Solid-state imaging device with pixels having photodiodes with different exposure times, signal processing method of solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus

A solid-state imaging device comprising:

• a pixel array section configured to include pixels two-dimensionally arranged in rows and columns;
• and
• a signal processing section configured to include a determination circuit which, when an n (2≦n) number of pixels form a set and an n number of signals are sequentially read out from the n number of pixels in the pixel array section, determines, in read-out of each of the n number of signals, whether or not a signal is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and configured to perform predetermined signal processing on an m (1≦m<n) number of signals, wherein m is less than n, on the basis of the result of the determination by the determination circuit,
• wherein,
• the pixels that form the set have different exposure times, and
• the signal processing section is provided for each of the pixel columns of the pixel array section.

A signal processing method of a solid-state imaging device, the signal processing method comprising:

• performing signal processing, via a signal processing section, on respective rectangular pixels of a pixel array section configured with rectangular pixels, each of which has different dimensions in relative vertical and horizontal directions, and a set of rectangular pixels that are adjacent being combined to form a square pixel equally dimensioned in the vertical and horizontal directions, the signal processing including:
• reading an n number of signals from an n number of rectangular pixels in the pixel array section,
• determining, in read-out of each of the n number of signals, whether or not a signal is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and performing predetermined signal processing on an m (1≦m<n) number of signals, wherein m is less than n, on the basis of a result of the determination,
• wherein,
• the rectangular pixels that form the square pixel have different exposure times,
• signals are read out from the combined plurality of rectangular pixels,
• the signal processing section is provided for each of the pixel columns of the pixel array section, and
• the plurality of signals read out from the plurality of rectangular pixels are processed and output as a single signal.

A signal processing method of a solid-state imaging device, the signal processing method comprising:

• processing signals from a pixel array section configured with a plurality of rectangular pixels, each of which has different dimensions in relative vertical and horizontal directions, and a set of rectangular pixels that are adjacent being combined to form a square pixel equally dimensioned in the vertical and horizontal directions,
• wherein,
• the rectangular pixels that form the square pixel have different exposure times,
• a plurality of signals of different sensitivities are read out from the combined plurality of rectangular pixels,
• the plurality of signals are processed to form a signal of a square grid, and
• a shorter one of a pixel pitch in the vertical direction and a pixel pitch in the horizontal direction of the set of rectangular pixels is equal to or less than a resolution of the optical system.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a solid-state imaging device configured to include a pixel array section with a plurality of rectangular pixels, each of which has different dimensions in relative vertical and horizontal directions, and a set of rectangular pixels that are adjacent being combined to form a square pixel equally dimensioned in the vertical and horizontal directions, and configured to process a plurality of signals read out from the rectangular pixels that form the square pixel and to output the processed signals as a single signal;
• and
• an optical system configured to receive incident light onto an imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device,
• wherein,
• the rectangular pixels that form the square pixel have different exposure times, and
• a shorter one of a pixel pitch in the vertical direction and a pixel pitch in the horizontal direction of the set of rectangular pixels is equal to or less than a resolution of the optical system.