said imaging array, said color filter layer comprising a plurality of red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of red, blue and green sensitive elements being arranged in a color filter pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said color filter pattern.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein said body organ is a human body organ.

59. A method of outputting an image of at least a portion of the human gastrointestinal tract, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging system in the proximity of said at least a portion of the human gastrointestinal tract;

detecting the red color of said at least a portion of the human gastrointestinal tract at a first frequency to obtain a first measured data;

detecting the green color of said at least a portion of the human gastrointestinal tract at a second frequency to obtain a second measured data, wherein said first frequency is twice said second frequency; and

transmitting said first and second measured data to a receiver system.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the blue color of said at least a portion of the human gastrointestinal tract at said second frequency to obtain a third measured data; and

transmitting said third measured data to said receiver system.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said imaging system is an in vivo detecting system.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of attaching said in vivo detecting system to an endoscope.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein said in vivo detecting system is a CMOS capsule camera.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein said imaging system further comprises:

an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensor cells formed at an upper surface of a substrate; and

a color filter layer formed on said imaging array, said color filter layer comprising a plurality of red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of red, blue and green sensitive elements being arranged in a color filter pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said color filter pattern.