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Abstract

Apparatus for improving the quality of an electronic image generated by a charge coupled device (CCD) array that senses scene images through a colored optical filter. The apparatus includes a prism or prismatic filter movable into and out of the path of image-containing light rays impinging on the color filter overlying the CCD array that alternately shifts the scene image between color filters of the CCD array that absorb particular scene image colors and those that transmit these colors to their associated CCDs while in the case of the prismatic filter absorbing the dominant scene color generated by the colored optical filter. Scene image signals generated by a CCD array in this manner are processed such that their spatial relationship with respect to the sensed scene image is precisely monitored and electronically counter-shifted for subsequent scene image reconstruction. By shifting the scene image between individual CCDs having different color optical filters, most of the CCDs in the CCD array can generate image signals for two different scene colors or scene color combinations and thereby improve the image resolving capabilities and/or the color balance of electronic images generated by the CCD array.

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First Claim