IP Library Granted Patent US 12713124
Granted Patent B2
US 12713124 · App. 18/196,554 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Electronic device, image-capturing device, and image-capturing system

Inventors: Satoshi Tsuchiya (Kawasaki, JP); Yuuki Asano (Narashino, JP); Shuhei Yoshikawa (Tokyo, JP); Iori Noda (Kawasaki, JP); Takashi Shionoya (Koganei, JP); Toshiyuki Kanbara (Tokyo, JP); Aiko Namikawa (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
H04N23/62G03B17/18H04N23/631H04N23/64H04N25/76
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12713124
App. No.
18/196,554
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes: a display control unit that is configured to display at a display unit a first image generated by capturing an image with light having entered a first area of an image sensor and a second image generated by capturing an image with light having entered a second area at the image sensor different from the first area; and a selection unit that is configured to select either the first area or the second area as an area for image-capturing condition adjustment in reference to the first image and the second image displayed at the display unit.

Claims (104)

1 . An image-capturing device comprising:

an image sensor in which a plurality of pixels, each containing a photoelectric conversion part that converts light into an electric charge, are arranged along a row direction;

a setting part that sets a first pixel among the plurality of pixels to be driven under a first imaging condition; and

a processor that is configured to control the setting part to drive a second pixel among the plurality of pixels under a second imaging condition when the first pixel is set to be driven under the first imaging condition by the setting part,

wherein the processor controls the second imaging condition so that a difference between a brightness value of a subject imaged using the first pixel and a brightness value of the subject imaged using the second pixel becomes larger before and after the first imaging condition is set for the first pixel by the setting part.

2 . The image-capturing device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first conversion part that converts a first signal based on the electric charge converted by a first photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal; and

a second conversion part that converts a second signal based on the electric charge converted by a second photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal, wherein

the first photoelectric conversion part and the second photoelectric conversion part are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate, and

the first conversion part and the second conversion part are disposed on a second semiconductor substrate stacked together with the first semiconductor substrate.

3 . The image-capturing device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first signal line on which the first signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a second signal line on which the second signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a first current source circuit that supplies current to the first signal line; and

a second current source circuit that supplies current to the second signal line,

wherein the first current source circuit and the second current source circuit are disposed on the second semiconductor substrate.

4 . The image-capturing device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first transfer part that transfers the electric charge of a first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second transfer part that transfers the electric charge of a second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first transfer part and the second transfer part so that an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

5 . The image-capturing device according to claim 4 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first conversion part that converts a first signal based on the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal; and

a second conversion part that converts a second signal based on the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal, wherein

the first photoelectric conversion part and the second photoelectric conversion part are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate, and

the first conversion part and the second conversion part are disposed on a second semiconductor substrate stacked together with the first semiconductor substrate.

6 . The image-capturing device according to claim 5 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first signal line on which the first signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a second signal line on which the second signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a first current source circuit that supplies current to the first signal line; and

a second current source circuit that supplies current to the second signal line,

wherein the first current source circuit and the second current source circuit are disposed on the second semiconductor substrate.

7 . The image-capturing device according to claim 4 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first reset part that discharges the electric charge of the first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second reset part that discharges the electric charge of the second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first reset part and the second reset part so that the accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and the accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

8 . The image-capturing device according to claim 7 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first conversion part that converts a first signal based on the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal; and

a second conversion part that converts a second signal based on the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal, wherein

the first photoelectric conversion part and the second photoelectric conversion part are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate, and

the first conversion part and the second conversion part are disposed on a second semiconductor substrate stacked together with the first semiconductor substrate.

9 . The image-capturing device according to claim 8 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first signal line on which the first signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a second signal line on which the second signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a first current source circuit that supplies current to the first signal line; and

a second current source circuit that supplies current to the second signal line,

wherein the first current source circuit and the second current source circuit are disposed on the second semiconductor substrate.

10 . The image-capturing device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first reset part that discharges the electric charge of the first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second reset part that discharges the electric charge of the second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first reset part and the second reset part so that an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

11 . The image-capturing device according to claim 10 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first conversion part that converts a first signal based on the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal; and

a second conversion part that converts a second signal based on the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion part into a digital signal, wherein

the first photoelectric conversion part and the second photoelectric conversion part are disposed on a first semiconductor substrate, and

the first conversion part and the second conversion part are disposed on a second semiconductor substrate stacked together with the first semiconductor substrate.

12 . The image-capturing device according to claim 11 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first signal line on which the first signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a second signal line on which the second signal read out from the first pixel is output;

a first current source circuit that supplies current to the first signal line; and

a second current source circuit that supplies current to the second signal line,

wherein the first current source circuit and the second current source circuit are disposed on the second semiconductor substrate.

13 . The image-capturing device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the setting part sets a first accumulation time for accumulating a charge in the first photoelectric conversion part, and

the processor sets a second accumulation time for accumulating a charge in the second photoelectric conversion part when the first accumulation time is set by the setting part.

14 . The image-capturing device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a reception part to accept user operations,

wherein the setting part sets the first accumulation time based on the user operations received by the reception part.

15 . An image-capturing device, comprising:

an image sensor in which a plurality of pixels, each containing a photoelectric conversion part that converts light into an electric charge, are arranged along a row direction;

a setting part that sets a first pixel among the plurality of pixels to be driven under a first imaging condition; and

a processor that is configured to control the setting part to drive a second pixel among the plurality of pixels under a second imaging condition when the first pixel is set to be driven under the first imaging condition by the setting part,

wherein the processor controls the second imaging condition so that a difference between a brightness value of a subject imaged using the first pixel and a brightness value of the subject imaged using the second pixel is maintained before and after the first imaging condition is set for the first pixel by the setting part.

16 . The image-capturing device according to claim 15 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first transfer part that transfers the electric charge of a first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second transfer part that transfers the electric charge of a second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first transfer part and the second transfer part so that an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

17 . The image-capturing device according to claim 16 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first reset part that discharges the electric charge of the first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second reset part that discharges the electric charge of the second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first reset part and the second reset part so that the accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and the accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

18 . The image-capturing device according to claim 15 , wherein:

the image sensor includes:

a first reset part that discharges the electric charge of the first photoelectric conversion part; and

a second reset part that discharges the electric charge of the second photoelectric conversion part,

wherein the processor controls the first reset part and the second reset part so that an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the first photoelectric conversion part and an accumulation time for accumulating the electric charge in the second photoelectric conversion part become different from each other.

19 . The image-capturing device according to claim 15 , wherein

the setting part sets a first accumulation time for accumulating a charge in the first photoelectric conversion part, and

the processor sets a second accumulation time for accumulating a charge in the second photoelectric conversion part when the first accumulation time is set by the setting part.

20 . The image-capturing device according to claim 19 , further comprising:

a reception part to accept user operations,

wherein the setting part sets the first accumulation time based on the user operations received by the reception part.