Patent ID: 7652691
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged on a imaging plane; and a control unit which controls the imaging unit, wherein the control unit reads out imaging signals for one frame in either first mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a first photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a first region of the imaging plane; or a second mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a second photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a second region which is different from the first region of the imaging plane; the control unit changes a gain for a frame which is read out after a mode change, based on the ratio between exposure periods of frames before and after the mode change, so as to compensate a difference between exposure periods of frames before and after the mode change; if a reset of a readout line of a frame to be read out has been started at the time when the mode is changed, the control unit changes the gain according to an exposure period of the readout line; and the control unit performs control so as to cause a period from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal of the predetermined line in the first mode to be the same as that from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal in the second mode.