Imaging apparatus, imaging element, operation method of imaging apparatus, operation method of imaging element, and program for combining image data having a greater number of bits

An imaging element comprising:

• a photoelectric conversion element incorporated in the imaging element;
• and
• a processor that is incorporated in the imaging element and is configured to generate single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from the photoelectric conversion element and output the generated single image data,
• wherein the plurality of pieces of image data have the same signal value range and are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and
• the number of bits of the single image data output from the processor is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data.

An operation method of an imaging apparatus, the operation method comprising:

• generating single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from an imaging element;
• and
• outputting the generated single image data,
• wherein the plurality of pieces of image data have the same signal value range and are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and
• the number of bits of the output single image data in units of pixels is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data in units of pixels.

An operation method of an imaging element, the operation method comprising:

• generating single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from a photoelectric conversion element incorporated in the imaging element;
• and
• outputting the generated single image data,
• wherein the plurality of pieces of image data have the same signal value range and are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and
• the number of bits of the output single image data in units of pixels is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data in units of pixels.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

• generating single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from an imaging element;
• and
• outputting the generated single image data,
• wherein the plurality of pieces of image data have the same signal value range and are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and
• the number of bits of the output single image data in units of pixels is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data in units of pixels.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

• generating single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from a photoelectric conversion element incorporated in an imaging element;
• and
• outputting the generated single image data,
• wherein the plurality of pieces of image data have the same signal value range and are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and
• the number of bits of the output single image data in units of pixels is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data in units of pixels.