# US 11,122,196 B2 · Image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,196 B2 - Document ID: US11122196B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/781,478 - Filed: 2020-02-04 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-06 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yumi Takao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122196B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - H10F 39/8027: {Geometry of the photosensitive area} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals} - H10F 39/191: {Photoconductor image sensors} - H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses} - G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)} - G02B 5/201: {in the form of arrays} - H04N 25/704: Pixels specially adapted for focusing, e.g. phase difference pixel sets - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract In order to provide an image processing apparatus that can obtain images having a plurality of F-numbers simultaneously by one shooting operation, the image processing apparatus includes an image pickup device, each pixel of the image pickup device has a micro lens for condensing light and a photoelectric conversion region provided beneath the micro lens, and the photoelectric conversion region includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode sandwiching a photoelectric conversion film and forms at least first to third regions that are divided and arranged in a plane parallel to the image pickup plane by the upper electrode or the lower electrode. Additionally, the first region has a shape for forming a circle, and the second and third regions are arranged outside the first region. Additionally, the image processing apparatus includes a readout unit that reads out photoelectric conversion signals obtained from one image pickup operation from each of the first to third regions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus comprising: an image pickup device configured to have a plurality of pixels arranged along an image pickup plane, the pixel having a micro lens for condensing light from outside into the pixel and a photoelectric conversion region provided beneath the micro lens and for generating a photoelectric conversion signal, the photoelectric conversion region including an upper electrode and a lower electrode sandwiching a photoelectric conversion film, the upper electrode or the lower electrode being divided into a plurality of portions, and forming at least a first region, a second region, and a third region that are divided and arranged in a plane parallel to the image pickup plane by the divided upper electrodes or the lower electrodes, the first region having a shape for forming a circle, the second region and the third region being arranged outside the first region; and a readout unit configured to read out the photoelectric conversion signals obtained by one image pickup operation to serve as respectively first, second, and third signals from the first, second, and third regions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image signal processing unit configured to have a first mode that forms a first image signal by adding the first, second, and third signals from among the first, second, and third signals that have been read out by the readout unit, and a second mode that forms a second image signal by using the first signal without using the second and third signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup device and the readout unit are built in an image pickup apparatus, and the image signal processing unit is built in an external apparatus separate from the image pickup apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focus detection unit configured to generate a focus detection signal by using at least the second and third signals from among the first, second, and third signals that have been read out by the readout unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store each of the first, second, and third signals that have been read out by the readout unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first region is further divided into a plurality of regions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the annular region is divided into a plurality of regions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion region has an annular region provided outside the first region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the readout unit reads out a fourth signal from the annular region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image processing unit can select a third mode that forms a third image signal by using the first signal and the fourth signal instead of using the second and third signals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion region is divided into a plurality of regions, and the readout unit adds and reads out a part of signals of the regions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion region is divided into a plurality of regions, and the readout unit has a storage unit for reading out and storing signals from the regions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a unit configured to change a combination of signals from the regions stored in the storage unit and perform addition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion film includes an organic photoelectric conversion film. ### Claim 15 An image processing apparatus comprising: an image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arranged along an image pickup plane, the pixel having a micro lens for condensing light from outside into the pixel and a photoelectric conversion region provided beneath the micro lens and for generating a photoelectric conversion signal, the photoelectric conversion region including an upper electrode and a lower electrode sandwiching a photoelectric conversion film, the upper electrode or the lower electrode being divided into a plurality of portions, and forming at least a first region, a second region, and a third region that are divided and arranged in a plane parallel to the image pickup plane by the divided upper electrodes or the lower electrodes, the first region having a shape for forming a circle, the second region and the third region being arranged outside the first region; a readout unit configured to read out photoelectric conversion signals obtained by one image pickup operation to serve as respectively first, second, and third signals from the first, second, and third regions; an image signal processing unit configured to have a first mode that forms a first image signal by adding the first, second, and third signals from among the first, second, and third signals that have been read out by the readout unit, and a second mode that forms a second image signal by using the first signal instead of using the second and third signals; and a focus detection unit configured to generate a focus detection signal by using at least the second and third signals.