JP2014060694A - Imaging element and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent resolutions from being made different in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in each image when both 2D image data and color parallax image data are generated from image data to be output from a single plate imaging element.SOLUTION: An imaging element includes parallax pixels in which any of a plurality of types of opening masks each of which has an opening positioned such that partial light fluxes different from each other with respect to an incident light flux are made to pass is associated with a photoelectric conversion element and pixels with no parallax for introducing the incident light flux to the photoelectric conversion element without being limited by the opening, therein the parallax pixels are arranged at equal intervals with respect to any two-dimensional direction for each type of the associated opening mask so as to be sandwiched between the parallax pixels with which the other opening masks are associated and the pixels with no parallax, and arranged such that a distance between the mutual parallax pixels with which the different types of opening masks are associated is the farthest.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging element and an imaging apparatus.

There is known a stereo imaging device that acquires a stereo image composed of a right-eye image and a left-eye image using two photographing optical systems. Such a stereo imaging device causes parallax to occur in two images obtained by imaging the same subject by arranging two imaging optical systems at regular intervals.
[Prior art documents]
[Patent Literature]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-8-47001

  When both 2D image data and color parallax image data are to be generated from image data output from a single-plate image sensor, it is desired that the sense of resolution does not differ between the vertical and horizontal directions of each image.

  In the imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the photoelectric conversion device is associated with any of a plurality of types of aperture masks each having an aperture positioned so as to pass different partial light beams with respect to the incident light beam. Including a parallax pixel and a non-parallax pixel that guides an incident light beam to the photoelectric conversion element without being limited to the aperture, and the parallax pixel corresponds to another aperture mask for each type of associated aperture mask Between the parallax pixels, which are sandwiched between the attached parallax pixels and the non-parallax pixels and are arranged at equal intervals in any of the two-dimensional directions and associated with different types of the opening masks Are arranged so that their distances are farthest from each other.

  An imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described imaging device and an image processing unit that generates a plurality of parallax image data and 2D image data having parallax from the output of the imaging device.

  It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the cross section of the image pick-up element which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic showing a mode that a part of imaging device was expanded. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the relationship between a parallax pixel and a to-be-photographed object. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the process which produces | generates a parallax image. It is a figure explaining a Bayer arrangement. It is a figure explaining the arrangement | sequence of the repeating pattern 110 in 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the relationship of the pixel interval of the parallax pixel in 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the arrangement | sequence of the repeating pattern 110 in 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining the arrangement | sequence of the repeating pattern 110 in 3rd Example. It is a figure explaining the arrangement | sequence of the repeating pattern 110 in 4th Example. It is a figure explaining the example of the production | generation process of RGB plane data as 2D image data. It is a figure explaining the example of a production | generation process of two G plane data as parallax image data. It is a figure explaining the example of a production | generation process of two B plane data as parallax image data. It is a figure explaining the example of a production | generation process of two R plane data as parallax image data. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship of the resolution of each plane. It is a figure explaining the concept of defocusing. It is a figure explaining the concept of parallax pixel defocusing. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the pixel without a parallax of a full opening, and the pixel without a parallax of a half opening. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the real space and k space as an example. It is a figure explaining animation reading.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  The digital camera according to the present embodiment, which is a form of the image processing apparatus and the imaging apparatus, is configured to be able to generate images with a plurality of viewpoints for one scene by one shooting. Each image having a different viewpoint is called a parallax image.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 10 includes a photographic lens 20 as a photographic optical system, and guides a subject light beam incident along the optical axis 21 to the image sensor 100. The photographing lens 20 may be an interchangeable lens that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 includes an image sensor 100, a control unit 201, an A / D conversion circuit 202, a memory 203, a drive unit 204, an image processing unit 205, a memory card IF 207, an operation unit 208, a display unit 209, an LCD drive circuit 210, and an AF. A sensor 211 is provided.

  As shown in the figure, the direction parallel to the optical axis 21 toward the image sensor 100 is defined as the z-axis plus direction, the direction toward the front of the drawing in the plane orthogonal to the z-axis is the x-axis plus direction, and the upward direction on the drawing is y. The axis is defined as the positive direction In the following several figures, the coordinate axes are displayed so that the orientation of each figure can be understood with reference to the coordinate axes of FIG.

  The taking lens 20 is composed of a plurality of optical lens groups, and forms an image of a subject light flux from the scene in the vicinity of its focal plane. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the photographic lens 20 is represented by a single virtual lens arranged in the vicinity of the pupil. The image sensor 100 is disposed near the focal plane of the photographic lens 20. The image sensor 100 is an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are two-dimensionally arranged. The image sensor 100 is controlled in timing by the drive unit 204, converts the subject image formed on the light receiving surface into an image signal, and outputs the image signal to the A / D conversion circuit 202.

  The A / D conversion circuit 202 converts the image signal output from the image sensor 100 into a digital image signal and outputs the digital image signal to the memory 203. The image processing unit 205 performs various image processing using the memory 203 as a work space, and generates image data.

  The image processing unit 205 also has general image processing functions such as adjusting image data according to the selected image format. The generated image data is converted into a display signal by the LCD drive circuit 210 and displayed on the display unit 209. The data is recorded on the memory card 220 attached to the memory card IF 207.

  The AF sensor 211 is a phase difference sensor in which a plurality of distance measuring points are set for the subject space, and detects the defocus amount of the subject image at each distance measuring point. A series of shooting sequences is started when the operation unit 208 receives a user operation and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 201. Various operations such as AF and AE accompanying the imaging sequence are executed under the control of the control unit 201. For example, the control unit 201 analyzes the detection signal of the AF sensor 211 and executes focus control for moving a focus lens that constitutes a part of the photographing lens 20.

  Next, the configuration of the image sensor 100 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the image sensor 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The imaging element 100 is configured by arranging a microlens 101, a color filter 102, an aperture mask 103, a wiring layer 105, and a photoelectric conversion element 108 in order from the subject side. The photoelectric conversion element 108 is configured by a photodiode that converts incident light into an electrical signal. A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 108 are two-dimensionally arranged on the surface of the substrate 109.

  An image signal converted by the photoelectric conversion element 108, a control signal for controlling the photoelectric conversion element 108, and the like are transmitted and received through the wiring 106 provided in the wiring layer 105. In addition, an opening mask 103 having openings 104 provided in one-to-one correspondence with each photoelectric conversion element 108 is provided in contact with the wiring layer. As will be described later, the opening 104 is shifted for each corresponding photoelectric conversion element 108 so that the relative position is precisely determined. As will be described in detail later, parallax occurs in the subject light beam received by the photoelectric conversion element 108 by the action of the opening mask 103 including the opening 104.

  On the other hand, the aperture mask 103 does not exist on the photoelectric conversion element 108 that does not generate parallax. In other words, it can be said that an aperture mask 103 having an aperture 104 that does not limit the subject luminous flux incident on the corresponding photoelectric conversion element 108, that is, allows the entire incident luminous flux to pass therethrough is provided. Although no parallax is generated, the aperture 107 formed by the wiring 106 defines the incident light flux that is incident, so the wiring 106 is regarded as an aperture mask that allows the entire incident light flux that does not cause parallax to pass. You can also. The opening mask 103 may be arranged separately and independently corresponding to each photoelectric conversion element 108, or may be formed collectively for a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 108 in the same manner as the manufacturing process of the color filter 102. .

  The color filter 102 is provided on the opening mask 103. The color filter 102 is a filter provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each photoelectric conversion element 108, which is colored so as to transmit a specific wavelength band to each photoelectric conversion element 108. In order to output a color image, it is only necessary to arrange at least two types of color filters that are different from each other. However, in order to obtain a higher quality color image, it is preferable to arrange three or more types of color filters. For example, a red filter (R filter) that transmits the red wavelength band, a green filter (G filter) that transmits the green wavelength band, and a blue filter (B filter) that transmits the blue wavelength band may be arranged in a grid pattern. A specific arrangement will be described later.

