Abstract:
An image capturing element is provided with: a color filter in which a basic arrangement pattern having first and second arrangement patterns arranged to be symmetrical about a point is repeated. The first arrangement pattern comprises first filters arranged on pixels in 2×2 arrangement located at the upper-left portion and a pixel located at the lower-right in a 3×3 pixel square arrangement, second filters arranged on the center and lower end lines in the vertical direction of the square arrangement, and third filters arranged on the center and right lines in the horizontal direction of the square arrangement. The second arrangement pattern comprises the first filters having the same arrangement as in the first arrangement pattern, and the second filters and the third filters having the arrangements interchanged with each other compared to the arrangements in the first arrangement pattern.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/067548, filed Jul. 29, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, this application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-066632, filed Mar. 24, 2011, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-163310, filed Jul. 26, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a color image pickup device, an imaging apparatus and an imaging program, and in particular to a color image pickup device that includes phase difference detection pixels and to an imaging apparatus and an imaging program of the same. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    For solid state image pickup devices installed in imaging apparatuses such as digital cameras, there are those that, in order to raise Auto Focus (AF) performance have phase difference detection pixels as a portion of the pixels out of many pixels formed on the solid state image pickup device light receiving surface (see for example Patent Documents 1 to 7). 
         [0006]    The phase difference detection pixels are, for example as in the Patent Documents 1 to 7 listed below, configured by 2 nearby pixels mounted with the same color filter to form pairs, and are provided with light-blocking film openings that are respectively smaller than the light-blocking film openings provided to normal pixels. Moreover, the light-blocking film opening provided to one of the phase difference detection pixels configuring a pair is provided eccentrically in a separation direction (for example on the left side) from the other phase difference detection pixel, and the light-blocking film opening of the other phase difference detection pixel is provided eccentrically in the opposite direction (for example on the right side). 
         [0007]    During AF operation in an imaging apparatus, the signals are read from the phase difference detection pixels of the solid state image pickup device, a focal point shift amount is derived from the detection signal of the pixel with light-blocking film opening eccentrically placed on the right side, and the detection signal of the pixel with the light-blocking film opening eccentrically placed on the left side, and the focal position of the imaging lens is adjusted. 
         [0008]    The precision of such AF operation is higher the more there are of the phase difference detection pixels, however during main image capture of a normal subject image, the phase difference detection pixels have narrower light-blocking film openings and lower sensitivity, and hence there is the issue that they cannot be treated in the same way as normal pixels. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, during reading out signals from all the pixels and generating a subject image, there is a need to perform gain correction on detection signals from the phase difference detection pixels to a similar level to the sensitivity of the normal pixels, or to treat the phase difference detection pixels as missing pixels and to perform interpolation computation correction using the detection signals of peripheral normal pixels. 
       PATENT DOCUMENTS 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-156823 
         Patent Document 2 JP-A No. 2007-155929 
         Patent Document 3 JP-A No. 2009-89144 
         Patent Document 4 JP-A No. 2009-105682 
         Patent Document 5 JP-A No. 2010-66494 
         Patent Document 6 JP-A No. 2008-312073 
         Patent Document 7 Japanese Patent No. 3592147 
       
     
         [0017]    In such AF operation, although the precision is raised the greater the number of phase difference detection pixels, during normal subject image main image capture, the phase difference detection pixels have narrower light-blocking film openings and lower sensitivities, and there is the issue that they cannot be treated the same as normal pixels, and hence the number of phase difference detection pixels cannot be increased excessively. Also, in cases in which the colors of normal pixels adjacent to respective phase difference detection pixels configuring a pair are different from each other, sometimes color mixing occurs and there is a deterioration in AF precision. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0018]    The present invention addresses the above issues, and an object thereof is to provide a color image pickup device, an imaging apparatus, and an imaging program that enable AF precision using phase difference detection pixels to be raised. 
