JP2000197066A - Solid-state image pickup element, signal processing method therefor and camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten signal processing time by providing the color filter of M rows ×N columns, for which the two unit arrays of 2×2 for which first and second colors and first and third colors are arrayed in a checkered pattern, are arrayed in the checkered pattern. SOLUTION: At the upper part of an image pickup area 17, where sensor parts 11 are arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix, the color filter of prescribed color coding is formed by allocating one color to a sensor part 11. That is, it is turned to the color filter of the color coding of M rows × N columns, for which the unit arrays of 2×2 for which green and red and green and blue are respectively arrayed in the checkered pattern are arrayed in a checkered pattern. Then, at signal charge transfer from a vertical CCD to a horizontal CCD, the two pixels of the same color are added obliquely. A unit charge, for which the signal charge of the obliquely added two pixels is a unit, is transferred horizontally in the horizontal CCD 14, converted to a voltage in a charge detection part 15 and then outputted from an output circuit 16. This is repeated for every two rows. Thus, addition signals are considered as signals from two image pickup element, the interpolation processing of only two colors is sufficient, and processing time is shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, a driving method thereof, and a camera system, and more particularly to a solid-state imaging device comprising a combination of first, second and third colors, wherein at least the first color is in a vertical direction. A solid-state imaging device having a color filter of M rows and N columns (M and N are each an integer of 2 or more) arranged in a two-pixel repetition (hereinafter, referred to as vertical two-repetition), a signal processing method thereof, and the solid-state imaging device The present invention relates to a camera system using as an imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A solid-state imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Co.)
An imaging device such as an upled device (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD imaging device) is used as an imaging device of a digital still camera. In a digital still camera, a color CCD image pickup device having a larger number of pixels is employed for higher resolution.

[0003]

However, the color CC
With the increase in the number of pixels of the D image pickup device, the following problems have emerged. That is, since the number of pixels is large, signal processing takes a long time, and the responsiveness of the camera deteriorates. For example, as a color filter of a CCD image pickup device, a color filter shown in FIG. 18 is most employed. However, since only one color signal can be obtained from one pixel, it is necessary to perform interpolation processing from surrounding pixels. There is a very heavy load. Since the data amount is large, the recording time on a recording medium such as a memory or a floppy (registered trademark) disk becomes long, and the number of recordings on the recording medium decreases. In order to increase the number of images to be recorded on the recording medium, the compression ratio of the image must be increased. On the other hand, if the compression ratio is increased, the image quality is degraded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a solid-state imaging device capable of shortening a signal processing time, a reduction in a recording time on a recording medium, and an improvement in a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device and a camera system, which can increase the number of recorded images.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a solid-state image pickup device having a 2 × 1 arrangement in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a checkered pattern.
M rows and N columns (M and N are both 2) in which a 2 × 2 unit array and a 2 × 2 unit array in which the first color and the third color are arranged in a checkered pattern are both arranged in a checkered pattern. (The above integer).

According to another solid-state imaging device of the present invention, a 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a checkered pattern is arranged in a checkered pattern, and the first color and the second color are arranged in a checkered pattern. It is configured to have a color filter of M rows and N columns (M and N are each an integer of 2 or more) in which a 2 × 2 unit array in which three colors are arranged in a checkered pattern is arranged in a stripe pattern. .

In these solid-state imaging devices, by having the color filter of the color coding described above, signals of two pixels of the same color in a certain row and the next row can be added by shifting one pixel in the column direction. By this addition processing, M / 2 rows N / in which only the first color is arranged
A signal from the first image sensor having two columns of color filters, and M / 2 rows N / 2 in which the second and third colors are arranged.
Processing can be performed assuming that the signal is from the second image sensor having the color filters in the column. In other words, the signals can be processed as signals from a plurality of image sensors even though they are signals from one solid-state image sensor.

In the signal processing method according to the present invention, M rows and N columns are composed of a combination of first, second and third colors, and at least the first color has an arrangement of two pixels repeated in the vertical direction. In a solid-state image pickup device having a color filter (M and N are each an integer of 2 or more), a signal obtained by adding signals of two pixels of the same color of the solid-state image pickup device is obtained by arranging only a first color. A signal from a first image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns;
The signal processing is performed by regarding the signal as a signal from the second image sensor having the M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which the third colors are arranged.