  The microlens 101 is provided on the color filter 102. The microlens 101 is a condensing lens for guiding more incident subject light flux to the photoelectric conversion element 108. The microlenses 101 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the photoelectric conversion elements 108. In consideration of the relative positional relationship between the pupil center of the taking lens 20 and the photoelectric conversion element 108, the optical axis of the microlens 101 is shifted so that more subject light flux is guided to the photoelectric conversion element 108. It is preferable. Furthermore, the arrangement position may be adjusted so that more specific subject light beam, which will be described later, is incident along with the position of the opening 104 of the opening mask 103.

  As described above, one unit of the aperture mask 103, the color filter 102, and the microlens 101 provided in one-to-one correspondence with each photoelectric conversion element 108 is referred to as a pixel. In particular, a pixel provided with the opening mask 103 that generates parallax is referred to as a parallax pixel, and a pixel that is not provided with the opening mask 103 that generates parallax is referred to as a non-parallax pixel. For example, when the effective pixel area of the image sensor 100 is about 24 mm × 16 mm, the number of pixels reaches about 12 million.

  Note that in the case of an image sensor with good light collection efficiency and photoelectric conversion efficiency, the microlens 101 may not be provided. In the case of a back-illuminated image sensor, the wiring layer 105 is provided on the side opposite to the photoelectric conversion element 108. Further, if the opening 104 of the opening mask 103 has a color component, the color filter 102 and the opening mask 103 can be formed integrally.

  In the present embodiment, the opening mask 103 and the wiring 106 are provided separately, but the wiring 106 may serve the function of the opening mask 103 in the parallax pixels. That is, a prescribed opening shape is formed by the wiring 106, and the incident light beam is limited by the opening shape to guide only a specific partial light beam to the photoelectric conversion element 108. In this case, the wiring 106 that forms the opening shape is preferably closest to the photoelectric conversion element 108 in the wiring layer 105.

Further, the opening mask 103 may be formed by a permeation blocking film provided to overlap the photoelectric conversion element 108. In this case, the opening mask 103 is formed, for example, by sequentially laminating a SiN film and a SiO ₂ film to form a permeation blocking film and removing a region corresponding to the opening 104 by etching.

  Next, the relationship between the opening 104 of the opening mask 103 and the generated parallax will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a part of the image sensor 100 is enlarged. Here, in order to simplify the explanation, the color arrangement of the color filter 102 is not considered until the reference is resumed later. In the following description that does not refer to the color arrangement of the color filter 102, it can be considered that the image sensor is a collection of only parallax pixels having the color filter 102 of the same color. Therefore, the repetitive pattern described below may be considered as an adjacent pixel in the color filter 102 of the same color.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 104 of the opening mask 103 is provided so as to be relatively shifted with respect to each pixel. In the adjacent pixels, the openings 104 are provided at positions displaced from each other.

  In the example shown in the drawing, six types of opening masks 103 that are shifted in the left-right direction are prepared as the positions of the openings 104 for the respective pixels. The entire image sensor 100 has a two-dimensional and periodic array of photoelectric conversion element groups each including a set of six parallax pixels each having an aperture mask 103 that gradually shifts from the left side to the right side of the drawing. .

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the relationship between the parallax pixels and the subject. In particular, FIG. 4A shows a photoelectric conversion element group of a repetitive pattern 110t arranged in the center orthogonal to the photographing optical axis 21 in the image pickup element 100, and FIG. 4B shows a repetitive arrangement arranged in the peripheral portion. The photoelectric conversion element group of the pattern 110u is typically shown. The subject 30 in FIGS. 4A and 4B is in the in-focus position with respect to the photographic lens 20. FIG. 4C schematically shows a relationship when the subject 31 existing at the out-of-focus position with respect to the photographing lens 20 is captured corresponding to FIG.

  First, the relationship between the parallax pixels and the subject when the photographing lens 20 captures the subject 30 that is in focus will be described. The subject luminous flux passes through the pupil of the photographic lens 20 and is guided to the image sensor 100. Six partial areas Pa to Pf are defined for the entire cross-sectional area through which the subject luminous flux passes. For example, in the pixel at the left end of the sheet of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive patterns 110t and 110u, only the subject luminous flux emitted from the partial region Pf reaches the photoelectric conversion element 108 as can be seen from the enlarged view. The position of the opening 104f of the opening mask 103 is determined. Similarly, toward the rightmost pixel, the position of the opening 104e corresponding to the partial area Pe, the position of the opening 104d corresponding to the partial area Pd, and the position of the opening 104c corresponding to the partial area Pc. However, the position of the opening 104b is determined corresponding to the partial area Pb, and the position of the opening 104a is determined corresponding to the partial area Pa.

  In other words, the position of the opening 104f is determined by the inclination of the principal ray Rf of the subject light beam (partial light beam) emitted from the partial region Pf, which is defined by the relative positional relationship between the partial region Pf and the leftmost pixel, for example. It may be said that it is established. Then, when the photoelectric conversion element 108 receives the subject luminous flux from the subject 30 existing at the in-focus position via the opening 104f, the subject luminous flux is coupled on the photoelectric conversion element 108 as shown by the dotted line. Image. Similarly, toward the rightmost pixel, the position of the opening 104e is determined by the inclination of the principal ray Re, the position of the opening 104d is determined by the inclination of the principal ray Rd, and the position of the opening 104c is determined by the inclination of the principal ray Rc. It can be said that the position of the opening 104b is determined by the inclination of the light ray Rb, and the position of the opening 104a is determined by the inclination of the principal ray Ra.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the light beam emitted from the minute region Ot on the subject 30 that intersects the optical axis 21 among the subject 30 existing at the in-focus position passes through the pupil of the photographing lens 20. Then, each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110t is reached. That is, each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110t receives a light beam emitted from one minute region Ot through each of the six partial regions Pa to Pf. Although the minute region Ot has an extent corresponding to the positional deviation of each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110t, it can be approximated to substantially the same object point. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the light beam emitted from the minute region Ou on the subject 30 that is separated from the optical axis 21 among the subject 30 that exists at the in-focus position passes through the pupil of the photographing lens 20. It passes through and reaches each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110u. That is, each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110u receives a light beam emitted from one minute region Ou through each of the six partial regions Pa to Pf. Similarly to the micro area Ot, the micro area Ou has an extent corresponding to the positional deviation of each pixel of the photoelectric conversion element group constituting the repetitive pattern 110u, but substantially the same object point. Can be approximated.

  In other words, as long as the subject 30 exists at the in-focus position, the minute area captured by the photoelectric conversion element group differs according to the position of the repetitive pattern 110 on the image sensor 100, and each pixel constituting the photoelectric conversion element group Captures the same minute region through different partial regions. In each repetitive pattern 110, corresponding pixels receive the subject luminous flux from the same partial area. That is, in the drawing, for example, the leftmost pixel of each of the repeated patterns 110t and 110u receives a partial light beam from the same partial region Pf.

  In the repetitive pattern 110t arranged in the center orthogonal to the photographing optical axis 21, the left end pixel in the repetitive pattern 110u arranged in the peripheral portion and the position of the opening 104f where the left end pixel receives the subject light beam from the partial region Pf. However, the position of the opening 104f that receives the subject luminous flux from the partial region Pf is strictly different. However, from a functional point of view, these can be treated as the same type of aperture mask in terms of an aperture mask for receiving the subject light flux from the partial region Pf. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 4, it can be said that each of the parallax pixels arranged on the image sensor 100 includes one of six types of aperture masks.

