Solid-state color imaging apparatus.

This invention relates to a solid-state color imaging apparatus.

An interline transfer CCD imaging element (hereinbelow, abbreviated to "IL-CCD imaging element") comprises picture elements arrayed regularly in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, vertical CCD registers for transferring in the vertical direction signal charges photoelectrically converted by and stored in the picture elements, a horizontal CCD register 3 for transferring them in the horizontal direction, and an output portion.

The IL-CCD imaging element is capable of two sorts of read-out operations; a frame storage operation in which the signal charges stored in the picture elements are read out every frame period, and a field storage operation in which they are read out every field period. As compared with the frame storage operation, the field storage operation requires a half storage time and affords a less feeling of afterimage. For this reason, the development of a single-plate color imaging device effecting the field storage operation is being promoted.

In color imaging by the use of the IL-CCD imaging element, the color dispersion images of a subject are formed by color filters, the color dispersion images are picked up by the IL-CCD imaging element, and the output signals of the IL-CCD imaging element are processed, thereby to obtain chrominance and luminance signals.

A conventional IL-CCD color imaging apparatus having a conventional color filter has a disadvantage to be described below. A row is the repetition of Ye (yellow) and G (green) and produces no signal for blue light. This has led to the disadvantage that, even when a blue linear image falls on the picture elements of the row, the corresponding signal is not included in the output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element. More specifically, the color filters have the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction. In the resulting recurrence unit of eight picture elements, there are only two picture elements which afford the blue signal, and there are also only two picture elements which afford the red signal. This has led to the disadvantage that, when a fine pattern in red or blue enters, a faithful output signal is not obtained.

It is, therefore an object of this invention to provide a solid-state color imaging apparatus capable of producing faithful output signals even for very fine patterns.

According to this invention, there is provided a solid-state color imaging apparatus wherein, in the arrayal of the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction, any horizontal row includes at least one picture element affording the red signal and at least one picture element affording the blue signal.

The features and advantages of this invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment of this invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an interline transfer CCD imaging element;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the read-out of signal charges in the case of operating the interline transfer CCD imaging element in a field storage mode;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a schematic partial plan view showing the color arrangement of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a conventional color imaging apparatus;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the outputs of respective color signals from an interline transfer CCD imaging which is furnished with the color filters in Fig. 3;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a single-plate type color imaging device;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a schematic partial plan view showing the color arrangement of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the outputs of respective color signals from the first embodiment;</li><li>Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are schematic partial plan views showing the color arrangements of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in accordance with the second to seventh embodiments of this invention;</li><li>Figs. 14, 18 and 19 are diagrams each showing the spectral characteristics of color filters; Fig. 15 is a diagram schematically showing the outputs of respective color signals from an interline transfer CCD imaging apparatus according to the seventh embodiment; and</li><li>Figs. 16 and 17 are schematic partial plan views each showing the color arrangement of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a solid-state imaging apparatus according to eight and nineth embodiments of this invention.</li></ul>

First, a conventional CCD color imaging apparatus will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

A conventional IL-CCD imaging element comprises, as shown in Fig. 1, picture elements arrayed regularly in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, vertical CCD registers 2 for transferring in the vertical direction signal charges photoelectrically converted by and stored in the picture elements 1, a horizontal CCD register 3 for transferring them in the horizontal direction, and an output portion 4. Arrows in the figure indicate the transfer directions of the signal charges.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the field storage operation. Rows in the horizontal direction are named ℓ₁, ℓ₂, ℓ₃, ...., ℓ₈ .... successively from a certain row. In odd-numbered fields the signal charges are first transferred to the vertical CCD registers 2 from the picture elements corresponding to ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆, ℓ₈, ...., and the signal charges corresponding to one picture element are subsequently shifted by the shift operation of each vertical CCD register 2. Further, the signal charges are transferred to the vertical CCD registers 2 from the picture elements corresponding to ℓ₁, ℓ₃, ℓ₅, ℓ₇, ..... As a result, the signal charges of the picture elements corresponding to ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆, ℓ₈, .... are respectively added with the signal charges of the picture elements corresponding to ℓ₁, ℓ₃, ℓ₅, ℓ₇, .... in the vertical _CCD registers 2. The signal charges of each of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂, ℓ₃+ ℓ₄, ℓ₅ + ℓ₆, ℓ₇ + ℓ₈, .... added up are used as a signal for one horizontal period.