By such signal processing, signals can be processed as signals from a plurality of image sensors even though they are signals from one solid-state image sensor. As a result, the work of the interpolation processing is reduced, and the time required for the signal processing can be reduced. In addition, since the distance between the pixels to be interpolated is narrowed, the data can be reduced to M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns, but can contribute to high image quality.

A camera system according to the present invention comprises a combination of first, second and third colors, and at least M rows and N columns (M, N) in which at least the first color has a two-pixel repetition arrangement in the vertical direction. N is an integer of 2 or more) and a solid-state image sensor having a color filter of the same color 2
A signal obtained by adding the pixel signals is divided into a signal from a first image sensor having an M / 2 row and N / 2 column color filter in which only the first color is arranged, and a second and third signal. Signal processing means for processing as a signal from a second image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which colors are arranged, and recording means for recording an output signal of the signal processing means And a configuration including

In the camera system having the above-described configuration, since the solid-state imaging device has the above-described color-coded color filter, signals of two pixels of the same color can be added.
Then, a signal obtained by the addition is combined with a signal from a first image sensor having an M / 2-row N / 2-column color filter in which only the first color is arranged, and a second and third signal. The signal is processed as a signal from a second image sensor having M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which colors are arranged, that is, a signal from one solid-state image sensor is processed by a plurality of image sensors. Process as a signal.

As a result, the time required for the signal processing can be reduced because the work of the interpolation processing is reduced. In addition, since the distance between the pixels to be interpolated becomes narrow, the data can be reduced to M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns, but the image quality can be improved. Further, since the amount of data is small, it is possible to shorten the recording time on the recording medium and increase the number of recordings on the recording medium.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing, for example, an interline transfer (IT) type color CCD image sensor to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a sensor unit (pixel) converts incident light into a signal charge having a charge amount corresponding to the light amount and stores the signal charge.
11 are many, 2 in vertical (row) direction and horizontal (column) direction
They are arranged in a dimensional matrix. Further, a plurality of vertical CCDs 12 are provided for each vertical column of the sensor units 11, and a readout gate unit 13 is interposed between the vertical CCDs 12 and each sensor unit 11.

The signal charges stored in the plurality of sensor units 11 are read out to the vertical CCD 12 by applying a readout pulse XSG described later to the readout gate unit 13 and increasing the potential of the readout gate unit 13. The vertical CCD 12 is transfer-driven by, for example, four-phase vertical transfer clocks Vφ1 to Vφ4, and vertically transfers the read signal charges sequentially.

In the vertical CCD 12, the transfer electrodes of the first and third phases usually have a structure also serving as the gate electrode of the readout gate unit 13. For this reason, of the four-phase vertical transfer clocks Vφ1 to Vφ4, the first-phase vertical transfer clock Vφ1 and the third-phase vertical transfer clock Vφ3 are set to have three values of a low level, an intermediate level, and a high level. The read pulse XSG applied to the read gate unit 13 is the third high level pulse.
Becomes

A horizontal CCD 14 extends in the left-right direction in the drawing adjacent to the end of each of the plurality of vertical CCDs 12 on the transfer destination side. The horizontal CCD 14 includes a plurality of vertical CCDs.
Signal charges corresponding to one line (one scanning line) from 12 are sequentially transferred. The horizontal CCD 14 is driven and driven by, for example, two-phase horizontal transfer clocks Hφ1 and Hφ2, and sequentially and horizontally transfers the signal charges of one line that have been line-shifted from the plurality of vertical CCDs 12.

At the end of the horizontal CCD 14 on the transfer destination side, for example, a charge detection section 15 having a floating diffusion amplifier configuration is arranged. The charge detection unit 15 includes a floating diffusion FD, a reset drain RD, and a reset gate RG positioned between the floating diffusion FD and the reset drain RD. The charge detector 15 sequentially converts signal charges horizontally transferred by the horizontal CCD 14 into a signal voltage and outputs the signal voltage.

In this charge detecting section 15, a reset drain voltage VRD is applied to a reset drain RD. When the reset gate pulse φRG is applied to the reset gate RG, the charges in the floating diffusion FD are reset by the reset drain RD.
Is performed. In the floating diffusion FD, a signal charge is converted into a signal voltage, and this signal voltage becomes a CCD output via an output circuit 16.

