Imaging apparatus, control system and control method

A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging elements that each form an image by capturing light passed through lenses, the method comprising:

• calculating, by a calculation circuit, for each imaging element, an exposure time and a sensitivity value, the sensitivity value being a sensitivity of the imaging element to the light, the exposure time being a time in which the imaging element is exposed to the light and the calculation circuit calculates the exposure time based on the image acquired by the imaging element and an exposure area of the imaging element in which the light has passed through the lenses;
• storing correction information in a memory, the correction information used to correct each of the exposure times and each of the sensitivity values, and the correction information including a predetermined exposure time and a predetermined sensitivity value corresponding to the predetermined exposure time;
• correcting, by a correction circuit and for each imaging element, the exposure time and the sensitivity value, when the exposure time corresponds to the predeteimined exposure time, according to the correction information to generate a corrected exposure time and a corrected sensitivity value;
• setting, by a setting circuit for each imaging element, a setting value to control the imaging element, wherein for each imaging element, the setting includes:
• setting the setting value as the exposure time and the sensitivity value when the exposure time calculated in the calculating does not correspond to the predetermined exposure time, and
• setting the setting value as the corrected exposure time and the corrected sensitivity value when the exposure time calculated in the calculating corresponds to the predetermined exposure time;
• controlling, by a control circuit, a simultaneous exposure of the plurality of imaging elements according to the setting values;
• and
• generating a second image from the images acquired by the plurality of imaging elements.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging elements that each form an image by capturing light passed through lenses, cause the imaging apparatus to:

• calculate, for each imaging element, an exposure time and a sensitivity value, the sensitivity value being a sensitivity of the imaging element to the light, the exposure time being a time in which the imaging element is exposed to the light and the calculation circuit calculates the exposure time based on the image acquired by the imaging element and an exposure area of the imaging element in which the light has passed through the lenses;
• store correction information used to correct each of the exposure times and each of the sensitivity values, the correction information including a predetermined exposure time and a predetermined sensitivity value corresponding to the predetermined exposure time;
• correct, for each imaging element, the exposure time and the sensitivity value, when the exposure time corresponds to the predetermined exposure time, according to the correction information to generate a corrected exposure time and a corrected sensitivity value;
• set, for each imaging element, a setting value to control the imaging element so that
• the setting value is set as the exposure time and the sensitivity value when the calculated exposure time does not correspond to the predetermined exposure time, and
• the setting value is set as the corrected exposure time and the corrected sensitivity value when the calculated exposure time corresponds to the predetermined exposure time;
• control a simultaneous exposure of the plurality of imaging elements according to the setting values;
• and
• generate a second image from the images acquired by the plurality of imaging elements.