JP2010130314A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing, for example, dark area-gradation deterioration resulting in turning the area black of subjects or halation of backgrounds by backlight or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element for imaging an object to be photographed; a means for acquiring distance information to the object to be photographed from each pixel in the imaging element: and a distance information acquisition section for acquiring the distance information before the imaging. The imaging element has a light reception surface for receiving ambient light for photoelectric conversion, can control storage time of charge by the photoelectric conversion in pixel units, and further has a storage time control section for controlling the storage time of charge of the imaging element in pixel units based on the distance information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an imaging device capable of capturing an image of an object to be photographed and acquiring distance information to the object to be photographed of each pixel. The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that performs image exposure correction.

  In a digital camera, in the case of shooting in backlit conditions, there are many phenomena in which the subject is blackened (black skipping) when general exposure control is performed. Therefore, a backlight correction process that extends the exposure time is performed to correct the subject so that it is not blackened. However, in this case, a phenomenon occurs in which the scenery that has been optimally exposed before the backlight compensation is whitened (whiteout). For this reason, in conventional shooting, shooting has been carried out by finding a compromise between the subject and the scenery so that the subject and the scenery are not crushed, or by applying a strobe light to the subject.

  While several solutions have been proposed for the above problem, an imaging apparatus using an imaging element that can change the time for accumulating the charge amount for each pixel is shown.

For example, Patent Document 1 has an evaluation unit that measures the exposure amount and blur of a subject, and adopts a method of changing the charge accumulation time for each pixel according to the evaluation result.
JP 2001-35889 A

  However, the subject exposure amount and blur evaluation, and other calculations such as subject extraction are very large and inferior in real time. Therefore, in the above method, the subject is actually required to be stationary for a while, or high-speed calculation processing by another calculation device such as a PC is necessary. For this reason, it is difficult to use for simple photographing such as a conventional digital camera.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can easily prevent a subject from being blacked out or a background from being whitened out due to backlight or the like. And

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup device that picks up an image pickup target, means for acquiring distance information to the image pickup target of each pixel of the image pickup device, a distance information acquisition unit that acquires distance information before the image pickup, The image sensor has a light receiving surface that receives external light and performs photoelectric conversion, and can control a charge accumulation time by the photoelectric conversion in units of pixels, and based on the distance information, It further has an accumulation time control section for controlling the charge accumulation time of the image sensor in units of pixels.

  Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the accumulation time control unit sets a boundary distance set by the user or a region up to a predetermined boundary distance as a foreground region, and at least a part of a region farther than the boundary distance as a far view region, The charge accumulation time is controlled in units of pixels.

  Furthermore, the present invention further includes a person recognition unit for recognizing whether or not a person exists in the image obtained by the imaging device, and when a person exists, the distance to the person is set as the boundary distance. It is characterized by.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the accumulation time control unit makes the charge accumulation time in the foreground region longer than the charge accumulation time in the far view region.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the accumulation time control unit makes the charge accumulation time in the far view area longer than the charge accumulation time in the near view area.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the subject from being blown out by the backlight or the background from being blown out. In addition, in an image including a person who is irradiated with a flash and a night scene where the flash is not irradiated, a night scene can be captured brightly.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The imaging optical system 100 includes an optical lens, a diaphragm mechanism, and the like. A subject such as a subject or scenery is imaged as external light through the imaging optical system 100 on the imaging element 101 for photographing and the imaging unit 103 for distance measurement.

  The imaging element 101 for photographing is constituted by a CCD or a CMOS. The optical image formed on the light receiving surface by the imaging optical system 100 is photoelectrically converted into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components and output. A normal image sensor has a constant accumulation time for all pixels, but the image sensor 101 can change the accumulation time for each pixel. This is achieved by making the image signal charge accumulation start / end time variable for each pixel. Details of the imaging element 101 for photographing will be described later with reference to FIG. In the following description, the time from the start to the end of image signal charge accumulation is called the accumulation time.

  The accumulation time control unit 102 controls the accumulation time of the image pickup image sensor 101 and has two control methods. One is a method for controlling the accumulation time of the image sensor 101 for photographing in common to all pixels based on values based on ISO sensitivity setting, exposure setting, and shutter speed provided in the imaging apparatus. This is a control performed by conventional photographing. The other is a method of setting an individual accumulation time for each pixel based on the distance information of the distance information acquisition unit 104 and controlling the accumulation time of the imaging element 101 for photographing. This embodiment is an invention using the latter control method. The internal configuration of the accumulation time control unit 102 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The distance measuring image pickup unit 103 includes a light receiving lens, a barrier, and the like in addition to a plurality of CCDs or CMOSs. There is no limitation on the method to be used as long as the distance can be measured in pixel units. However, in this embodiment, since the stereo method is adopted as the distance measuring method, at least two image sensors having the same number of pixels as the imaging image sensor 101 and their imaging devices are used. An optical system that forms an image on the element is essential. However, since an image for distance measurement (hereinafter referred to as a distance image) may be black and white, the image sensor to be used does not need R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters. The configuration of the ranging imaging unit 103 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The distance information acquisition unit 104 acquires distance information in units of pixels from the two luminance images (monochrome images) captured by the ranging imaging unit 103 using a stereo method. At the same time, a ranging image is constructed from two luminance images (monochrome images). The distance measurement image is not only used for accumulation time control at the time of shooting, but can also be used for correction after shooting, so it is recorded in an image memory 106 and a recording medium 111 to be described later.