         [0019]    In order to address the above issues, a color image pickup device of the present invention includes: an image pickup device including plural photoelectric conversion elements arrayed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a color filter that is provided above plural pixels configured by the plural photoelectric conversion elements, the color filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patterns configured with a first array pattern and a second array pattern disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern includes a first filter corresponding to a first color that contributes most to obtaining a brightness signal placed over 2×2 pixels at the top left and a pixel at the bottom right of a 3×3 square array, a second filter corresponding to a second color different from the first color placed in a vertical direction center line and a vertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and a third filter corresponding to a third color different from the first color and the second color placed in a horizontal direction center line and a horizontal direction right edge line of the square array, and the second array pattern has the same placement of the first filter as that in the first array pattern and has a placement of the second filter and a placement of the third filter swapped over to those of the first array pattern; and phase difference detection pixels that are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one of the first array pattern or the second array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern. 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, the AF precision using phase difference detection pixels can be raised due to configuration with the phase difference detection pixels placed at positions corresponding to the 2 pixels out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one of the first array pattern or the second array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern. 
         [0021]    Note that configuration may be made such that the phase difference detection pixels are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels on one diagonal out of the 2×2 pixels of at least one of the first array pattern or the second array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern. 
         [0022]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the phase difference detection pixels further includes: a light-blocking section provided to the respective phase difference detection pixels that comprises either a first light-blocking film that blocks light to a region that is a part of the pixel and lets light through to other regions, or a second light-blocking film that blocks light to part of the pixel and lets light pass through in a region that forms a pair with the light-pass region of the first light-blocking film. 
         [0023]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the first light-blocking film in the light-blocking section blocks light to a pixel horizontal direction left half region, and the second light-blocking film blocks light to a pixel horizontal direction right half region. 
         [0024]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the phase difference detection pixels are placed in positions corresponding to the 2 pixels of all the first array patterns and the second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern, and are placed at positions corresponding to the 2 pixels of all the basic array patterns in at least a specific region of the image pickup device. 
         [0025]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the phase difference detection pixels are placed in positions corresponding to the 2 pixels of either the first array pattern and the second array pattern on the upper side or the first array pattern and the second array pattern on the lower side out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern, and are placed at positions corresponding to the 2 pixels of all the basic array patterns in at least a specific region of the image pickup device. 
         [0026]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the phase difference detection pixels are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels on one diagonal out of the 2×2 pixels of the left upper first array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns configuring the basic array pattern, and are placed at positions corresponding to the 2 pixels of all the basic array patterns in at least a specific region of the image pickup device. 
         [0027]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that horizontal direction disposed array lines of the basic array pattern in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels on one diagonal out of the 2×2 pixels of the left upper first array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns are alternately arrayed in the vertical direction with horizontal direction disposed array lines of the basic array pattern in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed at positions corresponding to 2 pixels on one diagonal out of the 2×2 pixels of the right upper second array pattern out of the 2 first array patterns and the 2 second array patterns. 
         [0028]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that array lines disposed in the horizontal direction with the first light-blocking film are alternately arrayed in the vertical direction with array lines disposed in the horizontal direction with the second light-blocking film. 
         [0029]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that array lines disposed alternately in sequence in the horizontal direction with the first light-blocking film and the second light-blocking film are alternately arrayed in the vertical direction with array lines disposed alternately in sequence in the horizontal direction with the second light-blocking film and the first light-blocking film. 
         [0030]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the first color is green (G), the second color is one color of red (R) or blue (B), and the third color is the other color of red (R) or blue (B); and the light-blocking section is disposed such that a pixel on the horizontal direction left side of the first light-blocking film and a pixel on the horizontal direction right side of the second light-blocking film are the red (R) color pixels. 
         [0031]    Moreover, configuration may be made such that the first color is green (G), the second color is one color of red (R) or blue (B), and the third color is the other color of red (R) or blue (B). 
         [0032]    An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes the color image pickup device, a drive section that drives the color image pickup device so as to read phase difference detection pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels; and a focus adjustment section that adjusts focus based on the phase difference detection pixel data. 
         [0033]    An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes the color image pickup device, a drive section that drives the color image pickup device so as to read phase difference detection pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels, and to read video generation pixel data from ordinary pixels that are not the phase difference detection pixels; a focus adjustment section that adjusts focus based on the phase difference detection pixel data; and a generation section that generates video data based on the video generation pixel data. 
         [0034]    An imaging program of the present invention causes a computer to function as each section configuring the imaging apparatus. 
         [0035]    According to the present invention, the advantageous effect is exhibited of enabling AF precision using phase difference detection pixels to be raised. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an imaging apparatus. 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram of a color filter according to the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating placement of light-blocking portions according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of processing executed in a controller. 
           [0040]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram to explain a placement pattern of light-blocking film. 
           [0041]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram to explain a placement pattern of light-blocking film. 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a third exemplary embodiment. 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a sixth exemplary embodiment. 
           [0047]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating light-blocking portion placement according to a seventh exemplary embodiment. 
           [0048]      FIG. 12  is a diagram to explain a modified example of phase difference detection pixels. 
           [0049]      FIG. 13  is a diagram to explain a method for determining a correlation direction from pixel values of 2×2 pixels of G pixels contained in a color filter. 
           [0050]      FIG. 14  is a diagram to explain the principles of a basic array pattern contained in a color filter. 
           [0051]      FIG. 15  is a diagram to explain a case in which pixel data of phase difference detection pixels is corrected by average value correction. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0052]    Explanation follows regarding exemplary embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. 
       First Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0053]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an imaging apparatus  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment. The imaging apparatus  10  is configured including an optical system  12 , an image pickup device  14 , an image capture processing section  16 , an image processing section  20 , a drive section  22 , and a controller  24 . 
         [0054]    The optical system  12  is configured including for example a lens set configured from plural optical lenses, an aperture adjustment mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and an automatic focusing mechanism. 
         [0055]    The image pickup device  14  is what is referred to as a 1-chip image pickup device configured by an image pickup device, such as for example a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) containing plural photoelectric conversion elements arrayed in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, with a color filter disposed above the image pickup device. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a color filter  30  according to the present invention. Note that (4896×3264) pixels are provided as an example of the number of pixels with an aspect ratio of 3:2, however there is no limitation to such a number of pixels and aspect ratio. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the color filter  30  is a color filter having a repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array pattern C 1  configured with a first array pattern A 1  and a second array pattern B 1  disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern A 1  has a first filter G (referred to below as G filter) corresponding to G (green) that contributes most to obtaining a brightness signal placed at the 4 corner and center pixels of a 3×3 pixel square array, a second filter R (referred to below as R filter) corresponding to R (red) placed in the line at the horizontal direction center of the square array, and a third filter B (referred to below as B filter) corresponding to B (blue) placed in the line at the vertical direction center of the square array, and the second array pattern B 1  has the same placement of the G filter as that of the first array pattern A 1  and has the placement of the R filter and the placement of the B filter swapped over thereto. 
         [0057]    Namely, the color filter  30  has the following features (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5). 
         [0058]    Feature (1) 
         [0059]    The color filter  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes the basic array pattern C 1  formed from square placement patterns corresponding to 6×6 pixels, with the basic array pattern C 1  disposed so as to repeat in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Namely, the color filter array is an array in which each of the filters R, G, B (the R filter, G filter, B filter) has a specific periodicity. 
         [0060]    Arraying the R filter, G filter and B filter thus with such a specific periodicity, enables processing to be performed in a repeating pattern such as during synchronization (interpolation) processing (also called demosaicing) of R, G, B signals read from the color image pickup device. 
         [0061]    Moreover, when images are reduced by thinning processing in basic array pattern C units, the color filter array of the thinning processed reduced image can be made similar to the color filter array prior to thinning processing, enabling a common processing circuit to be employed. 
         [0062]    Feature (2) 
         [0063]    The color filter  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2  has the G filter, that corresponds to the color contributing the most to obtaining a brightness signal (the color G in the present exemplary embodiment), placed in each line in the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonal directions of the color filter array. 
         [0064]    The G filter corresponding to the brightness system pixels is placed in every line in the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonal directions of the color filter array, thereby enabling the reproduction precision of synchronization processing to be raised in the high frequency region, irrespective of the high frequency direction. 
         [0065]    Feature (3) 
         [0066]    In the color filter  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the R filter and B filter, that correspond to the 2 or more other colors than the G color (the R and B colors in the present exemplary embodiment), are placed in each line in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the color filter array. 
         [0067]    The R filter and B filter are placed in each line in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the color filter array, thereby enabling color moire (false color) generation to be suppressed. Thus an optical low pass filter for suppressing false color generation may be omitted from placement on the optical path of the optical system from the incident face to the imaging plane. Moreover, even in cases in which an optical low pass filter is applied, one can be employed that has a weak action to cut the high frequency components to prevent false color generation, enabling deterioration of resolution to be avoided. 