  Next, the relationship between the parallax pixels and the subject when the photographing lens 20 captures the subject 31 existing in the out-of-focus state will be described. Also in this case, the subject luminous flux from the subject 31 present at the out-of-focus position passes through the six partial areas Pa to Pf of the pupil of the photographing lens 20 and reaches the image sensor 100. However, the subject light flux from the subject 31 existing at the out-of-focus position forms an image at another position, not on the photoelectric conversion element 108. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, when the subject 31 exists at a position farther from the imaging element 100 than the subject 30, the subject light flux forms an image on the subject 31 side with respect to the photoelectric conversion element 108. Conversely, when the subject 31 is present at a position closer to the image sensor 100 than the subject 30, the subject luminous flux forms an image on the opposite side of the subject 31 from the photoelectric conversion element 108.

Therefore, the subject luminous flux emitted from the minute region Ot ′ among the subjects 31 existing at the out-of-focus position depends on which of the six partial regions Pa to Pf, the corresponding pixels in the different sets of repetitive patterns 110. To reach. For example, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4C, the subject luminous flux that has passed through the partial region Pd is incident on the photoelectric conversion element 108 having the opening 104d included in the repeated pattern 110t ′ as the principal ray Rd ′. To do. Even if the subject light beam is emitted from the minute region Ot ′, the subject light beam that has passed through another partial region does not enter the photoelectric conversion element 108 included in the repetitive pattern 110t ′, and the repetitive pattern in the other repetitive pattern. The light enters the photoelectric conversion element 108 having a corresponding opening. In other words, the subject luminous flux reaching each photoelectric conversion element 108 constituting the repetitive pattern 110t ′ is a subject luminous flux radiated from different minute areas of the subject 31. That is, a subject luminous flux having a principal ray as Rd ′ is incident on 108 corresponding to the opening 104d, and the principal rays are incident on Ra ⁺ , Rb ⁺ , Rc ⁺ , Re to the photoelectric conversion elements 108 corresponding to the other openings. ^+, although subject light flux to Rf ⁺ is incident, these object light is a subject light flux emitted from different micro region of the object 31. Such a relationship is the same in the repeated pattern 110u arranged in the peripheral portion in FIG.

  Then, when viewed as a whole of the imaging element 100, for example, the subject image A captured by the photoelectric conversion element 108 corresponding to the opening 104a and the subject image D captured by the photoelectric conversion element 108 corresponding to the opening 104d are: If the image is for the subject present at the in-focus position, there is no shift, and if the image is for the subject present at the out-of-focus position, there is a shift. Then, the direction and amount of the shift are determined by how much the subject existing at the out-of-focus position is shifted from the focus position and by the distance between the partial area Pa and the partial area Pd. That is, the subject image A and the subject image D are parallax images. Since this relationship is the same for the other openings, six parallax images are formed corresponding to the openings 104a to 104f.

  Therefore, when the outputs of the pixels corresponding to each other in each of the repetitive patterns 110 configured in this way are collected, a parallax image is obtained. That is, the output of the pixel that has received the subject light beam emitted from a specific partial area among the six partial areas Pa to Pf forms a parallax image.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating processing for generating a parallax image. The figure shows, in order from the left column, the generation of the parallax image data Im_f generated by collecting the outputs of the parallax pixels corresponding to the opening 104f, the generation of the parallax image data Im_e by the output of the opening 104e, the opening State of generation of parallax image data Im_d by output of 104d, state of generation of parallax image data Im_c by output of opening 104c, state of generation of parallax image data Im_b by output of opening 104b, parallax by output of opening 104a This represents how the image data Im_a is generated. First, how the parallax image data Im_f is generated by the output of the opening 104f will be described.

  A repeating pattern 110 composed of a group of photoelectric conversion elements each including six parallax pixels is arranged in a horizontal row. Therefore, the parallax pixels having the opening 104f are present every six pixels in the left-right direction and continuously in the vertical direction on the virtual imaging element 100 excluding the pixels without parallax. Each of these pixels receives the subject luminous flux from different microregions as described above. Therefore, when the outputs of these parallax pixels are collected and arranged, a parallax image is obtained.

  However, since each pixel of the image sensor 100 according to the present embodiment is a square pixel, simply gathering results in the result that the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is reduced to 1/6, and vertically long image data is generated. End up. Therefore, by performing an interpolation process to obtain the number of pixels 6 times in the horizontal direction, the parallax image data Im_f is generated as an image with an original aspect ratio. However, since the parallax image data before the interpolation processing is an image that is thinned by 1/6 in the horizontal direction, the resolution in the horizontal direction is lower than the resolution in the vertical direction. That is, it can be said that the number of generated parallax image data and the improvement in resolution are in a conflicting relationship. A specific interpolation process applied to this embodiment will be described later.

  Similarly, parallax image data Im_e to parallax image data Im_a are obtained. That is, the digital camera 10 can generate a six-view parallax image having parallax in the horizontal direction.

  As described above, an example has been described in which when there are six types of deviations from the pixel center of the opening, each parallax pixel functions as a pupil division optical system and generates parallax pixels of six viewpoints. The main point described here is that each parallax pixel forms a subject image of a different viewpoint, and a parallax between images of different viewpoints is generated between different types of parallax pixels.

  Not only is the fact that the pupil division optical system using parallax pixels generates parallax, but parallax is generated only for the subject image that is out of focus and out of focus, and the subject is out of focus. There is an important fact of creating parallax. FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are explanatory diagrams illustrating this state in the case of a normal non-parallax pixel and two parallaxes (left parallax, right parallax). Light that has passed through one optical system forms an optical image with a virtual pupil on the left side of the optical system for the right parallax pixel, and a virtual pupil on the right side of the optical system for the left parallax pixel. An optical image is formed. Accordingly, the point image distribution function of the subject image at the focus position is sharply formed, and a subject image having no parallax having the same sharp point image distribution is formed through either virtual pupil. On the other hand, the point spread function of the subject position blurred forward and backward from the focus position shows a widening of the blur width as the distance from the focus position increases, and the center position of the imaging is separated into left and right, and parallax is generated. One point image distribution function obtained by adding and synthesizing the two point image distribution functions coincides with the point image distribution function imaged on the pixel without parallax, and the peak position is separated into two by the virtual pupil. It is located in the middle of the point spread function of the optical image.

  Focusing on the important fact that there is parallax only in this blur and the amount of parallax increases as the degree of blur increases, in this embodiment, the color and color for acquiring a high-resolution 2D image and a 3D image at the same time A parallax array is proposed.

  Next, the color filter 102 and the parallax image will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the Bayer arrangement. As shown in the figure, the Bayer array is an array in which the G filter is assigned to the upper left (Gb) and lower right (Gr) pixels, the R filter is assigned to the lower left pixel, and the B filter is assigned to the upper right pixel.

  With respect to such an arrangement of the color filters 102, an enormous number of repetitive patterns 110 can be set depending on what color pixels the parallax pixels and non-parallax pixels are allocated to. If the outputs of pixels without parallax are collected, photographic image data having no parallax can be generated in the same way as normal photographic images. Therefore, if the ratio of pixels without parallax is relatively increased, a 2D image with high resolution can be output. In this case, since the number of parallax pixels is relatively small, the image quality is degraded as a 3D image including a plurality of parallax images. Conversely, if the ratio of the parallax pixels is increased, the image quality is improved as a 3D image, but the non-parallax pixels are relatively reduced, so that a 2D image with low resolution is output. If parallax pixels are assigned to any pixel of RGB, high-quality color image data with good color reproducibility can be obtained while being a 3D image.

  Ideally, it is desirable to output high-resolution and high-quality color image data for both 2D and 3D images. By the way, the image area in which the observer feels parallax in the 3D image is out-of-focus where the same subject images are shifted from each other as understood from the parallax generation principle described with reference to FIGS. 4, 17, and 18. It is an area. Therefore, it can be said that the image area where the observer feels parallax has less high-frequency components than the main subject in focus. Then, when generating a 3D image, it is sufficient that image data that is not so high resolution exists in a region where parallax occurs.

