Color filter array with blue elements

• US 20060232668A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Horn, Eli
• Application Number:
  US11/107,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

A color filter array for use in an imaging device including for example red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, where such blue sensitive elements may occur at a frequency of approximately twice that of said red sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements.

Claims

1. An in-vivo imaging device comprising a CFA, said CFA comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements, and green sensitive elements, said blue sensitive elements occurring in the CFA more frequently than said red sensitive elements and than said green sensitive elements.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the blue sensitive elements occur approximately twice as frequently as red sensitive elements and approximately twice as frequently as green sensitive elements.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said green sensitive elements and said red sensitive elements are arranged in a repeating pattern with respect to said blue sensitive elements.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said red sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said blue sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of a repeating pattern.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the CFA is included in a CMOS.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device is a swallowable capsule.

7. A method of in-vivo imaging:

receiving light remitted from an in-vivo site through a CFA wherein the CFA includes a plurality of color filter elements, said plurality of color filter elements comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said blue sensitive elements occurring more frequently than said green sensitive elements and more frequently in such pattern than said red sensitive elements; and

capturing an image from said remitted light.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the blue sensitive elements occur approximately twice as frequently as the red sensitive elements and approximately twice as frequently as the green sensitive elements.

9. The method as in claim 7, comprising transmitting said image to an external receiver.

10. The method as in claim 7, comprising inserting an in-vivo imaging device into a gastro-intestinal tract.

11. A system comprising:

an in-vivo imaging device comprising;

an imager with a CFA said CFA comprising red sensitive elements and blue sensitive elements, said blue sensitive elements occurring more frequently than said red sensitive elements; and

a transmitter for transmitting images captured by said in-vivo imager to said external receiving unit; and

an external receiving unit.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the blue sensitive elements occur approximately twice as frequently as red sensitive elements.

13. The system as in claim 11, wherein said imaging device comprises an optical system suitable for focusing light through said CFA.

14. The system as in claim 11, wherein said imager is a CMOS.

15. The system as in claim 11, wherein said imaging device comprises a power source.

16. The device as in claim 11, wherein said imaging device is swallowable.

17. An imaging device comprising a CFA, said CFA comprising blue sensitive elements and at least one other color sensitive element, said blue sensitive elements occurring in the CFA more frequently than at least one of said other color sensitive elements.

18. The device of claim 17, comprising red sensitive elements wherein the blue sensitive elements occur approximately twice as frequently as the red sensitive elements.

19. The device of claim 17, comprising green sensitive elements wherein the blue sensitive elements occur approximately twice as frequently as green sensitive elements.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the CFA is included in a CMOS.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein the imaging device is a swallowable capsule.