         [0068]    The basic array pattern C 1  such as illustrated in  FIG. 2  can be considered as an array of alternate first array pattern A 1  and second array pattern B 1  in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, wherein the first array pattern A 1  is the 3×3 pixels surrounded by the frame of the broken line, and the second array pattern B 1  is the 3×3 pixels surrounded by the frame of the single dot intermittent line. 
         [0069]    The first array pattern A 1  and the second array pattern B 1  both have the G filters for the respective brightness system pixels placed at their 4 corners and center, so as to be placed along their 2 diagonals. Moreover, in the first array pattern A 1 , the B filters are arrayed in the horizontal direction on each side of the central G filter, and the R filters are arrayed in the vertical direction. However, in the second array pattern B 1 , the R filters are arrayed on each side of the central G filter in the horizontal direction, and the B filters are arrayed in the vertical direction. Namely, the first array pattern A 1  and the second array pattern B 1  have reverse positional relationships for the R filters and the B filters, but have the same placement otherwise. 
         [0070]    Moreover, the G filters at the 4 corners of the first array pattern A 1  and the second array pattern B 1  configure G filters of a square array corresponding to 2×2 pixels by disposing the first array pattern A 1  and the second array pattern B 1  alternately along the horizontal and vertical directions, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0071]    Feature (4) 
         [0072]    The color filter  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2  contains a square array corresponding to 2×2 pixels formed from the G filters. 
         [0073]    As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , by extracting the 2×2 pixels formed from the G filters, and deriving the difference in absolute value of the pixel values of the G pixels in the horizontal direction, the difference in absolute value of the pixel values of the G pixels in the vertical direction, and the difference in absolute value of the pixel values of the G pixels in the diagonal directions (sloping up to the right and sloping up to the left), determination can be made that there is correlation in the direction with the smallest difference in absolute value out of the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonal directions. 
         [0074]    Namely, according to the color filter array, the data of the G pixels with the smallest inter pixel separations are employed, thereby enabling determination of the direction with the highest correlation out of the horizontal direction, vertical direction and diagonal directions. The result of this directional determination can then be employed in interpolation processing from the peripheral pixels (synchronization processing). 
         [0075]    Feature (5) 
         [0076]    The basic array pattern C 1  of the color filter  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2  has point symmetry about the center of the basic array pattern C 1  (the center of the 4 G filters). Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first array pattern A 1  and the second array pattern B 1  inside the basic array pattern C 1  also each have respective point symmetry about the G filters at their respective centers. 
         [0077]    Such symmetry enables the circuit scale of a later stage processing circuit to be made smaller and to be simplified. 
         [0078]    In the basic array pattern C 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the color filter arrays of the first and third lines out of the first to sixth horizontal direction lines are GRGGBG, the color filter array of the second line is BGBRGR, the color filter arrays of the fourth and sixth lines are GBGGRG, and the color filter array of the fifth line is RGRBGB. 
         [0079]    In  FIG. 14 , taking a shifted basic array pattern C 1 ′ as the basic array pattern C 1  shifted respectively by 1 pixel each in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, and a shifted basic array pattern C 1 ″ shifted respectively by 2 pixels each, then the same color filter array results from repeatedly disposing the basic array pattern C 1 ′, C 1 ″ along the horizontal direction and vertical direction. 
         [0080]    Namely, plural basic array patterns exist that enable configuration of the color filter array illustrated in  FIG. 14  by repeatedly disposing basic array patterns in the horizontal direction and vertical direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, the basic array pattern C 1  that is the basic array pattern with point symmetry is, for convenience, referred to as the basic array pattern. 
         [0081]    Note that, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the color filter  30  can be viewed as a color filter having repeatedly disposed 6×6 pixel basic array patterns C configured with a first array pattern A and a second array pattern B disposed symmetrically about a point, wherein the first array pattern is a square array of 3×3 pixels having a G filter placed over 2×2 pixels at the top left and a lower right pixel of the 3×3 square array, a R filter placed in a vertical direction center line and a vertical direction lower edge line of the square array, and a B filter placed in a horizontal direction center line and a horizontal direction right edge line of the square array, and the second array pattern B has the same placement of the G filter as that in the first array pattern A and has a placement of the R filter and a placement of the B filter swapped over to those of the first array pattern A. In the following explanation, the color filter  30  is explained as being repeatedly disposed with the basic array pattern C. 