In even-numbered fields, the combinations of the rows of the picture elements in the horizontal direction to be added up in the vertical CCD registers 2 are changed into ℓ₂ + ℓ₃, ℓ₄ + ℓ₅, ℓ₆ + ℓ₇, .... The combinations of the respectively two rows adjacent in the vertical direction are changed every field in this manner, thereby to perform an interlaced operation.

In color imaging by the use of the IL-CCD imaging element stated above, the color dispersion images of a subject are formed by color filters, the color dispersion images are picked up by the IL-CCD imaging element, and the output signals of the IL-CCD imaging element are processed, thereby to obtain chrominance signals and luminance signals.

Fig. 3 is a schematic partial plan view showing the color arrangement of the color filters for use in a conventional single-plate color imaging apparatus of the field storage operation, and the mutual relations between the color filters and the picture elements. Referring to Fig. 3, the plurality of picture elements 1 are arranged regularly in the horizontal direction and the vertical vertical direction. The color filters are formed on the respective picture elements 1. Ye, Cy and G indicate the color filters of yellow, cyan and green, respectively. The yellow color filter transmits lights or red and green, while the cyan color filter transmits lights of blue and green. The color filters are arrayed with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction and with four picture elements forming one cycle in the vertical direction. The news in the horizontal direction are named ℓ₁, ℓ₂, ℓ₃, ...., ℓ₈, .... successively from a certain row. From the left toward the right in the horizontal direction, Ye and G are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal rows ℓ₁ and ....; Cy and G in the next rows ℓ₂ and ℓ₆, ....; _Ye and G in the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, ....; and G and Cy in the next rows ℓ₄ and ℓ₈, ....

Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the magnitudes of the outputs of the color signals from the respective picture elements formed with the aforementioned color filters in the case of the field storage operation, and it corresponds to Fig. 3. B, G and R respectively denote a blue signal, a green signal and a red signal, the ratios of which are set at 1 1 : 1. As illustrated in the figure, when the output signals are averaged, <maths id="math0001"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0001.tif" /></maths>B + 2G + <maths id="math0002"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0002.tif" /></maths>R is obtained. This is used as the luminance signal.

The blue signal is superposed as a modulation component <maths id="math0003"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0003.tif" /></maths>Bcos ω t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction. Here, ω denotes an angular frequency which corresponds to the cycle of two picture elements. The red signal is superposed as a modulation component - Rcos ω t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal cirection. That is, the output signal S{ℓ₁ + ℓ₂} of ℓ₁ + 1₂ is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0004"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0004.tif" /></maths>

In the output signal of 1₃⁺ ℓ₄, the blue signal is modulated in the opposite phase and the red signal is modulated in the same phase with respect to those in the output signal of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂. The output signal S{ℓ₃ + ℓ₄} of ℓ₃ + ℓ₄ is indicated by the following equation: S{ℓ₃ + ℓ₄} = <maths id="math0005"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0005.tif" /></maths>B + 2G + <maths id="math0006"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0006.tif" /></maths>R - <maths id="math0007"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0007.tif" /></maths>Bcos ω t + <maths id="math0008"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0008.tif" /></maths>Rcos ω t

The outputs S{ℓ₂ + ℓ₃} and S{ℓ₄ + ℓ₅} of other fields are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0009"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0009.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0010"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0010.tif" /></maths>In the horizontal scanning period of ℓ₂ + ℓ₃ and that of 14 + ℓ₅, the blue signals are modulated in the opposits phases, and the red signals are modulated in the same phases.

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the single-phase type color imaging device. The output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element 6 provided with the color filters 5, obtained as stated above, is passed through a low-pass filter 7 in order to remove the modulation components and becomes the luminance signal Y, which is applied to a color encoder 8. In view of the above equations, the luminance signal has a component of <maths id="math0011"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0011.tif" /></maths>B + 2G + <maths id="math0012"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0012.tif" /></maths>R. Besides, the output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element 6 becomes a low frequency luminance signal through a low-pass filter 9 whose pass band is lower than that of the low-pass filter 6, and the luminance signal is applied to a substrater circuit 10. Further, the output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element 6 can have the modulation components separated by passing through a band-pass filter 11 whose center frequency is a frequency corresponding to the recurrence cycle of two picture elements in the horizontal direction.

