A method and apparatus for operating an image sensing device that performs photoelectric conversion and stores the converted charges so that the apparatus obtains a smooth moving image. The pixels of the image sensing device are arranged in two dimensions and, preferably, covered with a complementary color filter of magenta, green, cyan, and yellow. Different combinations of two of these four colors alternate on the even and odd rows of pixels in such a manner that the filter is arranged in a check pattern. The operation of the image sensing device uses eight operation signals and a two-step process that is performed repetitively to obtain one image frame. The first step in the process adds the image signals associated with two adjoining rows in the vertical direction, skips a predetermined number of rows of pixels, and outputs the resultant image signals. The second step in the process adds the image signals associated with two adjoining rows in the oblique direction, skips a predetermined number of rows of pixels, and outputs the resultant image signals. When the image sensing device completes the processing of the frame, the same two-step process is applied to the skipped rows of pixels. The image sensing device generates color image signals by using the resultant image signals output from the application of the two-step process on the skipped rows of pixels.
There is provided a method of driving a solid-state image sensor, including the steps, in sequence, of (a) converting a light into a plurality of electric charges, (b) selectively reading out the thus converted electric charges in every predetermined number of vertical pixel lines by a first number which is smaller than the predetermined number, into a vertical charge coupled device, (c) repeating the step (b) by the desired number of times, (d) vertically transferring the thus read out electric charges towards a horizontal charge coupled device, (e) adding one of the electric charges read out in the step (b) to associated one of the electric charges read out in the step (c) in the horizontal charge coupled device by vertically transferring electric charges by the predetermined number of vertical pixel lines in the vertical charge coupled device in a horizontal blanking period, and (f) horizontally transferring the thus added electrical charges through the horizontal charge coupled device. The method makes it possible to increase a frame rate, and enhance a signal output, and hence, sensitivity.
An apparatus for processing image data including three complementary color components representing the three primary colors includes a distribution circuit for distributing the image data into first to third complementary color components. A multiplication circuit generates first to third products by multiplying the first and second complementary color components, the first and third complementary color components, and the second and third complementary color components. A square root circuit then calculates the square root of each of the three products. The calculated square roots represent the three primary colors.
A method of transferring charges for a CCD image-sensing device. First, the K register elements (every k register elements) are defined as a charge-combining portion, thereby providing m charge-combining portions. The y image-sensing elements sense incident light energy to generate y charge packets proportional to the light intensity. Then, the y charge packets are transferred in a parallel manner to the CCD shift register. The charge packets coupled to each of the m charge-combining portions are accumulated into one specific register element when the k register elements have coupled the charge packets from the image-sensing elements, thereby generating m adding charge packets in the m charge-combining portions. Finally, each of the adding charge packets is serially delivered to the output of the CCD shift register, converting the adding charge packets into proportional voltage levels.
An image processing circuit generates first and second color difference data U/V from image data which includes first, second and third complementary color data. The complementary color data each represent a respective complementary color of the primary colors (R,G,B). The circuit includes a distribution circuit that distributes the image data into the first to third complementary color data. A multiplication circuit multiplies combinations of the complementary color data to generate first to third products. A subtraction circuit subtracts one product from another to generate first and second difference values. A square root circuit calculates the square root of the absolute value of the first and second difference values to generate first and second root values. First and second polarity codes, which indicate the polarity of the first and second difference values, are added to the first and second root values to generate first and second polarized roots. A color difference matrix circuit then synthesizes the first and second polarized roots to generate the first and second difference data U/V.
An image pickup apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, first color filters arranged in an oblique direction for the pixels, second and third color filters arranged so that a same color is arranged in a horizontal direction, a circuit for adding together signals of two or more pixels each having the first color filter, which are adjacent to each other in an oblique direction, and a circuit for adding together the signals of two or more pixels each having the second color filter, which are arranged in a horizontal direction, and for adding together the signals of two or more pixels each having the third color filter, which are arranged in the horizontal direction.
