# US 9,521,395 B2 · Imaging apparatus and method for controlling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,395 B2 - Document ID: US9521395B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/615,996 - Filed: 2012-09-14 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-04 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Takuya Shintani; Yuuzou Aoyama; Takayuki Nakahama - Inventors: Takuya Shintani; Yuuzou Aoyama; Takayuki Nakahama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521395B2 ## CPC - H04N 13/178: Metadata, e.g. disparity information - H04N 13/139: Format conversion, e.g. of frame-rate or size - H04N 13/172: image signals comprising non-image signal components, e.g. headers or format information - H04N 13/189: Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals - H04N 13/194: Transmission of image signals - H04N 13/239: using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging element includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that output an image signal for each pixel through a micro lens. An imaging signal processing circuit separates image signals output from the imaging element into a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal. An image combining circuit generates combined image data by performing arithmetic average processing for left-eye image data and right-eye image data. A recording medium control I/F unit controls to record left-eye image data and right-eye image data for use in 3D display and combined image data for use in 2D display in different regions in an image file. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output a plurality of image signals by photoelectrically converting light fluxes each having passed through a different pupil region of an imaging optical system; an image generating unit configured to generate a combined image signal by combining image signals corresponding to the light fluxes each having passed through the different pupil regions of the imaging optical system among the plurality of image signals output by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units; a parallax map generating unit configured to generate parallax map data based on an image signal corresponding to a region which is one of a pair of the pupil regions; and a recording unit configured to generate a single Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) image file including the combined image data and the parallax map data, and record the DCF image file in a recording medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the recording unit records the DCF image file to include a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) image of the combined image data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit combines a reduced image signal generated by resizing the combined image signal and reduced parallax map data obtained by resizing the parallax map data corresponding to the reduced image signal to record an image signal in the DCF image file. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an imaging element comprising a plurality of micro lenses and outputting a plurality of image signals, wherein each of the micro lenses corresponds to the plurality of photoelectric conversion units. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parallax map data is data corresponding to a parallax amount for each region of an image data between the image signals corresponding to the light fluxes each having passed through the different pupil regions of the imaging optical system. ### Claim 6 An imaging apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit configured to acquire an image signal output by a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output a plurality of image signals by photoelectrically converting light fluxes each having passed through a different pupil region of an imaging optical system and a combined image signal by combining image signals corresponding to the light fluxes each having passed through the different pupil regions of the imaging optical system among the plurality of image signals; a parallax map generating unit configured to generate parallax map data based on an image signal corresponding to a region which is one of a pair of the pupil regions among the plurality of image signals; and a recording unit configured to generate a single Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) image file including the combined image data and the parallax map data, and record the DCF image file in a recording medium. ### Claim 7 A control method which is executed by an imaging apparatus, the method comprising: outputting, by a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a plurality of image signals by photoelectrically converting light fluxes each having passed through a different pupil region of an imaging optical system; generating a combined image signal by combining image signals corresponding to the light fluxes each having passed through the different pupil regions of the imaging optical system among the plurality of image signals output by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units; generating parallax map data based on an image signal generated from the signal corresponding to a region which is one of a pair of the pupil regions; and creating a single Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) image file including the combined image data and the parallax map data, and record the DCF image file in a recording medium.