Imaging device, solid-state imaging element, camera module, drive control unit, and imaging method

A solid-state imaging element configured by stacking:

• a semiconductor chip on which an imaging circuitry, that performs imaging to acquire an image via a plurality of lens that collects light, is formed;
• and
• a semiconductor chip on which at least one central processing unit (CPU) is formed, wherein the at least one CPU is configured to:
• determine a state of a motion of the imaging circuitry;
• perform at least control for an exposure time of the imaging circuitry according to the determined state, wherein
• relative driving for the plurality of lens or the imaging circuitry is performed to optically correct a blur appearing in the image according to an exposure period of one frame by the exposure time, and
• driving for resetting a relative positional relationship between the plurality of lens and the imaging circuitry, the relative positional relationship being caused during the exposure period, is performed according to a non-exposure period in which exposure is not performed between the frames;
• obtain, based on the motion of the imaging circuitry has a magnitude within a correctable range by the optical correction, an optimum exposure time in which the image is able to be captured with optimum brightness, wherein the optimum exposure time is obtained based on a maximum value of the exposure time of the imaging circuitry as a maximum exposure time allowed within a frame rate;
• and
• set the obtained optimum exposure time for the imaging circuitry.

A camera module, comprising:

• a plurality of lens configured to collect light;
• an imaging circuitry configured to perform imaging via the plurality of lens to acquire an image;
• and
• at least one central processing unit (CPU) configured to:
• determine a state of a motion of the imaging circuitry;
• perform at least control for an exposure time of the imaging circuitry according to the determined state, wherein
• relative driving for the plurality of lens or the imaging circuitry is performed to optically correct a blur appearing in the image according to an exposure period of one frame by the exposure time, and
• driving for resetting a relative positional relationship between the plurality of lens and the imaging circuitry, the relative positional relationship being caused during the exposure period, is performed according to a non-exposure period in which exposure is not performed between the frames;
• obtain, based on the motion of the imaging circuitry has a magnitude within a correctable range by the optical correction, an optimum exposure time in which the image is able to be captured with optimum brightness, wherein the optimum exposure time is obtained based on a maximum value of the exposure time of the imaging circuitry as a maximum exposure time allowed within a frame rate;
• and
• set the obtained optimum exposure time for the imaging circuitry.

A drive control apparatus in which

• at least one central processing unit (CPU) configured to:
• control an exposure time of an imaging circuitry that performs imaging to acquire an image via a plurality of lens that collects light is performed according to a state of a motion of the imaging circuitry;
• control relative driving for the plurality of lens or the imaging circuitry to optically correct a blur appearing in the image according to an exposure period of one frame by the exposure time;
• control driving for resetting a relative positional relationship between the plurality of lens and the imaging circuitry, the relative positional relationship being caused during the exposure period, according to a non-exposure period in which exposure is not performed between the frames;
• obtain, based on the motion of the imaging circuitry has a magnitude within a correctable range by the optical correction, an optimum exposure time in which the image is able to be captured with optimum brightness, wherein the optimum exposure time is obtained based on a maximum value of the exposure time of the imaging circuitry as a maximum exposure time allowed within a frame rate;
• and
• set the obtained optimum exposure time for the imaging circuitry.

An imaging method, comprising:

• by an imaging device including an imaging circuitry that performs imaging to acquire an image via a plurality of lens that collects light,
• determining a state of a motion of the imaging circuitry;
• performing at least control for an exposure time of the imaging circuitry according to the determined state, wherein
• relative driving for the plurality of lens or the imaging circuitry is performed to optically correct a blur appearing in the image according to an exposure period of one frame by the exposure time, and
• driving for resetting a relative positional relationship between the plurality of lens and the imaging circuitry, the relative positional relationship being caused during the exposure period, is performed according to a non-exposure period in which exposure is not performed between the frames;
• obtaining, based on the motion of the imaging circuitry has a magnitude within a correctable range by the optical correction, an optimum exposure time in which the image is able to be captured with optimum brightness, wherein the optimum exposure time is obtained based on a maximum value of the exposure time of the imaging circuitry as a maximum exposure time allowed within a frame rate;
• and
• setting the obtained optimum exposure time for the imaging circuitry.