Patent ID: 8264595
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising: an imaging unit capable of reading accumulated charge signals of different exposure times, in a predetermined frame period, from a plurality of photodiodes which are divided into a long-time exposure photodiode group and a short-time exposure photodiode group; a first reader for reading an accumulated charge signal of long-time exposure from said long-time exposure photodiode group at a first read timing after a long-time exposure period in said frame period; a second reader for reading an accumulated charge signal of short-time exposure from said short-time exposure photodiode group at a second read timing after a short-time exposure period in said frame period; a read timing adjuster for adjusting said first read timing and said second read timing separately from each other; a long-time exposure signal generator for generating a long-time exposure signal, using said accumulated charge signal of long-time exposure read from said long-time exposure photodiode group; a short-time exposure signal generator for generating a short-time exposure signal, using said accumulated charge signal of short-time exposure read from said short-time exposure photodiode group; a synthesizer for synthesizing said long-time exposure signal and said short-time exposure signal to generate an image signal representing the plurality of photodiodes; and a third reader for reading an accumulated charge signal of long-time exposure from said short-time exposure photodiode group at said first read timing in said frame period, wherein said long-time exposure signal generator adds said accumulated charge signal of long-time exposure read from said short-time exposure photodiode group to said accumulated charge signal of long-time exposure read from said long-time exposure photodiode group to generate said long-time exposure signal.