JP2013178341A - Imaging device and digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need of interpolation processing, despite using an imaging element having a focus detection function.SOLUTION: An imaging device 20 includes: a first imaging element 11 which receives, among three color light beams divided after passing through an imaging lens 10, a red light beam L1 and generates a first color signal; a second imaging element 12 which receives a green light beam L2 and generates a second color signal; a third imaging element 13 which receives a blue light beam L3 and generates a third color signal; an image data generation unit 24 which generates image data on the basis of the first to third color signals; and first to third focus detection signal generation units 31 to 33 which generate, on the basis of the first to third color signals respectively, first to third focus detection signals related to a focus detection state of the imaging lens 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including an imaging device having focus detection pixels and a digital camera including the imaging device.

  The light beam from the imaging optical system is divided into two by a half mirror, one light beam is guided to the imaging and focus detection means, the other light beam is guided to the focus detection means, and the focus detection result and focus of this imaging and focus detection means 2. Description of the Related Art An imaging device that performs focus adjustment of a photographing optical system based on a focus detection result of a detection unit is known. The image pickup and focus detection means is composed of an image pickup device in which a plurality of focus detection pixels are arranged in a number of two-dimensionally arranged image pickup pixels, and an image signal at a position where the focus detection pixels are arranged. Are interpolated based on image signals of surrounding imaging pixels (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-233302 A

  However, in the conventional imaging device described above, in order for the imaging and focus detection means to set the focus detection area over a wide range within the photographing field of view, it is arranged in the focus detection pixels instead of more imaging pixels. In other words, it is necessary to replace a larger number of imaging pixels with focus detection pixels, and it is inevitable that interpolation is performed to recover the degradation of the captured image.

(1) An image pickup apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention receives a first color light beam out of light beams separated into color light beams of three colors after passing through a photographing optical system, and outputs a first color signal. Receiving a first imaging element having a plurality of first pixels to be generated and a second color beam different from the first color beam among the light beams separated into the three color light beams; A second imaging device having a plurality of second pixels for generating a second color signal, and a first color beam different from the first and second color beams among the light beams separated into the three color light beams. A third imaging device having a plurality of third pixels that receive the three color light fluxes and generate a third color signal; the first color signal; the second color signal; and the third color signal. Image data generating means for generating image data from the color signal, and a first focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the first color signal First focus detection signal generation means for generating a focus detection signal, and second focus detection signal generation for generating a second focus detection signal related to a focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the second color signal And a third focus detection signal generating means for generating a third focus detection signal related to the focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the third color signal.

In the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, since the pixel configurations of the first image pickup element, the second image pickup element, and the third image pickup element share both the image pickup pixel and the focus detection pixel, interpolation is necessary. There is no.
According to the digital camera of the present invention, since there is no need for interpolation, there is no deterioration of the captured image accompanying interpolation.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams schematically showing the structure of the first image sensor 11. FIG. 2A is a partial plan view showing the planar structure of the image sensor 11, and FIG. 2B is I in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view in alignment with -I. 3 is a partial plan view schematically showing a two-dimensional array of first pixels 111 and second pixels 112 in the first image sensor 11. FIG. FIG. 4A is a partial plan view of the first image sensor 11, FIG. 4B is a partial plan view of the second image sensor 12, and FIG. 4C is a modification of the first embodiment. ) Is a partial plan view of the third image sensor 13. It is a modification of the first embodiment, and is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the pixels of the first and second image sensors 11 and 12 are arranged with a 1/2 pitch shift. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

An imaging apparatus and a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
-First embodiment-
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 includes a photographing lens 10, a first image sensor 11, a second image sensor 12, a third image sensor 13, a first prism 21, a second prism 22, Third prism 23, image data generator 24, image processor 25, display 26, focus area selector 27, first focus detection signal generator 31, second focus detection signal generator 32, third focus A detection signal generation unit 33, a focus detection unit 34, a focus adjustment unit 35, a lens drive motor 36, and a buffer memory 40 are provided.
The imaging device 20 includes first to third imaging elements 11 to 13, an image data generation unit 24, and first to third focus detection signal generation units 31 to 33.

