Imaging device and signal processing circuit for the imaging device

An imaging device comprising:

• an imaging element capable of outputting a visible light pixel signal and a near infrared light pixel signal;
• a YC processing unit capable of generating a luminance signal and a color signal from the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal;
• and
• a visible light/near infrared light dominance determination unit configured to compare signal levels of the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal and switch to and from generation of the luminance signal based on the visible light pixel signal and generation of the luminance signal based on the near infrared light pixel signal depending on a comparison result thereby obtained,
• wherein
• the YC processing unit includes:
• a first processing configuration for signal generation suitable for the generation of the luminance signal based on the visible light pixel signal outputted from the imaging element during daytime or in a first photographing environment substantially as bright as the daytime;
• and
• a second processing configuration for signal generation suitable for the generation of the luminance signal based on the near infrared light pixel signal outputted from the imaging element in a second photographing environment darker than the first photographing environment, and
• the visible light/near infrared light dominance determination unit switches to and from the first processing configuration for signal generation and the second processing configuration for signal generation in the YC processing unit depending on the comparison result of the signal levels of the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal.

A signal processing circuit for an imaging device configured to switch to and from generation of a luminance signal based on a visible light pixel signal and generation of a luminance signal based on a near infrared light pixel signal depending on a result of comparison of signal levels of the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal,

• wherein
• the luminance signal is generated based on the near infrared light pixel signal read per pixel from an imaging element, and a color signal is generated based on the visible light pixel signal read per pixel from the imaging element when the signal level of the visible light pixel signal is equal to or smaller than the signal level of the near infrared light pixel signal and the signal level of the visible light pixel signal is larger than a given threshold value, and
• the luminance signal is generated based on the near infrared light pixel signal read per pixel from the imaging element, and the color signal is generated based on the visible light pixel signal read from a mixing result obtained by mixing a target pixel with a surrounding pixel thereof both selected from the imaging element when the signal level of the visible light pixel signal is equal to or smaller than the signal level of the near infrared light pixel signal and the signal level of the visible light pixel signal is equal to or smaller than the given threshold value.

A signal processing circuit for an imaging device, comprising:

• a YC processing unit capable of generating a luminance signal and a color signal from a visible light pixel signal and a near infrared light pixel signal obtained from an imaging element;
• and
• a visible light/near infrared light dominance determination unit configured to compare signal levels of the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal and switch to and from generation of the luminance signal based on the visible light pixel signal and generation of the luminance signal based on the near infrared light pixel signal depending on a comparison result thereby obtained
• wherein the YC processing unit includes:
• a first processing configuration for signal generation suitable for the generation of the luminance signal based on the visible light pixel signal obtained in the imaging element during daytime or in a first photographing environment substantially as bright as the daytime;
• and
• a second processing configuration for signal generation suitable for the generation of the luminance signal based on the near infrared light pixel signal obtained in the imaging element in a second photographing environment darker than the first photographing environment, and
• the visible light/near infrared light dominance determination unit switches to and from the first processing configuration for signal generation and the second processing configuration for signal generation in the YC processing unit depending on the comparison result of the signal levels of the visible light pixel signal and the near infrared light pixel signal.