Imaging device

Abstract

An imaging element comprising: an imaging unit that has: a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups is provided. Each of the plurality of groups may include a plurality of the pixels. The control unit may select at least one group among the plurality of groups and control the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit that has:   a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and   a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and   a control unit that controls the signal readout unit in at least one group among the plurality of groups.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of the pixels. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit selects at least one group among the plurality of groups and controls the signal readout unit by using a control parameter that is different from a control parameter that is used for another group among the plurality of groups. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control parameter includes a frame rate, and   the control unit controls the signal readout unit that corresponds to the at least one group at a first frame rate, and controls the signal readout unit that corresponds to the other group at a second frame rate that is different from the first frame rate.   
     
     
         5 . An imaging device comprising:
 the imaging element according to  claim 4 ; and   a motion image generating unit that generates a motion image of a first partial area that corresponds to the at least one group based on a signal of the at least one group output at the first frame rate, and generates a motion image of a second partial area that corresponds to the other group based on a signal of the other group output at the second frame rate.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging device according to  claim 5 , wherein the motion image generating unit stores, in a storage unit, area information and timing information in association with the motion image of the first partial area and the motion image of the second partial area, the area information indicating a range of the first partial area in relation to an entire area that is imaged by the imaging unit, the timing information indicating a relationship between output timing of the signal output at the first frame rate and the signal output at the second frame rate. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control parameter includes a thinning rate, and   the control unit controls the signal readout unit corresponding to the at least one group at a first thinning rate, and controls the signal readout unit that corresponds to the other group at a second thinning rate that is different from the first thinning rate.   
     
     
         8 . An imaging device comprising:
 the imaging element according to  claim 7 ; and   a motion image generating unit that generates a motion image of a first partial area that corresponds to the at least one group based on a signal of the at least one group output at the first thinning rate, and generates a motion image of a second partial area that corresponds to the other group based on a signal of the other group output at the second thinning rate.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging device according to  claim 8 , wherein the motion image generating unit stores, in a storage unit, area information and thinning information in association with the motion image of the first partial area and the motion image of the second partial area, the area information indicating a range of the first partial area in relation to an entire area that is imaged by the imaging unit, the thinning information indicating a relationship between the first thinning rate and the second thinning rate. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control parameter includes a number of added rows or added columns that indicates a number of rows or columns whose pixel signals are added, and   the control unit controls the signal readout unit that corresponds to the at least one group so that signals of a first number of rows or columns are added, and controls the signal readout unit that corresponds to the other group so that signals of a second number of rows or columns that is different from the first number of rows or columns are added.   
     
     
         11 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control parameter includes an electrical charge accumulation period, and   the control unit causes the at least one group to execute electrical charge accumulation multiple times to output respective signals in a period during which the other group is caused to execute electrical charge accumulation once.   
     
     
         12 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein the control parameter includes a number of bits for digitization of a pixel signal, and
 the control unit digitizes a signal of the at least one group with a number of bits that is larger than a number of bits of the other group among the plurality of groups.   
     
     
         13 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a subject estimating unit that estimates a main subject based on an image imaged by the imaging unit; and   a group selecting unit that selects, as the at least one group, a group on which image light of the main subject that is estimated by the subject estimating unit is incident.   
     
     
         14 . The imaging element according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit uses an intermediate value between a value of the control parameter of the at least one group and a value of the control parameter of the other group as the control parameter for a group, among the plurality of groups, that is present at a boundary between the at least one group and the other group. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , wherein an imaging chip in which the plurality of groups are two-dimensionally disposed, and a signal processing chip in which at least a part of the control unit is disposed are layered. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging element according to  claim 15 , wherein the imaging chip is formed with a backside illuminating type CMOS chip. 
     
     
         17 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit that has:   a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and   a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and   a plurality of control units that are each provided to each of the groups, and controls the signal readout unit based on a signal from the pixel.   
     
     
         18 . The imaging element according to  claim 17 , wherein the each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of the pixels. 
     
     
         19 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit having an imaging area in which a first pixel and a second pixel are provided, a first readout circuit that reads out a first pixel signal output from the first pixel, and a second readout circuit that reads out a second pixel signal output from the second pixel;   a first computing unit that computes a first evaluation value based on the first pixel signal;   a second computing unit that computes a second evaluation value based on the second pixel signal;   a first control unit that performs control on exposure or readout of the first pixel based on the first evaluation value; and   a second control unit that performs control on exposure or readout of the second pixel based on the second evaluation value.   
     