The modulation component T{ℓ₁ + ℓ₂} of the 1₁ + ℓ₂ rows is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0013"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0013.tif" /></maths>The modulation components of the ℓ₃ + ℓ₄ rows, 12 + ℓ₃ rows and ℓ₄ + ℓ₅ rows are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0014"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0014.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0015"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0015.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0016"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0016.tif" /></maths>

The output of the band-pass filter 11 is delayed by one horizontal scanning period by means of a delay line 12. When the output of the band-pass filter 11 and that of the delay line 12 are added by an adder circuit 13, the modulation component of the red signal is separated as indicated by each of the following equations:<maths id="math0017"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0017.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0018"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0018.tif" /></maths>

When the output of the delay line 12 and that of the band-pass filter 12 are subtracted by a subtracter circuit 14, the modulation component of the blue signal is separated as indicated by each of the following equations:<maths id="math0019"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0019.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0020"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0020.tif" /></maths>

The separated modulation components of the red signal and blue signal are respectively demodulated by demodulator circuits 15 and 16, to obtain the red signal and blue signal. When the red signal and blue signal are subtracted from the low frequency luminance signal in the subtracter circuit 10, the green signal is obtained. The luminance signal, green signal, red signal and blue signal thus obtained are applied to the color encoder 8, to obtain a color television signal.

The IL-CCD imaging apparatus having the color filters as shown in Fig. 3 has a disadvantage to be described below. In Fig. 3, the row 1₃, for example, is the repetition of Ye and G and produces no signal for blue light. This has led to the disadvantage that, even when a blue linear image falls on the picture elements of the row ℓ₃, the corresponding signal is not included in the output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element. More specifically, the color filters have the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction. In the resulting recurrence unit of eight picture elements, there are only two picture elements which afford the blue signal, and there are also only two picture elements which afford the red signal. This has led to the disadvantage that, when a fine pattern in red or blue enters, a faithful output signal is not obtained.

Fig. 6 is a schematic partial plan view showing the color arrangement of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a first embodiment of this invention. Referring to Fig. 6, the plurality of picture elements 1 are arranged regularly in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The color filters are formed on the respective picture elements 1. W indicates the color filter which is transparent. The transparent color filter transmits lights of blue, green and red. The color filters are arrayed at a cycle of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and at a cycle of four picture elements in the vertical direction. The rows in the horizontal direction are named ℓ₁, 121 ℓ₃, ...., ℓ₈, .... successively from a certain row. From the left toward the right in the horizontal direction, W and G are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal rows ℓ₁ and ℓ₅, ....; W and Ye in the next rows 1₂ and ℓ₆, ....; Cy and Ye in the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, ....; and W and Ye in the next rows ℓ₄ and ℓ₈.

Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the magnitudes of the outputs of the color signals from the respective picture elements formed with the aforementioned color filters in the case of the field storage operation, and it corresponds to Fig. 6. As illustrated in the figure, the average value of the output signals is <maths id="math0021"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0021.tif" /></maths>R + 2G + B, which is used as the luminance signal. In the output signal of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂, the red signal is superposed as a modulation component <maths id="math0022"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0022.tif" /></maths>Rcos t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction. The blue signal is superposed as a modulation component Bcos t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction.

The output signal S{ℓ₁ + ℓ₂} of ℓ₁ + 1₂ is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0023"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0023.tif" /></maths>In the output signal of ℓ₃ + ℓ₄, the red signal is modulated in the opposite phase and the blue signal is modulated in in the same phase with respect to those in the output signal of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂. The output signals S{ℓ₃ + ℓ₄} of 1₃ + ℓ₄ is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0024"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0024.tif" /></maths>The outputs S{ℓ₂ + ℓ₃} and S{ℓ₄ + ℓ₅} of other fields are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0025"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0025.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0026"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0026.tif" /></maths>In the horizontal scanning period of the12 + ℓ₃ rows and that of the ℓ₄ + ℓ₅ rows, the red signals are modulated in the opposite phases, and the blue signals are modulated in the same phases.

The output signal from the solid-state imaging element of the solid-state imaging apparatus of the first embodiment of this invention is decomposed into the luminance signal, green signal, red signal and blue signal by the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, and the color television signal is produced by a color encoder.

