IP Library Granted Patent US 11,025,832
Granted Patent B2
US 11,025,832 · App. 16/782,411 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Imaging device that generates multiple-exposure image data

Inventors: Yoshiaki Satou (Kyoto, JP); Yasuo Miyake (Osaka, JP); Yasunori Inoue (Osaka, JP); Tokuhiko Tamaki (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
H04N5/2356G03B7/08H04N5/2353H04N5/353H04N5/355H04N5/3537H04N5/3559H04N5/35572H04N5/369H04N5/374H04N9/045H01L27/14632H04N5/232933H04N5/2621
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,025,832
App. No.
16/782,411
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric converter, where the pixel captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period. A sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the second exposure period, and the imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.

Claims (36)

1. An imaging device comprising: a pixel including a photoelectric converter, wherein

the pixel captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period,

a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the second exposure period, and

the imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data, wherein

the photoelectric converter is configured to generate signal charge through photoelectric conversion, and

the pixel includes a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the photoelectric converter, the signal detection circuit detecting the signal charge.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second exposure period is next to the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being discontinuous.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first exposure period is the same as a length of the second exposure period.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the pixel captures, in the frame period, a plurality of data in a plurality of exposure periods including the first and second exposure periods, the plurality of exposure periods being different from each other, and

a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in an earlier exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods is higher than a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in a later exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the pixel captures, in the frame period, a plurality of data in a plurality of exposure periods including the first and second exposure periods, the plurality of exposure periods being different from each other, and

a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in an earlier exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods is lower than a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in a later exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a signal processing circuit that extracts, from the multiple-exposure image data, a first subject image based on the first data and a second subject image based on the second data, the first subject image and the second subject image corresponding to a moving subject.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein brightness of the first subject image is different from brightness of the second subject image.

8. The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein a color of the first subject image is different from a color of the second subject image.

9. The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein the signal processing circuit performs a process for adding, on the basis of the first subject image and the second subject image, an indicator indicating a temporal transition to each of the first subject image and the second subject image in the multiple-exposure image data.

10. An imaging device comprising: a pixel, wherein

the pixel captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period,

a sensitivity of the pixel per unit time in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity of the pixel per the unit time in the second exposure period, and

the imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data, wherein the pixel includes

a photoelectric converter configured to generate signal charge through photoelectric conversion, and

a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the photoelectric converter, the signal detection circuit detecting the signal charge.

11. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the second exposure period is next to the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being discontinuous.

12. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein a length of the first exposure period is the same as a length of the second exposure period.

13. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein

the pixel captures, in the frame period, a plurality of data in a plurality of exposure periods including the first and second exposure periods, the plurality of exposure periods being different from each other, and

a sensitivity of the pixel per the unit time in an earlier exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods is higher than a sensitivity of the pixel per the unit time in a later exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods.

14. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein

the pixel captures, in the frame period, a plurality of data in a plurality of exposure periods including the first and second exposure periods, the plurality of exposure periods being different from each other, and

a sensitivity of the pixel per the unit time in an earlier exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods is lower than a sensitivity of the pixel per the unit time in a later exposure period among the plurality of exposure periods.

15. The imaging device according to claim 10 , further comprising a signal processing circuit that extracts, from the multiple-exposure image data, a first subject image based on the first data and a second subject image based on the second data, the first subject image and the second subject image corresponding to a moving subject.

16. The imaging device according to claim 15 , wherein brightness of the first subject image is different from brightness of the second subject image.

17. The imaging device according to claim 15 , wherein a color of the first subject image is different from a color of the second subject image.

18. The imaging device according to claim 15 , wherein the signal processing circuit performs a process for adding, on the basis of the first subject image and the second subject image, an indicator indicating a temporal transition to each of the first subject image and the second subject image in the multiple-exposure image data.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-138393 · Jul 10, 2015 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15497193 · Apr 25, 2017
Continuation PCTJP2016002945 · Jun 20, 2016
Related Publication 20200177787A1 · Jun 4, 2020