         [0082]    In order to perform AF control in the imaging apparatus  10  with what is referred to as a phase difference method, the image pickup device  14  has phase difference detection pixels placed in a predetermined pattern. Light-blocking portions  40  containing light-blocking films  40 A that block light to the horizontal direction left half of a pixel, and light-blocking films  40 B that block light to the horizontal direction right half of a pixel are formed on the phase difference detection pixels as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In phase difference AF control, a phase shift amount is detected based on pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 A and based on pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 B. The focal position of the imaging lens is then adjusted based thereon. 
         [0083]    In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the light-blocking portions  40  are placed on 2 phase difference detection pixels provided on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of all the first array patterns A and the second array patterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic array patterns C. Note that in  FIG. 3 , the light-blocking portions  40  are provided in all of the basic array patterns C, however there is no limitation thereto, and they may be provided in only the basic array patterns C within a specific region of a section of the image pickup device. This also applies to other exemplary embodiments below. 
         [0084]    The color filter  30  according to the present exemplary embodiment is thereby provided with the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B configuring the light-blocking portions  40  adjacent to each other in a left diagonal direction of  FIG. 3  and provided in all of the phase difference detection pixels, enabling the precision of phase difference AF control to be raised. 
         [0085]    Moreover, in horizontal direction adjacent pixels, sometimes color mixing arises due to light leaking in from adjacent pixels. However in contrast thereto, in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 B side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 B configuring respective pairs with the light-blocking films  40 A, are either both R pixels or B pixels. Influence from color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out, enabling image quality to be improved in comparison to cases in which the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 B side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 B configuring respective pairs with the light-blocking films  40 A, are not the same as each other. 
         [0086]    The image capture processing section  16  subjects the image capture signals that have been output from the image pickup device  14  to predetermined processing, such as amplification processing and correlated double sampling, and A/D conversion processing, then outputs these as pixel data to the image processing section  20 . 
         [0087]    The image processing section  20  subjects the pixel data that has been output from the image capture processing section  16  to what is referred to as synchronization processing. Namely, for all the pixels, interpolation is performed of pixel data for colors other than the corresponding respective color from pixel data of peripheral pixels, so as to generate R, G, B pixel data for all pixels. Then, what is referred to as YC conversion processing is performed to the generated R, G, B pixel data, to generate brightness data Y and color difference data Cr, Cb. Then resizing processing is performed to re-size these signals to a size according to the image capture mode. 
         [0088]    The drive section  22  performs for example driving to read image capture signals from the image pickup device  14  according to instruction from the controller  24 . 
         [0089]    The controller  24  performs overall control of the drive section  22  and the image processing section  20  according to the image capture mode. Although discussed in detail later, put briefly, the controller  24  instructs the drive section  22  to read image capture signals with a reading method corresponding to the image capture mode, and instructs the image processing section  20  to perform image processing corresponding to the image capture mode. 
         [0090]    Since, depending on the image capture mode, there is a need to read thinned image capture signals from the image pickup device  14 , the controller  24  instructs the drive section  22  so as to thin and read image capture signals using a thinning method corresponding to the instructed image capture mode. 
         [0091]    Included as image capture modes are a still image mode that captures still images, and video modes such as an HD video mode that thins the captured image and generates High Definition (HD) video data at a comparatively high definition and records this on a recording medium such as a memory card, not illustrated in the drawings, and a through video mode (live view mode) in which a captured image is thinned and a through video of comparatively low definition is output to a display section, not illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0092]    Explanation next follows of operation of the present exemplary embodiment regarding processing executed by the controller  24 , with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0093]    Note that the processing illustrated in  FIG. 4  is executed when execution of imaging corresponding to the image capture mode is instructed. 
         [0094]    First, at step  100 , the drive section  22  is instructed to read pixel data by a thinning method corresponding to the image capture mode. 
         [0095]    For example, for a video mode such as a HD video mode or through video mode, since video data is generated while performing phase difference AF control, phase difference detection pixels are read from at least some of the phase difference detection pixels that are provided with the light-blocking films  40 A and the light-blocking films  40 B, namely from at least some of the lines containing the light-blocking films  40 A and the light-blocking films  40 B out of the (6n+1) th , (6n+3) th , (6n+4) th , and (6n+6) th  vertical direction lines in  FIG. 3  (wherein n=0, 1, 2, and so on). Phase difference AF control is performed based on the pixel data of these lines, and the other lines (6n+2) th  and (6n+5) th , namely at least some of the lines out of the normal pixel lines, are read and video data generated. During generation of this video data, interpolation is performed for the phase difference detection pixels from the pixel data of the normal pixels in their periphery. 
