Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Naoto Ogushi

Shinobu Watanabe

An image capturing apparatus comprises: a first image sensor having a plurality of pixels each counts a number of entering photons and outputs a count value as a first image signal; a second image sensor having a plurality of pixels each outputs an electric signal corresponding to a charge amount obtained by performing photoelectric conversion on entering light as a second image signal; and a generator that generates an image by selecting one of the first image signal and the second image signal.

Image capturing apparatus

An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that respectively receives lights passing through different partial pupil regions with respect to lights from a shooting lens. Each of the pixel units has first and second photoelectric conversion units, and a video image signal processing unit and a phase difference signal processing unit obtain and process each of signals output from the first and second photoelectric conversion units. A video image signal processing unit obtains the signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units having the setting of different output conditions of pixel signals, and performs a dynamic range expanding process of the image signal. The phase difference signal processing unit corrects the signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units and performs focus detection of the phase difference detection method. The video image signal processing unit and the phase difference signal processing unit execute the respective signal processes in parallel in a single shooting operation.

Imaging element, imaging apparatus, and method for processing imaging signals

An image pickup element generates an AF evaluation value to be used for image-pickup in accordance with an image signal corresponding to a voltage signal obtained from a first pixel group among a plurality of pixels. The image pickup element further outputs an image signal corresponding to a voltage signal obtained from a second pixel group among the plurality of pixels as a live-view display signal for image display. In accordance with the AF evaluation value, a control unit controls a mechanical optical unit having a focus lens and performs live-view display on an image display unit in accordance with the live-view display signal.

Image pickup element, image pickup apparatus, and method and program for controlling the same

An image sensor includes pixel sections corresponding to unit pixels, a column signal line arranged for each column of the pixel sections, a row scanning circuit which selects the pixel sections for each row and transfers an analog signal to the column signal line, a column amplifier which amplifies the analog signal, an A/D converter which converts the analog signal into a digital signal for each column, a column scanning circuit which outputs the signal converted into the digital signal to a horizontal signal line, and a digital adder which adds the digital signals. The column amplifier adds the signals output from the pixel sections to the column signal line. The column scanning circuit outputs digitized signals of a plurality of columns. The digital adder adds the signals of the plurality of columns.

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Yokohama, Japan

Naoto Ogushi