Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixels; and a plurality of focus detection pixels constituted with a micro-lens and a photoelectric conversion element that receives a focus detection light flux transmitted through a photographic optical system and executes photoelectric conversion. The photoelectric conversion element in each of the focus detection pixels includes a light-receiving area where the focus detection light flux is received; light-receiving area images corresponding to each of the focus detection pixels are each formed as the light-receiving area is projected via the micro-lens onto a pupil plane of the photographic optical system; and a positional relationship of the micro-lens and the light-receiving area is determined in correspondence to an image height so that the light-receiving area images corresponding to all the focus detection pixels are superimposed on one another on the pupil plane.

Abstract: A white-balance imaging apparatus includes a first gradation converting unit performing gradation conversion depending on each pixel value of an original image, a second gradation converting unit performing gradation conversion based on pixel values within a predetermined range from each pixel of the original image, a selecting unit selecting a gradation conversion mode, and a determining unit determining second gradation conversion parameters for use by the second gradation converting unit, according to the selected gradation conversion mode, and determining at least one of first gradation conversion parameters for use by the first gradation converting unit and an exposure amount in an exposure amount adjusting part which can adjust the exposure amount, according to the selected gradation conversion mode. Therefore, it is possible to correct the dark area gradation of an image while maintaining brightness of the whole image, and to realize preferable gradation conversion.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes an imaging element, a storage controller, and a focus detector. The imaging element is provided on a light path of a light flux incident via an optical system and has a plurality of pixels of charge storage type two-dimensionally arranged. The storage controller controls to sequentially store charges in pixels arranged in a first direction among the plurality of pixels and controls to sequentially store charges in pixels arranged in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The focus detector detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system based on a first output obtained when the storage controller sequentially performs storage control in the first direction and a second output obtained when the storage controller sequentially performs storage control in the second direction.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of photosensors arranged in matrix on a light-receiving surface and a readout section for adding up photo signals on the photosensors for external output in each pixel block set on the light-receiving surface. The pixel blocks each consists of N (N?2) photosensors assembled in an array direction of the matrix and the pixel blocks in even number arrays and those in odd number arrays in the matrix are shifted from each other by half a phase in the array direction. With or without execution of the adding-up operation, it is able to switch a pattern of readout pixels from the imaging device between a grid pattern and a diagonal grid pattern.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes a light receiving element, an image shift detection unit, a movement detection unit, and a focus detection unit. The light receiving element receives a pair of light fluxes passing through different regions of a pupil of an optical system. The image shift detection unit detects an image shift amount caused by the pair of light fluxes, based on outputs of the pair of light fluxes received by the light receiving element. The movement detection unit detects an image movement amount caused by the optical system. The focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state of the optical system by correcting the shift amount detected by the image shift detection unit, with the image movement amount detected by the movement detection unit.

Abstract: A focus detection device for an image forming optical system includes a micro-lens array constituted with a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed micro-lenses, a light-receiving element array that includes a plurality of light-receiving element s receiving a light flux from the image forming optical system via the micro-lenses, the plurality of light-receiving elements being disposed in correspondence to each micro-lens, and a focus detection unit that generates image data representing an image formed by the image forming optical system and a focus detection signal, which corresponds to a focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system, based upon signals output from the light-receiving elements at the light-receiving element array, and that detects the focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system based upon the image data and the focus detection signal.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes a micro lens array having a plurality of micro lenses, a light receiving element array having a plurality of light receiving elements for each micro lens and that receives light rays from a plurality of partial areas in which pupils of an imaging optical system are different from each other, in a plurality of light receiving elements respectively through each micro lens and a focus detection calculation circuit. The device generates at least three signal strings respectively corresponding to images of light rays which have been transmitted through at least three of the partial areas, based on signals output from the plurality of light receiving elements of the light receiving element array. The device obtains, from the at least three signal strings, shift amounts of two signal strings corresponding to two partial areas, and detects a focus adjustment state of an imaging optical system based on the obtained plurality of shifts amounts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tone-conversion device for converting a tone of an image having an achromatic signal and a chromatic signal, and it includes the following components: a signal extracting unit defining an achromatic signal of a first pixel or a second pixel from plural pixels as an achromatic signal value, the second pixel being in an immediate neighborhood; a neighborhood processing unit generating a local signal of the first pixel according to the achromatic signal and the chromatic signal of a third pixel contained in the neighborhood area which is larger than the second pixel; a gain determining unit determining a conversion gain for the first pixel according to the achromatic signal value and the local signal; and a tone conversion unit performing tone conversion by multiplying the signal component of the first pixel by the conversion gain.

Abstract: An image forming state detection device comprises a micro-lens array that is disposed at a position set apart from a predetermined focal plane of an image forming optical system by a specific distance and includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed with a predetermined pitch, a light-receiving portion array that includes a plurality of light-receiving portions each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses in the micro-lens array and receives an image on the predetermined focal plane via the individual micro-lenses, a signal string extracting means that extracts a pair of signal strings corresponding to images, formed with light fluxes having passed through different pupil areas of the image forming optical system, based upon light reception outputs obtained from the plurality of light-receiving portions, and an image forming state calculating means that calculates an image forming state at the image forming optical system by detecting an offset with regard to the phases of the pair of signal strings extracte

