Solid-state imaging device, signal processing device and signal processing method for solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus

Abstract

A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals. The signal processing circuit includes judging means that judges whether a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period, calculating means that sets the pixel of interest as a correction pixel and calculates a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel, and correcting means that applies the correction amount to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 a solid-state imaging device including a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal imaged at first sensitivity and a second video signal imaged at second sensitivity and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals; and   an optical system that focuses incident light on an imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device, wherein   the signal processing circuit includes:
 judging means for determining whether a particular pixel is saturated during an exposure period; 
 calculating means for calculating a correction amount for each of a plurality of pixels immediately adjacent to a saturated pixel; and 
 correcting means for applying the correction amount calculated by the calculating means to a video signal of each immediately adjacent pixel. 
   
     
     
         20 . A solid-state imaging device comprising:
 a pixel array;   a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal and a second video signal and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals, wherein   the signal processing circuit includes:
 a judging unit for determining whether a particular pixel is saturated during an exposure period; 
 a calculating unit for calculating a correction amount for each pixel immediately adjacent to a saturated pixel; and 
 a correcting unit applying the corresponding correction amount for a video signal generated by each immediately adjacent pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel. 
   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array unit in which unit pixels including photoelectric conversion elements for converting light signals into signal charges are arranged in a matrix shape and a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal imaged at first sensitivity and a second video signal imaged at second sensitivity and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals; and   an optical system that focuses incident light on an imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device, wherein   the signal processing circuit includes:
 judging means for comparing a level of a luminance value of the first video signal and a level of a luminance value of the second video signal of a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit with respect to a reference luminance value to thereby judge whether the pixel of interest is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period; 
 calculating means for setting the pixel of interest, which is judged by the judging means as the pixel to be saturated, as a correction pixel and calculating a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel; and 
 correcting means for applying the correction amount calculated by the calculating means to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel. 
   
     
     
         23 . A solid-state imaging device comprising:
 a pixel array unit in which unit pixels including photoelectric conversion elements for converting light signals into signal charges are arranged in a matrix shape; and   a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal imaged at first sensitivity and a second video signal imaged at second sensitivity and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals, wherein   the signal processing circuit includes:
 a judging unit comparing a level of a luminance value of the first video signal and a level of a luminance value of the second video signal of a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit with respect to a reference luminance value to thereby judge whether the pixel of interest is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period; 
 a calculating unit setting the pixel of interest, which is judged by the judging unit as the pixel to be saturated, as a correction pixel and calculating a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel; and 
 a correcting unit applying the correction amount calculated by the calculating unit to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel.