Patent ID: 7667764
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image sensing apparatus comprising: an image sensor which generates an electrical signal commensurate with an amount of incident light, and has a photoelectric conversion characteristic comprised of a first area where the electrical signal is outputted after being converted according to a first characteristic in relation to the amount of incident light, and a second characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being converted according to a second characteristic different from the first characteristic in relation to the amount of incident light, the electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to the amount of incident light in the first area, and the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light in the second area; an exposure evaluation value detector which detects an exposure evaluation value based on luminance information acquired from a subject in sensing an image of the subject; an exposure controller which determines a subject luminance for exposure setting based on the exposure evaluation value detected by the exposure evaluation value detector to control exposure of the image sensing apparatus, the exposure controller including: a priority setter which sets a priority between the exposure amount control by the exposure amount controller and the dynamic range control by the dynamic range controller; wherein the priority represents information as to which is to be prioritized between calculation of an exposure amount control parameter by the exposure amount controller and calculation of a dynamic range control parameter by the dynamic range controller, the priority setter sets the calculation of the exposure amount control parameter as the priority, the exposure controller implements the calculation of the exposure amount control parameter by the exposure amount controller, and the calculation of the dynamic range control parameter by the dynamic range controller in this order according to the priority set by the priority setter, the exposure amount controller calculates the photoelectric conversion characteristic, so that an output level of the image sensor corresponding to a subject luminance (Lt the dynamic range controller calculates, after the calculation of the exposure amount setting value by the exposure amount controller, the photoelectric conversion characteristic, so that an output level of the image sensor corresponding to a subject luminance (Lm