         [0096]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in the present exemplary embodiment the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B configuring the light-blocking portions  40  are adjacent to each other in the left diagonal direction of  FIG. 3  and are provided in all of the phase difference detection pixels, enabling the precision of phase difference AF control to be raised. 
         [0097]    The horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 B side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 B configuring respective pairs with the light-blocking films  40 A, are both either R pixels or B pixels. The influence of color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out, enabling the image quality of captured images to be raised. 
         [0098]    At step  102 , the image processing section  20  is instructed to execute image processing (synchronization processing and YC conversion processing) and resizing processing corresponding to the imaging mode. 
         [0099]    Note that the controller  24  may be configured with a computer that includes for example a CPU, ROM, RAM and non-volatile ROM. In such cases a processing program for the above processing may, for example, be pre-stored on the non-volatile ROM, and then executed by reading into the CPU. 
         [0100]    Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5A , explanation is given of a case in which horizontal direction array lines placed with the light-blocking films  40 A are alternately disposed in the vertical direction with horizontal direction array lines placed with the light-blocking films  40 B. However, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , configuration may be made with array lines of the light-blocking films  40 A and the light-blocking films  40 B alternately placed in this sequence along the horizontal direction, alternately disposed in the vertical direction with array lines of the light-blocking films  40 B and the light-blocking films  40 A alternately placed in this sequence along the horizontal direction. Note that only the phase difference detection pixels are illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B . In the placement illustrated in  FIG. 5B , since this results in diagonal placement of both the light-blocking films  40 A and the light-blocking films  40 B, it is possible to focus with good precision when for example capturing an image of a subject that contains diagonal lines. This also applies in the following exemplary embodiments. 
       Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0101]    Explanation next follows regarding a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
         [0102]      FIG. 6  illustrates a placement of light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. 
         [0103]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in the present exemplary embodiment, the light-blocking portions  40  are provided on each of the phase difference detection pixels of the upper side first array pattern A and second array pattern B out of the 2 first array patterns A and the 2 second array patterns B configuring the basic array pattern C, and are placed in all the basic array patterns C. Namely, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the light-blocking films  40 A are placed in the (6n+3) th  vertical direction lines, and the light-blocking films  40 B are placed in the (6n+4) th  vertical direction lines. 
         [0104]    In such cases, when the image capture mode is a video mode, the controller  24  reads pixel data of the phase difference detection pixels in the lines placed with the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B and performs phase difference AF control, and also reads pixel data of normal pixels not placed with the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B, namely the pixel data in the (6n+1) th , (6n+2) th , (6n+5) th , and (6n+6) th  lines, and generates video data. 
         [0105]    Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, the pixel data from the phase difference detection pixels is only employed for phase difference AF control, and is not used in generating video data and so there is no need for interpolation from the peripheral pixels. Moreover, the video data is generated from pixel data of normal pixels. Thus the processing speed for phase difference AF control can be raised in comparison to cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are generated based on video data. Moreover, the processing speed for video data generation can be raised in comparison to cases in which interpolated video data is generated. 
       Third Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0106]    Explanation next follows regarding a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 
         [0107]      FIG. 7  illustrates a placement of light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. Thinning driving is similar to that of the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0108]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in the present exemplary embodiment, out of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring the respective basic array patterns C, the light-blocking portions  40  are provided on 2 phase difference detection pixels on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of the first array pattern A that is disposed at the top left, and are placed in all of the basic array patterns C. Namely, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are placed on the phase difference detection pixels at positions where the (6n+3) th  and the (6n+4) th  vertical direction lines intersect with the (6m+3) th  and the (6 m+4) th  horizontal direction lines (m=0, 1, 2, and so on). 
         [0109]    Therefore, since the normal pixels at the periphery of the phase difference detection pixels are increased in comparison to the second exemplary embodiment, the precision of interpolation can be raised, enabling image quality to be raised. 
         [0110]    Moreover, the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 A side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 A, and the horizontal direction adjacent pixels on the light-blocking film  40 B side of the phase difference detection pixels provided with the light-blocking films  40 B are both the same as each other, namely R pixels. Since R wavelengths are particularly susceptible to arriving in the adjacent pixels, color mixing can be even more effectively prevented, enabling image quality to be further raised. 