The taking lens 10 includes a focusing lens, a zooming lens, a diaphragm, and the like (not shown). In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, the taking lens 10 is shown as a single lens.
Each of the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 includes a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like, has the same pixel configuration, and the same pixels are regularly arranged in a two-dimensional manner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first to third prisms 21 to 23 are so-called three-color separation prisms, a contact surface 23 a between the first prism 21 and the third prism 23, and a second prism. A dichroic film is formed on each contact surface 22a between the second prism 22 and the third prism 23.

The subject light L that has passed through the photographing lens 10 is divided into light beams of three colors of red, green, and blue by the dichroic film surfaces 23a and 22a, and a subject image is formed on the first image sensor 11 by the red light beam L1. Thus, a subject image is formed by the green light beam L2 on the second image sensor 12, and a subject image is formed by the blue light beam L3 on the third image sensor 13.
Thus, the first, second, and third image sensors 11, 12, and 13 output the image signal R related to the red subject image, the image signal G related to the green subject image, and the image signal B related to the blue subject image, respectively. These image signals R, G, and B are temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.

  The image data generation unit 24 includes an image signal R from the first image sensor 11 regarding the red light beam L1, an image signal G from the second image sensor 12 regarding the green light beam L2, and a third image sensor regarding the blue light beam L3. Based on the image signal B from 13, three subject image data of red, green and blue are generated.

The image processing unit 25 is configured as an ASIC, for example, and performs predetermined image processing on the image data generated by the image data generation unit 24. The image processing includes, for example, contour enhancement, gamma correction processing, color temperature adjustment (white balance adjustment) processing, and format conversion processing for an image signal. The image processing unit 25 combines subject image data based on each of the image signals R, G, and B to generate one subject image data. This image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40 and recorded on a recording medium (not shown).
The display 26 displays a through image based on the subject image data read from the buffer memory 40 or a reproduced image based on the subject image data read from the recording medium.

The focus area selection unit 27 can select an arbitrary area on the imaging screen, that is, an arbitrary area on the imaging surface of the imaging elements 11, 12, and 13 as a focus detection area, that is, a focus area. The photographer operates the focus area selection unit 27 to select one or more focus areas, and the focus detection unit 34 performs focus detection on the subject image in the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27. Do. Specifically, when the focus area selection unit 27 selects a focus area, subject images related to the corresponding regions of the first, second, and third imaging elements 11, 12, and 13 corresponding to the selected focus area are as follows. Focus detection is performed.
Note that the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27 is displayed superimposed on the through image displayed on the display 26. In addition to the display on the display 26, the selected focus area is displayed superimposed on the subject image on a finder (not shown) of the digital camera 1. This focus area has a rectangular shape extending in the horizontal direction, that is, in the horizontal direction on the photographing screen.

The first focus detection signal generation unit 31 receives the red image signal R from the first image sensor 11 and generates a pair of red focus detection signal sequences for detecting a phase difference of a pupil division method, which will be described in detail later. .
Similarly, the second focus detection signal generation unit 32 receives the green image signal G from the second image sensor 12, generates a pair of green focus detection signal sequences for phase difference detection described in detail later, The third focus detection signal generation unit 33 receives the blue image signal B from the third image sensor 13, and generates a pair of blue focus detection signal sequences for phase difference detection described in detail later.
The pair of red focus detection signal sequences, the pair of green focus detection signal sequences, and the pair of blue focus detection signal sequences generated by the first, second, and third focus detection signal generation units 31, 32, and 33, respectively, 7 is a focus detection signal sequence related to a subject image in the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27; The pair of red focus detection signal sequences, the pair of green focus detection signal sequences, and the pair of blue focus detection signal sequences are temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.

  The focus detection unit 34 calculates the phase difference between the pair of red focus detection signal sequences from the focus detection signal generation unit 31, and based on this phase difference, the focus image of the subject image in the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27. A defocus amount Dr is calculated. Similarly, the focus detection unit 34 calculates the phase difference between the pair of green focus detection signal sequences from the focus detection signal generation unit 32, and in the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27 based on the phase difference. The defocus amount Dg of the subject image is calculated, the phase difference between the pair of blue focus detection signal sequences from the focus detection signal generation unit 33 is calculated, and the focus area selection unit 27 selects the phase difference based on the phase difference. The defocus amount Db of the subject image in the focus area is calculated.

