Imaging device, ranging device and imaging apparatus

Abstract

An imaging device includes a first imaging area having a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels arranged therein and a second imaging area having a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of third pixels arranged therein. Each of the first pixels, each of the second pixels and each of the third pixels receive a light flux from first, second and third pupil areas, respectively, of the exit pupil of an optical system and operate for photoelectric conversion. The second and third pupil areas are decentered to opposite directions to each other relative to the center of gravity of the exit pupil. The first and second imaging areas are displaced to opposite directions as corresponding to the decentered directions of the second and third pupil areas relative to a position on the imaging device where the optical axis of the optical system passes.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A computing method to be executed in an imaging apparatus provided with an imaging device, the imaging device comprising:
 a plurality of first pixels each configured so as to receive a light flux from a first pupil area of an exit pupil of an optical system and operate for photoelectric conversion;   a plurality of second pixels each configured so as to receive a light flux from a second pupil area of the exit pupil and operate for photoelectric conversion, the second pupil area including a part of the first pupil area and being decentered relative to the center of gravity of the exit pupil to a first direction; and   a plurality of third pixels each configured so as to receive a light flux from a third pupil area of the exit pupil and operate for photoelectric conversion, the third pupil area including a part of the first pupil area and being decentered relative to a center of gravity of the exit pupil to a second direction opposite to the first direction,   the computing method comprising steps of:   acquiring an image signal using an output signal of the respective second pixels and a signal obtained by subtracting the output signal of the second pixels from an output signal of the first pixels that are arranged adjacent to the respective second pixels in a first imaging area displaced to a direction corresponding to one of the first direction and the second direction relative to a position on the imaging device where an optical axis of the optical system passes; and   acquiring an image signal using an output signal of the respective third pixels and a signal obtained by subtracting the output signal of the third pixels from an output signal of the first pixels that are arranged adjacent to the respective third pixels in a second imaging area displaced to a direction corresponding to the other of the first direction and the second direction relative to the position.   
     
     
         15 . The computing method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first imaging area has only the first and second pixels from among the first, second and third pixels, and wherein the second imaging area has only the first and third pixels among the first, second and third pixels. 
     
     
         16 . The computing method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first imaging area has the first, second and third pixels with the number of the second pixels being not less than five times the number of the third pixels, and wherein the second imaging area has the first, second and third pixels with the number of the third pixels being not less than five times the number of the second pixels. 
     
     
         17 . The computing method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method executes ranging computing using the acquired image signals. 
     
     
         18 . The computing method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the imaging device further comprises:   a plurality of fourth pixels each configured so as to receive a light flux from a fourth pupil area of the exit pupil and operate for photoelectric conversion, the fourth pupil area including a part of the first pupil area and being decentered relative to the center of gravity of the exit pupil to a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction; and   a plurality of fifth pixels each configured so as to receive a light flux from a fifth pupil area of the exit pupil and operate for photoelectric conversion, the fifth pupil area including a part of the first pupil area and being decentered relative to the center of gravity of the exit pupil to a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and wherein   the computing method further comprises steps of:   acquiring an image signal using an output signal of the respective fourth pixels and a signal obtained by subtracting the output signal of the fourth pixels from an output signal of the first pixels that are arranged adjacent to the respective fourth pixels in a third imaging area displaced to a direction corresponding to one of the third direction and the fourth direction relative to the position; and   acquiring an image signal using an output signal of the respective fifth pixels and a signal obtained by subtracting the output signal of the fifth pixels from an output signal of the first pixels that are arranged adjacent to the respective fifth pixels in a fourth imaging area displaced to a direction corresponding to the other of the third direction and the fourth direction relative to the position.   
     
     
         19 . The computing method according to  claim 18 , wherein the third imaging area has only the first and fourth pixels from among the first, fourth and fifth pixels, and wherein the fourth imaging area has only the first and fifth pixels among the first, fourth and fifth pixels. 
     
     
         20 . The computing method according to  claim 18 , wherein the third imaging area has the first, fourth and fifth pixels with the number of the fourth pixels being not less than five times the number of the fifth pixels, and wherein the fourth imaging area has the first, fourth and fifth pixels with the number of the fifth pixels being not less than five times the number of the fourth pixels. 
     
     
         21 . The computing method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method executes ranging computing using the acquired image signals.