By the way, the CCD image pickup device having the above configuration is
Because of the color imaging method, an imaging area 1 in which a large number of sensor units 11 are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix
Above 7, a color filter (not shown) of a predetermined color coding is formed on-chip, for example, so that one color is assigned to one sensor unit (pixel) 11. The specific color coding of the color filter is one of the features of the present invention, and a specific example thereof will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a camera system according to the present invention using, for example, the color CCD image pickup device having the above-described configuration as an image pickup device. In FIG. 2, the camera system includes a color CCD image pickup device 21 as an image pickup device, an optical system including a lens 22, a timing pulse generation circuit 23 for generating various timing pulses, and a CC.
Signal processing circuit 2 for processing the output signal of D imaging device 21
4. An image recording device 25 for recording the output signal of the signal processing circuit 24 on a recording medium and an image display device 26 for displaying the output signal of the signal processing circuit 24 on a display unit.

In the camera system having the above configuration, the CC
On the imaging surface of the D imaging device 21, incident light (image light) from a subject (not shown) is imaged through an optical system including the lens 22 and the above-described color filter. The CCD imaging device 21 outputs various timing pulses appropriately output from the timing pulse generation circuit 23, for example, four-phase vertical transfer pulses φV1 to φV4, two-phase horizontal transfer pulses φH1,
Driving of signal charges from pixels, vertical transfer, horizontal transfer, and the like is performed by φH2, read pulse XSG, and the like.

The signal processing circuit 24 processes a signal from one CCD image sensor 21 as a signal from a plurality of image sensors. The signal processing method in the signal processing circuit 24 is also one of the features of the present invention, and a specific example thereof will be described later. The image recording device 25 records the image signal processed by the signal processing circuit 24 on a recording medium such as a memory, a floppy disk, or a magnetic tape. Image display device 26
Converts the image signal processed by the signal processing circuit 24 into a CRT
(Cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal).

Next, a specific example of color coding of a color filter and a specific example of a signal processing method in the signal processing circuit 24 will be described.

[First Specific Example] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first specific example of color coding. As is clear from FIG. 3, in the color filter 31 according to the first specific example, green (G) and red (R) are arranged in a checkered pattern in a vertical 2 × horizontal 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as 2 × 2). 2) in which green and blue (B) are arranged in a checkered pattern.
M rows N in which × 2 unit arrays are arranged in a checkered pattern
Color coding is performed for columns (M and N are both integers equal to or greater than 2).

The color filter 31 according to the first specific example
In the CCD imaging device 21 having a vertical CC, the vertical CC shown in FIG.
Transfer of signal charge from D12 to horizontal CCD 14 (hereinafter, referred to as
At the time of VH transfer), a process of obliquely adding signal charges of two pixels of the same color (G1, R1, B2, etc. in FIG. 3) is performed.

Here, an example of the diagonal addition processing will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. First, the signal charges G0, R1, G1, B3, G of each color in the bottom row of FIG.
Are shifted to the horizontal CCD 14 by VH transfer (the state of FIG. 4A). Subsequently, the horizontal CCD 14
Is driven by one bit (one transfer stage) (FIG. 4).
(State of (B)). In the state shifted by one bit, the signal charges R1, G1, B3, G3, R5,.
Are shifted to the horizontal CCD 14 by VH transfer (the state of FIG. 4C).

By the above-described three-step operation, the diagonal addition of the signal charges of two pixels of the same color is performed every two rows. Then, the signal charges for the two rows in units of the signal charges of the two pixels obtained by the diagonal addition are horizontally transferred by the horizontal CCD 14, converted into a signal voltage by the charge detection unit 15, and then passed through the output circuit 16. Output. The above operation is repeatedly performed every two rows.

In this manner, the signals obtained by adding the signal charges of two pixels of the same color by oblique addition are arranged in the signal processing circuit 24 as shown by the color coding in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Perform the process again. Here, the color coding of FIG. 5A has an array of only G, and the color coding of FIG. 5B has a checkered array of R / B.

By this processing, one CCD image sensor 2
Despite being a single-panel camera system equipped with 1, the color coding M /
An image sensor having a color filter of 2 rows and N / 2 columns;
/ B color-coded M with checkerboard arrangement
Signal processing can be performed assuming a two-panel camera system including an image sensor having a color filter of / 2 rows and N / 2 columns.

