An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

An imaging device includes pixels each including first and second photoelectric conversion units on which pupil-divided parts of incident light are incident and a holding unit that holds charges transferred from the first and second photoelectric conversion units, and outputting signals based on amounts of charges held by the holding unit. Each pixel outputs a first signal and a second signal based on amounts of charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and by the first and second photoelectric conversion units, respectively, during a first exposure time, and a third signal and a fourth signal based on amounts of charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and by the first and second photoelectric conversion units, respectively, during a second exposure time. The first and second signals are output before the third and fourth signals in one frame and after the third and fourth signals in another frame.

Methods of calibrating a linear-logarithmic image sensor pixel include performing a reset of the pixel in advance of establishing a leakage current between a photodiode and a floating diffusion region of the pixel. A first voltage of the floating diffusion region is then read through a source follower and selection transistor, after the leakage is terminated. A step is then performed to transfer charge between the photodiode and the floating diffusion region of the pixel so that a voltage of a cathode of the photodiode is increased. Thereafter, a second voltage of the floating diffusion region is read. The first and second read voltages are then used to perform a calibration operation. These steps may be repeated to establish another leakage current of different duration/magnitude and yield third and fourth read voltages, which support further calibration.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an arbitrary object and output a plurality of image signals with different exposures and a focus detection signal, and a composition unit configured to compose the plurality of image signals with different exposures output from the imaging unit and output the composed image signal. In a case of time-sequentially capturing images in succession, the imaging unit outputs the focus detection signal instead of the plurality of image signals at a predetermined timing. The composition unit composes image signals by using image signals in a time-sequentially adjacent different timing instead of image signals missing at the predetermined timing.

An imaging element for acquiring signals from a plurality of pixel units to perform a plurality of types of signal processing on the signals is provided that includes a setting unit configured to set signal output conditions for first and second photoelectric conversion units provided in each of first and second pixel units; and a signal processing unit configured to perform first signal processing using signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units set with first to third output conditions by the setting unit and second signal processing for processing the signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units set with any one of the first to third output conditions by the setting unit.

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.

An image sensor having photosites forming an array (K×L) of K rows and L columns, including a first set of integrator circuits, with a first regulation by analog weighting in blocks of n×n′ photosites, said photosites belonging to n adjacent columns and to n′ adjacent rows, and a second set of integrator circuits, with a second regulation by analog weighting in blocks of m×m′ photosites, said photosites belonging to m adjacent columns and to m′ adjacent rows, n adjacent columns of a first set of columns of the array being connected to n×n′ integrator circuits of the first set, m adjacent columns of a second set of columns of the array being connected to m×m′ integrator circuits of the second set, n columns of the first set alternating with m columns of the second set to form the array of photosites.

A high dynamic range sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an array of Bayer pattern units. Each of the Bayer pattern units comprises a plurality of pixels and each of the plurality of pixels comprises a plurality of photodiodes. At least one of the plurality of photodiodes in each pixel is configured to detect near infrared (NIR) light and at least one of the plurality of photodiodes in each of the plurality of pixels is configured to detect visible light.

A high dynamic range sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an array of Bayer pattern units. Each of the Bayer pattern units comprises a plurality of pixels and each of the plurality of pixels comprises a plurality of photodiodes. At least one of the plurality of photodiodes in each pixel is configured to detect near infrared (NIR) light and at least one of the plurality of photodiodes in each of the plurality of pixels is configured to detect visible light.