Patent ID: 8253818

Claim:
A pixel-shift type imaging apparatus comprising: a solid-state imaging device; an optical system for forming an image on an imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device; a pixel shift section for shifting a position of the image on the imaging surface; and a video signal processing section for processing an electrical signal output from the solid-state imaging device, wherein, the solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of unit pixel regions being arrayed on the imaging surface at a first pixel pitch along a first direction, and at a second pixel pitch along a second direction which intersects the first direction; one of two adjoining unit pixel regions along the first direction includes a first photodetecting portion having a first opening ratio, and the other of the two unit pixel regions includes a second photodetecting portion having a second opening ratio which is lower than the first opening ratio; the first photodetecting portion outputs a first pixel signal which is in accordance with an amount of light entering the first photodetecting portion, and the second photodetecting portion outputs a second pixel signal which is in accordance with an amount of light entering the second photodetecting portion; when the first photodetecting portion is moved imaginarily by the first pixel pitch along the first direction, the first photodetecting portion covers the entire second photodetecting portion, and a portion of the imaginarily-moved first photodetecting portion that does not cover the second photodetecting portion functions as an imaginary third photodetecting portion; and from a difference between the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal, the video signal processing section obtains an imaginary pixel signal which is in accordance with an amount of light entering the imaginary third photodetecting portion.