Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080240701 | Focus Detection Device, Focusing State Detection Method And Imaging Apparatus - A focus detection device comprises: focus detection elements including light-receiving elements that generate a pair of signals corresponding to a pair of light fluxes each passing through an imaging optical system that includes a lens and an aperture stop; and a focus detector including a processor that determines a focus adjustment state of the imaging optical system with an f-number slower than a full-aperture of the imaging optical system when a specific condition is fulfilled. | 10-02-2008 |
20080258039 | Focus detection device, focus detection method and imaging apparatus - A focus detection device comprises: an image shift detection unit that detects a relative shift amount of a pair of images formed by a pair of light fluxes having passed through an optical system; and a conversion unit that converts the shift amount to a defocus amount based upon dimensional information of an exit pupil corresponding to an aperture restricting light flux in the optical system and distance information of the exit pupil indicating distance to the exit pupil from a predetermined imaging plane of the optical system. | 10-23-2008 |
20080291311 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FOCUS DETECTION DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup device includes a pixel unit which has first pixels and second pixels. A first photoelectric conversion unit is configured to generate charges corresponding to light incident upon each of the first pixels. A first control unit is connected to the first photoelectric conversion unit and configured to control the first photoelectric conversion unit. A second photoelectric conversion unit is configured to generate charges corresponding to light incident upon each of the second pixels. The second photoelectric conversion unit is smaller than the first photoelectric conversion unit. A second control unit is connected to the second photoelectric conversion unit and configured to control the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second control unit is arranged in a space which is generated due to a size difference between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit. | 11-27-2008 |
20090096886 | Image-capturing device, camera, method for constructing image-capturing device and image-capturing method - An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of first pixels disposed along a first direction; a plurality of second pixels different from the first pixels disposed along the first direction in admixture with the plurality of first pixels; and an adder that adds a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of first selected pixels selected from the plurality of first pixels to each other and a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of second selected pixels selected from the plurality of second pixels to each other in such a manner that outputs provided by the first pixels and outputs provided by the second pixels are not added one to another. Disposition of the plurality of second pixels conforms to positional relationship of the plurality of first selected pixels in the plurality of first pixels. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096903 | Imaging device and imaging method - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element having two-dimensionally arranged imaging pixels that receive light of an image transmitted through an optical system and output pixel signals corresponding to the received light, and in which non-imaging pixels that are different from the imaging pixels are arranged. The apparatus detects a direction of continuity of the pixel signals based on pixel signals of the imaging pixels positioned around the non-imaging pixels, and determines, based on the detected direction of continuity, the pixel signals at the positions of the non-imaging pixels by processing the pixel output of the imaging pixels positioned around the non-imaging pixels. | 04-16-2009 |
20090128671 | Imaging apparatus - An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor with imaging pixels and focus detection pixels arrayed on a plane, which captures an image via an optical system; and a correction unit that corrects image data output from an imaging pixel based upon output data from a focus detection pixel present near the imaging pixel. | 05-21-2009 |
20090135273 | Image sensor and image-capturing device - An image sensor includes: a plurality of first pixels that receive a light flux having passed through an optical system and output pixel signals to be used as image signals; a plurality of second pixels that receive a light flux having passed through the optical system and output pixel signals to be used as signals other than the image signals; a plurality of first pixel rows, each of which includes an array made up with a plurality of first pixels; at least one second pixel row that includes an array made up with first pixels and second pixels; an output circuit that outputs a read signal in response to which pixel signals output at the first pixels are read out from the first pixel rows over first pixel intervals and pixel signals output at the second pixels are read out from the second pixel row over second pixel intervals, different from the first pixel intervals, the output circuit outputting externally the pixel signals having been read out; and a switching device that selects a specific pixel row, either one of the first pixel rows or the second pixel row, from which pixel signals are to be read out by the output circuit. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135289 | Image sensor and imaging apparatus - An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixels disposed two-dimensionally in rows and columns to capture an image; a plurality of first focus detection pixels for focus detection and a plurality of second focus detection pixels for focus detection being disposed in a row in place of the imaging pixels; a row selection circuit that selects in turn a row; a column selection circuit that selects in turn a column; and an output circuit that outputs pixel signals from the pixels selected by the column selection circuit, out of the pixels in the rows selected by the row selection circuit, wherein the column selection circuit selects a column according to whether or not the row selected by the row selection circuit includes the first and the second focus detection pixels. | 05-28-2009 |
20090167927 | Image sensor, focus detection device, focus adjustment device and image-capturing apparatus - An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixel rows, which include a plurality of types of imaging pixels with varying spectral sensitivity characteristic that are arrayed two-dimensionally based upon a first spectral sensitivity characteristics array pattern; and at least one non-imaging pixel row, which includes a plurality of non-imaging pixels that are disposed in place of some of the plurality of types of imaging pixels in the plurality of imaging pixel rows. The plurality of imaging pixel rows include adjacent imaging pixel rows made up with the plurality of types of imaging pixels and set adjacent to the non-imaging pixel row; and the adjacent imaging pixel rows assume a second spectral sensitivity characteristics array pattern different from the first spectral sensitivity characteristics array pattern, so that spectral sensitivity characteristics different from spectral sensitivity characteristics achieved in conformance to the first spectral sensitivity characteristics array pattern are achieved via specific imaging pixels making up part of the adjacent imaging pixel rows. | 07-02-2009 |
