Patent ID: 8614754

Claim:
A method of operating a CMOS imager comprising: receiving light in an array of pixels, wherein the array of pixels is disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and wherein the array of pixels includes a red pixel to provide a red pixel signal, a green pixel to provide a green pixel signal, and a blue pixel to provide a blue pixel signal; converting the red, green, and the blue pixel signals from analog to digital signals using a first number of analog-to-digital converters, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and coupled to receive pixel signals from the array, wherein the number is at least one; serially providing pixel signals corresponding to groups of pixels of the array to an interpolator disposed on the semiconductor substrate; estimating an amount of green and blue light received by the red pixel using at least the green and blue light received by the red pixel using at least the green and blue pixel signals, an amount of red and blue pixel signals, and an amount of red and green light received by the blue pixel using at least the red and green pixel signals using the interpolator; programming a register set via an external interface, wherein the register set is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the interpolator performs the estimating step depending on one or more values stored in the register set; and outputting signals associated with the red, green and blue pixel signals to an interface.