Abstract: An image input apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses two-dimensionally arrayed with a predetermined pitch in the vicinity of a focal plane of the imaging optical system, and a photoreceptor array having a plurality of photoreceptors for each of the microlenses, each of the photoreceptors receiving bundles of rays passing through one of different exit-pupil regions of the imaging optical system. A power of the microlens and a gap between the microlens array and the photoreceptor array are determined so that a cross-sectional dimension of the bundles of rays for forming an image of each of the photoreceptors related to the microlens is equal to or smaller than the pitch of the microlens, within a range from the microlens array to a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record image data having a wide dynamic range is a file together with image data having a narrow dynamic range. First, an image recording apparatus separately gradation-converts image data to be recorded into primary data having a narrow dynamic range and secondary data having a wide dynamic range. Then, the image recording apparatus calculates data that determines correlation between the primary data and secondary data and employs the calculated data as tertiary data. The image recording apparatus records the primary data and the tertiary data in a file. On the other hand, an image reproducing apparatus reads out primary data and tertiary data that were recorded in the above manner and reproduces secondary data having a wide dynamic range based on the primary data and the tertiary data.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: image capturing pixels and focus detection pixels disposed together on a single substrate; and adjacent pixels that are not equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit and are disposed adjacent to the focus detection pixels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention receives a luminance signal indicating luminance or an amount of brightness and input signals indicating a plurality of color differences, and it includes: a signal generator generating a signal Z depending on the input signals indicating the plural color differences; a gain generator generating a transformation gain k(Z) by using the signal Z; and a tone transformation unit which multiplies the luminance signal by the transformation gain k(Z) to calculate a luminance signal after tone transformation.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixels; and a plurality of focus detection pixels constituted with a micro-lens and a photoelectric conversion element that receives a focus detection light flux transmitted through a photographic optical system and executes photoelectric conversion. The photoelectric conversion element in each of the focus detection pixels includes a light-receiving area where the focus detection light flux is received; light-receiving area images corresponding to each of the focus detection pixels are each formed as the light-receiving area is projected via the micro-lens onto a pupil plane of the photographic optical system; and a positional relationship of the micro-lens and the light-receiving area is determined in correspondence to an image height so that the light-receiving area images corresponding to all the focus detection pixels are superimposed on one another on the pupil plane.

Abstract: A tone transformation apparatus of the present invention extracts or generates a signal Z[i, j] according to a pixel value of a pixel [i. j] of an original image or a pixel value of its immediate neighborhood. Further, it extracts or generates a signal ZL[i, j] according to a pixel value of a neighborhood area of the pixel [i, j]. A transformation gain k for the pixel [i. j] is determined according to these signals Z, ZL. For the tone transformation, a color component or the like of the pixel [i, j] is multiplied by the transformation gain k for the pixel [i. j].

Abstract: A focus detection device includes an imaging element, a storage controller, and a focus detector. The imaging element is provided on a light path of a light flux incident via an optical system and has a plurality of pixels of charge storage type two-dimensionally arranged. The storage controller controls to sequentially store charges in pixels arranged in a first direction among the plurality of pixels and controls to sequentially store charges in pixels arranged in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The focus detector detects a focus adjustment state of the optical system based on a first output obtained when the storage controller sequentially performs storage control in the first direction and a second output obtained when the storage controller sequentially performs storage control in the second direction.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes a light receiving element, an image shift detection unit, a movement detection unit, and a focus detection unit. The light receiving element receives a pair of light fluxes passing through different regions of a pupil of an optical system. The image shift detection unit detects an image shift amount caused by the pair of light fluxes, based on outputs of the pair of light fluxes received by the light receiving element. The movement detection unit detects an image movement amount caused by the optical system. The focus detection unit detects the focus adjustment state of the optical system by correcting the shift amount detected by the image shift detection unit, with the image movement amount detected by the movement detection unit.

Abstract: An image input apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses two-dimensionally arrayed with a predetermined pitch in the vicinity of a focal plane of the imaging optical system, and a photoreceptor array having a plurality of photoreceptors for each of the microlenses, each of the photoreceptors receiving bundles of rays passing through one of different exit-pupil regions of the imaging optical system. A power of the microlens and a gap between the microlens array and the photoreceptor array are determined so that a cross-sectional dimension of the bundles of rays for forming an image of each of the photoreceptors related to the microlens is equal to or smaller than the pitch of the microlens, within a range from the microlens array to a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A white-balance imaging apparatus includes a first gradation converting unit performing gradation conversion depending on each pixel value of an original image, a second gradation converting unit performing gradation conversion based on pixel values within a predetermined range from each pixel of the original image, a selecting unit selecting a gradation conversion mode, and a determining unit determining second gradation conversion parameters for use by the second gradation converting unit, according to the selected gradation conversion mode, and determining at least one of first gradation conversion parameters for use by the first gradation converting unit and an exposure amount in an exposure amount adjusting part which can adjust the exposure amount, according to the selected gradation conversion mode. Therefore, it is possible to correct the dark area gradation of an image while maintaining brightness of the whole image, and to realize preferable gradation conversion.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes a micro lens array having a plurality of micro lenses, a light receiving element array having a plurality of light receiving elements for each micro lens and that receives light rays from a plurality of partial areas in which pupils of an imaging optical system are different from each other, in a plurality of light receiving elements respectively through each micro lens and a focus detection calculation circuit. The device generates at least three signal strings respectively corresponding to images of light rays which have been transmitted through at least three of the partial areas, based on signals output from the plurality of light receiving elements of the light receiving element array. The device obtains, from the at least three signal strings, shift amounts of two signal strings corresponding to two partial areas, and detects a focus adjustment state of an imaging optical system based on the obtained plurality of shifts amounts.