IP Library Granted Patent US 8,786,731
Granted Patent B2
US 8,786,731 · App. 13/634,970 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Image pickup apparatus and image pickup apparatus control method that generates an image with transformed number of pixels

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 8,786,731
App. No.
13/634,970
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus and method for realizing a processing with which a pixel gravity center control can be conducted when a pixel number reduction image is generated in an image pickup apparatus. A pixel unit configured to output a pixel addition signal obtained by adding output pixel signals from pixels having different sensitivities to each other and a pixel information synthesis unit configured to execute a weighted addition processing of multiplying plural pixel addition signals output from the pixel unit by a previously set gain and calculate a configuration pixel value of a pixel number reduction image where a total number of pixels is lower than a number of pixels of the pixel unit are provided.

Claims (25)

1. An image pickup apparatus comprising:

a pixel unit configured to output a pixel addition signal obtained by adding output pixel signals from pixels having different sensitivities to each other; and

a pixel information synthesis unit configured to execute a weighted addition processing of multiplying plural pixel addition signals output from the pixel unit by a previously set gain and calculate a configuration pixel value of a pixel number reduction image where a total number of pixels is lower than a number of pixels of the pixel unit,

wherein a control on gravity center positions for respective pixels constituting the pixel number reduction image is executed through the pixel addition signal generation processing by the pixel unit and the weighted addition processing by the pixel information synthesis unit.

2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel unit and the pixel information synthesis unit execute a gravity center position control to evenly arrange the gravity center positions for the respective pixels constituting the pixel number reduction image in the pixel unit.

3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel unit executes a gravity center position control in one direction of the respective pixels constituting the pixel number reduction image in the pixel addition signal generation processing, and

wherein the pixel information synthesis unit executes, in the weighted addition processing, the gravity center position control in a direction orthogonal to the gravity center position control direction executed by the pixel unit.

4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel unit performs a calculation for an addition pixel value as a result of the gravity center position control in accordance with a sensitivity ratio of pixels corresponding to addition processing targets in the pixel addition signal generation processing.

5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel information synthesis unit executes a weighted addition processing of multiplying plural pixel addition signals corresponding to weighted addition processing targets by a gain in accordance with a gravity center position of a planned control in the weighted addition processing.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel unit has a pixel array in which pixels of a same color are arranged in every other row and pixels set to have a different sensitivity of a sensitivity ratio 1:3 are arranged every two other rows, and

wherein the pixel unit has a configuration of outputting a pixel addition signal obtained by adding output pixel signals from pixels having two different sensitivities where the sensitivity ratio is 1:3 to each other.

7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel unit has a pixel array in which pixels of a same color are arranged in every other column, and

wherein the pixel information synthesis unit executes a weighted addition processing of multiplying two pixel addition signals output from the pixel unit in every other column by a gain of 1:3 and calculates the configuration pixel value of the pixel number reduction image where the total number of pixels is lower than the number of pixels of the pixel unit.

8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control unit configured to execute an exposure time control for units of a region of the pixel unit.

9. An image pickup apparatus control method executed in an image pickup apparatus, the control method comprising:

a pixel addition signal output step of outputting, in a pixel unit, a pixel addition signal obtained by adding output pixel signals from pixels having different sensitivities to each other; and

a pixel information synthesis step of executing, in a pixel information synthesis unit, a weighted addition processing of multiplying plural pixel addition signals output from the pixel unit by a previously set gain and calculating a configuration pixel value of a pixel number reduction image where a total number of pixels is lower than a number of pixels of the pixel unit,

wherein a control on gravity center positions for respective pixels constituting the pixel number reduction image is executed through the pixel addition signal generation processing by the pixel unit and the weighted addition processing by the pixel information synthesis unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040419/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2012
From: KASAI, MASANORI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028984/0613 →