US 6,611,289 Claim Chart

The ’289 Patent describes a digital camera system that is able to produce enhanced photos using
multiple image sensors. By combining the images captured by a first monochromatic sensor and a
second full-color sensor, the claimed invention produces a resulting image with higher resolution
than what could otherwise be attained using a single sensor (absent a significant increase in cost
of the sensor). However, this technique of using multiple image sensors to enhance image quality
was already well-known prior to 1999 as seen in the sample claim chart provided below.

US 6,611,289 (“Yu”) US 6,639,626 (“Kubo”)

1.pre. An improved digital cam- “A photographing apparatus, comprising:” See ’626 Patent,
era comprising: cl. 1.

1.a. a first and a second image
sensor closely positioned with re-
spect to a common plane, said
second image sensor sensitive to
a full region of visible color spec-
trum;
The ’626 Patent discloses “a first image pick-up device”
and a “second image pick-up device” (corresponding to “a
first and a second image sensor”) “having a first light-re-
ceiving unit and for photoelectrically converting an optical
image of an object formed by the photographing lens into
first pixel data.” See id., cl. 10.

Kubo discloses that one of the image sensors is monochro-

matic while the other is sensitive to the full color spectrum.
See id., 4:5-13 (“A first colour CCD 303 a is positioned be-
hind the fixed mirror M2 . . . A second monochromatic
CCD 303 b is provided”).

1.b. two lenses, each being Kubo describes that “a relay lens system” has been “posi-
mounted in front of one of said tioned before the first image pick-up device”. See id., cl. 10.
two image sensors;

1.c. said first image sensor pro-
ducing a first image and said sec-
ond image sensor producing a
second image;
The ‘626 Patent discloses “a first area sensor” and a “sec-
ond area sensor” consisting of “a plurality of pixels and for
photoelectrically converting an optical image of an object
formed by the photographing lens into first pixel data;” and
“second pixel data” respectively. See id., cl. 1.

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1.d. an analog-to-digital convert-
ing circuitry coupled to said first
and said second image sensor and
digitizing said first and said sec-
ond intensity images to produce
correspondingly a first digital im-
age and a second digital image;
1.e. an image memory, coupled
to said analog-to-digital convert-
ing circuitry, for storing said first
digital image and said second
digital image; and
The ‘626 Patent discloses that “[t]he A/D converters 205 a
and 205 b convert each of the analog pixel signals con-
tained in the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal.” See
id., 7:1-3.
The first and second image sensor outputs are processed by
“A/D converters 583 and 633”. See id., 13:23-26. Also, See
Fig. 14.
“The pixel signals output from the first image sensor 58 are
then subjected to signal processing by the CDS circuit 581,
the AGC circuit 582, and the A/D converter 583. The digi-
talized image data of the first image sensor 58 is taken in
the image processor 80 via the switch 90, and at the same
time, written in the image memory 91.” See id., 16:52-58.
See also Fig. 14, annotations added.
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1.f. a digital image processor,
coupled to said image memory
and receiving said first digital
image and said second digital im-
age, producing a resultant digital
image from said first digital im-
age enhanced with said second
digital image.
The ‘626 Patent discloses that “in the preview mode, the
first image sensor 58 and the second image sensor 63 may
be alternately connected to the image processor 80.” See
id., 16:8-11.
It further discloses that “[t]he image processor 80 has an
image composition unit 87 which combines a portion of the
image obtained from the first image sensor 58 with a por-
tion of the image obtained from the second image sensor
63.” See id., 16:12-15.
Kubo explains that “a pair of frames of data from the first
and second image sensors 58 and 63 are stored in the image
memory 91.”, See id., 16:59-61 and “then, the two image
data are combined (added) by the image composition unit
87.” See id., 17:4-5.
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