IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,425,708
Granted Patent B2
US 12,425,708 · App. 18/228,899 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Electronic apparatus, method for controlling electronic apparatus, and control program

Inventor: Satoshi Tsuchiya (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
H04N23/54H04N23/632H04N25/44H04N25/51H04N25/533H04N25/583H04N25/70H04N25/77H04N25/79H10F39/199H10F39/803H10F39/809H04N25/134H10F39/8053H10F39/8063
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,425,708
App. No.
18/228,899
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

To divide an image capture region into multiple regions for which different image capture conditions are set and to generate multiple moving images corresponding to the multiple regions. An electronic apparatus includes an image sensor that captures first and second moving images in first and second regions of an image capture region on different image capture conditions, the second region differing from the first region, and a moving image generation unit that generates the first and second moving images captured in the first and second regions.

Claims (199)

1. An imaging sensor comprising:

a first chip including:

a first photoelectric converter that converts light into charge;

a second photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the first photoelectric converter in a first direction and converts light into charge;

a third photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the first photoelectric converter in a second direction crossing the first direction and converts light into charge; and

a fourth photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the third photoelectric converter in the first direction and adjacent to the second photoelectric converter in the second direction and converts light into charge; and

a second chip stacked with the first chip and including a drive unit that controls to be different:

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter ends;

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter ends;

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter ends; and

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter ends.

2. The imaging sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first chip includes:

a first transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a second transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a third transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter, and

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second transfer transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter.

3. The imaging sensor according to claim 2 ,

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first transferer starts transfer of the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second transferer starts transfer of the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third transferer starts transfer of the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth transferer starts transfer of the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter.

4. The imaging sensor according to claim 2 , comprising:

a first transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the first transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the first transferer is output;

a second transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the second transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the second transferer is output;

a third transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the third transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the third transferer is output; and

a fourth transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the fourth transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the fourth transferer is output.

5. The imaging sensor according to claim 2 , comprising:

a first output line to which is output a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a second output line to which is output a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a third output line to which is output a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth output line to which is output a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter.

6. The imaging sensor according to claim 5 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first current source that supplies a current to the first output line;

a second current source that supplies a current to the second output line;

a third current source that supplies a current to the third output line;

and

a fourth current source that supplies a current to the fourth output line.

7. The imaging sensor according to claim 5 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts the first signal output to the first output line into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts the second signal output to the second output line into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts the third signal output to the third output line into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts the fourth signal output to the fourth output line into a digital signal.

8. The imaging sensor according to claim 2 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter into a digital signal.

9. The imaging sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the accumulation of the charge obtained from the conversion by the first photoelectric converter starts;

a timing in which the accumulation of the charge obtained from the conversion by the second photoelectric converter starts;

a timing in which the accumulation of the charge obtained from the conversion by the third photoelectric converter starts; and

a timing in which the accumulation of the charge obtained from the conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter starts.

10. The imaging sensor according to claim 9 ,

wherein the first chip includes:

a first transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a second transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a third transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter;

a fourth transferer that transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter;

a first resetter that resets a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a second resetter that resets a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a third resetter that resets a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth resetter that resets a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter,

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth transferer transfers the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter, and

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first resetter resets a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second resetter resets a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third resetter resets a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth resetter resets a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter.

11. The imaging sensor according to claim 10 ,

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first transferer starts transferring the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second transferer starts transferring the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third transferer starts transferring the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth transferer starts transferring the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter, and wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first resetter starts resetting a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second resetter starts resetting a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third resetter starts resetting a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth resetter starts resetting a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter.

12. The imaging sensor according to claim 10 , comprising:

a first transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the first transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the first transferer is output;

a second transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the second transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the second transferer is output;

a third transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the third transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the third transferer is output,

a fourth transfer control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the fourth transferer and to which a control signal for controlling the fourth transferer is output;

a first reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the first resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the first resetter is output;

a second reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the second resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the second resetter is output;

a third reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the third resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the third resetter is output; and

a fourth reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the fourth resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the fourth resetter is output.

