# US 2023/0276142 A1 · Imaging device and image processing method

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- Number: US 2023/0276142 A1
- Document ID: US20230276142A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/311,663
- Filed: 2023-05-03
- Published: 2023-08-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-05
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yusuke OKADA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230276142A1

## CPC

- H04N 23/741: by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
- H04N 25/587: acquired sequentially, e.g. using the combination of odd and even image fields
- H04N 25/40: Extracting pixel data from image sensors by controlling scanning circuits, e.g. by modifying the number of pixels sampled or to be sampled
- H04N 25/53: Control of the integration time
- H04N 25/583: with different integration times
- H04N 25/589: with different integration times, e.g. short and long exposures
- H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
- H04N 25/767: Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An imaging device includes an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels, respectively including photoelectric converters and charge accumulation nodes that accumulate signal charge. The imaging unit outputs image data based on signals corresponding to the signal charge accumulated in the charge accumulators. The imaging device includes an image processing unit that processes the image data output by the imaging unit. The imaging unit sequentially outputs a plurality of pieces of image data in one frame period by performing readout nondestructively. The image processing unit generates difference image data by determining a difference between two pieces of image data, selects output image data from initial image data and the difference image data, and combines the output image data and normal readout image data included in the plurality of pieces of image data, to generate combination-result image data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device comprising:
an imaging unit that includes a plurality of pixels, respectively including photoelectric converters that generate signal charge and charge accumulators that accumulate the signal charge wherein the imaging unit outputs image data based on signals corresponding to the signal charge accumulated in the charge accumulators; and
a processing circuit that processes the image data output by the imaging unit,
wherein the imaging unit sequentially outputs a plurality of pieces of image data in one frame period by performing readout nondestructively a plurality of times, and subsequently resets the charge accumulators to output a piece of image data corresponding to a reset voltage, and
the processing circuit
generates first image data based on at least one of the plurality of pieces of image data,
generates second image data by deriving a difference between the last one of the plurality of pieces of image data and the piece of image data corresponding to the reset voltage, and
combines the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein each of the photoelectric converters includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein each of the photoelectric converters includes a photodiode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein the imaging unit includes a signal readout circuit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein the processing circuit generates the first image data by deriving a difference between two pieces of image data of the plurality of pieces of image data.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein the processing circuit generates the first image data by deriving a difference between two pieces of image data of the plurality of pieces of image data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1,
wherein the third image data has greater dynamic range than each of the first image data and the second image data has.

### Claim 8

An image processing method comprising:
sequentially inputting a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by performing readout nondestructively a plurality of times in one frame period;
inputting a piece of image data corresponding to a reset voltage;
generating first image data based on at least one of the plurality of pieces of image data;
generating second image data by deriving a difference between the last one of the plurality of pieces of image data and the piece of image data corresponding to the reset voltage; and
combining the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The image processing method according to claim 8,
wherein the third image data has greater dynamic range than each of the first image data and the second image data has.