  The focused image area can be cut out from the 2D image data, and the out-of-focus image area can be cut out from the 3D image data, and the respective parallax image data can be generated by synthesis. Alternatively, the high-resolution parallax image data can be generated by multiplying the relative ratios of the pixels of the 3D image data based on the 2D image data that is high-resolution data. Assuming that such image processing is employed, in the image sensor 100, the number of parallax pixels may be smaller than the number of non-parallax pixels. In other words, it can be said that a relatively high-resolution 3D image can be generated even with relatively few parallax pixels.

  In this case, in order to generate a 3D image as a color image, at least two types of color filters that are different from each other may be arranged, but in this embodiment, as in the Bayer arrangement described with reference to FIG. In order to achieve high image quality, three types of RGB color filters are employed. In particular, in the present embodiment where the number of parallax pixels is relatively small, the parallax pixels are all combinations in which any of the three types of RGB color filters is provided for each type of opening 104. Including. For example, assuming a parallax Lt pixel whose opening 104 is decentered to the left of the center and a parallax Rt pixel decentered to the right, the parallax Lt pixel is a pixel having an R filter, a pixel having a G filter, and B The parallax Rt pixel includes a pixel including a filter, a pixel including an R filter, a pixel including a G filter, and a pixel including a B filter. That is, the image sensor 100 has six types of parallax pixels. Such image data output from the image sensor 100 is the basis of vivid color parallax image data that realizes so-called stereoscopic vision. Note that when two types of color filters are combined with two types of openings, the image sensor 100 has four types of parallax pixels.

Hereinafter, variations of the pixel arrangement will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the repeated patterns 110 in the first embodiment. The repetitive pattern 110 in the first embodiment is composed of 64 pixels, including four Bayer arrangements having 4 pixels as a basic unit in the vertical direction which is the Y axis direction and 4 in the horizontal direction which is the X axis direction. . In this repeating pattern 110, the effective pixel area of the image sensor 100 is periodically arranged vertically and horizontally with a group of 64 pixels as a set. In other words, the imaging device 100 uses a repetitive pattern 110 indicated by a thick line in the drawing as a basic lattice. Note that pixels in the repetitive pattern 110 are represented by _PIJ . For example, the upper left pixel is _{P 11,} the upper right pixel is _{P 81.}

  The parallax pixel in the first embodiment has either one of two types of aperture masks 103, that is, a parallax Lt pixel whose opening 104 is decentered to the left of the center and a parallax Rt pixel that is also decentered to the right. As shown in the figure, the parallax pixels are arranged as follows.

P ₁₁ : Parallax Lt pixel + G filter (= G (Lt))
P ₅₁ ... Parallax Rt pixel + G filter (= G (Rt))
P ₃₂ ... Parallax Lt pixel + B filter (= B (Lt))
P ₆₃ ... Parallax Rt pixel + R filter (= R (Rt))
P ₁₅ ... Parallax Rt pixel + G filter (= G (Rt))
P ₅₅ ... Parallax Lt pixel + G filter (= G (Lt))
P ₇₆ ... Parallax Rt pixel + B filter (= B (Rt))
P ₂₇ ... Parallax Lt pixel + R filter (= R (Lt))

  The other pixels are non-parallax pixels, and any of non-parallax pixels + R filter (= R (N)), non-parallax pixels + G filter (= G (N)), non-parallax pixels + B filter (= B (N)) It is.

  As described above, an arrangement in which disparity pixels by all combinations of openings and color filters are included in the basic lattice, and is arranged with randomness among pixels without disparity more than the disparity pixels is preferable. In particular, even when counting is performed for each color filter, it is preferable that the number of pixels without parallax is larger than the number of pixels without parallax. In the first embodiment, G (Lt) + G (Rt) = 2 + 2 = 4 for G (N) = 28, and R (Lt) + R for R (N) = 14. For (Rt) = 2 and B (N) = 14, B (Lt) + B (Rt) = 2. In addition, as described above, in consideration of human visual characteristics, a larger number of parallax pixels having a G filter and non-parallax pixels are arranged than each having another color filter.

  In other words, by providing all the R, G, and B color information for the parallax pixels, a more advanced and accurate three-dimensional color distribution structure is being captured.

  The RGB ratio of the right parallax pixel, the left parallax pixel, and the non-parallax pixel has the same R: G: B = 1: 2: 1 configuration as the Bayer array. Furthermore, the parallax pixels are distributed as far as possible from each other at a sparse density so that the pixels without parallax maintain the spatial resolution of the normal Bayer array as much as possible. In other words, between the same right parallax pixels of a certain color component or between the same left parallax pixels, they are arranged at equal intervals while maintaining isotropic, and the distance between the right parallax pixel and the left parallax pixel of a certain color component Are evenly spaced so that they are farthest away. The disparity information is uniformly acquired by arranging the distance between the right disparity pixels when the color component is ignored and the distance between the left disparity pixels when the color component is ignored as far as possible. To do.

  In the first embodiment, the pixel number ratio of the non-parallax pixel, the left parallax pixel, and the right parallax pixel is N: Lt: Rt = 14: 1: 1, and the spatial resolution of the non-parallax pixel is very close to the Bayer array. I keep it. Further, by disposing the parallax pixels farthest from each other, there is no fear that pixels without parallax are adjacent and lose information at the same time, and the performance of resolving high frequency components including the Nyquist frequency is maintained.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the pixel intervals of the parallax pixels in the first embodiment. In the figure, nine repeating patterns 110 shown in FIG. 7 are arranged side by side (= 3 × 3).

As shown, the interval in the even Y-direction spacing in the X direction G (Lt) pixel also have equal spacings represented by GLt _p. As for the G (Rt) pixel forming a pair, the interval in the even Y-direction spacing in the X direction, are equally spaced represented by GRT _p, and, GRT _p is equal to GLt _p. Furthermore, X, is G (Rt) pixels was advanced by a distance of only GLt _p in one direction of the Y-existing position of the G (Lt) pixel.

Similarly, the interval in the X direction and the interval in the Y direction of R (Lt) pixels are equal intervals represented by RLt _p . As for the R (Rt) pixel forming a pair, the interval in the even Y-direction spacing in the X direction, are equally spaced represented by RRT _p, and, RRT _p is equal to RLt _p. Furthermore, there is R (Rt) pixel from the position of R (Lt) pixel X, where the advanced in both the Y only half the distance RLt _p.

Further, the interval in the even Y-direction interval in B (Lt) X direction of the pixels also have equal spacings represented by BLt _p. As for the B (Rt) pixel forming a pair, the interval in the even Y-direction spacing in the X direction, are equally spaced represented by BRt _p, and, BRt _p is equal to BLt _p. Furthermore, X, is the B (Rt) pixel was promoted in both the Y only half the distance BLt _p-existing position of B (Lt) pixel.

  That is, when viewed for each type of color filter, each aperture mask type is sandwiched between parallax pixels associated with other aperture masks and non-parallax pixels, and is equally spaced in both two-dimensional directions. Is arranged in. In other words, they are arranged isotropically and equally in the two-dimensional direction. By arranging the parallax pixels in this way, the resolution is not different between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction when the parallax image is output, and adverse effects on the resolution of the 2D image can be reduced.

  The state of the color / parallax pixel array thus obtained is summarized in FIG. 19, and the resolution area in the frequency space corresponding to the real space array, that is, the resolution is also shown as a k-space diagram. The wave number k is connected to the frequency f in a relationship of k = 2πf. When the lattice spacing of the real space is a, the reciprocal lattice space is represented by k space, and the resolution area is represented by the first Brillouin zone of the reciprocal lattice space (for example, US2010 of the same inventor as the present inventor). / 021853 and Japanese Patent No. 4,239,483).

