Patent ID: 8619143

Claim:
An image sensing system, comprising: an IR notch filter configured to block transmission of spectral energy having wavelengths in an interface region between the visible spectrum and the invisible spectrum and enable transmission of spectral energy having wavelengths in at least the visible spectrum and the near-infrared (IR) spectrum; a digital image sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, the digital image sensor configured to generate output signals at each pixel element as pixel data representing an image of a scene; and a color filter array comprising a two-dimensional array of selectively transmissive filters superimposed on and in registration with the two-dimensional array of pixel elements, the color filter array comprising a first group of selectively transmissive filters disposed to transmit spectral energy in one or more colors of the visible spectrum and a second group of gray color filters disposed to transmit spectral energy in at least the near-infrared (IR) spectrum, wherein the IR notch filter is configured to block transmission of spectral energy having wavelengths between approximately 650 nm and approximately 780 nm, and wherein the IR notch filter is configured to further block transmission of spectral energy having wavelengths above approximately 950 nm.