Distance-measuring imaging device, distance measuring method of distance-measuring imaging device, and solid-state imaging device

A solid-state imaging element used in a distance-measuring imaging device that includes:

• a drive controller that generates a light emission signal and an exposure signal:
• a light source that applies irradiation light a plurality of times according to timing indicated by the light emission signal;
• a solid-state imager that includes a solid-state imaging element that performs, for an area including an object, exposure to light a plurality of times according to timing indicated by the exposure signal, and generates a signal corresponding to a total exposure amount of the exposure;
• a signal amount comparator that determines a magnitude relationship in signal amount based on a plurality of signal charges accumulated in a plurality of signal accumulation regions;
• and a distance calculator that calculates a distance to the object by selecting a calculation method, based on a result of the determination of the magnitude relationship in signal amount, the solid-state imaging element comprising
• the plurality of signal accumulation regions for accumulating signal charges detected in a same pixel,
• wherein each of the plurality of signal accumulation regions is not used exclusively to accumulate a signal charge by exposure to reflected light from the object involving only background light different from the irradiation light applied from the light source, but used to accumulate a signal charge by exposure according to the exposure signal from the drive controller, the exposure signal having a same exposure period and different in timing with respect to the light emission signal from the drive controller.