  The focus adjustment unit 35 drives the lens drive motor 36 based on the defocus amount Dr related to the red light beam L1, the defocus amount Dg related to the green light beam L2, and the defocus amount Db related to the blue light beam L3 calculated by the focus detection unit 34. Then, the focus of the photographic lens 10 is adjusted.

Specifically, the focus adjustment unit 35 may perform focus adjustment based on the average value of the three defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db, or the smallest of the three defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db. Focus adjustment may be performed based on the defocus amount of the value.
Furthermore, the focus adjustment unit 35 may perform the focus adjustment based on the defocus amount regarding the luminous flux having the highest intensity among the red luminous flux L1, the green luminous flux L2, and the blue luminous flux L3. The reason for using the defocus amount related to the light beam with the highest intensity is that the pair of focus detection signal sequences corresponding to the light beam with the highest intensity has a relatively high signal level, so that the influence of noise is small and high focus This is because detection accuracy can be obtained.

  As can be seen from the above, the red image signal R from the first image sensor 11 relating to the red light beam L1 is used for generating subject image data and for generating a pair of red focus detection signal sequences. Similarly, the green image signal G from the second image sensor 12 relating to the green light beam L2 is used for generating subject image data and also for generating a pair of green focus detection signal sequences. The blue image signal B from the third image sensor 13 relating to the blue light beam L3 is used for generating subject image data and also for generating a pair of blue focus detection signal sequences.

Next, the structure of the three image sensors 11 to 13 will be described in detail. Since these image sensors 11 to 13 have the same structure, the structure of the image sensor 11 will be described as a representative.
2A and 2B show a planar structure and a cross-sectional structure of the image sensor 11, respectively. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 2A. It is.
In FIG. 2, the imaging device 11 has a large number of microlenses ML1 and ML2 provided on the exposed surface thereof, and the microlenses ML1 and ML2 have a circular planar shape as shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a square, a rectangle, a hexagon, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the imaging device 11 is formed with a flat layer 113, a transparent filter 114, wiring layers 115 and 116, and rectangular openings W11 and W12 in order under the microlenses ML1 and ML2. The light shielding layer 117 and the photodiode 118 are stacked and arranged. Adjacent photodiodes 118, 118 are electrically isolated by isolation layer 119. The transparent filter 114 has a characteristic of transmitting light in all the wavelength regions of visible light, but is not necessarily required in this example, and may be removed. In particular, when the transparent filter 114 is removed, the optical path length from the microlenses ML1 and ML2 to the photodiode 118 can be shortened, so that the focus detection performance can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 2A, with respect to two microlenses ML1 and ML2 adjacent in the horizontal direction, the opening W11 of the light shielding layer 117 corresponding to the right microlens ML1 covers almost the right half of the microlens ML1. Thus, the size and position thereof are determined, and the size and position of the opening W12 of the light shielding layer 117 corresponding to the left microlens ML2 are determined so as to cover almost the left half of the microlens ML2. It has been.
Note that the opening W11 and the opening W12 have the same shape and the same size.

Part of the red light beam L1 transmitted through the microlens ML1 is shielded by the light shielding layer 117, and the rest passes through the right opening W11 and enters the photodiode 118. Similarly, a part of the red light beam L1 transmitted through the microlens ML2 is shielded by the light shielding layer 117, and the rest passes through the left opening W12 and enters the photodiode 118.
As described above, the imaging device 11 includes the first pixel 111 including the microlens ML1, the right opening W11, the photodiode 118, and the like, the microlens ML2, the left opening W12, the photodiode 118, and the like. And a pair of adjacent first and second pixels 111 and 112 are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction. The first pixel 111 and the second pixel 112 receive a light beam that has passed through a pair of regions in the exit pupil of the photographing lens 10 in FIG. 1 and output a photoelectric signal.

FIG. 3 shows a two-dimensional array of the first pixels 111 and the second pixels 112 of the image sensor 11. The two-dimensional array of the first and second pixels of the remaining image sensors 12 and 13 is also the same as the image sensor 11.
In FIG. 3, in the pixel array 200 arranged in the horizontal direction, a first pixel 111 and a second pixel 112 adjacent in the horizontal direction are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction. In the pixel column 201 adjacent to the pixel column 200 in the vertical direction, the first pixel 111 and the second pixel 112 adjacent in the horizontal direction are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction. The arrangement of the first pixel 111 and the second pixel 112 is shifted by one pixel from the arrangement of the first pixel 111 and the second pixel 112 in the pixel row 200. Such pixel columns 200 and pixel columns 201 are alternately arranged in the vertical direction.

