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SamsungGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 6/10

Samsung patents camera sensor using shared lenses to improve image quality

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This patent describes a camera system where multiple pixels share a single small lens, a design often used to capture depth information. The device’s processor takes the raw data, splits it into different perspective views, and fills in missing color details to create a complete image. It then combines these views using a mathematical method that weighs them based on how similar they are to produce a final, clearer picture.

Why it mattersThis technique could lead to sharper photos and better depth sensing in future phones or cameras without needing a larger physical lens.

In the filing’s own words

An image acquisition apparatus includes an image sensor including a microlens and a plurality of pixels arranged adjacent to each other and sharing the microlens; and a processor configured to process an input image acquired by the image sensor, wherein the processor may be further configured to: generate a plurality of parallax images by extracting and combining sub-images having a same parallax from the input image; generate RGB demosaic images by interpolating a color value of an empty pixel for each of the plurality of parallax images by using color values of surrounding pixels; generate a plurality of upsampled images by upsampling each of the RGB demosaic images to an input image size; and generate an output image by weighted-summing one upsampled image selected from the upsampled images and the other upsampled images based on a similarity therebetween.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image acquisition apparatus comprising: an image sensor comprising a microlens and a plurality of pixels arranged adjacent to each other and sharing the microlens; and a processor configured to process an input image acquired by the image sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to: perform a white balance processing on the input image; after performing the white balance processing, generate a plurality of parallax images by extracting and combining sub-images having a same parallax from the input image; generate RGB demosaic images by interpolating a color value of an empty pixel for each of the plurality of parallax images by using color values of surrounding pixels; generate a plurality of upsampled images by upsampling each of the RGB demosaic images to an input image size; and generate an output image by weighted-summing one reference upsampled image selected from the upsampled images and the other upsampled images based on a similarity therebetween.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Image acquisition apparatus and method employing lens array
Patent number
US12771951B2
Application number
18668613
Filed
May 20, 2024
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
19

Classified under

H04N 23/843 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/88 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/951 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/11 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.