IMAGING APPARATUS AND ITS DRIVE CONTROLLING METHOD
First Claim
1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a solid-state imaging device includinga plurality of first pixels that execute an imaging operation for a long exposure time, anda plurality of second pixels that execute an imaging operation for a short exposure time which overlaps with a part of the long exposure time, whereinthe first and second pixels are mixedly arranged in a two dimensional array,charge transfer paths are formed along a plurality of pixel columns composed of the first and second pixels, respectively, anda plurality of different drive controlling modes each controlling operation timings of start and end of exposure of the first pixels and operation timings of start and end of exposure of the second pixels are prepared in advance; and
an imaging device driver that compares a length of an exposure time which is determined based on a shooting condition under which an object image is taken with a predetermined threshold value, selects one of the plurality of different drive controlling modes in accordance with the comparison result, and drives the solid-state imaging device in accordance with the selected mode.
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Abstract
An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device and an imaging device driver. The imaging device includes first pixels and second pixels. The first pixels execute an imaging operation for a long exposure time. The second pixels execute an imaging operation for a short exposure time which overlaps with a part of the long exposure time. The first and second pixels are mixedly arranged in a two dimensional array. Plural different drive controlling modes each controlling operation timings of start and end of exposure of the first pixels and operation timings of start and end of exposure of the second pixels are prepared in advance. The imaging device driver selects one of the drive controlling modes in accordance with a shooting condition under which an object image is taken and drives the solid-state imaging device in accordance with the selected mode.
14 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
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a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of first pixels that execute an imaging operation for a long exposure time, and a plurality of second pixels that execute an imaging operation for a short exposure time which overlaps with a part of the long exposure time, wherein the first and second pixels are mixedly arranged in a two dimensional array, charge transfer paths are formed along a plurality of pixel columns composed of the first and second pixels, respectively, and a plurality of different drive controlling modes each controlling operation timings of start and end of exposure of the first pixels and operation timings of start and end of exposure of the second pixels are prepared in advance; and an imaging device driver that compares a length of an exposure time which is determined based on a shooting condition under which an object image is taken with a predetermined threshold value, selects one of the plurality of different drive controlling modes in accordance with the comparison result, and drives the solid-state imaging device in accordance with the selected mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A drive controlling method for an imaging apparatus including a solid-state imaging device having
a plurality of first pixels that execute an imaging operation for a long exposure time, and a plurality of second pixels that execute an imaging operation for a short exposure time which overlaps with a part of the long exposure time, wherein the first and second pixels are mixedly arranged in a two dimensional array, charge transfer paths are formed along a plurality of pixel columns composed of the first and second pixels, respectively, and a plurality of different drive controlling modes each controlling operation timings of start and end of exposure of the first pixels and operation timings of start and end of exposure of the second pixels are prepared in advance, the method comprising: -
comparing a length of an exposure time which is determined based on a shooting condition under which an object image is taken with a predetermined threshold value; and selecting one of the plurality of different drive controlling modes in accordance with the comparison result.
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Specification