Patent ID: 8045024

Claim:
A method of forming a full-color output image using a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, comprising one or more processor(s) for providing the following: a) capturing a color filter array image using a color filter array image sensor, the color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, wherein the panchromatic channel is captured using a different exposure time than at least one of the color channels; b) computing an interpolated color image and an interpolated panchromatic image from the color filter array image; c) producing a synthetic panchromatic image from the interpolated color image; d) determining a transform relationship between the synthetic panchromatic image and the interpolated color image; and e) forming the full color output image by using the transform relationship to process the interpolated panchromatic image.