JP2005260383A - Image input device and image input method for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color sensor capable of realizing high resolution of image. <P>SOLUTION: A color sensor is constructed by forming a color filter 7 on an image input element and providing a photodiode 6 below the color filter 7 principally in combination therewith. The color filter 7 can be moved in the arrow direction by means of VCMs 4 and 5. The VCMs 4 and 5 are driven through a motor driver 3 under control of a control section 1. The control section 1 moves the color filter 7 by controlling the motor driver 3 and holds a signal being inputted from the photodiode 6 every time when the color filter 7 is moved in a memory 2. When R/G/B of the color filter 7 is moved briefly on one pixel of the photodiode 6, color operation is carried out using a signal held in the memory 2 every time when the color filter 7 is moved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image input apparatus and an image input method used therefor, and more particularly to a color sensor constructed by forming a color filter on an image input element in which photodiodes are arranged.

  In recent years, with the development of image input technology, mobile phone terminals and digital cameras are also equipped with image input elements, and digital images can be taken using the image input elements.

  As the image input element, there is a color sensor constructed by forming a color filter on an image input element in which photodiodes are arranged. As this color sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) are used.

  As an image input element in which photodiodes are arranged, as shown in FIG. 7, R / G / B (Red / Green / Blue) [FIG. 7A] arranged in a lattice pattern (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the color filter is formed directly on the image input element as shown in RGB (FIG. 7B) arranged in a row.

  In this type of image input element, since the color filter is formed directly thereon, the color sensor is dedicated to each color, and as shown in FIG. 8A, the color filters “R”, “G”, “ Each “B” corresponds to one pixel (“G” is two pixels), and color calculation is performed using four pixels as shown in FIG. 8B.

JP-A-10-191370

  In the conventional image input element described above, since the color filter is directly formed on the image input element in which the photodiodes are arranged, each pixel of the color sensor is dedicated to each color, and the image cannot be made high definition. There's a problem.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image input apparatus and an image input method used therefor that can solve the above-described problems and can realize high definition of an image.

  An image input device according to the present invention is an image input device using a color sensor constructed by forming a color filter on an image input element and providing a photodiode under the color filter, wherein the position of the color filter is determined. The image input device includes a moving unit that moves in the horizontal direction, a control unit that controls movement by the moving unit, and a holding unit that holds a signal from the photodiode for each movement, and is held by the holding unit Color calculation is performed using the generated signals.

  The image input method according to the present invention is an image input method in an image input apparatus using a color sensor constructed by forming a color filter on an image input element and providing a photodiode under the color filter, A step of moving the position of the filter in a horizontal direction with respect to the image input element; a step of holding a signal from the photodiode in a holding unit for each movement; and a step of performing a color calculation using the held signal It has.

  In other words, the image input device using the color sensor of the present invention controls the position of the color filter on the image input element in the horizontal direction, and enables high-definition images without miniaturization of the element manufacturing process. Yes. In this case, in the color sensor of the present invention, the position of the color filter is controlled in the horizontal direction with respect to the image input element, and it is apparent that each color filter of R / G / B (Red / Green / Blue) is overlapped. The state is made.

  Further, in the image input device using the color sensor of the present invention, it is possible to increase the sensitivity by adding together the shooting data when the R / G / B of the color filter is positioned. As a result, in the image input device using the color sensor of the present invention, it is possible to use information from directly adjacent elements for complementation processing even when a pixel has a defect during the manufacturing process.

  According to the present invention, the configuration and operation described below can provide an effect that high definition of an image can be realized.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, an image input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 1, a memory 2, a motor driver 3, VCMs (voice coil motors) 4 and 5, a photodiode 6, and a color filter 7. It is composed of

  A color sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is constructed by forming a color filter 7 on an image input element (not shown), and providing a photodiode 6 below the color filter 7 and mainly combining with the color filter 7. Yes. As this color sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is used.

  The color filter 7 can be moved by the VCMs 4 and 5 in the horizontal direction (direction in which the plane of the image input element and the plane of the color filter 7 are moved in parallel) (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1). The VCMs 4 and 5 are driven by the motor driver 3, and the motor driver 3 is controlled by the control unit 1.

  The control unit 1 controls the motor driver 3 to move the color filter 7 and holds the signal input from the photodiode 6 in the memory 2 every time the color filter 7 is moved. When R / G / B (Red / Green / Blue) of the color filter 7 moves on the pixel, color calculation is performed using a signal held in the memory 2 for each movement.

  FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing an arrangement of RGB color filters according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are R / G / B according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E are diagrams showing image input processing in the RGB color filter according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing complementary processing in an RGB color filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams showing an example of high definition of an RGB color filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. is there.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a color filter 7 is formed on an image input element, a photodiode 6 is provided under the color filter 7, and the photodiode 6 is mainly combined with the color filter 7. A color sensor is being built.

  Next, a method for manufacturing an RGB color filter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B shows a state in which each color of R / G / B is enlarged by focusing on one pixel of the color filter 7 arranged in a grid.

  In this case, one pixel of the color filter 7 is shifted in the horizontal direction (vertical and horizontal directions) using the VCMs 4 and 5, and one pixel that overlaps with each other at the positions 1, 2, and 3. Each color of R / G / B is obtained in the range [see FIG. 2 (b)].