     
         20 . The imaging element according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the imaging area includes a first area in which a plurality of the first pixels is provided and a second area in which a plurality of the second pixels is provided,   the first control unit performs control on exposure or readout of the plurality of first pixels provided in the first area, and   the second control unit performs control on exposure or readout of the plurality of second pixels provided in the second area.   
     
     
         21 . The imaging element according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the first control unit performs frame rate control on readout of the first pixel based on the first evaluation value, and   the second control unit performs frame rate control on readout of the second pixel based on the second evaluation value.   
     
     
         22 . The imaging element according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the first control unit controls a thinning rate for thinning and reading out a plurality of the first pixels provided in the first area based on the first evaluation value, and   the second control unit controls a thinning rate for thinning and reading out a plurality of the second pixels provided in the second area based on the second evaluation value.   
     
     
         23 . The imaging element according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the first control unit controls a number of added pixels for adding and reading out a plurality of the first pixels provided in the first area based on the first evaluation value, and   the second control unit controls a number of added pixels for adding and reading out a plurality of the second pixels provided in the second area based on the second evaluation value.   
     
     
         24 . The imaging element according to  claim 19 , wherein the first computing unit computes the first evaluation value according to the second pixel signal. 
     
     
         25 . The imaging element according to  claim 19 , wherein the first computing unit computes the first evaluation value according to the second evaluation value. 
     
     
         26 . The imaging element according to  claim 19 , the imaging element being configured with:
 an imaging chip that has the imaging unit; and   a signal processing chip that has the first computing unit and the second computing unit, and is bonded with the imaging chip by layering.   
     
     
         27 . The imaging element according to  claim 26 , wherein the imaging chip is formed with a backside illuminating type CMOS chip. 
     
     
         28 . An imaging device comprising the imaging element according to  claim 19 . 
     
     
         29 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit that has:   a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and   a plurality of signal readout units that are each provided to each of the groups and read out a signal from the pixel; and   a plurality of computing units that are provided to each of the groups and transmit information about control on the signal readout unit to an image processing unit that performs image processing on the signal.   
     
     
         30 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of pixels. 
     
     
         31 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit having an imaging area in which a first pixel and a second pixel are disposed, a first readout circuit that reads out a first pixel signal output from the first pixel, and a second readout circuit that reads out a second pixel signal output from the second pixel;   a first computing unit that computes a first evaluation value based on the first pixel signal, and transmits the computed first evaluation value to an image processing unit in a subsequent step that performs image processing on first pixel data that corresponds to the first pixel signal; and   a second computing unit that computes a second evaluation value based on the second pixel signal, and transmits the computed second evaluation value to an image processing unit in a subsequent step that performs image processing on second pixel data that corresponds to the second pixel signal.   
     
     
         32 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein
 the imaging area includes a first pixel block in which a plurality of the first pixels are disposed, and a second pixel block in which a plurality of the second pixels are disposed,   the first computing unit calculates the first evaluation value based on a plurality of the first pixel signals output by the plurality of first pixels included in the first pixel block, and   the second computing unit calculates the second evaluation value based on a plurality of the second pixel signals output by the plurality of second pixels included in the second pixel block.   
     
     
         33 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein
 the first computing unit associates the first evaluation value with the first pixel data, and   the second computing unit associates the second evaluation value with the second pixel data.   
     
     
         34 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein
 the first computing unit provides a data code to the first evaluation value, the data code indicating computational contents of the first evaluation value, and   the second computing unit provides a data code to the second evaluation value, the data code indicating computational contents of the second evaluation value.   
     
     
         35 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein the first computing unit computes the first evaluation value based further on the second pixel signal. 
     
     
         36 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein the first computing unit computes the first evaluation value based further on the second evaluation value in the second computing unit or a computation result in a process in which the second computing unit computes the second evaluation value. 
     
     
         37 . The imaging element according to  claim 36 , wherein
 the first computing unit has:   a corresponding block calculating unit that performs predetermined computation on the first pixel data; and   an average calculating unit that performs predetermined computation on the second evaluation value or the computation result in the second computing unit, and a computation result in the corresponding block calculating unit; and   the first computing unit transmits the computation result in the corresponding block calculating unit to the second computing unit, and transmits a computation result in the average calculating unit to the image processing unit as the first evaluation value.   
     
     
         38 . The imaging element according to  claim 37 , wherein the first computing unit further has an average-average calculating unit that compresses the first pixel data based on the computation result in the average calculating unit. 
     
     
         39 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the first computing unit and the second computing unit performs predetermined computation on the pixel data in a current frame by using the pixel data in a previous frame. 
     
     
         40 . The imaging element according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a first A/D converter that is provided corresponding to the first pixel block, and converts the respective first pixel signal into the first pixel data; and   a second A/D converter that is provided corresponding to the second pixel block, and converts the respective second pixel signal into the second pixel data.   
     
