Imaging device and imaging method

Abstract

An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging apparatus comprising;
 an optical element;   an imaging device, including:   a plurality of pixels that respectively output analog signals in response to incident light;   a plurality of signal lines respectively connected to the plurality of pixels;   a plurality of A/D converters respectively connected to the plurality of signal lines, the plurality of A/D converters configured to convert the analog signals into respective digital signals; and   an illuminance calculation unit configured to calculate respective illuminances corresponding to the digital signals.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes a first reference signal generation circuit and a second reference signal generation circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first reference signal generation circuit is configured to generate a predetermined voltage. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the second reference signal generation circuit is configured to generate a slope signal. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exposure control unit configured to control a plurality of exposure times.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging apparatus according  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a determination unit configured to convert a determination signal and output the determination signal to the illuminance calculation unit.   
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the determination unit is configured to compare at least one of the respective digital signals to a threshold value to determine whether or not saturation occurs.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the determination unit is configured to calculate an average value of at least some of the respective digital signals and determine, based on a comparison result between the average value and a threshold value, whether or not saturation occurs.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the determination unit is configured to calculate an average value of at least some of the digital signals obtained during a first exposure time and to determine that saturation occurs where the average value is equal to or larger than a threshold value.   
     
     
         10 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the illuminance calculation unit is configured to obtain, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, at least one of the respective digital signals obtained during a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time, and to calculate therefrom a corresponding illuminance.   
     
     
         11 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one comparator configured to compare the respective digital signals with a first threshold value; and   a count unit configured to count a number of comparison results from the comparator, each of which satisfies a predetermined condition,   wherein the determination unit is configured to determine, based on a comparison result between a count value of the count unit and a second threshold value, whether or not saturation occurs.   
     
     
         12 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one comparator configured to compare the respective digital signals obtained during a first exposure time with a first threshold value; and   a count unit configured to count a number of comparison results from the comparator, in each of which a given one of the respective digital signals is equal to or larger than the first threshold value,   wherein the determination unit is configured to determine, if a count value of the count unit is equal to or larger than a second threshold value, that saturation occurs, and   the illuminance calculation unit is configured to obtain, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, at least one of the respective digital signals during a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time, and to calculate an illuminance.   
     
     
         13 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one comparator configured to compare the respective digital signals with a first threshold value;   an output unit configured to output, as a comparison result from the comparator, codes respectively indicating a comparison result between the digital signals and the first threshold value; and   a count unit configured to count a number of codes of the codes from the output unit, each of which satisfies a predetermined condition,   wherein the determination unit is configured to determine, based on a comparison result between a count value of the count unit and a second threshold value, whether or not saturation occurs.   
     
     
         14 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one comparator configured to compare the respective digital signals obtained during a first exposure time with a first threshold value;   an output unit configured to output, as a comparison result from the comparator, codes respectively indicating whether or not the digital signals are equal to or larger than the first threshold value; and   a count unit configured to count a number of codes of the codes from the output unit, each of which indicates that a given one of the digital signals is equal to or larger than the first threshold value,   wherein the determination unit is configured to determine, if a count value of the count unit is equal to or larger than a second threshold value, that saturation occurs, and   the illuminance calculation unit is configured to obtain, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, at least one of the digital signals obtained during a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time, and calculate an illuminance.