Imaging device and imaging method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016182794-A1
Application number	US-201615056246-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The imaging device of the present invention includes: an image sensor 14 that is configured such that a plurality of pixels having an organic layer ( 14 - 4 ) for photoelectric conversion is two-dimensionally arranged, and each pixel of the image sensor ( 14 ) is divided into a plurality of regions, and has an on-chip microlens ( 15 ), which forms a pupil image of a optical imaging system on the plurality of regions, and reading sections ( 16 ) which respectively read photoelectrically converted signals of the plurality of divided regions; an optical diaphragm that mechanically stops down rays which are incident into the image sensor 14 ; and an electronic diaphragm section that electronically controls an aperture value, and that selects signals of the divided regions corresponding to the aperture value from the signals of the plurality of divided regions, on the basis of the aperture value which is controlled by the optical diaphragm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An imaging device comprising:
an image sensor that is configured such that a plurality of pixels having an organic layer for photoelectric conversion is two-dimensionally arranged, and each pixel of the image sensor is divided into a plurality of regions, and has an on-chip microlens, which forms a pupil image of a optical imaging system on the plurality of regions, and reading sections which respectively read photoelectrically converted signals of the plurality of divided regions; an optical diaphragm that mechanically stops down rays which are incident into the image sensor; and an electronic diaphragm section that electronically controls an aperture value, and that selects signals of the divided regions corresponding to the aperture value from the signals of the plurality of divided regions, on the basis of the aperture value which is controlled by the optical diaphragm.

2 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a pixel signal generation section that adds the signals of the divided regions selected by the electronic diaphragm, and generates a pixel signal for each pixel.

3 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage section that stores a relationship between the aperture value and the divided regions to be selected by the electronic diaphragm,
wherein the electronic diaphragm acquires the corresponding divided regions from the storage section on the basis of the aperture value which is controlled by the optical diaphragm, and selects signals of the acquired divided regions.

4 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal strength detection section that detects at least a signal strength of a signal of a peripheral portion among a signal of a central portion and the signal of the peripheral portion in the plurality of divided regions of each pixel which are read by the reading section; and a ghost detection section that detects a ghost image on the basis of the signal strength which is detected by the signal strength detection section.

5 . The imaging device according to claim 4 , wherein if the signal strength of the signal of the peripheral portion is greater than a threshold value on the basis of the signal strength detected by the signal strength detection section, or if a ratio between the signal strength of the signal of the peripheral portion and the signal strength of the signal of the central portion is outside a range of the threshold value, the ghost detection section determines that ghost light is incident into the pixel.

6 . The imaging device according to claim 5 , further comprising a pixel signal generation section that adds the signals of the divided regions selected by the electronic diaphragm, and generates a pixel signal for each pixel,
wherein the pixel signal generation section generates the pixel signal of the pixel into which the ghost light is incident, on the basis of the signals of the divided regions, into which the ghost light is not incident, among the plurality of divided regions of the pixel.

7 . The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical imaging system is an interchangeable lens including the optical diaphragm.

8 . The imaging device according to claim 7 , further comprising an aperture value detection section that detects a current aperture value of the interchangeable lens, on the basis of the signals of the plurality of divided regions, in a case where information about the aperture value cannot be acquired from the interchangeable lens.

9 . The imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture value detection section detects the current aperture value of the interchangeable lens, on the basis of the signals of the plurality of divided regions of the pixel in the central portion of the image sensor.

10 . The imaging device according to claim 8 , further comprising a display section that displays the aperture value detected by the aperture value detection section.

11 . The imaging device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a luminance detection section that detects a luminance of a subject; and an auto-exposure control section that controls exposure on the basis of the luminance of the subject which is detected by the luminance detection section, wherein the auto-exposure control section controls a shutter speed on the basis of the luminance of the subject, which is detected by the luminance detection section, and the aperture value which is detected by the aperture value detection section.

12 . An imaging device comprising:
an image sensor that is configured such that a plurality of pixels having an organic layer for photoelectric conversion is two-dimensionally arranged, and each pixel of the image sensor is divided into a plurality of regions, and has an on-chip microlens, which forms a pupil image of an interchangeable lens including an optical diaphragm on the plurality of regions, and reading sections which respectively read photoelectrically converted signals of the plurality of divided regions; and an aperture value detection section that detects a current aperture value of the interchangeable lens, on the basis of the signals of the plurality of divided regions, which are read by the reading sections, in a case where information about the aperture value cannot be acquired from the interchangeable lens.

13 . An imaging method for an imaging device including an image sensor that is configured such that a plurality of pixels having an organic layer for photoelectric conversion is two-dimensionally arranged, and each pixel of the image sensor is divided into a plurality of regions, and has an on-chip microlens, which forms a pupil image of a optical imaging system on the plurality of regions, and reading sections which respectively read photoelectrically converted signals of the plurality of divided regions, and an optical diaphragm that mechanically stops down rays which are incident into the image sensor, the imaging method comprising:
a step of acquiring an aperture value which is controlled by the optical diaphragm; a step of selecting signals of the divided regions corresponding to the aperture value from the signals of the plurality of divided regions on the basis of the acquired aperture value; and a step of adding the selected signals of the divided regions for each pixel of the image sensor and generating a pixel signal for each pixel.

14 . The imaging method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a step of detecting at least a signal strength of a signal of a peripheral portion among a signal of a central portion and the signal of the peripheral portion in the plurality of divided regions; and a step of detecting a ghost image on the basis of the detected signal strength.

15 . The imaging method according to claim 13 ,
wherein the optical imaging system is an interchangeable lens including the optical diaphragm, and wherein the imaging method further comprises:
a step of reading the signals of the plurality of divided regions in a case where information about the aperture value is not acquired from the interchangeable lens; and
a step of detecting a current aperture value of the interchangeable lens, on the basis the read signals of the plurality of divided regions.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Corp

Inventors

• Aoki Takashi
• Ootsuki Yasuo

Classifications

• H04N25/134

  based on three different wavelength filter elements · CPC title

• H04N23/75

  by influencing optical camera components · CPC title

• H04N23/72 Primary

  Combination of two or more compensation controls · CPC title

• H04N25/61

  the noise originating only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4" · CPC title

• H04N23/71

  Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation · CPC title