Sub-Pixel Array Optical Sensor
First Claim
1. A sub-pixel array for generating a single color pixel output as a component of an image, comprising:
- a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color arranged in a first strip;
a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color arranged in a second strip; and
a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color arranged in third strip;
wherein the first, second and third strips are aligned with and adjacent to each other to form the sub-pixel array; and
wherein each of the sub-pixels are configured for generating a sub-pixel output that can be combined with other sub-pixel outputs within a single frame to generate the single color pixel output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improving the dynamic range of captured images is disclosed by using sub-pixel arrays to capture light at different exposures and generate color pixel outputs for an image in a single frame. Each sub-pixel array can include multiple sub-pixels. The sub-pixels that make up a sub-pixel array can include red (R) sub-pixels, green (G) sub-pixels, blue (B) sub-pixels, and in some embodiments, clear sub-pixels. Those sub-pixel arrays having clear sub-pixels effectively have a higher exposure level and can capture low-light scenes (for dark areas) better than those sub-pixel arrays without clear sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel array can produce a color pixel output that is a combination of the outputs of the sub-pixels in the sub-pixel array. Each sub-pixel in a sub-pixel array can have the same exposure time, or in some embodiments, individual sub-pixels within a sub-pixel array can have different exposure times to improve the overall dynamic range even more.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A sub-pixel array for generating a single color pixel output as a component of an image, comprising:
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a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color arranged in a first strip; a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color arranged in a second strip; and a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color arranged in third strip; wherein the first, second and third strips are aligned with and adjacent to each other to form the sub-pixel array; and wherein each of the sub-pixels are configured for generating a sub-pixel output that can be combined with other sub-pixel outputs within a single frame to generate the single color pixel output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An image sensor for generating a plurality of color pixel outputs as components of an image, comprising:
a plurality of sub-pixel arrays, each sub-pixel array configured for generating a different color pixel output, each sub-pixel array having a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color arranged in a first strip, a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color arranged in a second strip, and a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color arranged in a third strip, wherein the first, second and third strips are aligned with and adjacent to each other to form the sub-pixel array, and wherein each of the sub-pixels are configured for generating a sub-pixel output that can be combined with other sub-pixel outputs within a single frame to generate the color pixel output. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An image capture device for generating an image, comprising:
an image sensor for generating a plurality of color pixel outputs as components of an image, the image sensor including a plurality of sub-pixel arrays, each sub-pixel array configured for generating a different color pixel output, each sub-pixel array having a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color arranged in a first strip, a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color arranged in a second strip, and a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color arranged in a third strip, wherein the first, second and third strips are aligned with and adjacent to each other to form the sub-pixel array, and wherein each of the sub-pixels are configured for generating a sub-pixel output that can be combined with other sub-pixel outputs within a single frame to generate the color pixel output. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for generating a single color pixel output as a component of an image, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color in a first strip; arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color in a second strip; arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color in a third strip; forming a sub-pixel array by aligning the first, second and third strips and placing them adjacent to each other; obtaining a sub-pixel output from each sub-pixel; and combining the sub-pixel outputs from each sub-pixel within a single frame to generate the single color pixel output. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for generating a plurality of color pixel outputs as components of an image, comprising:
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forming a plurality of sub-pixel arrays, each sub-pixel array configured for generating a different color pixel output, each sub-pixel array formed by arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a first color in a first strip, arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a second color in a second strip, arranging a plurality of sub-pixels of a third color in a third strip, and aligning the first, second and third strips adjacent to each other; and generating the color pixel output from each sub-pixel array by obtaining a sub-pixel output from each sub-pixel within the sub-pixel array, and combining the sub-pixel outputs within a single frame to generate the color pixel output. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for generating a color pixel output having an enhanced dynamic range, comprising:
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forming an array of color sub-pixels and at least one clear sub-pixel; obtaining a sub-pixel output from each sub-pixel; and combining the sub-pixel outputs from each sub-pixel within a single frame to generate the color pixel output.
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Specification