Image capturing device, image sensor, and method of controlling image capturing device

An image sensor comprising:

• a data generation unit configured to execute long exposure processing and short exposure processing in sequence, the long exposure processing being performed to generate data including a plurality of pixel data items as long exposure data by performing exposure over a longer time period of two different exposure time periods, the short exposure processing being performed to generate data including a plurality of pixel data items as short exposure data by performing exposure over a shorter time period of the two different exposure time periods after the long exposure processing;
• a compression unit configured to compress the long exposure data to generate compression data;
• a memory configured to hold the compression data over delay time corresponding to the shorter time period of the two exposure time periods;
• a decompression unit configured to decompress the held compression data to restore the long exposure data;
• and
• a combination unit configured to combine the restored long exposure data and the short exposure data.

A method of controlling an image capturing device, the method comprising:

• a long exposure step of generating, by a data generation unit, data including a plurality of pixel data items as long exposure data by performing exposure over a longer time period of two different exposure time periods;
• a short exposure step of generating, by a data generation unit, data including a plurality of pixel data items as short exposure data by performing exposure over a shorter time period of the two different exposure time periods after the long exposure processing;
• a compression step of compressing, by a compression unit, the long exposure data to generate compression data;
• a delaying step of holding, by a memory, the compression data over delay time corresponding to the shorter time period of the two exposure time periods;
• a decompression step of decompressing, by a decompression unit, the held compression data to restore the long exposure data;
• and
• a combining step of combining, by a combination unit, the restored long exposure data and the short exposure data.