Patent ID: 8913165

Claim:
A color image pickup device having an imaging surface having an array of pixels, each of said pixels having one of a red color filter for transmitting red light, a green color filter for transmitting green light, and a blue color filter for transmitting blue light, said color image pickup device comprising: a plurality of first pixel groups each including an array of said pixels of N×N, in taking N as an integer of 3 or more, having said red, green, and blue color filters arranged in a predetermined pattern; a plurality of second pixel groups disposed in said imaging surface such that each of said second pixel groups is adjacent to bottom of said first pixel group, said second pixel group including an array of said pixels having said red, green, and blue color filters arranged in such a pattern that said pattern of said first pixel group is turned by 90 degrees in one direction; a plurality of third pixel groups disposed in said imaging surface such that each of said third pixel groups is adjacent to right of said second pixel group, said third pixel group including an array of said pixels having said red, green, and blue color filters arranged in such a pattern that said pattern of said first pixel group is turned by 180 degrees in said one direction; and a plurality of fourth pixel groups disposed in said imaging surface such that each of said fourth pixel groups is adjacent to top of said third pixel group, said fourth pixel group including an array of said pixels having said red, green, and blue color filters arranged in such a pattern that said pattern of said first pixel group is turned by 270 degrees in said one direction, wherein a ratio in number among said red, green, and blue color filters on a color-by-color basis is different between a pixel area of 2N×2N composed of said first to fourth pixel groups adjoining one another and another pixel area of 2N×2N in a Bayer pattern, and said pixel having said color filter whose ratio in number is lower than said ratio in number in said Bayer pattern is more sensitive than said pixel having said color filter whose ratio in number is higher than said ratio in number in said Bayer pattern.