  Further, when R / G / B are arranged vertically, the color filter 7 is shifted in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) using the VCM 4, and the positions of position 1, position 2, and position 3 are mutually different. Each color of R / G / B is obtained in the overlapping range of one pixel [see FIG. 3B].

  In this embodiment, the VCMs 4 and 5 are used for the horizontal movement of the color filter 7, but a MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) element composed of an actuator such as a piezo element, a shape memory alloy, or an electromagnetic switch is used. In this case, high-speed, fixed-quantity, low-power consumption driving is possible.

  A method for obtaining each color of R / G / B by the horizontal movement of the color filter 7 described above (complementary processing will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 4. The control unit 1 is arranged on one pixel where the photodiode 6 is provided. When a signal when the color filter 7 has “R” is obtained, the signal is held in the memory 2 [see FIG. 4A] (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 5).

  Subsequently, the control unit 1 controls the motor driver 3 to shift the color filter 7 by one pixel in the horizontal direction by the VCMs 4 and 5 (step S3 in FIG. 5), and the color filter 7 is placed on one pixel where the photodiode 6 is located. When a signal when “B” is present is obtained, the signal is held in the memory 2 [see FIG. 4B] (step S4 in FIG. 5).

  Further, the control unit 1 controls the motor driver 3 and shifts the color filter 7 by one pixel in the horizontal direction by the VCMs 4 and 5 (steps S5 and S7 in FIG. 5), and the color filter 7 is placed on one pixel where the photodiode 6 is located. Is obtained, the signal is stored in the memory 2 [see FIGS. 4C and 4D] (steps S6 and S8 in FIG. 5).

As described above, when the control unit 1 moves “R”, “B”, and “G” of the color filter 7 one by one (two times for “G”) on one pixel with the photodiode 6. Then, color calculation is performed using the signal held in the memory 2 at that time (step S9 in FIG. 5). Color calculation is
“R” + “B” + “G” + “G” = color calculation result.

  In the above example, the case where the color filter 7 is shifted in the order of “R”, “B”, “G” (, “G”) has been described. However, the color filter 7 does not have to be shifted in this order. The color calculation is performed using the contents held in the memory 2 when each of “R”, “B”, and “G” is moved. The above process is repeatedly executed (steps S1 to S10 in FIG. 5) until the image input is completed (step S10 in FIG. 5).

  Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide an image input element that realizes high-definition of the image by controlling the position of the color filter 7 in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even when a pixel has a defect during the manufacturing process, information from directly adjacent elements can be used for the complementing process.

  In the above embodiment, the amount of movement of the color filter 4 is one pixel, but the amount of movement is not limited to one pixel, but is n pixels, thereby simplifying the color filter 4 (n times). be able to. The configuration is shown by looking at FIG. 2 (b) as not in an enlarged state but in an equal magnification state.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, when the defective pixel is complemented, the nearest pixel of the same color or the nearest R / G / B (/ G Inferred by averaging or weighting pixels missing from the intermediate color synthesized from (1). At this time, since the resolution is better when the information is read from each pixel of the directly adjacent photodiode 6, the image can be made high definition.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, R / G / B (/ G) of the color filter 7 may be changed to complementary colors Ye / Cy / Mg (/ G) [Yellow / Cyan / Magenta (Green)].

  Examples of the use of the image input device of the present invention include a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, an in-vehicle camera, an image input element used for a TV (TV) telephone terminal, and the like.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color sensor and its control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the RGB color filter by one Example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the RGB color filter at the time of arranging R / G / B vertically according to one Example of this invention. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows the complementation process in the RGB color filter by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the complementation process in the RGB color filter by one Example of this invention. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the example of high definition of the RGB color filter by one Example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the RGB color filter by a prior art example. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the color calculation of the RGB color filter by a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Control unit 2 Memory 3 Motor driver 4, 5 VCM
6 Photodiode 7 Color filter

Claims (10)

  An image input apparatus using a color sensor formed by forming a color filter on an image input element and providing a photodiode under the color filter, the position of the color filter being in a horizontal direction with respect to the image input element Moving means for moving, control means for controlling movement by the moving means, and holding means for holding a signal from the photodiode for each movement, and using the signals held by the holding means An image input device that performs an operation.   The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color filter is an R / G / B (Red / Green / Blue) filter.   2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the color filter is a complementary color Ye / Cy / Mg (Yellow / Cyan / Magenta) filter.   4. The image input device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs control so that each filter of the color filter is positioned on each pixel of the photodiode.   5. The image input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means sets a state as if the filters of the color filter overlapped on the pixels of the photodiode.   An image input method in an image input apparatus using a color sensor formed by forming a color filter on an image input element and providing a photodiode under the color filter, wherein the position of the color filter is determined by the image input element And a step of horizontally moving the image, a step of holding a signal from the photodiode in a holding unit for each movement, and a step of performing a color operation using the held signal. input method.   The image input method according to claim 6, wherein the color filter is an R / G / B (Red / Green / Blue) filter.   7. The image input method according to claim 6, wherein the color filter comprises a complementary color Ye / Cy / Mg (Yellow / Cyan / Magenta) filter.   9. The image input method according to claim 7, wherein when the color filter is moved, the color filter is shifted so that each filter of the color filter is positioned on each pixel of the photodiode. 10. The image input method according to claim 9, wherein when the color filter is moved, the state is set as if each filter of the color filter overlapped on each pixel of the photodiode. 11.

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