There is provided a pixel circuit capable of outputting time difference data and image data, and including an image circuit and a difference circuit. The image circuit is used to record and output detected light energy of a first interval as the image data. The difference circuit is used to record and output a variation of detected light energy between the first interval and a second interval as the time difference data. The pixel circuit selects to output at least one of the time difference data and the image data.

A method of generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image is provided that includes capturing a long exposure image and a short exposure image of a scene, computing a merging weight for each pixel location of the long exposure image based on a pixel value of the pixel location and a saturation threshold, and computing a pixel value for each pixel location of the HDR image as a weighted sum of corresponding pixel values in the long exposure image and the short exposure image, wherein a weight applied to a pixel value of the pixel location of the short exposure image and a weight applied to a pixel value of the pixel location in the pixel long exposure image are determined based on the merging weight computed for the pixel location and responsive to motion in a scene of the long exposure image and the short exposure image.

An image sensor includes a two-dimensional pixel array and a lens array. The two-dimensional pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels. Some of the pixels includes two sub-pixels. A rectangular coordinate is established by taking the pixel as an origin, a length direction of the two-dimensional pixel array as an x-axis, and a width direction of the two-dimensional pixel array as a y-axis. The two sub-pixels lie in both a positive half axis and a negative half axis of the x-axis and lies in both a positive half axis and a negative half axis of the y-axis. The lens array comprises a plurality of lenses, each covering one of the pixels.

An image sensor includes a two-dimensional pixel array and a lens array. The two-dimensional pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels. Some of the pixels includes two sub-pixels. A rectangular coordinate is established by taking the pixel as an origin, a length direction of the two-dimensional pixel array as an x-axis, and a width direction of the two-dimensional pixel array as a y-axis. The two sub-pixels lie in both a positive half axis and a negative half axis of the x-axis and lies in both a positive half axis and a negative half axis of the y-axis. The lens array comprises a plurality of lenses, each covering one of the pixels.

An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in one frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on at least one first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on at least one second row in the pixel array PA. At least one of the at least one first row or the at least one second row includes two rows in the pixel array PA. During the third period, no pixel signal readout is performed on the rows in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is one of the high-sensitivity exposure period and the low-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is the other of the high-sensitivity exposure period and the low-sensitivity exposure period.

Provided is an imaging device in which a subject moving within a visual field can be freely expressed with a simple configuration. This imaging device is an imaging device which acquires an image by dividing one imaging period into a plurality of periods for exposure to add for each pixel, and includes an imaging element which includes a photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate a signal charge, and a control unit configured to control an accumulation time of the signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit. The control unit changes the accumulation time in each period obtained by dividing the one imaging period.

A timing of the readout from an imaging circuit is controlled from the outside of the imaging circuit. An exposure control signal receiving section is configured to receive, from outside, an exposure control signal that controls a timing at which plural pixels are exposed. A control signal receiving section is configured to receive, from the outside, a readout control signal that controls a timing at which the plural pixels are read out. A vertical driving control signal generating section is configured to generate, on the basis of the exposure control signal and the readout control signal, a vertical driving control signal that generates a control signal for exposure and readout with respect to each of pixel columns of a pixel section. A vertical driving circuit is configured to drive and control each of the pixel columns according to the vertical driving control signal.

An imaging device includes an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels, respectively including photoelectric converters and charge accumulation nodes that accumulate signal charge. The imaging unit outputs image data based on signals corresponding to the signal charge accumulated in the charge accumulators. The imaging device includes an image processing unit that processes the image data output by the imaging unit. The imaging unit sequentially outputs a plurality of pieces of image data in one frame period by performing readout nondestructively. The image processing unit generates difference image data by determining a difference between two pieces of image data, selects output image data from initial image data and the difference image data, and combines the output image data and normal readout image data included in the plurality of pieces of image data, to generate combination-result image data.

A method for reducing overexposure or underexposure in a time-lapse includes acquiring, using an image capture device, a first frame of the time-lapse using a first exposure setting; and acquiring, using the image capture device, a second frame of the time-lapse. The first frame of the time-lapse is acquired under a first luminance condition. The second frame of the time-lapse is acquired under a second luminance condition that is different from the first luminance condition. The second frame of the time-lapse is acquired using an exposure setting that is determined based on respective exposure settings of one or more preview images obtained between the first frame of the time-lapse and the second frame of the time-lapse. The one or more preview images are not included in the time-lapse.

An image pickup device according to an embodiment includes pixels each configured to output an analog signal based on electric charges produced in a photoelectric conversion unit and a control unit configured to control a gain applied to the analog signal to be at least a first gain and a second gain greater than the first gain in accordance with a signal value of the analog signal. Each of the pixels outputs, as the analog signal, a first signal and a second signal based on electric charges produced in the photoelectric conversion unit in a first exposure period and a second exposure period shorter than the first exposure period. The control unit controls the gain applied to the analog signal by selecting one from the first gain and the second gain in accordance with the signal value, for at least one of the first signal and the second signal.