As described above, in the signal processing circuit 24, the signals obtained by adding the signals of two pixels of the same color by oblique addition are rearranged, and are regarded as signals from the two image pickup devices. Only R and B need to be interpolated in the signal processing. The time required for the signal processing is shorter than in the case where the color coding shown in FIG. 18 has to interpolate three colors of R / B / G. Will be done.

Also, no interpolation processing is required for G, and even if R and B are used, the distance between pixels to be interpolated is
Since it is narrower than the color coding interval of 8,
Although the data is as small as M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns, high image quality can be achieved. Further, since the data amount is small, the recording time on the recording medium in the image recording device 25 can be shortened, and the number of recordings on the recording medium can be increased.

In the first specific example, the case where a primary color filter in which the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue has been described, but FIG. Thus, the first color is green and the second color is yellow (Y
e), a complementary color filter in which the third color is cyan (Cy), or as shown in FIG. 6B, the first color is white (W), the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. The same effect can be obtained when the complementary color filter is used.

By the way, even in the general color coding shown in FIG. 18, if the obtained image is resampled so as to become M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of image data, a high quality image can be obtained with a small data amount. However, since it cannot be obtained without further signal processing after processing the signals of all the pixels in M rows and N columns, the signal processing requires more time.

[Second Specific Example] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second specific example of color coding. In the color filter 32 according to the second specific example, as is apparent from FIG. 7, a 2 × 2 unit array in which green and red are arranged in a checkered pattern is arranged in a checkered pattern, and green and blue are arranged in a checkered pattern. The color coding is M rows and N columns in which 2 × 2 unit arrays arranged in a checkered pattern are arranged in a stripe pattern.

The color filter 32 according to the second specific example
In the CCD imaging device 21 having
As in the case of the first specific example, a process of obliquely adding signal charges of two pixels of the same color is performed. Then, the signal obtained by the diagonal addition is processed by the signal processing circuit 24 in FIG.
The rearrangement process is performed as shown in (A) and (B). Here, the color coding of FIG. 8A has an arrangement of only G, and the color coding of FIG. 8B has an arrangement of R / B stripes.

By this processing, one CCD image sensor 2
Despite being a single-panel camera system provided with an image pickup device 1, an image pickup device having M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which only Gs are arranged, and R / Bs are arranged in stripes. Signal processing can be performed assuming a two-panel camera system including an image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns. As a result, the same operation and effect as those of the first specific example can be obtained.

The second specific example is not limited to the primary color filter. As shown in FIG. 9 (A), the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is a complementary color of cyan. A similar effect can be obtained when a complementary color filter is used in which the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan, as shown in FIG. 9B. it can.

[Third Specific Example] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third specific example of color coding. In the color filter 33 according to the third specific example, as is apparent from FIG.
The color coding is M rows and N columns in which 2 × 2 unit arrays in which × 2 unit arrays are arranged in stripes and green and blue are arranged in stripes are arranged in stripes.

The color filter 33 according to the third specific example
In the CCD imaging device 21 having
Unlike the first and second specific examples, a process of vertically adding signal charges of two pixels of the same color is performed. And this vertical 2
The signal obtained by adding the pixels is converted to a signal processing circuit 24.
, A rearrangement process is performed as shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B). Here, the color coding of FIG. 11A has an arrangement of only G, and the color coding of FIG. 11B has an arrangement of stripes of R / B.

By this processing, one CCD image sensor 2
Despite being a single-panel camera system provided with an image pickup device 1, an image pickup device having M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which only Gs are arranged, and R / Bs are arranged in stripes. Signal processing can be performed assuming a two-panel camera system including an image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns. As a result, the same functions and effects as those of the first and second specific examples can be obtained.

Also in the third specific example, not only the primary color filter but also a complementary color filter in which the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12B, a similar effect can be obtained when a complementary color filter is used in which the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. .

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth specific example of color coding. In the color filter 34 according to the fourth specific example, as is apparent from FIG. 13, a green filter and a red filter are arranged in a stripe pattern.
The color coding is M rows and N columns in which 2 × 2 unit arrays in which a × 2 unit array is arranged in a checkered pattern and green and blue are arranged in a stripe pattern are arranged in a checkered pattern.

