Patent ID: 7576783

Claim:
A method of color interpolating a final missing color sub-pixel value, the final missing color sub-pixel value being a sub-pixel value for a pixel location of interest, the method comprising: using a first directional color interpolation function to obtain a first missing color sub-pixel value for the pixel location of interest, wherein the first directional color interpolation function obtains the first missing color sub-pixel value using pixel information disposed principally along a first line, the first line extending in a first direction through the pixel location of interest; using a second directional color interpolation function to obtain a second missing color sub-pixel value for the pixel location of interest, wherein the second directional color interpolation function obtains the second missing color sub-pixel value using pixel information disposed principally along a second line, the second line extending in a second direction through the pixel location of interest; obtaining a first metric indicative of the presence of an edge extending in the first direction; obtaining a second metric indicative of the presence of an edge extending in the second direction; and using the first and second metrics to generate the final missing color sub-pixel value, the final missing color sub-pixel value being substantially equal to a weighted sum of the first missing color sub-pixel value and the second missing color sub-pixel value, the weighted sum having a first missing color sub-pixel value component and a second missing color sub-pixel value component, wherein a relative proportion of the first missing color sub-pixel value component versus the second missing color sub-pixel value component is a function of the first and second metrics, wherein the first missing color sub-pixel value is a sub-pixel value of a first color, wherein an image sensor outputs a sub-pixel value of a second color for the pixel location of interest, and wherein the first directional color interpolation function involves determining the first missing color sub-pixel value such that a color difference between the first missing color sub-pixel value of the first color and the sub-pixel value of the second color output by the image sensor substantially matches an average of color differences between sub-pixels of the first and second colors for pixel locations disposed along the first line.