  Referring to FIG. 19, the resolving power of the sparse left parallax pixel and the sparse right parallax pixel in the imaging stage is lower than that of the dense non-parallax pixel. Accordingly, dense non-parallax pixels have a resolution comparable to the Bayer array.

  Therefore, as will be described later, the non-parallax pixels are temporarily interpolated to generate 2D color images R (N), G (N), and B (N), and the sparse left parallax image R (Lt), G (Lt) and B (Lt) and sparse right parallax images R (Rt), G (Rt), and B (Rt) are generated. Then, from now on, an image without parallax is used in the middle, and finally a dense left parallax image R ′ (Lt), G ′ (Lt), B ′ (Lt) and a dense right parallax image R ′ ( Rt), G ′ (Rt), and B ′ (Rt) can be obtained by applying parallax modulation with a sparse parallax image as follows.

  In this way, a high-frequency component of a pixel without parallax is superimposed on a newly generated image with parallax, and an image with parallax, that is, a 3D image can be obtained as a high-resolution image as the 2D image. In other words, in an image area where the focus is slightly out of focus and a slight amount of parallax occurs, while referring to the parallax image state that changes slowly the high resolution image of the image without parallax Displacement processing that is shifted slightly to the left or right is performed by parallax modulation.

  In addition, the subject image in the out-of-focus area that is largely out of focus retains the resolution of a non-parallax image at the maximum while taking full advantage of the lateral resolution of the slowly changing parallax image. A horizontal shift is performed.

  In other words, in order to maximize the parallax modulation effect, the spatial resolution of an image with parallax is high in the horizontal direction as a condition of the pixel arrangement. As shown in the example of 6 parallaxes, a configuration in which the left and right parallax pixels are arranged in the horizontal direction to reduce the horizontal resolution is not desirable from this point of view, and the parallax having high resolution in the horizontal direction. A pixel array is required. It is an isotropic parallax pixel array arranged so as to satisfy such conditions, and isotropic resolution is shown in the k-space diagram of FIG. Hereinafter, all other examples of the sparse parallax pixel arrangement have isotropic parallax pixel arrangement structures, which are shown together with the k-space diagram.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the repeated patterns 110 in the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the repeated pattern 110 in the second embodiment has four Bayer arrangements having four pixels as a basic unit in the vertical direction that is the Y-axis direction and four in the horizontal direction that is the X-axis direction. Including 64 pixels. In this repeating pattern 110, the effective pixel area of the image sensor 100 is periodically arranged vertically and horizontally with a group of 64 pixels as a set. In other words, the imaging device 100 uses a repetitive pattern 110 indicated by a thick line in the drawing as a basic lattice.

  The parallax pixel in the second embodiment has either one of two types of opening masks 103, that is, a parallax Lt pixel whose opening 104 is decentered to the left of the center and a parallax Rt pixel that is also decentered to the right. As shown in the figure, the parallax pixels are arranged as follows.

P ₁₁ : Parallax Lt pixel + G filter (= G (Lt))
P ₅₁ ... Parallax Rt pixel + G filter (= G (Rt))
P ₃₂ ... Parallax Lt pixel + B filter (= B (Lt))
P ₇₂ ... Parallax Rt pixel + B filter (= B (Rt))
P ₂₃ ... Parallax Rt pixel + R filter (= R (Rt))
P ₆₃ ... Parallax Lt pixel + R filter (= R (Lt))
P ₁₅ ... Parallax Rt pixel + G filter (= G (Rt))
P ₅₅ ... Parallax Lt pixel + G filter (= G (Lt))
P ₃₆ ... Parallax Rt pixel + B filter (= B (Rt))
P ₇₆ ... Parallax Lt pixel + B filter (= B (Lt))
P ₂₇ ... Parallax Lt pixel + R filter (= R (Lt))
P ₆₇ ... Parallax Rt pixel + R filter (= R (Rt))

  The other pixels are non-parallax pixels, and any of non-parallax pixels + R filter (= R (N)), non-parallax pixels + G filter (= G (N)), non-parallax pixels + B filter (= B (N)) It is.

  As described above, an arrangement in which disparity pixels by all combinations of openings and color filters are included in the basic lattice, and is arranged with randomness among pixels without disparity more than the disparity pixels is preferable. In particular, even when counting is performed for each color filter, it is preferable that the number of pixels without parallax is larger than the number of pixels without parallax. In the second embodiment, G (Lt) + G (Rt) = 2 + 2 = 4 for G (N) = 28, and R (Lt) + R for R (N) = 12. For (Rt) = 4 and B (N) = 12, B (Lt) + B (Rt) = 4.

  In this arrangement, the RGB ratio of the parallax pixel arrangement in the first embodiment is 1: 2: 1, and the R and B parallax pixels are increased to the same as G, and R: G: B = 1: 1: 1. It is an array. Accordingly, the spatial resolution of pixels without parallax is reduced. A real space diagram and a k-space diagram are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the repeated patterns 110 in the third embodiment. Similar to the first and second embodiments, the repetitive pattern 110 in the third embodiment has four Bayer arrangements having four pixels as a basic unit in the vertical direction, which is the Y-axis direction, and in the X-axis direction. It includes 4 pixels in the horizontal direction and is composed of 64 pixels. In this repeating pattern 110, the effective pixel area of the image sensor 100 is periodically arranged vertically and horizontally with a group of 64 pixels as a set. In other words, the imaging device 100 uses a repetitive pattern 110 indicated by a thick line in the drawing as a basic lattice.

  The parallax pixel in the third embodiment has one of two types of aperture masks 103, namely, a parallax Lt pixel whose opening 104 is decentered to the left of the center and a parallax Rt pixel that is also decentered to the right. As shown in the figure, the parallax pixels are arranged as follows.

P ₁₁ : Parallax Lt pixel + G filter (= G (Lt))
P ₃₂ ... Parallax Lt pixel + B filter (= B (Lt))
P ₆₃ ... Parallax Rt pixel + R filter (= R (Rt))
P ₅₅ ... Parallax Rt pixel + G filter (= G (Rt))
P ₇₆ ... Parallax Rt pixel + B filter (= B (Rt))
P ₂₇ ... Parallax Lt pixel + R filter (= R (Lt))

  The other pixels are non-parallax pixels, and any of non-parallax pixels + R filter (= R (N)), non-parallax pixels + G filter (= G (N)), non-parallax pixels + B filter (= B (N)) It is.

  As described above, an arrangement in which disparity pixels by all combinations of openings and color filters are included in the basic lattice, and is arranged with randomness among pixels without disparity more than the disparity pixels is preferable. In particular, even when counting is performed for each color filter, it is preferable that the number of pixels without parallax is larger than the number of pixels without parallax. In the case of the third embodiment, G (Lt) + G (Rt) = 2 for G (N) = 30, and R (Lt) + R (Rt for R (N) = 14. ) = 2 and B (N) = 14, B (Lt) + B (Rt) = 2.

  In this arrangement, the RGB ratio of the parallax pixel arrangement in the first embodiment is 1: 2: 1, but the G parallax pixels are reduced to the same as R and B, and R: G: B = 1: 1: 1. It is an array. Accordingly, the spatial resolution of pixels without parallax is increased. A real space diagram and a k-space diagram are shown in FIG.