The color filter 34 according to the fourth specific example
In the CCD imaging device 21 having
As in the case of the third specific example, a process of vertically adding signal charges of two pixels of the same color is performed. Then, the signal obtained by the addition of the two vertical pixels is subjected to a process of rearranging the signals in the signal processing circuit 24 as shown in FIGS. Here, the color coding of FIG. 14A has an arrangement of only G, and the color coding of FIG. 14B has a checkerboard arrangement of R / B.

By this processing, one CCD image sensor 2
Despite being a single-panel camera system provided with an image pickup device 1, an image pickup device having M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which only Gs are arranged, and R / Bs are arranged in a checkered pattern. Signal processing can be performed assuming a two-panel camera system including an image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns. As a result, the same operation and effect as those of the first, second, and third specific examples can be obtained.

In the fourth specific example as well, not limited to the primary color filter, as shown in FIG. 15A, a complementary color filter in which the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15B, a similar effect can be obtained when a complementary color filter is used in which the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. .

In each of the specific examples described above, the case where signal processing is performed by assuming a single-chip camera system as a two-chip camera system has been described as an example. However, a single-chip camera system is considered as a three-chip camera system. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the signal processing is performed by using the above.

[Fifth Specific Example] As an example, as shown in FIG. 16, M rows and N columns in which a 2.times.3 unit array in which red, green, and blue are arranged in stripes are arranged in stripes. Is used. Then, in the CCD image sensor 21,
At the time of VH transfer, as in the third and fourth specific examples,
A process of vertically adding signal charges of two pixels of the same color is performed.

The signal obtained by the addition of the two vertical pixels is processed by the signal processing circuit 24 as shown in FIG.
The rearrangement process is performed as shown in (B) and (C). Here, the color coding of FIG. 17A is composed of an array of only R, the color coding of FIG. 17B is composed of an arrangement of only G, and the color coding of FIG. .

By this processing, one CCD image sensor 2
Despite being a single-panel camera system having an image pickup device 1, an image pickup device having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which only R is arranged, and an M / 2 line in which only G is arranged Signal processing is performed assuming a three-panel camera system including an image sensor having N / 2 columns of color filters and an image sensor having M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns of color filters in which only B is arranged. You can do it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration using the CCD image pickup device 21 as the image pickup device is employed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other charge transfer type image pickup devices, MOS type image pickup devices It goes without saying that an XY address type imaging device such as described above may be used as the imaging device.

When the CCD image pickup device 21 is used, the addition of two vertical or diagonal pixels is performed in the horizontal CCD 14, as is clear from the above description.
When an XY address type imaging device is used, the signal processing circuit 24 uses a line memory or the like. However, the use of a charge transfer type image sensor such as the CCD image sensor 21 performs the addition process in the state of the signal charge, and thus has the advantage of requiring less noise than the XY address type image sensor. is there.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When performing signal processing of a solid-state imaging device having a color filter of M rows and N columns in which a combination of the first, second, and third colors is used and at least the first color has an arrangement of two vertical repetitions, A signal obtained by adding the signals of two pixels of the same color is converted into a signal of M / 2 in which only the first color is arranged.
Processing is performed by regarding a signal from an image sensor having a color filter in a row N / 2 column and a signal from an image sensor having an M / 2 row and N / 2 column color filter in which the other two colors are arranged. With this configuration, the signal processing time can be shortened because color interpolation processing is reduced, and a high-quality signal can be obtained with a small amount of data, so that the recording time on the recording medium can be reduced and the number of recordings can be increased. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an interline transfer type color CCD image sensor to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing color coding of a primary color filter according to a first specific example.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a procedure of diagonal two-pixel addition.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating color coding by signal processing according to a first specific example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a complementary color filter according to a first specific example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a primary color filter according to a second specific example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating color coding by signal processing according to a second specific example.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a complementary color filter according to a second specific example.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing color coding of a primary color filter according to a third specific example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating color coding by signal processing according to a third specific example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a complementary color filter according to a third specific example.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing color coding of a primary color filter according to a fourth specific example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating color coding by signal processing according to a fourth specific example.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a complementary color filter according to a fourth specific example.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing color coding of a primary color filter according to a fifth specific example.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating color coding by signal processing according to a fourth specific example.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating color coding of a general color filter.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 sensor part, 12 vertical CCD, 14 horizontal CC
D, 15: charge detection unit, 21: CCD image sensor, 24:
Signal processing circuit, 25 image recording device, 26 image display device, 31-35 color filter

