Provided is a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photodiode configured to generate a photocharge in a frame including a plurality of unit frames, a floating diffusion node configured to receive the photocharge, a first storage capacitor configured to receive and store a first photocharge generated by the photodiode through the floating diffusion node during a first unit accumulation time period in each of the plurality of unit frames, and a second storage capacitor configured to receive and store a second photocharge generated by the photodiode through the floating diffusion node during a second unit accumulation time period in each of the plurality of unit frames.

An image capturing device includes: an image capturing element having a first image capturing region that captures an image of a photographic subject and outputs a first signal, and a second image capturing region that captures an image of the photographic subject and outputs a second signal; a setting unit that sets an image capture condition for the first image capturing region to an image capture condition that is different from an image capture condition for the second image capturing region; a correction unit that performs correction upon the second signal, for employment in interpolation of the first signal; and a generation unit that generates an image of the photographic subject that has been captured by the first image capturing region by employing a signal generated by interpolating the first signal according to the second signal as corrected by the correction unit.

An image capturing device includes: an image capturing element having a first image capturing region that captures an image of a photographic subject and outputs a first signal, and a second image capturing region that captures an image of the photographic subject and outputs a second signal; a setting unit that sets an image capture condition for the first image capturing region to an image capture condition that is different from an image capture condition for the second image capturing region; a correction unit that performs correction upon the second signal, for employment in interpolation of the first signal; and a generation unit that generates an image of the photographic subject that has been captured by the first image capturing region by employing a signal generated by interpolating the first signal according to the second signal as corrected by the correction unit.

An image capture system includes an image sensor which has pixel lines, a reset circuit, a readout circuit, and a processor. The processor configured to determine a first exposure time for a first portion of the image information, determine a second exposure time for a second portion of the image information, and variably control a pixel line exposure time for a selected line of pixels by signaling the reset circuit and the readout circuit at different times which are based on the first exposure time and the second exposure time, and where the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the pixel line exposure time are elapsed times between the reset time and the read time. The image sensor further includes a gain element which is pixel line variably controlled using a first gain factor for the first portion and a second gain factor for the second portion.

An image recognition device (image recognition system 100) according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit (10) and a recognition unit (14). The imaging unit (10) captures a plurality of images at the same exposure start timing in one frame period by using imaging pixels having different sensitivities to generate image data. The recognition unit (14) recognizes a subject from each of the image data. The imaging unit (10) includes a pixel array in which a plurality of imaging pixels having different exposure times, different light transmittances of color filters, or different light receiving areas are two-dimensionally arranged.

Optimizations are provided for a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor. This sensor is a spatially multiplexed image sensor that includes at least two sets of red, green, and blue (RGB) pixels. Each red pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately and sometimes, adjacently, to at least one red pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each green pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one green pixel in the first set of RGB pixels. Each blue pixel in the second set of RGB pixels is positioned proximately to at least one blue pixel in the first set of RGB pixel. This spatially multiplexed image sensor is able to generate a digital image with reduced motion blurring artifacts.

Provided is an imaging unit including an imaging section that includes a pixel capable of performing charge accumulation a plurality of times in response to an imaging instruction for generating one frame of image data; a storage section that stores a pixel signal based on output from the pixel; an updating section that updates the pixel signal already stored in the storage section by performing an integration process to integrate the pixel signal output from the pixel as a result of a new charge accumulation and the pixel signal already stored in the storage section; and a control section that controls whether the updating section performs the update, for each of a plurality of pixel groups that each include one or more pixels.

An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.

An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.

A light sensor is disclosed. The light sensor comprises a first pixel and a second pixel. The light sensor comprises measurement circuitry. The first pixel is configured to accumulate a first charge and the second pixel is configured to accumulate a second charge when the light sensor is exposed to light. The first pixel is configured to trigger the measurement circuitry to measure the second charge when the first charge reaches a threshold capacity of the first pixel. Also disclosed is an active pixel sensor comprising the light sensor, an image sensor and a device incorporating the light sensor.