  In the case of the third embodiment, the parallax pixels are arranged so as to be shifted with respect to both the row direction (X direction) and the column direction (Y direction) in the two-dimensional direction for each type of opening mask. That is, in the row direction, the parallax Lt pixels are arranged in the first, second, and seventh rows, and the parallax Rt pixels are arranged in the third, fifth, and sixth rows. In the column direction, the parallax Lt pixels are arranged in the first, second, and third columns, and the parallax Rt pixels are arranged in the fifth, sixth, and seventh columns. In this way, even if the type of color filter is not considered, if the aperture masks are arranged at equal intervals in any of the two-dimensional directions, the randomness of the pixel arrangement is further improved, and high A quality parallax image can be output. That is, the parallax information is captured isotropically. This applies the principle of arrangement described in the first embodiment as it is.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the repeated patterns 110 in the fourth embodiment. The repetitive pattern 110 in the fourth embodiment is a combination of two Bayer arrays having four pixels as a basic unit in the vertical direction that is the Y-axis direction and two in the horizontal direction that is the X-axis direction. It is composed of 16 pixels in which the G filter of the Gb pixel in the lower Bayer array is replaced with a W filter that allows passage of any visible light wavelength band. The repetitive pattern 110 includes a group of 16 pixels as a set, and the effective pixel area of the image sensor 100 is periodically arranged vertically and horizontally. In other words, the imaging device 100 uses a repetitive pattern 110 indicated by a thick line in the drawing as a basic lattice.

Parallax pixel in the fourth embodiment, the P ₁₁ of the parallax Lt pixel W filter is associated with an opening 104 is eccentric to the left of the center, also correlated W filter parallax Rt pixel of which is eccentric to the right having to _{P 33} that is.

  The other pixels are non-parallax pixels, and any of non-parallax pixels + R filter (= R (N)), non-parallax pixels + G filter (= G (N)), non-parallax pixels + B filter (= B (N)) It is.

  Even in such an arrangement, each type of aperture mask is sandwiched between parallax pixels associated with other aperture masks and non-parallax pixels, and arranged at equal intervals in both two-dimensional directions. Has been. In addition, the parallax pixels are arranged so as to be shifted with respect to both the row direction (X direction) and the column direction (Y direction) in the two-dimensional direction for each type of aperture mask.

  A real space diagram and a k-space diagram of this arrangement are shown in FIG.

  Luminance information can be acquired as parallax image data from the image sensor 100 in the fourth embodiment. That is, a monochrome 3D image can be output as image data, and can also be used as a distance image for calculating the distance of a subject. Moreover, high-resolution color parallax image data can also be generated by multiplying the relative ratio of each pixel of 3D image data as luminance information based on 2D image data that is high-resolution data.

  What has been described so far in the first to fourth embodiments is an example in which the principle of both the arrangement of “sparse parallax pixels” and “isotropic parallax pixels” is observed. Other possible arrangements of colors and parallax pixels based on this principle are shown in the following figure. 23, 24, and 25 are configurations in which the color filter has a Bayer array structure and only G pixels are used as the parallax pixels, and the density of the parallax pixels is changed little by little. 27 and 28 are parallax pixel arrays configured based on the above principle for a monochrome sensor. The viewpoint that the frequency resolution area of the parallax pixel is isotropic and the resolution area of the non-parallax pixel is kept wide, and the parallax pixel information also generates parallax in the blurred area in any figure. To have an appropriate range of resolution.

  Similarly, FIGS. 29, 30, 31, and 32 show examples of complementary color arrangements. Note that C means cyan, M means magenta, Y means yellow, and W means white.

  As described above, the parallax pixel arrangement in the case of the primary color system, the monochrome system, and the complementary color system has been shown, but an arrangement that is particularly excellent among the color arrangements is that shown in the first embodiment. It is basically in the Bayer array, and the non-parallax pixel and the parallax pixel have a resolution ratio close to the visual sensitivity of RGB ratio R: G: B = 1: 2: 1. The non-parallax pixel has almost the same performance as the normal Bayer array. It is because it is realized while keeping.

  Next, as a fifth example, an example in which the density of the parallax pixels of the first example is doubled for all of the R, G, and B components will be described. In the second embodiment, only the R and B component parallax pixels of the first embodiment are increased. However, in this embodiment, the G component is also increased, and the color distribution ratio R (N): G (N ): B (N) = 1: 2: 1 as well as the color distribution ratio R (Lt): G (Lt): B (Lt) = 1: 2: 1 between the right parallax pixels R (Rt): G (Rt): B (Rt) = 1: 2: 1 all maintain the same color distribution ratio as the Bayer array, and the non-parallax pixel (N), the left parallax pixel (Lt), and the right parallax The distribution ratio of pixels (Rt) is increased from N: Lt: Rt = 14: 1: 1 to N: Lt: Rt = 6: 1: 1.

  FIG. 34 shows the arrangement. The k-space diagram is also shown. However, the resolution range of the non-parallax pixels in the k-space diagram is based on the assumption that the resolution range does not drop compared to the Bayer array because the parallax pixels are sparse. The resolution range of G (Lt) and G (Rt) is described in an approximate estimate.

  To explain the arrangement of the arrays, when looking at the state in the 8 × 8 basic lattice, there is one left parallax pixel and one right parallax pixel in every row. In all the columns, there are a left parallax pixel and a right parallax pixel one by one. The distances are arranged at equal intervals so that the distances between different parallax pixels are the longest. Further, when the left parallax pixels are connected with a straight line ignoring the color, a left diagonal line inclined by about 30 degrees from the horizontal is connected, and a right diagonal line is also connected in a direction orthogonal thereto. The same applies to the right parallax pixels. Therefore, sparse parallax pixels are arranged isotropically.

  This arrangement is characterized by the performance that the spatial resolution balance between 2D resolution and 3D resolution is very good. That is, it is possible to generate a stereoscopic image at a density that allows the parallax pixels to be captured in each row and column while maintaining the 2D image quality in a dense array of non-parallax pixels. Therefore, the first and fifth embodiments can be called parallax pixel arrays developed in a form suitable for monocular pupil division stereoscopic imaging while following the concept of the color distribution ratio of the Bayer array.

  Next, the concept of image processing for generating 2D image data and a plurality of parallax image data will be described. As can be seen from the arrangement of parallax pixels and non-parallax pixels in the repetitive pattern 110, image data representing a specific image is not obtained even if the output of the image sensor 100 is aligned with the pixel arrangement. Only when the pixel outputs of the image sensor 100 are separated and collected for each pixel group characterized in the same manner, image data representing one image in accordance with the characteristics is formed. For example, as already described with reference to FIG. 5, when the outputs of the parallax pixels are collected for each type of opening, a plurality of parallax image data having parallax can be obtained. In this way, each piece of image data separated and collected for each identically characterized pixel group is referred to as plane data.

  The image processing unit 205 receives raw raw image data whose output values are arranged in the pixel arrangement order of the image sensor 100, and executes plane separation processing for separating the raw image data into a plurality of plane data. Hereinafter, the generation processing of each plane data will be described by taking the output from the image sensor 100 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7 as an example.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for generating 2D-RGB plane data as 2D image data. The upper diagram shows a state in which one repetitive pattern 110 and its surrounding output in the image sensor 100 are arranged as they are in accordance with the pixel arrangement. In the figure, description is made so that the types of pixels can be understood in accordance with the example of FIG. 7, but actually output values corresponding to the respective pixels are arranged.

In generating the 2D-RGB plane data, the image processing unit 205 first removes the pixel values of the parallax pixels to form an empty grid. Then, the pixel value that has become an empty grid is calculated by interpolation processing using the pixel values of peripheral pixels having the same type of color filter. For example, the pixel values of the vacancy _{P 11} is the pixel value of the G filter pixels adjacent in an oblique _{direction, P -1-1, P 2-1, P} -12, averages calculates the pixel values of _{P 22} To calculate. Further, for example, the pixel value of the empty grid P ₆₃ is calculated by averaging the pixel values of P ₄₃ , P ₄₃ , P ₈₃ , and P ₆₅ that are adjacent R filter pixel values by skipping one pixel vertically and horizontally. To do. Similarly, for example, the pixel value of the empty lattice P ₇₆ is obtained by averaging the pixel values of P ₇₄ , P ₅₆ , P ₉₆ , and P ₇₈ which are the pixel values of the adjacent B filter by skipping one pixel vertically and horizontally. calculate.

