In an imaging apparatus, two pupils of a pupil division optical system transmits light of a first wavelength band and light of a second wavelength band. An amount of components of the first wavelength band in first transmittance characteristics and second transmittance characteristics is more than an amount of components of the second wavelength band in the first transmittance characteristics and the second transmittance characteristics. An amount of components of the second wavelength band in third transmittance characteristics is more than an amount of components of the first wavelength band in the third transmittance characteristics. A processor is configured to generate a color image including a first signal that is based on the first transmittance characteristics as a first channel and a second signal that is based on the second transmittance characteristics as a second channel and a third channel.

According to an embodiment, an optical apparatus includes a lighting unit, an imaging unit, and a processor. The lighting unit emits illumination rays. The imaging unit includes: a wavelength selecting unit including first and second wavelength selection regions; and a sensor. The first wavelength selection region converts a first ray passing through the first wavelength selection region into a first selected ray. The second wavelength selection region converts a second ray passing through the second wavelength selection region into a second selected ray. The sensor can acquire color phase information indicating color phases of the first selected ray and the second selected ray. The processor estimates a ray direction of the first ray and a ray direction of the second ray based on the color phase information and a relative position of the wavelength selecting unit in the imaging unit.

An image sensor includes: a light detector including a plurality of photosensitive cells configured to sense light; a color separation lens array provided above the light detector and including a plurality of pattern structures, the color separation lens array being configured to collect light having different wavelength spectra respectively on at least two photosensitive cells of the plurality of photosensitive cells; and a variable interlayer element configured to adjust an optical distance between the light detector and the color separation lens array.

In an imaging apparatus, two pupils of a pupil division optical system transmits light of a first wavelength band and light of a second wavelength band. An amount of components of the first wavelength band in first transmittance characteristics and second transmittance characteristics is more than an amount of components of the second wavelength band in the first transmittance characteristics and the second transmittance characteristics. An amount of components of the second wavelength band in third transmittance characteristics is more than an amount of components of the first wavelength band in the third transmittance characteristics. A processor is configured to generate a color image including a first signal that is based on the first transmittance characteristics as a first channel and a second signal that is based on the second transmittance characteristics as a second channel and a third channel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.