     
         41 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein
 the imaging unit is formed in an imaging chip, and   the first computing unit and the second computing unit are formed in a signal processing chip that is layered with the imaging chip.   
     
     
         42 . The imaging element according to  claim 41 , wherein the imaging chip is a backside illuminating type CMOS chip. 
     
     
         43 . The imaging element according to  claim 31 , wherein the image processing unit is provided in the imaging element, and performs image processing on the first pixel data and the second pixel data based on the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value. 
     
     
         44 . An imaging device comprising the imaging element according to  claim 31 . 
     
     
         45 . The imaging device according to  claim 44 , wherein the image processing unit is provided outside the imaging element, and performs image processing on the first pixel data and the second pixel data based on the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value. 
     
     
         46 . An imaging element comprising:
 an imaging unit that has a plurality of groups each including at least one pixel; and   a storage unit that has a plurality of storage blocks that are provided corresponding to the plurality of groups, and store a signal from a pixel in the respectively corresponding group, and store a signal from a pixel in a group other than the respectively corresponding group.   
     
     
         47 . The imaging element according to  claim 46 , wherein each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of pixels. 
     
     
         48 . The imaging element according to  claim 46 , wherein
 frame rates that indicate cycles of generating the signals in the plurality of groups can be selected on a group-by-group basis from at least two frame rates that are a reference frame rate and a high frame rate that indicates a cycle shorter than the reference frame rate, and   the imaging element further comprises a control unit that causes the signal of the storage block that corresponds to the group of the high frame rate to be stored in the storage block that corresponds to the group of the reference frame rate.   
     
     
         49 . The imaging element according to  claim 48 , wherein
 the respective groups are divided into blocks each including a plurality of the groups that are distributed being spaced apart at certain intervals in row and column directions over the entire pixel area, and the respective storage blocks that correspond to the groups in the block are shared by all the groups in the block, and   when the signal is already stored in the storage block that corresponds to the group of the high frame rate, the control unit causes the signal that corresponds to the group to be stored in any of the storage blocks in the same block with the group.   
     
     
         50 . The imaging element according to  claim 46 , wherein
 frame rates that indicate cycles of generating the signals in the groups can be selected on a group-by-group basis from at least two frame rates that are a reference frame rate and a high frame rate that indicates a cycle shorter than the reference frame rate, and   the imaging element further comprises a control unit that, when the signal is already stored in the storage block that corresponds to the group of the high frame rate, moves the signal of the storage block to the storage block that corresponds to the group of the reference frame rate, and causes the signal that corresponds to the group to be stored in the corresponding storage block.   
     
     
         51 . The imaging element according to  claim 50  further comprising a transmission path that transmits the signal between the storage blocks that correspond to the adjacent groups, wherein
 the control unit causes the signal that corresponds to the group of the high frame rate to be sequentially moved to the adjacent storage block in synchronization with the high frame rate. 
 
     
     
         52 . The imaging element according to  claim 51 , wherein the control unit causes the respective signal to be moved to the storage block that is closest to an edge of a pixel area among the adjacent storage blocks. 
     
     
         53 . The imaging element according to  claim 52 , wherein the control unit fixes, at the reference frame rate, the frame rate of the group along an outermost circumference of a pixel area among the plurality of groups. 
     
     
         54 . The imaging element according to  claim 48 , wherein the respective storage blocks are memories provided to the respective groups. 
     
     
         55 . The imaging element according to  claim 46 , wherein the storage unit further has a transfer memory which has a storage area with at least the same size with a total storage area of the plurality of storage blocks and to which the signals stored in the plurality of storage blocks are transferred at a predetermined cycle. 
     
     
         56 . An imaging device comprising the imaging element according to  claim 46 . 
     
     
         57 . The imaging element according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters that are each provided to each of the plurality of groups, and convert a signal from the pixel into pixel data. 
     
     
         58 . The imaging element according to  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters that are each provided to each of the plurality of groups, and convert a signal from the pixel into pixel data. 
     
     
         59 . The imaging element according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a first A/D converter that is provided corresponding to the first area, and converts the respective first pixel signal into first pixel data; and   a second A/D converter that is provided corresponding to the second area, and converts the respective second pixel signal into second pixel data.   
     
     
         60 . The imaging element according to  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters that are each provided to each of the plurality of groups, and convert a signal from the pixel into pixel data. 
     
     
         61 . The imaging element according to  claim 46 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters that are each provided to each of the plurality of groups, and convert a signal from the pixel into pixel data.