In each of the pixel columns 200 and 201, the output signal sequence of the plurality of pixels 111 corresponding to the right opening W11 corresponds to one red focus detection signal column for phase difference detection, and the plurality of pixels 112 corresponding to the left opening W12. Output signal sequence corresponds to the other red focus detection signal sequence for phase difference detection. By calculating the phase difference between the pair of red focus detection signal sequences, the defocus amount relating to the subject image formed on the pixel columns 200 and 201 can be obtained.
The image sensors 12 and 13 are also arranged in the same manner as the pixel columns of the image sensor 11, and the defocus amount can be obtained in exactly the same manner.

As described above, the first focus detection signal generation unit 31 receives the red image signal R from the first image sensor 11 and a pair of red focal points corresponding to the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27. A detection signal train is generated.
Similarly, the second focus detection signal generation unit 32 receives the green image signal G from the second image sensor 12 and detects a pair of green focus detections corresponding to the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27. The third focus detection signal generator 33 receives the blue image signal B from the third image sensor 13 and generates a pair of signals corresponding to the focus area selected by the focus area selector 27. A blue focus detection signal sequence is generated.

<Operation>
An example of the shooting operation of the digital camera 1 configured as described above will be described.
When the camera is turned on, the first to third image sensors 11 to 13 shown in FIG. 1 are activated. The subject light L that has passed through the photographing lens 10 is divided into a red light beam L1, a green light beam L2, and a blue light beam L3 by the first to third prisms 21 to 23, and the red light beam L1 is incident on the first image sensor 11. The green light beam L2 is incident on the second image sensor 12 and the blue light beam L3 is incident on the third image sensor 13. Accordingly, a subject image is formed by the red light beam L1 on the first image sensor 11, a subject image is formed by the green light beam L2 on the second image sensor 12, and a blue light beam L3 is formed on the third image sensor 13. A subject image is formed.

  When a shutter release button (not shown) is pressed halfway, the image signals R, G, and B from the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 are sent to the image data generation unit 24, and the image data generation unit 24 Three subject image data based on each luminous flux is generated, and the image processing unit 25 performs various image processing on the three subject image data to generate one subject image data. This subject image data is displayed on the display 26 as a through image.

  On the other hand, the image signals R, G, and B from the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 are also sent to the first to third focus detection signal generation units 31 to 33, respectively. The first, second, and third focus detection signal generation units 31, 32, and 33 respectively generate a pair of red focus detection signal sequence, a pair of green focus detection signal sequence, and a pair of blue colors from the image signals R, G, and B, respectively. A focus detection signal train is generated. These pair of focus detection signal sequences correspond to the focus area selected by the focus area selection unit 27. These pair of focus detection signal sequences are stored in the buffer memory 40.

  The focus detection unit 34 reads out three pairs of focus detection signal sequences stored in the buffer memory 40, calculates the phase difference between each pair of focus detection signal sequences, and based on these phase differences, the three image pickup devices 11 Defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db related to ˜13 are calculated.

The focus adjustment unit 35 drives the lens driving motor 36 based on the defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db, and the lens driving motor 36 drives the focusing lens of the photographing lens 10 in the optical axis direction to focus. Make adjustments.
As described above, the focus adjustment unit 35 may perform focus adjustment based on the average value of the three defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db, and among the three defocus amounts Dr, Dg, and Db, Focus adjustment may be performed based on the defocus amount having the smallest value, and furthermore, focus adjustment may be performed based on the defocus amount relating to the light beam having the highest intensity among the red light beam L1, the green light beam L2, and the blue light beam L3. May be.

  When shooting is performed by pressing the shutter release button, the image signals R, G, and B from the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 are sent to the image data generation unit 24, and the image data generation unit 24 performs the image signal generation. Subject image data relating to the three colors R, G, and B is generated, and these subject image data are temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.