       Fourth Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0111]    Explanation next follows regarding a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
         [0112]      FIG. 8  illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. Thinning driving is similar to that of the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0113]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in the present exemplary embodiment, array lines configured by basic array patterns that are disposed along the horizontal direction and have the light-blocking portions  40  provided on 2 phase difference detection pixels on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of a first array pattern A at the top left out of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B, are alternately disposed in the vertical direction with array lines configured by basic array patterns C that are disposed along the horizontal direction and have the light-blocking portions  40  provided on 2 phase difference detection pixels on one diagonal of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of the first array pattern B on the top right out of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B. Namely, in the example of  FIG. 8 , the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are placed on the phase difference detection pixels at intersection positions of the (6n+3) th  and the (6n+4) th  vertical direction lines with the (6m+1) th , (6 m+3) th , (6 m+4) th , (6m+6) th  horizontal direction lines. 
         [0114]    Hence, in comparison to the third exemplary embodiment, the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are also placed on the phase difference detection pixels of the (6 m+1) th  and (6 m+6) th  horizontal direction lines. Namely, due to uniform placement of the phase difference detection pixels in the horizontal direction, the precision can be raised for phase difference AF control for, for example, a high frequency image with many vertical lines. 
       Fifth Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0115]    Explanation next follows regarding a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
         [0116]      FIG. 9  illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. 
         [0117]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in the present exemplary embodiment the light-blocking portions  40  are provided on each of 2 phase difference detection pixels on the left side of 2×2 pixels at the top left of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring each basic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic array patterns C. 
         [0118]    During phase difference AF control, the precision of AF control is improved by making the phase difference detection pixels adjacent and disposing the phase difference detection pixels in the vertical direction. 
         [0119]    Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are placed so as to form vertical direction adjacent pairs. An improvement in the precision of phase difference AF control can accordingly be achieved. 
       Sixth Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0120]    Explanation next follows regarding a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
         [0121]      FIG. 10  illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. 
         [0122]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , in the present exemplary embodiment the light-blocking portions  40  are provided on each of 2 phase difference detection pixels on the upper side of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring each basic array pattern C, and are placed in all of the basic array patterns C. 
         [0123]    Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are placed so as to form horizontal direction adjacent pairs. The number of lines in the vertical direction that include phase difference detection pixels is accordingly half that in the fifth exemplary embodiment, thereby enabling the time for reading lines including the phase difference detection pixels to be halved. 
       Seventh Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0124]    Explanation next follows regarding a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are allocated to portions similar to those of the above exemplary embodiments, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
         [0125]      FIG. 11  illustrates a placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B according to the present exemplary embodiment. A point of difference of the present exemplary embodiment to the first exemplary embodiment is the placement of the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B. 
         [0126]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , in the present exemplary embodiment the light-blocking portions  40 A are provided on each of 2 phase difference detection pixels on the left side of the 2×2 pixels at the top left of a first array pattern A and second array pattern B disposed at the upper side of 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring each basic array pattern, and the light-blocking portions  40 B are provided on each of 2 phase difference detection pixels on the left side of 2×2 pixels at the top left of the first array pattern A and second array pattern B disposed at the lower side of the 2 first array patterns A and 2 second array patterns B configuring each basic array pattern, and the light-blocking films  40 A,  40 B are placed in all of the basic array patterns C. 
         [0127]    In such cases, the pixels adjacent to the light-blocking films  40 A are G pixels, and the pixels adjacent to the light-blocking films  40 B are R pixels or B pixels, so as to form a regular placement. The influence from color mixing can accordingly be cancelled out, enabling the precision of phase difference AF control to be raised. 
         [0128]    Note that in each of the above exemplary embodiments explanation has been given of color filter arrays of color filters of the 3 primary colors RGB, however the type of color filters are not limited thereto. 
         [0129]    Moreover, in each of the above exemplary embodiments, explanation has been given of configurations in which the phase difference detection pixels are provided with the light-blocking films  40 A that block light to the horizontal direction left half of pixels or the light-blocking films  40 B that block light to the horizontal direction right half of pixels, however there is no limitation to these light-blocking regions, as long as the light-blocking films  40 A block light to a region that is a part of the phase difference detection pixels and let light through to other regions, and the light-blocking films  40 B block light to part of the phase difference detection pixels and let light pass through in a region that forms a pair with the light-pass region of the light-blocking films  40 A. 
