An image capturing device (1) includes: a microlens array (33) including a plurality of micro condenser lenses (34) arranged at a focal position of an imaging optical system for forming a plurality of erect equal-magnification images; and an imaging unit (31) including light-sensitive pixels (32x) provided at positions corresponding to the micro condenser lenses 34. Micro condenser lenses (34) have refractive powers to condense, among light rays incident from the imaging optical system, light rays incident at an incident angle within a predetermined limited angle range, onto positions different from positions on which light rays incident at an incident angle outside the limited angle range are incident. Effective light-sensitive regions of the light-sensitive pixels (32x) receive only light rays incident at an incident angle within the limited angle range among light rays entered micro condenser lenses (32).

In an image capturing apparatus, an image sensing device includes a plurality of groups of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being readable separately for each photoelectric conversion element via a signal line used in common by each group of pixels. A reading unit performs, on a plurality of groups of pixels, a reading-out operation to reading out a signal as a first signal from part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a second reading-out operation to mix signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and read out a resultant mixed signal as an image signal. A generation unit generates one image file including the first signal, the image signal, and defect data indicating a group of pixels for which the first signal is defective while the image signal is not defective.

An endoscope video processing system applies a blooming control feature to image frames of video data signals generated by viewing elements in the endoscope tip. A reduced digital gain is applied to a luminance (Y) component of the video data signal to generate an attenuated signal. An average luminance value of pixels neighboring a pixel of the attenuated signal is calculated and a function of the average luminance value is determined to generate a smoothly transitioning digital gain. The smoothly transitioning digital gain is conditioned using weights to generate a customizable digital gain, and the customizable digital gain is applied to the attenuated signal. This Local Blooming Control (LBC) facilitates a higher luminance digital gain in darker portions while maintaining a low or no luminance digital gain in brighter portions, within the same image frame.

Image sensors with precharge boost are disclosed herein. An example image sensor may include pixels that each include a photodiode to receive image light and produce image charge in response, a floating diffusion to receive the image charge, a transfer gate to couple the photodiode to the floating diffusion in response to a transfer control signal, a reset gate to couple a reset voltage to the floating diffusion in response to a reset control signal, and a boost capacitor coupled between the floating diffusion and a boost voltage source, wherein, during a precharge operation, the boost voltage is provided to the boost capacitor for a portion of time the transfer gate is enabled and while the reset gate is disabled.

Image sensors with precharge boost are disclosed herein. An example image sensor may include pixels that each include a photodiode to receive image light and produce image charge in response, a floating diffusion to receive the image charge, a transfer gate to couple the photodiode to the floating diffusion in response to a transfer control signal, a reset gate to couple a reset voltage to the floating diffusion in response to a reset control signal, and a boost capacitor coupled between the floating diffusion and a boost voltage source, wherein, during a precharge operation, the boost voltage is provided to the boost capacitor for a portion of time the transfer gate is enabled and while the reset gate is disabled.

An object of the present invention is to prevent a sensitivity difference between pixels. There are disposed plural unit cells each including plural photodiodes 101A and 101B, plural transfer MOSFETs 102A and 102B arranged corresponding to the plural photodiodes, respectively, and a common MOSFET 104 which amplifies and outputs signals read from the plural photodiodes. Each pair within the unit cell, composed of the photodiode and the transfer MOSFET provided corresponding to the photodiode, has translational symmetry with respect to one another. Within the unit cell, there are included a reset MOSFET and selecting MOSFET.

An object of the present invention is to prevent a sensitivity difference between pixels. There are disposed plural unit cells each including plural photodiodes with plural transfer MOSFETs arranged respectively corresponding to the plural photodiodes, and a common MOSFET that amplifies and outputs signals read from the plural photodiodes. The unit cell includes reset and selecting MOSFETs. Within the unit cell, each pair of photodiode and corresponding transfer MOSFET has translational symmetry with respect to one another.