Method for storing and retrieving digital image data from an imaging array

• US 6,731,397 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foveon, Inc. (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foveon, Inc. (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merrill, Richard B., Lyon, Richard F., Mead, Carver A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safaipour, Houshang
• Application Number:
  US09/316,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.16, 257/440, 250/226, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14647 Multicolour imagers having a stacked pixel-element structure, e.g. npn, npnpn or MQW elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/17 Colour separation based on photon absorption depth, e.g. full colour resolution obtained simultaneously at each pixel location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/534 depending on the spectral component
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/703 SSIS architectures incorporating pixels for producing signals other than image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/155 Control of the image-sensor operation, e.g. image processing within the image-sensor

Abstract

A method for storing digital information from an image sensor comprises the steps of providing an image sensor producing three-color output data at each of a plurality of pixel locations; providing a digital storage device coupled to the image sensor; sensing three-color digital output data from the image sensor; and storing said three-color output data as digital data in the digital storage device without performing any interpolation on the three-color output data. The data may be compressed prior to storage and expanded after retrieval from storage. In a preferred embodiment, the image sensor comprises a triple-junction active pixel sensor array.

Claims

1. A method for storing a full RGB dataset comprising:

providing an image sensor having a plurality of pixel locations and configured to sense, at the same place in each pixel location, all three primary colors in order to produce a full RGB dataset as three-color output data;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said image sensor;

sensing three-color digital output data representing said full RGB dataset from said image sensor; and

storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said three-color output data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a magnetic storage device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing an optical storage device.

5. The method of claim 1 further including performing a lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color digital output data as digital data in said digital storage device.

6. The method of claim 1 further including performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color digital output data as digital data in said digital storage device.

7. A method for processing digital information from an image sensor comprising:

providing an image sensor having a plurality of pixel locations and configured to sense, at the same place in each pixel location, all three primary colors in order to produce a full RGB dataset as three-color output data;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said image sensor;

sensing three-color output data representing said full RGB dataset from said image sensor;

storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said three-color digital output data; and

retrieving said three-color output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

9. The method of claim 7 further including:

performing a lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a lossless decompression operation on said three-color output data after retrieving said three-color digital output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

10. The method of claim 7 further including:

performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a nearly lossless decompression operation on said three-color output data after retrieving said three-color digital output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

15. The method of claim 9 further including performing a lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color digital output data as digital data in said digital storage device.

16. The method of claim 9 further including performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color digital output data as digital data in said digital storage device.

11. A method for storing digital information from a single-chip image sensor comprising:

providing a single-chip image sensor producing three-color output data from the same place in each of a plurality of pixel locations;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said single-chip image sensor;

sensing three-color digital output data from said single-chip image sensor; and

storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said three-color output data.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein providing said digital storage device comprises providing a magnetic storage device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing an optical storage device.

17. A method for processing digital information from a single-chip image sensor comprising:

providing a single-chip image sensor producing three-color output data from the same place in each of a plurality of pixel locations;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said single-chip image sensor;

sensing three-color output data from said single-chip image sensor;

storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said three-color digital output data; and

retrieving said three-color output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

19. The method of claim 17 further including:

performing a lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a lossless decompression operation on said three-color output data after retrieving said three-color digital output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

20. The method of claim 17 further including:

performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said three-color output data prior to storing said three-color output data as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a nearly lossless decompression operation on said three-color output data after retrieving said three-color digital output data as digital data from said digital storage device.

21. A method for processing digital information from a triple-junction active pixel array comprising:

providing a triple-junction active pixel array producing a full RGB image data set;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said triple-junction active pixel array;

sensing the full RGB data set from the same place in said triple-junction active pixel array;

storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said full RGB data set; and

retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

23. The method of claim 21 further including:

performing a lossless compression operation on said full RGB data set prior to storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a lossless decompression operation on said full RGB data set after retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.

24. The method of claim 21 further including:

performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said full RGB data set prior to storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a nearly lossless decompression operation on said full RGB data set after retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.

25. A method for processing digital information from a digital camera image capture and display system comprising:

providing a digital camera having a triple-junction active pixel array;

providing a digital storage device coupled to said triple-junction active pixel array;

producing a full RGB data set from the same place in said triple-junction active pixel array;

sensing the full RGB data set from said triple-junction active pixel array into said digital storage device;

storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device without performing any interpolation on said full RGB data set; and

retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein providing said digital storage device further comprises providing a semiconductor memory device.

27. The method of claim 25 further including:

performing a lossless compression operation on said full RGB data set prior to storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a lossless decompression operation on said full RGB data set after retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.

28. The method of claim 25 further including:

performing a nearly lossless compression operation on said full RGB data set prior to storing said full RGB data set as digital data in said digital storage device; and

performing a nearly lossless decompression operation on said full RGB data set after retrieving said full RGB data set as digital data from said digital storage device.