One example provides a method of generating a high dynamic range image via a differential TOF pixel comprising an array of pixels each having a first polyfinger and a second polyfinger, the first polyfinger and the second polyfinger being independently controllable to integrate current during an integration period, the method comprising, during the integration period, controlling the first polyfinger for a first exposure time, during the integration period, controlling the second polyfinger for a second exposure time, the second exposure time being shorter than the first exposure time, and for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, comparing a charge collected at the first polyfinger and a charge collected at the second polyfinger to a threshold, and selecting one of the charge collected at the first polyfinger and the charge collected at the second polyfinger for inclusion in the HDR image.

Systems and techniques are described herein for capturing images. For instance, a process can include obtaining a first image associated with a first exposure setting and obtaining a second image associated with a second exposure setting that is different from the first exposure setting. The process can include obtaining motion information associated with at least one of the first image and the second image and determining, based on the motion information, that motion associated with a first pixel of the first image exceeds a threshold. The process can include generating, based on the motion information, a fused image including a first set of pixels from the first image and a second set of pixels from the second image. The first set of pixels from the first image includes the first pixel based on the determination that the motion associated with the first pixel exceeds the threshold.

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that enable simultaneous acquisition of a signal for generating a high dynamic range image and a signal for detecting a phase difference.

The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sets each including color filters of the same color, for a plurality of colors, each pixel set including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of photodiodes PD. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a solid-state imaging device that generates a high dynamic range image and detects a phase difference, and the like.

An image sensor, including a pixel array including a first unit pixel including first a plurality of photodiodes and a second unit pixel including a second plurality of diodes; a readout circuit configured to: obtain a reset signal from the first unit pixel and the second unit pixel, obtain a first single pixel signal from a first photodiode of the first unit pixel, and a second single pixel signal from a second photodiode of the second unit pixel, and obtain a first summed pixel signal from the first unit pixel, and a second summed pixel signal from the second unit pixel, wherein the first photodiode is disposed in position with respect to the first unit pixel which is different from a position of the second photodiode with respect to the second unit pixel.

A high dynamic range imaging pixel may include a photodiode that generates charge in response to incident light. When the generated charge exceeds a first charge level, the charge may overflow through a first transistor to a first storage capacitor. When the generated charge exceeds a second charge level that is higher than the first charge level, the charge may overflow through a second transistor. The charge that overflows through the second transistor may alternately be coupled to a voltage supply and drained or transferred to a second storage capacitor for subsequent readout. Diverting more overflow charge to the voltage supply may increase the dynamic range of the pixel. The amount of charge diverted to the voltage supply may therefore be updated to control the dynamic range of the imaging pixel.

An image sensor may include a plurality of first pixels arranged on a substrate along a first axis and a second axis, the plurality of first pixels connected to a first output line, a plurality of second pixels arranged on the substrate along the first axis and the second axis, the plurality of second pixels being mirror-symmetric to the plurality of first pixels along the first axis, and the plurality of second pixels connected to the first output line, a plurality of first color filters, and a plurality of second color filters.

A method of vehicle monitoring includes: obtaining a frame of an image before exposure; outputting a luminance value of each partition of the image, accumulation number of pixels lower than a first set threshold, accumulation number of pixels higher than a second set threshold, to generate an evaluation data; generating eigenvalues of a plurality of illuminance evaluation areas based on the evaluation data and the preset illuminance evaluation area distribution table; estimating the illuminance of an environment of a vehicle according to the eigenvalues of the plurality of illuminance evaluation areas and differentiation characteristics between normal illuminance and low illuminance; switching the region of interest of a current exposing image based on the estimating results, generating a weight table based on the content of the current exposing image and the switched region of interest, controlling the exposing of the region of interest based on the weight table.

An image processing apparatus includes an intermediate image generating unit configured to input an image which has been shot with differing exposure times set by region, generates a plurality of exposure pattern images corresponding to differing exposure times based on the input image, and generates a plurality of timing images which are difference images of the plurality of exposure pattern images; and a distortion correction processing unit configured to generate a corrected image equivalent to an exposure processing image at a predetermined exposure time by synthesizing processing of the plurality of timing images.

An image sensor may include a pixel array with high dynamic range functionality and phase detection pixels. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in phase detection pixel groups. Each phase detection pixel group may include three adjacent pixels arranged consecutively in a line. A single microlens may cover all three pixels in the phase detection pixel group, or two microlenses may combine to cover the three pixels in the phase detection pixel group. The edge pixels in each phase detection pixel group may have the same integration time and the same color. The middle pixel in each phase detection pixel group may have the same or different color as the edge pixels, and the same or different integration time as the edge pixels. Phase detection pixel groups may also be formed from two pixels that each are 1.5 times the size of neighboring pixels.

Various technologies described herein pertain to combining high dynamic range techniques to enable rendering higher dynamic range scenes with an image sensor. The image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing and temporal exposure multiplexing, for example. By way of another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing and dual gain operation. Pursuant to another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of temporal exposure multiplexing and dual gain operation. In accordance with yet another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing, temporal exposure multiplexing, and dual gain operation. The image sensor can be formed on a single wafer or the image sensor can be a 3D-IC image sensor that includes at least two vertically integrated layers.