IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20200137338A1
• Filed: 10/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohshitanai, Kazuki
• Granted Patent: US 11,025,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/40 Extracting pixel data from image sensors by controlling scanning circuits, e.g. by modifying the number of pixels sampled or to be sampled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/44 by partially reading an SSIS array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/772 comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/78 Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/79 Arrangements of circuitry being divided between different or multiple substrates, chips or circuit boards, e.g. stacked image sensors

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus includes a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixel blocks are arranged, each pixel block including a predetermined number of pixels; a plurality of readout circuits arranged corresponding to the plurality of pixel blocks; a supply unit that supplies drive signals to the plurality of readout circuits; a setting unit that sets image capturing conditions for each of the plurality of pixel blocks; and a control unit that carries out control so that when the setting unit has set different image capturing conditions for a first pixel block and a second pixel block, the supply unit supplies a first drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the first pixel block, and supplies a second drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the second pixel block.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in a matrix, each pixel block including a predetermined number of pixels;

a plurality of readout circuits arranged corresponding to the plurality of pixel blocks; and

at least one processor or circuit configured to function as the following units;

a supply unit that supplies drive signals to time plurality of readout circuits;

a setting unit that sets image capturing conditions for each of the plurality of pixel blocks; and

a control unit that carries out control so that when the setting unit has set different image capturing conditions for a first pixel block and a second pixel block that is different from the first pixel block, the supply unit supplies a first drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the first pixel block, and supplies a second drive signal that is different from the first drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the second pixel block.

2. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the setting unit sets a thinning rate as the image capturing conditions for each pixel block.

3. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the setting unit sets a number of pixels to be mixed as the image capturing conditions for each pixel block.

4. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the setting unit sets a framerate as the image capturing conditions for each pixel block.

5. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the readout circuit includes a current supply circuit.

6. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the drive signals include a bias voltage signal input to the current supply circuit.

7. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the readout circuit includes a circuit that has a comparator and carries out AD conversion.

8. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the drive signals include a ramp signal that is input to comparator and has a potential that changes depending on the time.

9. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the potential of the ramp signal which changes depending on the time is changed in accordance with the number of the first pixel blocks.

10. A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus, the apparatus including a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in a matrix, each pixel block including a predetermined number of pixels, a plurality of readout circuits arranged corresponding to the plurality of pixel blocks, and a supply circuit that supplies drive signals to the plurality of readout circuits, the method comprising:

setting image capturing conditions for each of the plurality of pixel blocks; and

carrying out control so that when different image capturing conditions have been set for a first pixel block and a second pixel block that is different from the first pixel block, the supply circuit supplies a first drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the first pixel block, and supplies a second drive signal that is different from the first drive signal to the readout circuits corresponding to the second pixel block.