Solid-state image pickup apparatus capable of realizing image pickup with wide dynamic range and at high frame rate, control method therefor, and storage medium

摘要

A solid-state image pickup apparatus which is capable of enlarging dynamic range and taking images at high frame rate. The solid-state image pickup apparatus has a pixel unit having first pixels with a first sensitivity to the light and second pixels with a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity, and the first pixels and the second pixels being alternately arranged in a row direction. Pixel signals are read out from the first pixels as first pixel signals, and analog-to-digital conversion of the first pixel signals is performed to obtain first digital signals. Pixel signals are read out from the second pixels as second pixel signals, and analog-to-digital conversion of the second pixel signals is performed to obtain second digital signals. The first digital signals and the second digital signals are output as image data.

主权项

1. A solid-state image pickup apparatus, mounted on a camera, that has a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and obtains image data based on pixel signals output from the pixels according to amounts of light incident on the pixels, the solid-state image pickup apparatus comprising:
the pixel unit having first pixels and second pixels, the first pixels and the second pixels being alternately arranged in a row direction; a first signal processing unit configured to, when reading out the pixel signals from the pixel unit, read out the pixel signals from the first pixels as first pixel signals and perform analog-to-digital conversion of the first pixel signals to obtain first digital signals; a second signal processing unit configured to, when reading out the pixel signals from the pixel unit, read out the pixel signals from the second pixels as second pixel signals and perform analog-to-digital conversion of the second pixel signals to obtain second digital signals; and an output unit configured to output the first digital signals and the second digital signals as image data, wherein, in a non-recording operation state in which power to the camera is turned on and the camera does not perform recording, at least one of said first signal processing unit and said second signal processing unit is selectively turned off.