Systems and methods for creating full-color image in low light

摘要

Full-color images of low-light scenes are generated by the systems and methods described herein using only two light channels. An array of photosensitive pixels includes two sets of pixels, the first sensitive only to light associated with a first light channel, the second only to light associated with a second light channel. Thus the first set of pixels generate a first set of electrical signals in response to incident light within the first light channel, and the second set of pixels generate a second set of electrical signals in response to incident light within the second light channel. An image processor receives the first and second sets of electrical signals and generates a full-color image of the scene by processing only signals generated by the first and second sets of pixels.

主权项

1. A low-light color imaging system, comprising:
an array of photosensitive pixels configured to generate electrical signals in response to incident light from a scene, including
a first plurality of pixels, each sensitive only to light associated with a first light channel including a first band of wavelengths of light,
such that the first plurality of pixels generate a first set of electrical signals indicative of the first light channel only in response to incident light having wavelengths within the first light channel, anda second plurality of pixels, each sensitive only to light associated with a second light channel including a second band of wavelengths of light, such that the second plurality of pixels generate a second set of electrical signals indicative of the second light channel only in response to incident light having wavelengths within the second light channel; an image processor connected to the array of photosensitive pixels and having circuitry configured to receive the first set of electrical signals indicative of the first light channel and the second set of electrical signals indicative of the second light channel and generate a full-color image of the scene based on only the first and second set of electrical signals, thereby using only two light channels to generate a full-color image of a low-light scene; a color database associating a first signal associated with the first light channel and a second signal associated with the second light channel with one of a set of predetermined reference colors; and a color processor to identify a color in the full-color image as an element of the set of predetermined reference colors.