RGBSensors

RGBSensors are color-sensitive light sensors designed to capture information in the red, green, and blue portions of the spectrum. They can be implemented as imaging sensors with on-chip color filters or as discrete arrays of photodiodes dedicated to each color channel. In imaging sensors, a color filter array overlays the photosensitive elements so that each pixel samples one color, with many designs using a Bayer pattern that yields more green samples to approximate human vision. Some systems provide true RGB outputs by using separate red, green, and blue photodiodes and corresponding front-end electronics.

Operation and processing typically begin with the conversion of incident light into electrical signals for each color channel. These signals are amplified and digitized, then processed through white balance, gamma correction, and a color-matching transformation to standard color spaces such as sRGB or Rec. 709. In Bayer-based sensors, a demosaicing step reconstructs full RGB values for each pixel. Overall color accuracy depends on spectral response, dynamic range, noise, and linearity of the sensor chain.

Calibration and standards are important for consistent color results. Common tasks include radiometric and color calibration against reference targets, white balance adjustment, and the application of a color matrix to map sensor RGB to a chosen color space. Designers report parameters such as spectral responsivity, quantum efficiency, and color-difference metrics to characterize performance.

Applications span consumer cameras, webcams, smartphones, automotive and industrial vision, robotics, and color-based inspection. RGBSensors enable color measurement and scene interpretation but face challenges from metamerism, illumination variability, shading, and cross-device color variation, which calibration and processing aim to mitigate.