Patent ID: 8194153
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus, comprising: an imaging processing unit capable of selectively performing an imaging operation in normal imaging mode to generate one normal exposure image signal in one unit period, and an imaging operation in composite imaging mode to generate a composite image signal by generating in one unit period a long-time exposure image signal for a relatively long exposure time and a short-time exposure image signal for a relatively short exposure time and combining the long-time exposure image signal and the short-time exposure image signal, the composite image signal having a wider dynamic range than a dynamic range of at least any one of the long-time exposure image signal and the short-time exposure image signal; a brightness detection unit that detects brightness values of images obtained from the normal exposure image signal or the composite image signal; and a control unit that performs auto exposure control to control light exposure of the normal exposure image signal or light exposure of the long-time exposure image signal and the short-time exposure image signal based on the brightness value detected by the brightness detection unit and also switches the imaging mode of the imaging processing unit between the normal imaging mode and the composite imaging mode based on the brightness value detected by the brightness detection unit, wherein the control unit stops the auto exposure control after the auto exposure control for the long-time exposure image signal and the short-time exposure image signal is temporarily completed in the composite imaging mode and if a predetermined brightness change of the images obtained from the composite image signal is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer based on the brightness value detected by the brightness detection unit after the auto exposure control being stopped, the control unit switches the imaging mode of the imaging processing unit from the composite imaging mode to the normal imaging mode.