An image capturing apparatus generates an image of a high dynamic range that takes into account gain in addition to a range of change of storage capacitance. The image capturing apparatus having an image capturing device of a structure in which blocks each configured by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, includes a first control circuit, a second control circuit, and a generating circuit. The first control circuit is configured to control sensitivity in units of the blocks. The second control circuit is configured to control a gain of a signal for each block obtained by the image capturing device. The generating circuit is configured to, by mapping image data of blocks obtained under the control of the second control circuit to a region that accords with sensitivity set for the blocks in a preset high dynamic range, generate image data of the high dynamic range.

An apparatus including a sensor for setting an exposure time or gain for each of pixel groups including at least one pixel includes an imaging unit including the sensor configured to capture a subject through an optical system to generate an image, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a specific image region in the generated image, a determination unit configured to determine a specific pixel region including at least one pixel group in the sensor and corresponding to the specific image region, based on the information about the specific image region, a change unit configured to change at least one of a number, a size, and a shape of pixel groups in the specific pixel region determined by the determination unit, and a control unit configured to control the exposure time or gain for each of the pixel groups.

To improve the frame rate in an imaging apparatus that carries out still image recording and moving image display simultaneously. A pixel array includes an arrangement of a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each include an internal memory. An exposure control unit carries out first exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to all the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels. The exposure control unit also carries out second exposure control in which captured data obtained by performing exposure to specific pixels of the plurality of pixels together is retained in the internal memories of the pixels.

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.

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.

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.

A device that is configured to perform image capturing using a sensor for setting an exposure condition on a region-by-region basis, the device includes an issuance unit configured to issue a plurality of shutter pulses each corresponding to a different time of a plurality of exposure times, a first generation unit configured to generate a mask signal for masking of the plurality of shutter pulses in accordance with an exposure time setting of each of regions, and a second generation unit configured to generate signals to be used for each of the regions, by masking the plurality of shutter pulses in accordance with the mask signal and combining the masked plurality of shutter pulses or the plurality of shutter pulses without being masked with a read pulse.

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 image capturing apparatus generates an image of a high dynamic range that takes into account gain in addition to a range of change of storage capacitance. The image capturing apparatus having an image capturing device of a structure in which blocks each configured by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, includes a first control circuit, a second control circuit, and a generating circuit. The first control circuit is configured to control sensitivity in units of the blocks. The second control circuit is configured to control a gain of a signal for each block obtained by the image capturing device. The generating circuit is configured to, by mapping image data of blocks obtained under the control of the second control circuit to a region that accords with sensitivity set for the blocks in a preset high dynamic range, generate image data of the high dynamic range.

The present invention relates to an image sensing structure, including: a sensing circuit, a storage circuit and a processing circuit. The sensing circuit is used to generate multiple sensing signals in different periods; the storage circuit is used to store the sensing signals. The storage circuit sequentially outputs a first sensing signal of a target object in a first period and a second sensing signal of the target object in a second period to the processing circuit. The processing circuit performs dynamic event detection processing through the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. Also, the present invention relates to an image sensing device including the image sensing structure.