Patent ID: 7880772

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: imaging means for approximating one of color matching functions representing sensitivity of the human eye to color by a spectral sensitivity that is obtained as a difference in output between, from among mutually adjacent photoelectric conversion elements, the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at predetermined positions, the imaging means having the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at the predetermined positions, wherein a spectral sensitivity obtained as a difference between outputs of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element of four photoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other vertically and horizontally on the imaging means approximates a first color matching function of color matching functions for three primary colors of light, a spectral sensitivity obtained as a difference between outputs of a third photoelectric conversion element and the first photoelectric conversion element of the four photoelectric conversion elements approximates a second color matching function of color matching functions for three primary colors of light, and a spectral sensitivity obtained as a difference between outputs of a fourth photoelectric conversion element and the first photoelectric conversion element of the four photoelectric conversion elements approximates a third color matching function of color matching functions for three primary colors of light; and signal processing means for applying to an output of the imaging means signal processing for converting an output of a photoelectric conversion element into a signal of a color image.