The present disclosure relates to an image pickup element and an image pickup apparatus capable of achieving an improvement in focus accuracy using focal plane phase detection.

An image pickup element includes: an ordinary pixel that converts an electric charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a voltage with first conversion efficiency and that outputs a pixel signal used to construct an image; and a phase difference detection pixel that converts an electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion into a voltage with second conversion efficiency higher than the first conversion efficiency and that outputs a pixel signal used for phase difference detection. Light is blocked on the phase difference pixel by approximately a half of a light-receiving area by a phase difference light blocking film that exhibits a light blocking effect, and the second conversion efficiency is approximately twice as high as the first conversion efficiency of the first pixel. The present technology is applicable to, for example, a CMOS image sensor.

An image sensor according to some example embodiments includes a pixel array unit including a plurality of transmission signal lines and a plurality of output signal lines, and a plurality of pixels connected to the plurality of transmission signal lines and the plurality of output signal lines. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which are configured to detect and photoelectrically convert incident light. The plurality of pixels include at least one autofocusing pixel and at least one normal pixel.

Provided is an image sensor including a sensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels configured to sense first wavelength light in an infrared ray band and a plurality of second pixels configured to sense second wavelength light in a visible light band, and a color separating lens array disposed on the sensor substrate and configured to change a phase of the first wavelength light incident on the color separating lens array such that the first wavelength light is condensed to the plurality of first pixels, wherein the color separating lens array includes a plurality of light condensing regions configured to condense the first wavelength light respectively on the plurality of first pixels, and wherein an area of each of the plurality of light condensing regions is larger than an area of each of the plurality of first pixels.

Provided is an image sensor including a sensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels configured to sense first wavelength light in an infrared ray band and a plurality of second pixels configured to sense second wavelength light in a visible light band, and a color separating lens array disposed on the sensor substrate and configured to change a phase of the first wavelength light incident on the color separating lens array such that the first wavelength light is condensed to the plurality of first pixels, wherein the color separating lens array includes a plurality of light condensing regions configured to condense the first wavelength light respectively on the plurality of first pixels, and wherein an area of each of the plurality of light condensing regions is larger than an area of each of the plurality of first pixels.

An apparatus for acquiring images includes an image sensor and a signal processor. The image sensor may include a sensor substrate and a color separation lens array, wherein the sensor substrate includes a plurality of photo-sensing cells, and the color separation lens array may separate an incident light into a plurality of lights having different wavelengths and forms a phase distribution for condensing the plurality of lights having the different wavelengths on adjacent photo-sensing cells of the plurality of photo-sensing cells. The signal processor may perform deconvolution on sensing signals of the plurality of photo-sensing cells to obtain a sub-sampled image, perform demosaicing to restore a full resolution image having a full resolution from the sub-sampled image, and correct a color of the full resolution image using a point spread function (PSF) of the color separation lens array.

An apparatus for acquiring images includes an image sensor and a signal processor. The image sensor may include a sensor substrate and a color separation lens array, wherein the sensor substrate includes a plurality of photo-sensing cells, and the color separation lens array may separate an incident light into a plurality of lights having different wavelengths and forms a phase distribution for condensing the plurality of lights having the different wavelengths on adjacent photo-sensing cells of the plurality of photo-sensing cells. The signal processor may perform deconvolution on sensing signals of the plurality of photo-sensing cells to obtain a sub-sampled image, perform demosaicing to restore a full resolution image having a full resolution from the sub-sampled image, and correct a color of the full resolution image using a point spread function (PSF) of the color separation lens array.

In a focus adjusting apparatus, a tracking unit detects from an image signal an area of a subject to be tracked, a position of an imaging plane of the area and reliability of the position, and a prediction unit predicts a position of an imaging plane when the image signal was obtained based on a history of detected positions of imaging planes. A setting unit sets a tolerance based on the reliability, and a determination unit determines the area of the detected subject as a focus adjustment area if a difference between the predicted and detected positions is within the tolerance. The prediction unit predicts a position of an imaging plane of the subject in the focus adjustment area at a future time point.

An apparatus for acquiring images includes an image sensor and a signal processor. The image sensor may include a sensor substrate and a color separation lens array, wherein the sensor substrate includes a plurality of photo-sensing cells, and the color separation lens array may separate an incident light into a plurality of lights having different wavelengths and forms a phase distribution for condensing the plurality of lights having the different wavelengths on adjacent photo-sensing cells of the plurality of photo-sensing cells. The signal processor may perform deconvolution on sensing signals of the plurality of photo-sensing cells to obtain a sub-sampled image, perform demosaicing to restore a full resolution image having a full resolution from the sub-sampled image, and correct a color of the full resolution image using a point spread function (PSF) of the color separation lens array.

An apparatus for acquiring images includes an image sensor and a signal processor. The image sensor may include a sensor substrate and a color separation lens array, wherein the sensor substrate includes a plurality of photo-sensing cells, and the color separation lens array may separate an incident light into a plurality of lights having different wavelengths and forms a phase distribution for condensing the plurality of lights having the different wavelengths on adjacent photo-sensing cells of the plurality of photo-sensing cells. The signal processor may perform deconvolution on sensing signals of the plurality of photo-sensing cells to obtain a sub-sampled image, perform demosaicing to restore a full resolution image having a full resolution from the sub-sampled image, and correct a color of the full resolution image using a point spread function (PSF) of the color separation lens array.

Provided is an image sensor including a pixel array which provides a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns. The plurality of pixels include: a plurality of image sensing pixels each including a plurality of image sensing sub pixels that include the same color filter; and a plurality of phase detection pixels each including at least one phase detection sub pixel which generates a phase signal for calculating a phase difference between images, wherein the plurality of image sensing sub pixels included in the same image sensing pixel are connected to one selection signal line and receive the same selection signal.