US 6838651

The current date is April 26, 2026.

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 6,838,651:

US Patent: 6,838,651

• Title: High sensitivity snap shot CMOS image sensor

• Assignee: Re Secured Networks LLC, ESS Technologies International Inc. (Current assignees listed by Google Patents. Re Secured Networks LLC is the most recent assignee according to legal events.)

• Inventor: Richard A. Mann

• Filing Date: March 28, 2002

• Issue Date: January 4, 2005

• Abstract: The invention describes a solid-state imaging device featuring a red pixel, a blue pixel, a first green pixel, and a second green pixel. It utilizes two analog-to-digital (A/D) converters: the first A/D converter processes the outputs of the red and blue pixels into digital signals, and the second A/D converter processes the outputs of the two green pixels into digital signals. A color interpolation circuit then combines these digital signals to determine the pixel's color. An optional embodiment includes a third and fourth A/D converter, a programmable clock generator, and a control. The control deactivates the third and fourth A/D converters at a slower first clock frequency and activates them at a faster second clock frequency.

• Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

  • Claim 1: This claim outlines a solid-state imaging device comprising distinct red, blue, first green, and second green pixels, each with an output. The device includes a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter that converts the red and blue pixel outputs into digital signals. A second A/D converter performs the same function for the first and second green pixel outputs. Finally, a color interpolation circuit combines these four digital signals.
  • Claim 13: This claim describes a solid-state imaging device featuring "groups of pixels," where each group contains a red, blue, first green, and second green pixel, all with outputs. A first A/D converter converts the outputs from the collective "red pixels" and "blue pixels" into digital signals. Similarly, a second A/D converter processes the outputs from the collective "first green pixels" and "second green pixels" into digital signals. A color interpolation circuit then combines these four resulting digital signals. This claim emphasizes the application to an array of such pixel groups.
  • Claim 18: This claim details an imaging method. The method involves using a first A/D converter to convert the output of a red pixel into a first digital signal and the output of a blue pixel into a second digital signal. Concurrently, a second A/D converter converts the outputs of a first green pixel and a second green pixel into third and fourth digital signals, respectively. Lastly, a color interpolation circuit combines all four of these digital signals.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, a direct search for "CAFC 2026 dockets US6838651" did not yield specific results indicating active cases involving US6838651 in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the year 2026. The Google Patents information for US6838651 lists various past litigation, including PTAB cases (IPR2025-01019 filed but not instituted, and IPR2021-00437 and IPR2021-00557 which were settled) and District Court cases, but no explicit CAFC dockets for 2026 for this specific patent were found in the provided snippets. Given the patent's anticipated expiration date of March 28, 2022, it is less likely to be involved in new litigation in 2026, though appeals of earlier proceedings could theoretically still be active.