Patent ID: 7791648

Claim:
A method of processing color image signals of images arranged in pixels, each pixel having associated detected color information for a first color as well as undetected filled-in color information for a second and a third color, whereby said images are exposed to the presence of false color and zipper effect artifacts, the method comprising the steps of: checking said color image signals for the presence of zipper effect artifacts, wherein said checking for the presence of zipper effect artifacts includes checking conditions that inter-channel differences between one of said second and third colors and said first color are almost constant along one direction of said images and not constant in a direction orthogonal thereto; and i) if said checking reveals the presence of zipper effect artifacts, applying a zipper effect removal process to said color image signals; ii) if said checking fails to reveal the presence of zipper effect artifacts, applying a false color removal process to said color image signals, whereby said false color and zipper effect artifacts are both reduced by adaptively using said zipper effect removal process and said false color removal process.