The color filter in the first embodiment has the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction. In the resulting recurrence unit of eight picture elements, six picture elements afford the red signal and four picture elements afford the blue signal, and they are a half or more in numbers. In Fig. 6, any horizontal row includes picture elements affording the red signal. For this reason, even when a linear red image corresponding to one horizontal row enters by way of example, the corresponding signal is included in the output signal of the IL-CCD imaging element. The same applies to the blue signal. The solid-state imaging device according to this previous invention has the large numbers of picture elements providing the red signal and blue signal, and it can produce a faithful output signal even when a very fine pattern in red or blue enters.

Referring to Fig. 8, in a second embodiment of this invention, from the left toward the right in the horizontal direction, W and Ye are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal rows ℓ₁ and ℓ₅, ....; W and Cy in the next rows.1₂ and ℓ₆, ....; Ye and W in the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, ....; and W and Cy in the next rows ℓ₄ and ℓ₈.

The output signals of respective horizontal scanning lines in the field storage operation are indicated by the following equations.<maths id="math0027"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0027.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0028"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0028.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0029"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0029.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0030"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0030.tif" /></maths>

The color filter in the second embodiment has the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction. In the resulting recurrence unit of eight picture elements, and six picture elements afford the red signal and six picture elements afford the blue signal.

Referring to Fig. 9, in a third embodiment of this invention, from the left toward the righr in the horizontal rows ℓ₁ and ℓ₅, ....; W and W in the next rows ℓ₂ and ℓ₆, ....; Ye and Cy in the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, ....; and W and _W in the next rows₁₄ and ℓ₈.

The output signals of respective horizontal scanning lines in the field storage operation are indicated by the following equations.<maths id="math0031"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0031.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0032"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0032.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0033"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0033.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0034"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0034.tif" /></maths>

The color filter in the third embodiment has the recurrence cycles of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and four picture elements in the vertical direction. In the resulting recurrence unit of eight picture elements, and six picture elements afford the red signal and six picture elements afford the blue signal.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, color filters used in fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments are identical to the color filters in the first, second and third embodiments shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9, respectively, except that the filters Cy and Ye are replaced with each other. The color imaging apparatuses using the color filers shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 can also produce the output signals identical to those in the first to third embodiment.

The luminance signal produced by each of the first to sixth embodiments is (<maths id="math0035"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0035.tif" /></maths>R + 2G + B) as described above. The before, while the ratio of the quantities of lights of red, green and blue is R G B when tungsten lamp illumination which is standard imaging illumination is considered. The luminance signal therefore has an excess red component with respect to, for example, 0.3R + 0.59G + 0.11B in the NTSC. With the color imaging device shown in Fig. 5, the quantity of subtraction of red for separating the green signal becomes very large, and the S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio of the green signal is greatly affected by the red signal and lowers inevitably. On the other hand, in a case where the R, B, Y system forming color difference signals from the luminance signal (2R + 2G + B) and the red and blue signals without demodulating the green signal is employed for preventing the lowering of the S/N ratio, disadvantageously degradation in the color reproducibility is inevitable.

Fig. 13 is a schematic partial plan view showing the color arrangement of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a solid-state imaging apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of this invention. Referring to Fig. 13, the plurality of picture elements 1 are arranged regularly in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The color filters are formed on the respective picture elements 1. W indicates the color filter which is transparent. The transparent color filter transmits lights of blue, green and red. The color filter G transmits light of green, Ye light of yellow, namely, lights of green and red, and Cy light of cyan, namely, lifhts of blue and green. The color filters W_R and Ye_R exhibit the characteristics that transmission factors for the red light are controlled in a range of at least 25% to at most 75% of the red light rransmission factors of the color filters W and Ye, and they exhibit red transmission characteristics of 50% of those of the color filters W and Ye in the present embodiment. The spectral characteristics of the respective color filters are illustrated in Fig. 14.

The color filters are arrayed at a cycle of two picture elements in the horizontal direction, and at a cycle of four picture elements in the vertical direction. Rows in the horizontal direction are named ℓ₁, ℓ₂, ℓ₃, ...., ₈, .... successively from a certain row. From the left toward the right in the horizontal direction, W and G are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal rows ℓ₁ and ℓ5, ....; ^W_R and ^Ye_R in the next rows ℓ₂ and 1₆, ....; Cy and Ye in the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, ....; and W_R and Ye_R in the next rows ℓ₄ and ℓ₈, ._...

