Color mask for an image sensor of a vehicle camera
First Claim
1. A color mask for an image sensor of a vehicle camera, the image sensor having a matrix of sensor pixels, the color mask comprising:
- a matrix configuration of filter pixels having different spectral transmission behaviors, the matrix configuration sized to overlay the matrix of sensor pixels, the filter pixels including at least one transparent filter pixel that is transparent for optical light and at least one color filter pixel having a wavelength-selective transmission behavior, each of the filter pixels of the matrix configuration configured to sit in front of a corresponding sensor pixel of the image sensor,wherein the matrix configuration has a central area having a first color pattern and at least one second area having a second color pattern, the at least one second area including an upper area of the matrix configuration above the central area; and
wherein the first color pattern and the second color pattern are different repeating configurations of the filter pixels, the first color pattern contains transparent and color filter pixels, the first color pattern has a larger relative proportion of transparent filter pixels than the second color pattern, andthe second color pattern is configured as a full-color pattern without any transparent filter pixels.
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Abstract
A color mask for an image sensor of a vehicle camera, the color mask having a matrix configuration of filter pixels having different spectral transmission behaviors, some filter pixels being transparent filter pixels, which are at least essentially uniformly transparent for optical light, and additional filter pixels being color pixels having a wavelength-selective transmission behavior, the color mask having a color pattern as a repeating configuration of filter pixels having a specific transmission behavior. The color mask has a central area having a first color pattern and a lower area and/or an upper area having a second color pattern, the first color pattern and the second color pattern being different, and the first color pattern containing transparent filter pixels.
9 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A color mask for an image sensor of a vehicle camera, the image sensor having a matrix of sensor pixels, the color mask comprising:
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a matrix configuration of filter pixels having different spectral transmission behaviors, the matrix configuration sized to overlay the matrix of sensor pixels, the filter pixels including at least one transparent filter pixel that is transparent for optical light and at least one color filter pixel having a wavelength-selective transmission behavior, each of the filter pixels of the matrix configuration configured to sit in front of a corresponding sensor pixel of the image sensor, wherein the matrix configuration has a central area having a first color pattern and at least one second area having a second color pattern, the at least one second area including an upper area of the matrix configuration above the central area; and wherein the first color pattern and the second color pattern are different repeating configurations of the filter pixels, the first color pattern contains transparent and color filter pixels, the first color pattern has a larger relative proportion of transparent filter pixels than the second color pattern, and the second color pattern is configured as a full-color pattern without any transparent filter pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle camera, comprising:
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an image sensor having a matrix of sensor pixels; a color mask situated in front of the image sensor, wherein the color mask includes; a matrix configuration of filter pixels having different spectral transmission behaviors, the matrix configuration sized to overlay the matrix of sensor pixels, the filter pixels including at least one transparent filter pixel that is transparent for optical light and at least one color filter pixel having a wavelength-selective transmission behavior, each of the filter pixels configured to sit in front of a corresponding sensor pixel of the image sensor; wherein the matrix configuration has a central area having a first color pattern and at least one second area having a second color pattern, the at least one second area including at least one of;
a lower area of the matrix configuration, or an upper area of the matrix configuration; andwherein the first color pattern and the second color pattern are different repeating configurations of the filter pixels, and the first color pattern contains transparent and color filter pixels; and a control and analyzing unit; wherein the image sensor is configured to output to the control and analyzing unit first pixel signals of the sensor pixels covered with the filter pixels of the central area having the first color pattern and second pixel signals of the sensor pixels covered with the filter pixels of the at least one second area having the second color pattern; wherein the control and analyzing unit is configured to ascertain from the second pixel signals a quantity including at least one of;
an average color value, a color temperature, or an average gray value; andwherein the control and analyzing unit is configured to use the ascertained quantity to perform at least one of;
a white balance of the first pixel signals, or a color correction of the first pixel signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for processing signals of a vehicle camera, the method comprising:
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detecting vehicle surroundings using a camera having an image sensor and a color mask situated in front of the image sensor, the image sensor including a matrix of sensor pixels, the color mask including a matrix configuration of filter pixels having different spectral transmission behaviors, each of the filter pixels configured to sit in front of a corresponding sensor pixel of the image sensor, the matrix configuration having a central area having a first color pattern and at least one second area having a second color pattern, the first color pattern containing transparent and color filter pixels, the at least one second area including at least one of;
a lower area of the matrix configuration, or an upper area of the matrix configuration;recording first pixel signals from sensor pixels situated behind the central area having the first color pattern and second pixel signals from sensor pixels situated behind the at least one second area having the second color pattern; ascertaining from the second pixel signals a quantity including at least one of;
an average color value, a color temperature, or an average gray value; andusing the ascertained quantity to perform at least one of;
a white balance of the first pixel signals, or a color correction of the first pixel signals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification