Imaging element, imaging apparatus, operation method of imaging element, and program

An imaging element comprising:

• a reading circuit that is incorporated in the imaging element and reads out image data obtained by imaging using a photoelectric conversion element from the photoelectric conversion element at a first frame rate;
• a memory that is incorporated in the imaging element and stores the image data read out from the photoelectric conversion element by the reading circuit;
• a control circuit that is incorporated in the imaging element and processes the image data;
• and
• a communication interface that is incorporated in the imaging element and outputs the image data processed by the control circuit at a second frame rate,
• wherein the control circuit detects first image data indicating a specific image from the image data stored in the memory, and generates second image data that is based on the image data different from the detected first image data in the image data of a plurality of frames, and that is combined image data obtained by combining image data of a number of frames and of which an added exposure amount is greater than or equal to a first predetermined exposure amount,
• wherein the communication interface outputs the second image data generated by the control circuit,
• wherein the second frame rate is a frame rate lower than the first frame rate,
• wherein each image indicated by the image data of the plurality of frames set as a combining target includes a specific subject image indicating a specific subject of which a misregistration amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value between frames, and
• wherein the control circuit
• extracts specific subject image data of a plurality of frames of the first predetermined exposure amount or greater indicating an image including the specific subject image from the image data of the plurality of frames set as the combining target, and
• generates the combined image data as the second image data by combining the extracted specific subject image data of the plurality of frames.

An operation method of an imaging element incorporating a memory, the operation method comprising:

• reading out image data obtained by imaging using a photoelectric conversion element from the photoelectric conversion element at a first frame rate;
• storing the image data read out from the photoelectric conversion element in the memory;
• processing the image data;
• outputting the processed image data at a second frame rate;
• detecting first image data indicating a specific image from the image data stored in the memory;
• generating second image data that is image data different from the detected first image data in the image data of a plurality of frames;
• and
• outputting the generated second image data,
• wherein the second frame rate is a frame rate lower than the first frame rate, and
• wherein the second image data is generated by adjusting a gain of the image data different from the first image data such that the second image data has an exposure amount that is greater than or equal to a predetermined exposure amount.

An operation method of an imaging element incorporating a memory, the operation method comprising:

• reading out image data obtained by imaging using a photoelectric conversion element from the photoelectric conversion element at a first frame rate;
• storing the image data read out from the photoelectric conversion element in the memory;
• processing the image data;
• outputting the processed image data at a second frame rate;
• detecting first image data indicating a specific image from the image data stored in the memory;
• generating second image data based on image data different from the detected first image data in the image data of a plurality of frames, and that is combined image data obtained by combining image data of a number of frames and of which an added exposure amount is greater than or equal to a first predetermined exposure amount;
• and
• outputting the generated second image data,
• wherein the second frame rate is a frame rate lower than the first frame rate,
• wherein each image indicated by the image data of the plurality of frames set as a combining target includes a specific subject image indicating a specific subject of which a misregistration amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value between frames, and
• wherein the second image data is generated by
• extracting specific subject image data of a plurality of frames of the first predetermined exposure amount or greater indicating an image including the specific subject image from the image data of the plurality of frames set as the combining target, and
• generating the combined image data as the second image data by combining the extracted specific subject image data of the plurality of frames.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program executable by a computer applied to an imaging element incorporating a memory to perform a process comprising:

• reading out image data obtained by imaging using a photoelectric conversion element from the photoelectric conversion element at a first frame rate;
• storing the image data read out from the photoelectric conversion element in the memory;
• processing the image data;
• outputting the processed image data at a second frame rate;
• detecting first image data indicating a specific image from the image data stored in the memory;
• generating second image data that is image data different from the detected first image data in the image data of a plurality of frames;
• and
• outputting the generated second image data,
• wherein the second frame rate is a frame rate lower than the first frame rate, and
• wherein the second image data is generated by adjusting a gain of the image data different from the first image data such that the second image data has an exposure amount that is greater than or equal to a predetermined exposure amount.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program executable by a computer applied to an imaging element incorporating a memory to perform a process comprising:

• reading out image data obtained by imaging using a photoelectric conversion element from the photoelectric conversion element at a first frame rate;
• storing the image data read out from the photoelectric conversion element in the memory;
• processing the image data;
• outputting the processed image data at a second frame rate;
• detecting first image data indicating a specific image from the image data stored in the memory;
• generating second image data based on image data different from the detected first image data in the image data of a plurality of frames, and that is combined image data obtained by combining image data of a number of frames and of which an added exposure amount is greater than or equal to a first predetermined exposure amount;
• and
• outputting the generated second image data,
• wherein the second frame rate is a frame rate lower than the first frame rate,
• wherein each image indicated by the image data of the plurality of frames set as a combining target includes a specific subject image indicating a specific subject of which a misregistration amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value between frames, and
• wherein the second image data is generated by
• extracting specific subject image data of a plurality of frames of the first predetermined exposure amount or greater indicating an image including the specific subject image from the image data of the plurality of frames set as the combining target, and
• generating the combined image data as the second image data by combining the extracted specific subject image data of the plurality of frames.