The image processing unit 25 reads the subject image data of the three colors stored in the buffer memory 40, performs light intensity addition processing for each pixel corresponding in position in the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13, The final color of the pixel position is determined and the images are combined to create one subject image data.
In addition, the image processing unit 25 appropriately performs the above-described predetermined processing, such as contour enhancement and color temperature adjustment, on the combined subject image data. The subject image data is recorded on a non-illustrated non-volatile recording medium such as a memory card. The display 26 displays a reproduced image based on the subject image data read from the recording medium.

According to the imaging device 20 and the digital camera according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) Since any of the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 uses electric signals from individual pixels as image signals and focus detection signals, it is necessary to set a focus area for an arbitrary region of the shooting screen. Can do.
(2) In an image sensor in which a dedicated focus detection pixel is arranged in the image pickup pixel array, an image pickup signal at the position of the dedicated focus detection pixel is calculated by interpolation. However, since the image pickup devices 11 to 13 according to the embodiment of the present invention use the signals from the respective pixels as the image signal and the focus detection signal, the above-described interpolation processing is not required, and thus the captured image is deteriorated. do not do.
(3) Since the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 can use the same elements in terms of structure, the adjustment range of mutual output balance adjustment can be narrowed and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Can be achieved.
(4) Since the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 are the same elements in structure, the manufacturing process and quality control can be made common, and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

Next, a first modification of the first embodiment will be described.
FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show pixel arrays of the first, second, and third imaging elements 11, 12, and 13, respectively.
In the first and second imaging elements 11 and 12 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a pair of adjacent pixels 111 and 112 are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction, and the first imaging element shown in FIG. This is the same as the pixel arrangement of the image sensor.
On the other hand, in the pixel arrangement of the third image sensor 13 shown in FIG. 4C, a pair of adjacent pixels 111 and 112 are repeatedly arranged in the vertical direction, that is, the vertical direction. Therefore, the pair of focus detection signal sequences from the third image sensor 13 is a signal sequence from the pixel sequence arranged in the vertical direction.
Accordingly, the third focus detection signal generator 33 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the pixels arranged in the vertical direction shown in FIG. 4C from the image signal B from the third image sensor 13. A pair of focus detection signal sequences are extracted, that is, generated.

As described above, the first and second image sensors 11 and 12 can detect the focus with respect to the horizontal focus area extending in the horizontal direction, and the third image sensor 13 can be detected in the vertical direction, that is, up and down. Focus detection is possible for the vertical focus area extending in the direction.
Therefore, in this modification, the horizontal focus area and the vertical focus area are displayed on the display 26 and a finder (not shown) so as to be superimposed on the subject image.

When the focus area selection unit 27 in FIG. 1 selects the horizontal focus area, the focus detection signal generation units 31 and 32 are based on the image signals R and G from the first and second imaging elements 11 and 12. Then, a pair of focus detection signal sequences corresponding to the selected focus area are respectively generated, and the focus detection unit 34 calculates a phase difference based on the pair of focus detection signal sequences, and a defocus amount based on the phase difference Is calculated.
On the other hand, when the focus area selection unit 27 in FIG. 1 selects the vertical focus area, the focus detection signal generation unit 33 selects the selected focus area based on the image signal B from the third image sensor 13. A pair of focus detection signal sequences corresponding to the above are respectively generated, and the focus detection unit 34 calculates a phase difference based on the pair of focus detection signal sequences, and calculates a defocus amount based on the phase difference.

Next, a second modification of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the first image sensor 11 and the second image sensor 12 with respect to the optical axis 50 of the photographic lens 10.
The first image sensor 11 and the second image sensor 12 are each half a pixel in the vertical direction (X direction) and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface (Y direction) in the drawing, that is, (1/2) × pixel pitch. Only relatively shifted. Although the third image sensor 13 is not shown in FIG. 5, it has the same positional relationship as the first image sensor 11.
Accordingly, the second image sensor 12 is shifted in the X direction and the Y direction by a half pixel with respect to the pixel pitch with respect to the first and third image sensors 11 and 13.

In this way, by shifting the pixels in the X direction and the Y direction by 1/2 pitch with respect to the first and third image sensors 11 and 13, the second image sensor 12 is 2 in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. This is equivalent to having twice as many pixels, and the resolution of the image and the focus detection accuracy can be improved.
In particular, in the present embodiment using the first to third imaging elements 11 to 13 that are exactly the same in structure, there is a great merit in adopting a pixel shift of ½ pitch.

