# US 2014/0192250 A1 · Imaging apparatus, signal processing method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192250 A1 - Document ID: US20140192250A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,216 - Filed: 2012-06-29 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Tomoo Mitsunaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192250A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/73: by influencing the exposure time - H04N 23/741: by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors - H04N 25/133: including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light - H04N 25/134: {based on three different wavelength filter elements} - H04N 25/533: by using differing integration times for different sensor regions - H04N 25/583: with different integration times - H04N 25/70: SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith - H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors - H04N 25/778: comprising amplifiers shared between a plurality of pixels, i.e. at least one part of the amplifier must be on the sensor array itself - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for generating a wide dynamic range image by executing a pixel value combination process of a plurality of different exposure time setting pixels. Control of a different exposure time is performed for each of a plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring a pixel block and an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block is generated. The generation of the addition pixel value is executed in an operation unit having an adding unit that that adds the outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. Or, the generation of the addition pixel value is executed by a floating diffusion (FD) set in a pixel block unit and a charge output from each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block is accumulated and output in the floating diffusion (FD). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: a pixel unit in which pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels of the same colors are arranged; a control unit that performs control of a different exposure time for each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block; and an addition pixel value generating unit that generates an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the addition pixel value generating unit is configured by an addition circuit having an adding unit that adds the outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pixel block is configured by pixels of the same colors including a plurality of pixels of a plurality of rows×a plurality of columns, and the addition circuit has a register that stores pixel values of a plurality of pixels set to a precedent read row of the pixel block and an adding unit that adds read pixel values of a plurality of pixels set to a following read row of the pixel block and the pixel values stored in the register. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pixel block is configured by pixels of the same colors including four pixels of 2 rows×2 columns, and the addition circuit has a register that stores pixel values of two pixels set to a precedent read row of the pixel block and an adding unit that adds read pixel values of two pixels set to a following read row of the pixel block and the pixel values stored in the register. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the addition pixel value generating unit is configured by a floating diffusion (FD) set in the pixel block unit, and the floating diffusion (FD) has a configuration in which a charge output from each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block is accumulated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel unit has a four-divisional Bayer type RGB array and has an array configuration of a pixel block including four pixels in a unit of each color of R, G, and B. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel unit has a four-divisional WRB array in which G pixels in a four-divisional Bayer type RGB array are replaced by W pixels of a total visible light wavelength transmission type and has an array configuration of a pixel block including four pixels in a unit of each color of W, R, and B. ### Claim 8 A signal processing method that is executed in an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus has a pixel unit in which pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels of the same colors are arranged, a control unit executes an exposure control process for performing control of a different exposure time for each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block, and an addition pixel value generating unit executes an addition pixel value generation process for generating an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. ### Claim 9 A program for causing a signal process to be executed in an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus has a pixel unit in which pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels of the same colors are arranged, the program causes a control unit to execute an exposure control process for performing control of a different exposure time for each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block, and the program causes an addition pixel value generating unit to execute an addition pixel value generation process for generating an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block.