Fig. 15 is a diagram schematically showing the magnitudes of the outputs of the signals from the seventh embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 15, in the output signal of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂, the red signal is superposed as a modulation component <maths id="math0036"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0036.tif" /></maths>Rcos ω t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction, and the blue signal is superposed as a modulation component Bcos ω t with two picture elements forming one cycle in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, a luminance signal which is the average value of the output signals is R + 2G + B. That is, the output signal S{ℓ₁ + ℓ₂}, of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂ is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0037"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0037.tif" /></maths>In the output signal of ℓ₃ + ℓ₄, the red signal is modulated in the opposite phase and the blue signal is modulated in the same phase with respect to those in the output signal of ℓ₁ + ℓ₂. The output signal S{ℓ₃ + ℓ₄} of ℓ₃⁺ ℓ₄ is indicated by the following equation:<maths id="math0038"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0038.tif" /></maths>

The outputs S{ℓ₂ + ℓ₃} and S{ℓ₄ + ℓ₅} of other fields are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0039"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0039.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0040"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0040.tif" /></maths>In ℓ₂ + ℓ₃ and ℓ₄ + ℓ₅, the red signals are modulated in the opposite phases, and the blue signals in the same phases.

As apparent from the above, the luminance signal can have the red component reduced sharply from 2R + 2G + B in the prior art to R + 2G + B without any lowering in the modulation degrees of the red signal and the blue signal with respect to the color filter arrangement in the first to sixth embodiment. The above measure is based on reducing the red signal component with note taken of the fact that the rows ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆ and ℓ₈ do not contribute to the modulation component of the red signal at all and that the red signals of these horizontal rows contribute merely to the luminance signal. In addition, the number of picture elements containing the red signals is six among eight picture elements likewise to that in the prior art, and merely the signal quantity of each of two of the six picture elements is lowered to 2. Four among the eight picture elements contain the blue signals, and the signal quantity is not changed at all. Even when a very fine pattern in red or blue enters, a faithful picture scarcely differing from that in the prior art is obtained.

The seventh embodiment has been explained as to the case where the red signal component of W_R or Ye_R is 50% of W or Ye. When the percentage is below 25%, the red component of the luminance signal is further reduced, and it can be expected to enhance the S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio and the color reproducibility. Wieh such slight component of the red signal, however, the picture element containing the red signal or the sampling point of red is no longer useful, and the faithful reproduction of a very fine pattern becomes difficult. In contrast, when the percentage is above 75%, the effect of reducing the component of the red signal in the luminance signal is hardly achieved, and the enhancements of the S/N ratio and the color reproducibility cannot be desired over the color filter arrangement in Fig. 6. Thus, the proper red signal components of W_R and Ye_R are at least 25% to at most 75% of the components of W and Ye.

Using the output signals from the solid-state imaging element of the solid-state imaging device which is the embodiment according to the present invention, a color television signal is produced by a device similar to the single-plate color imaging apparatus as shown in Fig. 5.

The filters in Fig. 13 can be readily realized in practice in such a way that the rows ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆ and ℓ₈ are formed by the repetition of the color filters W and Ye similarly to the prior art, whereupon thin cyan filters by which the transmission factor for the red component is rendered at least 25% to at most 75% are superposed on the respective horizontal rows.

Fig. 16 is a schematic partial plan view showing the layout of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a solid-state imaging apparatus according to a eight embodiment of this invention. The color filters are arrayed at a cycle of two picture elements in the horizontal direction and at a cycle of four picture elements in the vertical direction. The color filters W_B and Cy_B exhibit the characteristics that transmission factors for blue are controlled in a range of at least 25% to at most 75% of the blue transmission factor of the color filter W_R, and in the present embodiment, they exhibit blue transmission characteristics of 50% of that of the color filter W_R as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 18. The color filters W_R and Ye_R exhibit the red transmission characteristics of 50% of that of the color filter W_B as in the foregoing embodiment.

The color filters are arranged by repeating WB and Cy_B in rows ℓ₁ and ℓ₅, ....; W_R and Ye_R in the next rows 12 and ℓ₆, ....; Cy_B and W_Bin the next rows ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, .... and W_R and Ye_R in the next rows J₄ and 18, ....