  Since the 2D-RGB plane data interpolated in this way is the same as the output of a normal imaging device having a Bayer array, various processes can be performed as 2D image data thereafter. That is, known Bayer interpolation is performed to generate color image data in which RGB data is aligned for each pixel. The image processing unit 205 performs image processing according to a predetermined format such as JPEG when generating still image data and MPEG when generating moving image data.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for generating two G plane data as parallax image data. That is, GLt plane data as left parallax image data and GRt plane data as right parallax image data.

In generating the GLt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel values of the G (Lt) pixels from all output values of the image sensor 100 to form a vacant lattice. Then, two pixel values P ₁₁ and P ₅₅ remain in the repeated pattern 110. Accordingly, the repeating pattern 110 4 equal parts horizontally and vertically, the 16 pixels of the top left is represented by an output value of the P _11, it is representative of the 16 pixels in the lower right in the output value of the P _55. Then, for the upper right 16 pixels and the lower left 16 pixels, average values of neighboring representative values adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions are averaged and interpolated. That is, the GLt plane data has one value in units of 16 pixels.

Similarly, when generating the GRt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel value of the G (Rt) pixel from all the output values of the image sensor 100 to obtain an empty grid. Then, two pixel values P ₅₁ and P ₁₅ remain in the repeated pattern 110. Accordingly, the repeating pattern 110 4 equal parts horizontally and vertically, the 16 pixels in the upper right is represented by the output value of the P _51, to the 16 pixels in the lower left is represented by an output value of the P _15. The upper left 16 pixels and the lower right 16 pixels are interpolated by averaging the peripheral representative values adjacent vertically and horizontally. That is, the GRt plane data has one value in units of 16 pixels.

  In this way, it is possible to generate GLt plane data and GRt plane data having a resolution lower than that of 2D-RGB plane data.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for generating two B plane data as parallax image data. That is, BLt plane data as left parallax image data and BRt plane data as right parallax image data.

In generating the BLt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel values of the B (Lt) pixels from all output values of the image sensor 100 to form a vacant lattice. Then, the repeating pattern _110, the pixel values of _{P 32} remains. This pixel value is set as a representative value for 64 pixels of the repetitive pattern 110.

Similarly, when generating the BRt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel value of the B (Rt) pixel from all the output values of the image sensor 100 to obtain an empty grid. Then, the repeating pattern _110, the pixel values of _{P 76} remains. This pixel value is set as a representative value for 64 pixels of the repetitive pattern 110.

  In this way, BLt plane data and BRt plane data having a resolution lower than that of 2D-RGB plane data are generated. In this case, the resolution of the BLt plane data and the BRt plane data is lower than the resolution of the GLt plane data and the GRt plane data.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for generating two R plane data as parallax image data. That is, RLt plane data as left parallax image data and RRt plane data as right parallax image data.

In generating the RLt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel value of the R (Lt) pixel from all output values of the image sensor 100 to form a vacant lattice. Then, the repeating pattern _110, the pixel values of _{P 27} remains. This pixel value is set as a representative value for 64 pixels of the repetitive pattern 110.

Similarly, when generating the RRt plane data, the image processing unit 205 removes pixel values other than the pixel value of the R (Rt) pixel from all output values of the image sensor 100 to form a vacant lattice. Then, the pixel value P ₆₃ remains in the repeated pattern 110. This pixel value is set as a representative value for 64 pixels of the repetitive pattern 110.

  In this way, RLt plane data and RRt plane data having a resolution lower than that of 2D-RGB plane data are generated. In this case, the resolution of the RLt plane data and the RRt plane data is lower than the resolution of the GLt plane data and the GRt plane data, and is equal to the resolution of the BLt plane data and the BRt plane data.

  FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the resolutions of the planes. The 2D-RGB plane data has an output value corresponding to the number of pixels that is substantially the same as the effective pixels of the image sensor 100 by performing an interpolation process using the technology of US2010 / 021853. The GLt plane data and the GRt plane data are subjected to an interpolation process so that output values corresponding to 1/16 (= 1/4 × 1/4) of the number of pixels of the 2D-RGB plane data are obtained. Have. BLt plane data, BRt plane data, RLt plane data, and RRt plane data have output values corresponding to the number of pixels of 1/64 (= 1/8 × 1/8) with respect to the number of pixels of 2D-RGB plane data. . Each plane data having a low resolution is enlarged and scaled by bilinear interpolation, and converted to plane data having a resolution of the same number of pixels as the number of effective pixels of the image sensor. However, these plane data have resolution only with the resolution that the original plane data before scaling has. That is, the scaled and enlarged plane data is image data that changes gradually. These are just the same explanations that have already been explained using the k-space in the real space.

  According to such a balance of resolution between the plane data, first, a high-resolution 2D image can be output. Then, by using the parallax modulation of the above formula while performing the parallax modulation of the above formula while using the information of the 2D image, it is possible to output the 3D image as an image with a sense of resolution.

  Note that if the number of types of parallax pixels is two as in the first and second embodiments, a parallax image of two viewpoints can be obtained. Of course, the type of parallax pixels is matched to the number of parallax images to be output. Various numbers can be employed. Even if the number of viewpoints is increased, various repetitive patterns 110 can be formed according to specifications, purposes, and the like. In this case, in order to give a sense of resolution to both the output of the 2D image and the output of the 3D image, the basic lattice of the image sensor 100 includes parallax pixels by all combinations of the aperture and the color filter. Therefore, it is important to increase the number of pixels without parallax than the number of parallax pixels. Furthermore, it is important to dispose the parallax pixels isotropically and evenly.

  As mentioned above, the following three important points can be given to summarize the essence of the invention. First, in the monocular pupil division imaging method using parallax pixels, since the parallax only occurs in the blurred subject image area of the out-of-focus portion, the spatial resolution to be acquired as the left and right parallax images is low. The parallax pixels may be sparsely arranged. Accordingly, since the parallax disappears in the subject image having the high-frequency component at the in-focus position, it is possible to densely arrange the images without parallax, and provide a color / parallax pixel array extremely compatible with the monocular pupil division method. be able to.

  Secondly, the left and right parallax images play a role of generating a final high-resolution color parallax image by modulating a non-parallax image in the horizontal direction. At that time, in order to perform the parallax modulation in the horizontal direction most effectively with high resolution, the parallax images need to have high resolution in the horizontal direction. The solution is given by the color / parallax pixel array in which the parallax pixels are arranged isotropically.

  Third, when the parallax pixels are embedded between the non-parallax pixels, it is necessary to keep the state before embedding the spatial resolution of the non-parallax pixels as much as possible to suppress damage caused by the parallax pixels as much as possible. A solution for this is a method in which parallax pixels are arranged and distributed as isotropically as possible. For the above reasons, a configuration of an image sensor of a monocular pupil division imaging system in which “sparse parallax pixel arrangement” and “isotropic parallax pixel arrangement” are extremely effective is given.

  In the above-described example, the case where the Bayer array is adopted as the color filter array has been described. Of course, other color filter arrays may be used. In the above example, three primary colors, red, green, and blue, are used as the color filters. However, four or more colors including amber color may be used as primary colors. Further, in place of red, green, and blue, three primary colors by a combination of yellow, magenta, and cyan can be employed.

  In addition, although the example of a full aperture was shown as a pixel without parallax, the non-parallax pixel can also be realized by arranging a mask with the same half-opening area as the parallax pixel at the center of the pixel as shown in FIG. Can do.

  In the arrangement in which the non-parallax pixels (N pixels) and the parallax pixels (Lt pixels, Rt pixels) described above coexist so far, the exposure amount of the parallax pixels is approximately twice that of the normal Bayer arrangement including only N pixels. This has the advantage of realizing a wide dynamic range arrangement because the signal amount does not saturate. That is, the characteristic itself that the half opening of the parallax pixel is shielded simultaneously realizes two effects of a stereoscopic imaging effect that produces parallax and a high dynamic range that extends the saturation level. Therefore, when a 2D image or a 3D image is generated using the arrangement shown in the embodiment, an image having a capability of resolving to a high dynamic range can be obtained.