         [0130]    Moreover, in each of the above exemplary embodiments, explanation has been given of a configuration in which the light-blocking films are provided on the phase difference detection pixels, however there is no limitation thereto. For example, the phase difference detection pixels may be formed by adopting the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application 2009-227338. Namely, a configuration in which an image pickup device is configured by top microlenses, inner microlenses, and the light receiving elements of similar shape, configured to include first pixels D 1  that receive light rays that have passed through the entire region of the imaging lens eye, second pixels D 2  that receive only light rays that passed through a portion of a half region of the imaging lens eye, and third pixels D 3  that receive only light rays that have passed through a portion of a half region of the imaging lens eye that is a different region to in the second pixels D 2 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , top microlenses L 2 , L 3  are disposed on the second pixels D 2  and the third pixels D 3 , the top microlenses L 2 , L 3  having a smaller diameter than top microlenses L 1  for the first pixels D 1  and being respectively shifted in different directions with respect to the optical axes of the inner microlenses. The top microlenses and the light receiving elements are disposed shifted with respect to each other. The second pixels D 2  and the third pixels D 3  can accordingly be formed in this manner as the phase difference detection pixels. The present invention is also applicable to such a configuration. Moreover, depending on the configuration of the image pickup device, an embodiment may also be implemented without provision of the inner lenses. Moreover, the configuration of the phase difference pixels is not limited to the configuration described above, and it is possible to substitute any configuration capable of partitioning the eye. 
       Eighth Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0131]    Explanation next follows regarding an eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0132]    Since phase difference detection pixels have a lower sensitivity than normal pixels, and their characteristics are also differ, there is a need to correct the pixel data from phase difference detection pixels when the pixel data of the phase difference detection pixels is employed as imaging data for a still image or a video image. Explanation follows regarding a pixel data correction method for phase difference detection pixels in the present exemplary embodiment. 
         [0133]    As correction methods, two types of method are known, average value correction and gain correction, and either may be employed. Average value correction is a method in which an average value of the pixel values of normal pixels at the periphery of the phase difference detection pixels is taken as pixel data for these phase difference detection pixels. Gain correction is a method by which pixel data for the phase difference detection pixels is raised by multiplying pixel data for the phase difference detection pixels by a specific gain equivalent to the difference in level between the normal pixels and the phase difference detection pixels. 
         [0134]    Specific explanation follows regarding a case in which pixel data of phase difference detection pixels is corrected by average value correction. 
         [0135]      FIG. 15  illustrates G pixel placement within 4×4 pixels centered on 2×2 G pixels at the center of a basic array pattern C 1 . The central 2×2 G pixels in  FIG. 15  are respectively G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 , clockwise from the top left, and the G pixels peripheral thereto are respectively G 5 , G 6 , G 7 , G 8 , clockwise from the top left. 
         [0136]    In cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 , the G 1  and G 3  pixels in  FIG. 15  are phase difference detection pixels. 
         [0137]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , the G 1  and the G 4  pixels in  FIG. 15  are phase difference detection pixels. 
         [0138]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the G 1  and G 2  pixels in  FIG. 15  are phase difference detection pixels. 
         [0139]    In cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are disposed as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 1  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 2 , G 4 , G 5  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 1  pixel. 
         [0140]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 3  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 2 , G 4 , G 7  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 3  pixel. 
         [0141]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 1  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 2 , G 3 , G 5  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 2  pixel. 
         [0142]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 4  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 2 , G 3 , G 8  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 4  pixel. 
         [0143]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 1  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 3 , G 4 , G 5  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 1  pixel. 
         [0144]    Moreover, in cases in which the phase difference detection pixels are placed as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , in cases in which the pixel data of the G 2  pixel that is a phase difference detection pixel is employed as image data, the average value of the pixel data of peripheral normal pixels, for example each of the G 3 , G 4 , G 6  pixels, is taken as the pixel data for the G 2  pixel. 
         [0145]    Average value correction for the pixel data of phase difference detection pixels is accordingly performed as above based on the pixel data of the peripheral normal pixels. 
         [0146]    Note that whether a better image is obtained by performing gain correction or average value correction sometimes differs depending on the contents of the captured image. Consequently, use of gain correction or average value correction may be chosen according to the contents of the captured image.