The output signals of respective horizontal scanning lines in the field storage operation are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0041"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0041.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0042"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0042.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0043"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0043.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0044"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0044.tif" /></maths>

In the adjacent horizontal scanning line periods, the blue signals are modulated in the same phases, and the red signals in the opposite phases. Also, in the present embodiment, both the red and blue signal components decrease to afford a luminance signal R + 2G + B in contrast to the luminance signal <maths id="math0045"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0045.tif" /></maths>R + 2G + <maths id="math0046"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0046.tif" /></maths>B in the prior-art case of employing the color filters, W, Cy and Ye, while the modulation components of the signals Rand B are quite equal to those in the prior art. Thus, the S/N ratios of the color signals of red and blue do not degrade and the color reproducibility is good, and a faithful picture which scarcely differs from that in the prior art is produced for a very fine pattern in red or blue.

The filters in Fig. 16 can be readily realized in practice in such a way that, after the Ye and Cy filters have been formed, thin yellow filters with which the transmission factor for the blue component becomes at least 25% to at most 75% are superposed on the respective horizontal rows ℓ₁, ℓ₃, ℓ₅, ℓ₇, ...., while thin cyan filters with which the transmission factor for the red component becomes at least 25% to at most 75% are superposed on the respective horizontal rows 1₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆, ℓ₈, ....

Fig. 17 is a schematic partial plan view showing the layout of color filters and the mutual relations between the color filters and picture elements in a solid-state imaging apparatus according to nineth embodiment of the present invention. The color filters are arrayed at a cycle of two picture elements in the horizontal direction, and at a cycle of four picture elements in the vertical direction. The filter W transmits lights of red, green and blue, G light of green, Cy lights of blue and green, and Ye lights of green and red. The filter W_RB exhibits the characteristics that transmission factors for the red and blue lights are respectively controlled to at least 25% to at most 75% with respect to those of the filter W, and in the present embodiment, it exhibits transmission characteristics of 50% for both red and blue in comparison with those of the filter W as illustrated in Fig. 19.

The color filters are arrayed by the repetion of W and G in ℓ₁ and ℓ₅, .... ; by the continuation of W_RB throughout the horizontal direction in ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆, and ℓ₈, ....; and the repetion of Cy and Ye in ℓ₃ and ℓ₇, .....

The output signals of respective horizontal scanning lines in the field storage operation are indicated by the following equations:<maths id="math0047"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0047.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0048"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0048.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0049"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0049.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0050"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0050.tif" /></maths>

In the adjacent horizontal scanning line periods, the blue signals are modulated in the same phases, and the red signals in the opposite phases. Also in the present embodiment, both the red and blue signal components decrease to afford a luminanace signal R + 2G + B in contrast to the luminance signal <maths id="math0051"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0051.tif" /></maths>R + 2G + <maths id="math0052"><img file="EP0119862A2_D0052.tif" /></maths>B in the prior-art case of employing the filters W. Meanwhile, the modulation components of the signals R and B are quite equal to those in the prior art. Thus, the S/N ratios of the color signals of red and blue do not degrade at all, and the color reproducibility is good. Besides, a faithful picture which scarcely differs from that in the prior art is produced for a very fine pattern in red or blue.

The filters in Fig. 17 can be readily realized in practice in such a way that, after the filters W have been formed, thin yellow filters with which are transmission factor for the blue component becomes at least 25% to at most 75% and thin cyan filters with which the transmission factor for the red component becomes at least 25% to at most 75% are superposed on the respective horizontal rows ℓ₂, ℓ₄, ℓ₆, ℓ₈, ....

The output signal,s from the solid-state imaging element of the solid-state imaging apparatus of the eight or ninety embodiment produce a color television signal by the use of a device similar to the single-phase type color imaging apparatus as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, they produce a quite similar color television signal by the use of a method wherein signals delivered in unit of the picture elements of each horizontal scanning line and signals delayed by 1 H by means of a CCD delay line are respectively sampled and held, red and blue signals are separated by matrix calculations, and a luminance signal is separated by a low-pass filter.

In case of a color filter arrangement in which the positions of the Cy filters and the Ye filters are replaced with each other in the color filter arrangement shown in _Fig. 13, 16 or 17, the effects intended by the invention are similarly achieved by quite the same technique. Needless to say, even when applied to a frame transfer CCD imaging element, the invention brings forth quite the same effects as in the interline transfer CCD.