Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and computer readable recording medium

An imaging method implemented by an imaging apparatus including:

• an imaging sensor including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a two-dimensional grid pattern, the pixels being configured to generate image data by receiving light and performing photoelectric conversion;
• a color filter including a plurality of filters configured to transmit visible light in different wavelength bands in a visible region and near-infrared light in different wavelength bands in a near-infrared region, the plurality of filters being arranged to correspond to the pixels;
• a first light source configured to irradiate a subject with the visible light;
• and
• a second light source configured to irradiate the subject with the near-infrared light,
• the imaging method comprising:
• causing the first light source to emit the visible light;
• causing the imaging sensor to capture an image of the subject irradiated with the visible light and generate first image data;
• causing the first light source and the second light source to emit light simultaneously;
• causing the imaging sensor to capture an image of the subject irradiated with the visible light and the near-infrared light and generate second image data;
• and
• generating a plurality of pieces of near-infrared image data on different near-infrared regions based on the first image data and the second image data;
• wherein the generating of the plurality of pieces of near-infrared image data comprises subtracting a pixel value of each of pixels of a first image corresponding to the first image data from a pixel value of each of pixels of a second image corresponding to the second image data, and thereafter interpolating pixel values from pixel values of neighboring pixels of a same type.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program causing an imaging apparatus that includes:

• an imaging sensor including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a two-dimensional grid pattern, the pixels being configured to generate image data by receiving light and performing photoelectric conversion;
• a color filter including a plurality of filters configured to transmit visible light in different wavelength bands in a visible region and near-infrared light in different wavelength bands in a near-infrared region, the plurality of filters being arranged to correspond to the pixels;
• a first light source configured to irradiate a subject with the visible light;
• and
• a second light source configured to irradiate the subject with the near-infrared light, to execute:
• causing the first light source to emit the visible light;
• causing the imaging sensor to capture an image of the subject irradiated with the visible light and generate first image data;
• causing the first light source and the second light source to emit light simultaneously;
• causing the imaging sensor to capture an image of the subject irradiated with the visible light and the near-infrared light and generate second image data;
• and
• generating a plurality of pieces of near-infrared image data on different near-infrared regions based on the first image data and the second image data;
• wherein the generating of the plurality of pieces of near-infrared image data comprises subtracting a pixel value of each of pixels of a first image corresponding to the first image data from a pixel value of each of pixels of a second image corresponding to the second image data, and thereafter interpolating pixel values from pixel values of neighboring pixels of a same type.