IP Library Granted Patent US 12,407,956
Granted Patent B2
US 12,407,956 · App. 18/479,977 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Imaging device, imaging method, and storage medium

Inventor: Yohei Horikawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04N25/77H04N25/707H04N25/41
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,407,956
App. No.
18/479,977
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device comprises an imaging unit having a first pixel that photoelectrically converts visible light and a second pixel that photoelectrically converts non-visible light to generate an image signal, a composite image generation unit configured to generate a composite image signal by combining a plurality of the image signals, a first detection unit configured to detect a subject based on an output of the first pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed, a second detection unit configured to detect a subject based on an output of the second pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed, a third detection unit configured to perform subject detection using an output of either a visible light image or a non-visible light image included in the composite image signal based on an output of the first detection unit and an output of the second detection unit.

Claims (29)

1. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging unit having a first pixel that photoelectrically converts visible light and a second pixel that photoelectrically converts non-visible light to generate image signals,

at least one processor or circuit configured to function as:

a composite image generation unit configured to generate a composite image signal by combining a plurality of the image signals,

a first detection unit configured to detect a subject based on an output of the first pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed,

a second detection unit configured to detect a subject based on an output of the second pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed, and

a third detection unit configured to perform subject detection using an output of either a visible light image or a non-visible light image included in the composite image signal based on an output of the first detection unit and an output of the second detection unit.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit detect the subject respectively based on the output of the first pixel and the output of the second pixel obtained by the same exposure.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit detect the subject respectively based on the output of the first pixel and the output of the second pixel obtained by different exposures.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit detect the subject respectively based on the output of the first pixel and the output of the second pixel in the composite image signal, before the generation of the composite image signal is completed.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit detect the subject respectively based on the output of the first pixel and the output of the second pixel in the composite image signal at different timings, before the generation of the composite image signal is completed.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the third detection unit performs subject detection using an output of either the visible light image or the non-visible light image included in the composite image signal based on a result of comparing the degrees of reliability of the output of the first detection unit and the output of the second detection unit.

7. An imaging method comprising:

imaging using a first pixel photoelectrically converting visible light and a second pixel photoelectrically converting non-visible light to generate image signals;

generating a composite image signal by combining a plurality of the image signals;

detecting a subject based on an output of the first pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed;

detecting a subject based on an output of the second pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed; and

performing subject detection using an output of either a visible light image or a non-visible light image included in the composite image signal based on an output in the detecting of the subject based on the output of the first pixel and an output in the detecting of the subject based on the output of the second pixel.

8. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer program comprising instructions for executing following processes:

imaging using a first pixel photoelectrically converting visible light and a second pixel photoelectrically converting non-visible light to generate image signals;

generating a composite image signal by combining a plurality of the image signals;

detecting a subject based on an output of the first pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed;

detecting a subject based on an output of the second pixel before the generation of the composite image signal is completed; and

performing subject detection using an output of either a visible light image or a non-visible light image included in the composite image signal based on an output in the detecting of the subject based on the output of the first pixel and an output in the detecting of the subject based on the output of the second pixel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2023
From: HORIKAWA, YOHEI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 065412/0291 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-169254 · Oct 21, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240187757A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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