Driving method of imaging device and driving method of imaging system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H04N-005/378
H04N-005/347
H04N-005/369
H04N-005/3745
출원번호
US-0469167
(2014-08-26)
등록번호
US-9538110
(2017-01-03)
우선권정보
JP-2013-176246 (2013-08-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Ikeda, Yasuji
출원인 / 주소
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
대리인 / 주소
Canon USA, Inc. IP Division
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
A driving method of an imaging device, and a driving method of an imaging system set the number of unit cells based on signals output from a plurality of unit cells in a phase difference detection area within an imaging area to a number larger than the number of unit cells based on signals output fr
A driving method of an imaging device, and a driving method of an imaging system set the number of unit cells based on signals output from a plurality of unit cells in a phase difference detection area within an imaging area to a number larger than the number of unit cells based on signals output from a plurality of unit cells in a range other than the phase difference detection area within the imaging area.
대표청구항▼
1. A driving method of an imaging device which includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, and each including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells positio
1. A driving method of an imaging device which includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, and each including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells positioned in a first area for phase difference detection within the imaging area outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells,each of the plurality of unit cells positioned in a second area other than the first area, within the imaging area, outputs a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals in the first area, and signals based on the second signals in the first area,the imaging device outputs signals based on the second signals in the second area, andthe imaging device sets a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals in the second area to a number larger than a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the first signals in the first area, and larger than a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals in the first area. 2. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 1, wherein a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area is smaller than a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the first area by the number of the unit cells within the first area, and smaller than a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the first area by the number of the unit cells within the first area. 3. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 2, wherein the imaging device further includes a plurality of memories disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells, and each holding a signal based on the second signal, andthe imaging device causes a part of the plural memories each holding a signal based on the second signal of the unit cell within the second area to output the signal based on the second signal so as to decrease the value obtained by dividing the number of the signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area. 4. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 2, wherein the value obtained by dividing the number of the signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area is decreased by addition of respective signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area. 5. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 4, wherein the imaging device includes a plurality of AD converting units disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells,each of the AD converting units converts a signal based on the first signal into a digital signal, and converts a signal based on the second signal into a digital signal, andthe addition of respective signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area is addition of respective digital signals based on the second signals generated by the AD converting units. 6. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 5, wherein the imaging device further includes a plurality of amplifying units disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells, and each generating an amplified signal of the first signal and an amplified signal of the second signal, andeach of the AD converting units converts the amplified signal of the first signal and output from the amplifying unit and the amplified signal of the second signal and output from the amplifying unit into digital signals. 7. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 4, wherein respective signals based on the second signals and output from the unit cells in a plurality of rows or in a plurality of columns are added. 8. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 1, wherein each of the unit cells includes a pixel including the plurality of photoelectric converting units, and an output unit outputting the first signal and the second signal. 9. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the imaging device further includes a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses, andone of the microlenses introduces light into the plural photoelectric converting units of one of the unit cells. 10. A driving method of an imaging system which includes the imaging device of claim 1, and a signal processing unit receiving signals from the imaging device, wherein the signal processing unit generates phase difference detection signals using signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the first area, and signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the first area, andthe signal processing unit generates image signals for producing an image using signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the imaging area. 11. The driving method of the imaging system of claim 10, wherein the signal processing unit detects a focus by the phase difference detection signals. 12. A driving method of an imaging device which includes a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, and each including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in a second one of the plurality photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals of the unit cells in the imaging area, and signals based on the second signals of the unit cells in the imaging area,the imaging device sets each of (i) a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the first signals in a first area for phase difference detection within the imaging area and (ii) a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals in the first area, to a number smaller than a number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals, in a second area other than the first area, within the imaging area. 13. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 12, wherein each of a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area, and a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area is smaller than a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the first area by the number of the unit cells in the first area within the imaging area, and smaller than a value obtained by dividing the number of signals based on the second signals of the unit cells in the first area within the imaging area by the number of the unit cells within the first area. 14. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 13, wherein the imaging device further includes a plurality of memories disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells, and each holding a signal based on the second signal, andthe imaging device causes a part of the plurality of memories each holding a signal based on the second signal of the unit cell within the second area to output the signal based on the second signal so as to decrease the value obtained by dividing the number of the signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area. 15. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 13, wherein the value obtained by dividing the number of the signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area by the number of the unit cells within the second area is decreased by addition of respective signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area. 16. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 15, wherein the imaging device includes a plurality of AD converting units disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells,each of the AD converting units converts a signal based on the first signal and a signal based on the second signal into digital signals, andthe addition of respective signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area is addition of respective digital signals based on the second signals generated by the AD converting units. 17. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 16, wherein the imaging device further includes a plurality of amplifying units disposed in correspondence with the columns of the unit cells, and each generating an amplified signal of the first signal and an amplified signal of the second signal, andeach of the AD converting units converts the amplified signal of the first signal and output from the amplifying unit and the amplified signal of the second signal and output from the amplifying unit into digital signals. 18. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 15, wherein the addition of respective signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the second area is addition of respective signals based on the second signals output from the unit cells in a plurality of rows or in a plurality columns. 19. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 12, wherein each of the unit cells includes a plurality of pixels,a first one of the plural pixels includes the first one of the photoelectric converting units, and an output unit outputting the first signal,a second one of the plural pixels includes the second one of the photoelectric converting units, and an output unit outputting the second signal. 20. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 12, wherein each of the cells includes a pixel including the plural photoelectric converting units, and an output unit outputting the first and second signals. 21. The driving method of the imaging device of claim 12, wherein the imaging device further includes a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses, andone of the microlenses introduces light into the plural photoelectric converting units of one of the unit cells. 22. A driving method of an imaging system which includes an imaging device, and a signal processing unit receiving signals from the imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises:a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, and each including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light:wherein each of the plurality of unit cells outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in a second one of the plurality photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals of the unit cells in the imaging area, and signals based on the second signals of the unit cells in the imaging area,the imaging device sets the number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the first signals in a first area for phase difference detection within the imaging area and the number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals in the first area to a number larger than the number of the unit cells based on a signal based on the second signals in a second area other than the first area, within the imaging area,wherein the signal processing unit generates phase difference detection signals using signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the first area, and signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the first area, andthe signal processing unit generates image signals for producing an image using signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the imaging area. 23. A driving method of an imaging system, wherein the imaging system includes an imaging device including a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, each of the unit cells including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, anda signal processing unit processing signals output from the imaging device,each of the plural unit cells positioned in a first area for phase difference detection within the imaging area, outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding a first number of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding the first number of the unit cells,each of the plurality of unit cells positioned in a second area other than the first area, within the imaging area outputs a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals in the first area, signals based on the second signals in the first area, and signals based on the second signals in the second area to the signal processing unit,the signal processing unit generates phase difference detection signals using each of the first signals in the first area, and each of the second signals in the first area, and further generates image signals for producing an image using signals obtained by adding respective signals based on the second signals in the first and second areas, or using signals based on only a part of the second signals in the first and second areas input from the imaging device. 24. The driving method of the imaging system of claim 23, wherein the signal processing unit detects a focus by the phase difference detection signals. 25. A driving method of an imaging system, wherein the imaging system includes an imaging device including a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, each of the unit cells including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, anda signal processing unit processing signals output from the imaging device,each of the plurality of unit cells outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the other part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding the at least one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals of the unit cells within the imaging area, and signals based on the second signals of the unit cells within the imaging area to the signal processing unit,the signal processing unit generates phase difference detection signals using each of the first signals of the unit cells within only a part of the imaging area, and each of the second signals of the unit cells within the only a part of the imaging area,the signal processing unit generates image signals for producing an image using signals obtained by adding respective signals based on the first signals in the imaging area and respective signals based on the second signals in the imaging area, or using signals based on only a part of the first signals and second signals in the imaging area input from the imaging device. 26. The driving method of the imaging system of claim 25, wherein the signal processing unit detects a focus by the phase difference detection signals. 27. A driving method of an imaging system, wherein the imaging system includes an imaging device including a plurality of unit cells disposed in a matrix in an imaging area, each of the unit cells including a plurality of photoelectric converting units each accumulating electric carriers based on incident light, anda signal processing unit processing signals output from the imaging device,each of the plurality of unit cells positioned in a first area for phase difference detection within the imaging area outputs a first signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in only a part of the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells, and a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plural photoelectric converting units of corresponding at least one of the unit cells,each of the plurality of unit cells positioned in a second area other than the first area, within the imaging area, outputs a second signal based on the electric carriers accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric converting units of corresponding one of the unit cells,the imaging device outputs signals based on the first signals in the first area, signals based on the second signals in the first area, and signals based on the second signals in the second area to the signal processing unit,the signal processing unit generates phase difference detection signals based on signals based on the first signals in the first area and signals based on the second signals in the first area, and further generates image signals for producing an image based on signals based on the second signals in the first and second areas, andthe imaging device sets the number of the unit cells based on one of the image signals to a number larger than the number of the unit cells based on one of the phase difference detection signals. 28. The driving method of the imaging system of claim 27, wherein the signal processing unit detects a focus by the phase difference detection signals.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Suda, Yasuo, Focus detecting device with photoelectric conversion portion having microlens and with light blocking portion having first and second openings.
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