Solid-state imaging device for enlargement of dynamic range

Abstract

An inter-line CCD (IT-CCD) capable of reading signals in two read modes, a field read mode and a frame read mode, is used to control, by a system control means, a CCD exposure and a signal read mode, a short-time exposure signal (Short signal) acquires an image by a field read and a long-time exposure signal (Long signal) acquires an image by a frame read, and these two images are synthesized by a signal synthesizing means to expand a dynamic range.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A solid-state imaging device for performing a dynamic range expansion by synthesizing a long-time exposure signal and a short-time exposure signal obtained by imaging, said solid-state imaging device detecting an exposure amount ratio of said long-time exposure signal to said short-time exposure signal, and performing a gain adjustment of said long-time exposure signal and said short-time exposure signal-in said dynamic range expansion in accordance with said exposure amount ratio. 
     
     
         44 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 43 , wherein a detection of said exposure amount ratio of said long-time exposure signal to said short-time exposure signal is performed for each block divided and formed on an imaging screen, and said gain adjustment is performed for each said block. 
     
     
         45 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 43 , wherein a detection of said exposure amount ratio of said long-time exposure signal to said short-time exposure signal is performed for each color component, and said gain adjustment is performed for each said color component. 
     
     
         46 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 43 , wherein a detection of said exposure amount ratio of said long-time exposure signal to said short-time exposure signal is performed for each block divided and formed on an imaging screen and for each color component, and said gain adjustment is performed for each said block and for each said color component. 
     
     
         47 . A solid-state imaging device comprising:
 imaging means for outputting independently a plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount;   an image memory for storing said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount from said imaging means,   an exposure amount ratio detector means for detecting an exposure amount ratio of said plurality of image signals having a different exposure mount;   gain adjustment means for performing a gain adjustment to said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount read from said image memory based on said detected exposure amount ratio; and   image synthesizer means for synthesizing said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount after said gain adjustment.   
     
     
         48 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 47 , wherein said exposure amount ratio detector means includes:
 signal level determination means for determining a signal level of said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount,   integrator means for determining an integrated value for each of said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount within a predetermined range by a determination on said signal level, and   exposure amount ratio operation means for determining a ratio of their plural integrated values.   
     
     
         49 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 48 , wherein said integrator means is configured in such a manner as to determine said integrated values for each of said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount in units of the block obtained by dividing the screen into a plurality of blocks. 
     
     
         50 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 48 , wherein said imaging means has colorization means by the use of a color separation filer or a color separation prism having different spectral characteristics, and further, said integrator means is configured in a manner to determine an integrated value for each color component and for each of the plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount. 
     
     
         51 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 48 , wherein said imaging means has colorization means by the use of a color separation filer or a color separation prism having different spectral characteristics, and further, said integrator means is configured in a manner to determine an integrated value for each color component and for each of the plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount and in units of the block obtained by dividing the screen into a plurality of blocks. 
     
     
         52 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 47 , wherein there is included image signal switching means for switching between said image signal from said imaging means and said image signal from said image memory for one of the plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount which are outputted from said imaging means to said image memory. 
     
     
         53 . A solid-state imaging device according to  claim 47 , wherein said gain adjustment means to the plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount is configured in a manner to give a gain based on said exposure amount ratio detected by said exposure amount ratio detector means to at least one of said plurality of image signals having a different exposure amount.