  In the above description, one of the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel is assigned to one pixel, but both the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel can also be assigned. For example, a photoelectric conversion element constituting one pixel can be divided into left and right, and the divided left side can be treated as a parallax Lt pixel and the divided right side can be treated as a parallax Rt pixel. In such a pixel arrangement, the density of the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel is increased, and thus the spatial resolution of the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel can be increased. In addition, regarding the photoelectric conversion element of the parallax pixel, an exclusive area that is approximately half of the exclusive area of the photoelectric conversion element of the non-parallax pixel is treated as one pixel. That is, square pixels of N pixels and rectangular pixels of parallax Lt pixels and parallax Rt pixels are mixed. When the parallax Lt pixel and the Rt pixel are combined, a substantially square area is obtained.

  FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of real space and k space as an example. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 35, the pixel number ratio of the non-parallax pixel, the parallax Lt pixel, and the parallax Rt pixel is N: Lt: Rt = 14: 2: 2. Compared to the arrangement shown in FIG. 19, the density of the parallax Lt pixels and the parallax Rt pixels is higher. As a result, as shown in the k-space diagram of FIG. 35, the spatial resolution of the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel is high in each of R, G, and B.

  FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of real space and k space as an example. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 36, the pixel number ratio of the non-parallax pixel, the parallax Lt pixel, and the parallax Rt pixel is N: Lt: Rt = 6: 2: 2. Compared with the arrangement shown in FIG. 34, the density of the parallax Lt pixels and the parallax Rt pixels is higher. As a result, as shown in the k-space diagram of FIG. 36, the spatial resolution of the parallax Lt pixel and the parallax Rt pixel is high in each of R, G, and B.

  As described above, in the pixel array that satisfies the special conditions described above, moving image reading can be performed by adding a plurality of pixels in the horizontal direction and thinning out the plurality of pixels in the vertical direction. FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining moving image reading in the arrangement shown in FIG. Here, a case will be described in which three pixels of the same color adjacent in the horizontal direction are added and three pixels are thinned out in the vertical direction. FIG. 37 shows the pixel arrangement shown in FIG. 34 arranged in a row in each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in order to make it easier to follow the situation. The pixel position is represented by (i, j). For example, the position of the upper left pixel is (1, 1), and the position of the lower right pixel is (32, 32).

  For example, the pixel value of the GLt pixel located at (1, 1), the pixel value of the G pixel located at (1, 3), and the pixel value of the GRt pixel located at (1, 5) are added. Thus, the G pixel value after addition can be obtained. Similarly, the pixel value of the G pixel located at (1, 7), the pixel value of the GLt pixel located at (1, 9), and the pixel value of the G pixel located at (1, 11) are added. As a result, the pixel value of GLt after the addition can be obtained. The amount of parallax in the GLt pixel after addition and thinning is attenuated to 1/3 because it takes the average of one parallax pixel and two N pixels. Therefore, it is preferable to amplify the amount of parallax three times during parallax modulation. That is, for parallax modulation that keeps the difference constant, the entire modulation term may be tripled, and for parallax modulation that keeps the ratio constant, the entire modulation term may be raised to the third power.

  As described above, the pixel number ratio of the non-parallax pixel, the parallax Lt pixel, and the parallax Rt pixel is N: Lt: Rt = 6: 1: 1 when the moving image is read and when all the pixels are read. It becomes. Also, if the roles of the R component and the B component are interchanged, the arrangement structure is exactly the same as that for all pixel readout. As described above, the pixel arrangement in which the number ratio of the non-parallax pixel, the parallax Lt pixel, and the parallax Rt pixel is N: Lt: Rt = 6: 1: 1 is N: Lt: Rt = 6: It has an excellent characteristic that the positional relationship of the array structure remains unchanged at 1: 1.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera, 20 Shooting lens, 21 Optical axis, 30, 31 Subject, 100 Image sensor, 101 Micro lens, 102 Color filter, 103 Aperture mask, 104 Aperture, 105 Wiring layer, 106 Wiring, 107 aperture, 108 Photoelectric conversion Element, 109 substrate, 110 repetitive pattern, 201 control unit, 202 A / D conversion circuit, 203 memory, 204 drive unit, 205 image processing unit, 207 memory card IF, 208 operation unit, 209 display unit, 210 LCD drive circuit, 211 AF sensor, 220 memory card

Claims (10)

A parallax pixel associated with any one of a plurality of types of aperture masks each having an aperture positioned so as to pass different partial light fluxes relative to the incident light flux on the photoelectric conversion element;
The photoelectric conversion element includes a non-parallax pixel that guides the incident light flux without being limited to the opening,
The parallax pixel is sandwiched between the parallax pixel and the non-parallax pixel associated with the other aperture mask for each type of the aperture mask associated with each other, and in any of the two-dimensional directions. An image sensor that is arranged at equal intervals and arranged such that the distance between the parallax pixels associated with the different types of aperture masks is the most distant from each other. The parallax pixel and the non-parallax pixel are associated with any of a plurality of types of color filters that pass different wavelength bands,
The parallax pixels are arranged at equal intervals in each of the two-dimensional directions for each type of the associated color filter, and different types of the opening masks for each type of the color filter The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the disparity pixels are arranged such that a distance between the parallax pixels associated with each other is the farthest from each other.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the parallax pixels are arranged so as to be shifted with respect to both the row direction and the column direction in the two-dimensional direction for each type of the associated opening mask. The image sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that generates a plurality of parallax image data having parallax and 2D image data having no parallax from an output of the imaging element. Pixels composed of photoelectric conversion elements that photoelectrically convert incident light into electrical signals are periodically arranged on the xy plane,
Each of the pixels has a one-to-one correspondence with a reference direction, and at least three types of opening masks of a first parallax direction and a second parallax direction different from the reference direction,
Pixels having the opening mask in the first parallax direction are arranged isotropically arranged at equal intervals between the two directions of the x direction and the y direction, and the pixels having the opening mask in the second parallax direction Is a pixel array in which is arranged isotropically arranged at equal intervals between two directions of the x direction and the y direction. A color filter composed of two or more color components is provided corresponding to each of the pixels on a one-to-one basis, and an opening mask in the reference direction is provided for a pixel provided with a color filter of at least one color component. Each of the provided pixel, the pixel provided with the opening mask in the first parallax direction, and the pixel provided with the opening mask in the second parallax direction are arranged,
Isotropically arranging pixels having an aperture mask in the first parallax direction between the pixels in which the color filter of one color component is arranged between the two directions of the x direction and the y direction. 6. The pixel array according to claim 5, wherein the pixels having the aperture mask in the second parallax direction are arranged in an isotropic manner and arranged at equal intervals between two directions of the x direction and the y direction. Image sensor.   Each of the pixels having the reference direction aperture mask, the pixels having the first parallax direction aperture mask, and the pixels having the second parallax direction aperture mask is represented by two or more color components. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the imaging device is arranged for each of the filters.   8. The pixels according to claim 5, wherein pixels having the aperture mask in the first parallax direction are arranged so as to be located in different rows and columns among the pixels of the basic lattice arranged periodically. The imaging device described.   When all the pixels in the pixel array are read, and when the pixel values of the plurality of pixels in the x direction are added in the pixel array and the plurality of rows in the y direction are read out. The density ratio of the pixel having the opening mask in the reference direction, the pixel having the opening mask in the first parallax direction, and the pixel having the opening mask in the second parallax direction is the same. The image pickup device according to any one of 8.   The density ratio of a pixel having an opening mask in the reference direction, a pixel having an opening mask in the first parallax direction, and a pixel having an opening mask in the second parallax direction is 6: 1: 1. The imaging device according to 9.