COLOR IMAGE SENSOR WITH IMPROVED RESOLUTION HAVING TIME DELAYS IN A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT LINES

A solid-state color image sensor and a method for operating such an image sensor in which high resolution is provided by delaying outputs from the various pixels in the sensor array by delay times determined in accordance with the actual positions of the pixels in the row direction of the array. Pixels are read out simultaneously in groups of three, one for each of white, cyan and yellow. The delays are imposed upon two of these. The delayed and undelayed outputs are combined with sum/difference circuits to produce chrominance and luminance signals. Preferably, the pixels have hexagonally shaped light sensitive areas to maximize the light sensitivity of each pixel and hence the resolution of the device.