13. The imaging sensor according to claim 10 , comprising:

a first output line to which is output a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a second output line to which is output a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a third output line to which is output a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth output line to which is output a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter.

14. The imaging sensor according to claim 13 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first current source that supplies a current to the first output line;

a second current source that supplies a current to the second output line;

a third current source that supplies a current to the third output line;

and

a fourth current source that supplies a current to the fourth output line.

15. The imaging sensor according to claim 13 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts the first signal output to the first output line into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts the second signal output to the second output line into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts the third signal output to the third output line into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts the fourth signal output to the fourth output line into a digital signal.

16. The imaging sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter into a digital signal.

17. An imaging apparatus comprising the imaging sensor according to claim 1 .

18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17 , comprising

an image processer that is electrically connected to the imaging sensor,

wherein the image processer performs:

an image processing on a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter for generating a first image;

an image processing on a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter for generating a second image;

an image processing on a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter for generating a third image; and

an image processing on a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter for generating a fourth image.

19. An imaging sensor comprising:

a first chip including:

a first photoelectric converter that converts light into charge;

a second photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the first photoelectric converter in a first direction and converts light into charge;

a third photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the first photoelectric converter in a second direction crossing the first direction and converts light into charge; and

a fourth photoelectric converter that is disposed adjacent to the third photoelectric converter in the first direction and adjacent to the second photoelectric converter in the second direction and converts light into charge; and

a second chip stacked with the first chip and including a drive unit that controls to be different:

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter starts;

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter starts;

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter starts; and

a timing in which accumulation of the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter starts.

20. The imaging sensor according to claim 19 ,

wherein the first chip includes:

a first resetter that resets a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a second resetter that resets a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a third resetter that resets a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth resetter that resets a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter, and

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first resetter resets a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second resetter resets a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third resetter resets a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth resetter resets a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter.

21. The imaging sensor according to claim 20 ,

wherein the drive unit controls to be different:

a timing in which the first resetter starts resetting a potential of the first photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the second resetter starts resetting a potential of the second photoelectric converter;

a timing in which the third resetter starts resetting a potential of the third photoelectric converter; and

a timing in which the fourth resetter starts resetting a potential of the fourth photoelectric converter.

22. The imaging sensor according to claim 20 , comprising:

a first reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the first resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the first resetter is output;

a second reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the second resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the second resetter is output;

a third reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the third resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the third resetter is output; and

a fourth reset control line, which is a control line electrically connected to the fourth resetter and to which a control signal for controlling the fourth resetter is output.

23. The imaging sensor according to claim 20 , comprising:

a first output line to which is output a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter;

a second output line to which is output a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter;

a third output line to which is output a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter; and

a fourth output line to which is output a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter.

24. The imaging sensor according to claim 23 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first current source that supplies a current to the first output line;

a second current source that supplies a current to the second output line;

a third current source that supplies a current to the third output line;

and

a fourth current source that supplies a current to the fourth output line.

25. The imaging sensor according to claim 23 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts the first signal output to the first output line into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts the second signal output to the second output line into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts the third signal output to the third output line into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts the fourth signal output to the fourth output line into a digital signal.

26. The imaging sensor according to claim 19 ,

wherein the second chip includes:

a first converter that converts a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a second converter that converts a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter into a digital signal;

a third converter that converts a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter into a digital signal; and

a fourth converter that converts a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter into a digital signal.

27. An imaging apparatus comprising the imaging sensor according to claim 19 .

28. The imaging apparatus according to claim 27 , comprising

an image processer that is electrically connected to the imaging sensor,

wherein the image processer performs:

an image processing on a first signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the first photoelectric converter for generating a first image;

an image processing on a second signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the second photoelectric converter for generating a second image;

an image processing on a third signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the third photoelectric converter for generating a third image; and

an image processing on a fourth signal based on the charge obtained from conversion by the fourth photoelectric converter for generating a fourth image.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-167308 · Aug 12, 2013 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17737142 · May 5, 2022
Continuation 16986644 · Aug 6, 2020
Continuation 16395351 · Apr 26, 2019
Continuation 14910428
Related Publication 20230388674A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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