-Second Embodiment-
The digital camera 2 according to the second embodiment in FIG. 6 is basically the same as the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment in FIG. 1 except that a color sensor 41 and a selection unit 42 are added. Is different. Therefore, the same components as those shown in FIG.

In the digital camera 2, the color sensor 41 is a sensor that senses the color of incident light, and measures the color temperature by measuring the incident light from the subject. The colorimetric data thus measured is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 40.
The selection unit 42 reads the colorimetric data stored in the buffer memory 40 and determines that the colorimetric data is the closest to the color temperature of the subject light in red, green, or blue. The selection unit 42 selects one of the pair of focus detection signal sequences of the first to third focus detection signal generation units 31, 32, and 33 based on the determination result.

  For example, if the selection unit 42 determines that the color temperature of the subject is red, the selection unit 42 determines that the color temperature of the subject is green for the pair of focus detection signal sequences from the first focus detection signal generation unit 31. In this case, when it is determined that the color temperature of the subject is blue in the pair of focus detection signal sequences from the second focus detection signal generation unit 32, the pair of focus detection signals from the third focus detection signal generation unit 33. Select each column.

  The focus detection unit 34 performs a focus detection calculation based on the selected pair of focus detection signal sequences, and calculates a defocus amount. The focus adjustment unit 35 drives the lens drive motor 36 based on the defocus amount, and moves the focusing lens of the photographing lens 10 in the optical axis direction to perform focus adjustment.

  According to the imaging device 20 and the digital camera 2 according to the present embodiment, the same operational effects as the imaging device 20 and the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment are achieved. Furthermore, since the color sensor 41 and the selection unit 42 are provided, it is possible to select a focus detection signal based on an electrical signal from an image sensor that receives a light beam closest to the color of the subject. By using a color light beam with high intensity, the same effect as using a highly sensitive focus detection element can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital camera, but it can also be applied to a video camera.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as long as the characteristics are not impaired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2: Digital camera 10: Shooting lens 11: 1st image sensor 12: 2nd image sensor 13: 3rd image sensor 20: Image pick-up device 21: 1st prism 22: 2nd prism 23: 2nd 3 prism 24: image data generation unit 25: image processing unit 31: first focus detection signal generation unit 32: second focus detection signal generation unit 33: third focus detection signal generation unit 34: focus detection unit 35 : Focus adjustment unit 40: Buffer memory 41: Color sensor 42: Selection unit

Claims (5)

First imaging having a plurality of first pixels that receive a first color light beam of light beams separated into three color light beams after passing through the photographing optical system and generate a first color signal Elements,
A second pixel having a plurality of second pixels that receives a second color beam different from the first color beam among the beam beams separated into the three color beam beams and generates a second color signal. Two image sensors;
A plurality of third pixels that receive a third color beam different from the first and second color beams out of the light beams separated into the three color beam beams and generate a third color signal. A third imaging device having:
Image data generating means for generating image data from the first color signal, the second color signal, and the third color signal;
First focus detection signal generating means for generating a first focus detection signal related to a focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the first color signal;
Second focus detection signal generating means for generating a second focus detection signal related to a focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the second color signal;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a third focus detection signal generation unit configured to generate a third focus detection signal related to a focus detection state of the photographing optical system based on the third color signal. The imaging device according to claim 1,
An imaging apparatus, further comprising a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing optical system based on at least one of the first to third focus detection signals. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the first image pickup element and the second image pickup element are arranged with pixels shifted by 1/2 pitch. The imaging device according to claim 2,
Color sensing means for sensing the color of the subject;
A focus detection signal selection unit that selects one of the first to third focus detection signals according to the color sensed by the color sensing unit;
The imaging apparatus, wherein the focus detection unit detects a focus of the photographing optical system based on a focus detection signal selected by the focus detection signal selection unit. An imaging device according to claim 2;
Photographic optics,
A color separation member that separates subject light that has passed through the photographing optical system into first to third color light beams of three colors;
A digital camera comprising: a focus adjustment unit that performs a focus adjustment operation of the imaging optical system based on a focal position of the imaging optical system detected by the focus detection unit.

Images