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a checkered pattern, and a 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a third color are arranged in a checkered pattern. A solid-state imaging device having a color filter of M rows and N columns (M and N are both integers equal to or greater than 2) in which a unit arrangement is arranged in a checkered pattern. 2. A 2 × 2 unit arrangement in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a checkered pattern, and a first color and a third color are arranged in a checkered pattern. A solid-state imaging device having a color filter of M rows and N columns (M and N are each an integer of 2 or more) in which a 2 × 2 unit array is arranged in a stripe shape. 3. An M-row-N-column (M and N are both 2 or more) composed of a combination of first, second, and third colors, and in which at least the first color has an arrangement of repeating two pixels in the vertical direction. A signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device having a color filter of the following formula: wherein a signal obtained by adding signals of two pixels of the same color of the solid-state imaging device is converted into an M / 2 rows N /
A signal from the first image sensor having two columns of color filters, and M / 2 rows N / 2 in which the second and third colors are arranged.
A signal processing method for a solid-state image sensor, wherein the signal is processed as a signal from a second image sensor having a column of color filters. 4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the solid-state imaging device is a charge transfer type imaging device, and a signal of two pixels of the same color is added in a charge transfer unit. 5. The color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which only the second color is arranged, wherein:
4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, comprising two imaging devices each having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which only the third color is arranged. 6. The color filter of the solid-state imaging device,
A 2 × 2 unit array in which the first color and the second color are arranged in a checkered pattern, and a 2 × 2 unit array in which the first color and the third color are arranged in a checkered pattern The signals obtained by the addition are arranged in a checkered pattern, and the signals obtained by the addition are converted into a first signal having an M / 2-row N / 2-column color filter in which only the first color is arranged.
And a signal from the second image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which the second and third colors are arranged in a checkered pattern. 4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue.
A signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 1. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan.
A signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 1. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan.
A signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 1. 10. The color filter of the solid-state imaging device is a 2 × 2 color filter in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a checkered pattern.
Are arranged in a checkered pattern, and a 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a third color are arranged in a checkered pattern is arranged in a stripe pattern. With a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which only the first color is arranged.
And a signal from the second image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which the second and third colors are arranged in stripes. 4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue.
0. A signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to 0. 12. The signal processing method according to claim 10, wherein the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 13. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 10, wherein the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 14. The color filter of the solid-state imaging device, wherein a 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a stripe pattern is arranged in a stripe pattern, and
And a third color are arranged in a stripe pattern, and a 2 × 2 unit array is arranged in a stripe pattern. The signal obtained by the addition is converted into an M signal in which only the first color is arranged. / 2 rows / N / 2 columns with color filters
And a signal from the second image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which the second and third colors are arranged in stripes. 4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue.
5. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to 4. 16. The signal processing method according to claim 14, wherein the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 17. The signal processing method according to claim 14, wherein the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 18. The color filter of the solid-state imaging device, wherein a 2 × 2 unit array in which a first color and a second color are arranged in a stripe pattern is arranged in a checkered pattern, and A 2 × 2 unit array in which a third color is arranged in a stripe pattern is arranged in a checkered pattern. First having N / 2 rows of color filters
And a signal from the second image sensor having a color filter of M / 2 rows and N / 2 columns in which the second and third colors are arranged in a checkered pattern. 4. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first color is green, the second color is red, and the third color is blue.
9. The signal processing method for a solid-state imaging device according to item 8. 20. The signal processing method according to claim 18, wherein the first color is green, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 21. The signal processing method according to claim 18, wherein the first color is white, the second color is yellow, and the third color is cyan. 22. A combination of first, second and third colors, wherein at least the first color is 2 in the vertical direction.
A signal obtained by adding a solid-state imaging device having a color filter of M rows and N columns (M and N are each an integer of 2 or more) and a signal obtained by adding two pixels of the same color of the solid-state imaging device, M / 2 rows N / in which only the first color is arranged
A signal from the first image sensor having two columns of color filters and an M / 2 row N / 2 in which the second and third colors are arranged.
A camera system comprising: a signal processing unit that processes a signal as a signal from a second image sensor having a color filter in a column; and a recording unit that records an output signal of the signal processing unit. 23. The camera system according to claim 22, wherein said solid-state imaging device is a charge transfer type imaging device, and a signal transfer unit adds signals of two pixels of the same color.