20090256952 | Correlation calculation method, correlation calculation device, focus detection device and image-capturing apparatus - A focus detection device includes: a light-receiving unit that receives a pair of images and outputs a first signal string and a second signal string; a decision-making unit that determines a condition assumed as the light-receiving unit receives the pair of images; a selection unit that selects a correlation operation expression among a plurality of correlation operation expressions in correspondence to the condition; a correlation calculation unit that calculates a correlation quantity between a plurality of first/second signals included in the first/second signal string by applying the correlation operation expression selected; a shift amount detection unit that detects a shift amount between the pair of images; and a focus detection unit that detects a focusing condition. The selection unit selects the correlation operation expression to reduce an extent to which signal intensity difference between the first and the second signal strings affects the correlation quantity. | 10-15-2009 |
20090278966 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An image sensor | 11-12-2009 |
20090295964 | Image sensor and image-capturing device - An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixels; and a plurality of focus detection pixels constituted with a micro-lens and a photoelectric conversion element that receives a focus detection light flux transmitted through a photographic optical system and executes photoelectric conversion. The photoelectric conversion element in each of the focus detection pixels includes a light-receiving area where the focus detection light flux is received; light-receiving area images corresponding to each of the focus detection pixels are each formed as the light-receiving area is projected via the micro-lens onto a pupil plane of the photographic optical system; and a positional relationship of the micro-lens and the light-receiving area is determined in correspondence to an image height so that the light-receiving area images corresponding to all the focus detection pixels are superimposed on one another on the pupil plane. | 12-03-2009 |
20100150539 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - A focus adjustment device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels for capturing an image formed via an imaging optical system and focus detection pixels for detecting a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a first pupil division-type image shift detection method, a focus detector that detects a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a second pupil division-type image shift detection method different from the first pupil division-type image shift detection method, and a focus adjustment controller that executes focus adjustment for the imaging optical system based upon the focus adjustment states detected by the image sensor and the focus detector. | 06-17-2010 |
20100188532 | Image sensor and image-capturing device - An image sensor includes: a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image; a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals; and a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels to be equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under a given light receiving condition. | 07-29-2010 |
20110008031 | FOCUS ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - A focus adjustment device includes an image sensor that includes imaging pixels for capturing an image formed via an imaging optical system and focus detection pixels for detecting a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a first pupil division-type image shift detection method, a focus detector that detects a focus adjustment state at the imaging optical system through a second pupil division-type image shift detection method different from the first pupil division-type image shift detection method, and a focus adjustment controller that executes focus adjustment for the imaging optical system based upon the focus adjustment states detected by the image sensor and the focus detector. | 01-13-2011 |
20110279727 | BACKSIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE - A backside illumination image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a read circuit formed on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and captures an image by outputting, via the read circuit, electrical signals generated as incident light having reached a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate is received at the photoelectric conversion elements includes: a light shielding film formed on a side where incident light enters the photoelectric conversion elements, with an opening formed therein in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element; and an on-chip lens formed at a position set apart from the light shielding film by a predetermined distance in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element. The light shielding film and an exit pupil plane of the image forming optical system achieve a conjugate relation to each other with regard to the on-chip lens. | 11-17-2011 |
20130271614 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING IMAGE-RELATED INFORMATION DISPLAYING FUNCTION - In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by 10 executing specific user identification processing | 10-17-2013 |
20140340534 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING IMAGE-RELATED INFORMATION DISPLAYING FUNCTION - In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by executing specific user identification processing. | 11-20-2014 |
20150084146 | BACKSIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE - A backside illumination image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a read circuit formed on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and captures an image by outputting, via the read circuit, electrical signals generated as incident light having reached a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate is received at the photoelectric conversion elements includes: a light shielding film formed on a side where incident light enters the photoelectric conversion elements, with an opening formed therein in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element; and an on-chip lens formed at a position set apart from the light shielding film by a predetermined distance in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element. The light shielding film and an exit pupil plane of the image forming optical system achieve a conjugate relation to each other with regard to the on-chip lens. | 03-26-2015 |