A solid-state imaging element includes a color filter which selectively transmits an optical image in color components, and in which a plurality of colors are arranged as one group in a sequential plural group configuration, a photoelectric converter for receiving an optical image that has passed through the color filter and for converting the received optical image to electric signals, and combining circuitry for combining at least two of the electric signals correlating to the colors of one group of the color filter converted by the photoelectric converter. In a dot-sequential type color linear sensor, shift gates that are independent for each color respectively are provided in pixel units on both sides of a dot-sequentially arranged light sensitive image element array on which image elements of first, second and third colors are arranged. Two transmission registers are arranged on one side of the light sensitive image element array for use with a first color, and the number of register columns of the first color transmission registers are set to be one-half that of second and third color registers. In addition, during the black/white mode, the signal charges of the three colors are added using transmission registers on the one side of the array and the signal charges are output in parallel. Also, an image reading device which includes a solid-state imaging element, wherein the imaging element is arranged in the main scanning direction, and further including an optical scanning system for optically scanning the original document in the direction of secondary scanning, and for irradiating the optical image to the imaging surface of said solid-state imaging element.

In an imaging apparatus such as a scanner or digital camera, a photosensitive device includes multiple linear arrays of photosensors. One of the arrays has a higher spatial resolution than other arrays. The high-resolution array is filtered to detect different portions of the color spectrum than the low-resolution arrays.

A color image reading device, an output controller and a method of controlling an output from a color image reading device provide for an improved signal-noise ratio for the scanning of two-dimensional objects, as in document scanners. In the present invention, the position of a color image reading device with respect to an object to be read is oriented in order to optimize illumination in, for example, the blue wavelength. Pixel data for each line is read, generated in reverse order and/or re-phased so as to compensate for offset linear sensors on the color image reading device.

An illuminator apparatus for a scanner device includes a support structure that extends along the longitudinal axis and an array of light emitting elements that are disposed on and supported by the support structure. The array of light emitting elements are arranged on the support structure in at least three longitudinal rows. The at least three rows of light emitting elements are associated with a respective one of blue, green and red colored light emitting elements. A color image sensor apparatus for a scanner device capable of scanning a multi-colored document and a method for illuminating a colored document being scanned in a scanning device are also described.

In a digital still camera (DSC) a plurality of individual RGB filter elements each overly a corresponding one of a plurality of photosensitive elements of an image sensor such as an array of charge-coupled devices (CCDs). A coated mirror is positioned along a light path between a lens and the image sensor for shifting the light transmitted through the lens so that a portion of the incident light that would otherwise fall on a single photosensitive element is divided between at least two adjacent photosensitive elements. The plurality of individual RGB filter elements are arranged in a predetermined mosaic pattern between the lens and the image sensor for permitting the photosensitive elements to detect the intensity of the light incident thereon in a manner that allows a high quality color image to be reproduced. A processing circuit is mounted in the housing and is connected to the image sensor for processing the output signals from the image sensor. A control circuit is mounted in the housing and is connected to the processing circuit for generating a color digital still image file and storing the file in a memory. Blurring and undesirable artifacts such as color fringing at the edges of the color digital still image are reduced.