  The image processing unit 105 performs white balance adjustment, γ correction, black level correction, and the like on the image signal output from the imaging element 101 for photographing, and converts the image into data. White balance adjustment is to perform level conversion of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components. The γ correction is to correct the γ characteristic of a pixel. The black level correction is to correct the black level to a reference black level.

  The image memory 106 temporarily stores image data output from the image processing unit 105. For example, in the photographing standby state, an image signal photographed every 1/30 seconds by the photographing image sensor 101 is converted into image data by the image processing unit 105 and temporarily stored in the image memory 106. Then, the live view display is performed by being transmitted to the display unit 108 via the control unit 107. In the case of reproducing an image recorded on the recording medium 111, the image is temporarily stored in the image memory 106 via the control unit 107, and then transmitted to the display unit 108 in order to perform reproduction display. As described above, the image memory 106 temporarily stores the distance measurement image. The ranging image is also used for controlling the accumulation time.

  The control unit 107 is mainly composed of a CPU and corresponds to the heart of the imaging apparatus. The roles are various, and, for example, a photographing instruction is given to the photographing imaging element 101 and the ranging imaging unit 103. Further, the image signals output from the imaging element 101 for photographing and the imaging unit 103 for distance measurement are converted into data according to a program stored in advance. Furthermore, image reproduction / image correction is performed in accordance with an instruction from the user. The acquisition of distance information and the control of the accumulation time are also performed via the control unit 107.

  The display unit 108 is configured by a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL, and performs live view display, reproduction display, and menu screen display of image data.

  An ISO sensitivity setting IF (Interface) 109 is an external interface for the user to set the ISO sensitivity. Using the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109, it is possible to select whether to perform ISO sensitivity setting by a normal photographing method or to perform exposure setting using distance information. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The exposure setting IF 110 is an interface for performing detailed setting more manually when the exposure setting using distance information is selected in the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109. Therefore, the exposure setting IF 110 is an interface that is displayed and set on the display unit 108 as a menu. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The recording medium 111 is configured by a memory card or a hard disk, and records image data via the control unit 107.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the distance measurement imaging unit 103, the outline of distance measurement, and the distance measurement image.

  FIG. 2A shows the configuration of the distance measurement imaging unit 103. The distance measurement imaging unit 103 includes a barrier 200, two light receiving lenses 201, a left luminance sensor 202, and a right luminance sensor 203. The light image split into two by the photographing optical system 100 is formed on the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203 through the barrier 200 and the light receiving lens 201. The barrier 200 is installed in front of the light receiving lens 201 so that the two light images are not mixed before being formed on the sensor. The interval between the barrier openings is closely related to the performance of the two light receiving lenses 201 and the positional relationship between the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203. Specifically, the focal length and the left luminance of the two light receiving lenses 201 are determined. It is determined by the base line length of the sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203. The two light receiving lenses 201, the left luminance sensor 202, and the right luminance sensor 203 are all arranged with a base line length B apart. The number of pixels of each of the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203 is the same as that of the imaging element 101 for photographing, and no R (red), G (green), or B (blue) color filters are provided. Therefore, the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203 output a luminance image (monochrome image).

  FIG. 2B shows an outline of distance measurement using the stereo method. The left and right images 204 are obtained by superimposing luminance images (monochrome images) output from the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203. Since the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203 are arranged with a base line length B therebetween, a relative positional difference X between the two light images is generated in the left and right images 204. Assuming that the distance from the light receiving lens 201 to the subject is L, the focal length of the light receiving lens 201 is f, and the base line length is B, the following equation holds from the principle of triangulation.

L = (B × f) / X
Thus, distance information can be acquired in pixel units by detecting the relative positional difference X between the two light images for each pixel and performing distance measurement calculation using the above formula.

  In the present embodiment, the distance measuring method having the above-described configuration is shown. However, the distance measuring method for obtaining left and right images by forming two light images by using one luminance sensor without dividing the luminance sensor into two. It doesn't matter. As another stereo method, a distance measuring method using a general twin-lens camera using two optical systems and two image sensors may be used. Furthermore, as an active distance measuring method, a TOF (Time of Flight) method may be used in which distance measurement is performed by irradiating a subject with infrared rays or ultrasonic waves and obtaining a round-trip time thereof.

  FIG. 2C shows a captured image and a distance measurement image. The left figure is a photographed image 205 photographed by the photographing image sensor 101, and the right figure is a distance measurement image 206 obtained by the distance measurement photographing unit 103. In the photographed image 205, a person 207 and a tree 208 are photographed. In the distance measurement image 206, the subject to be photographed is colored for each distance. The person 207 is close to the imaging device (near view), so the color is dark, and the tree 208 is far from the imaging device (distant view), so the color is light. That is, the distance measurement image 206 represents the distance to the subject of each pixel.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging element 101 for photographing.

  A plurality of pixels 300 are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The pixel 300 is composed of pixel dots (not shown) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components. The vertical accumulation time circuit 302 is a circuit for changing the charge accumulation time of the plurality of pixels 300 in the vertical direction for each pixel. The vertical scanning circuit 301 outputs a vertical scanning signal for selecting a plurality of pixels 300 in units of rows based on the output signal of the vertical accumulation time circuit 302.

  Next, the CDS circuit 303 performs a predetermined correlated double sampling process on the image signal read from the pixel 300 to suppress fixed pattern noise. The horizontal accumulation time circuit 305 is a circuit for changing the charge accumulation time of the plurality of pixels 300 in the horizontal direction for each pixel. The horizontal scanning circuit 304 outputs a horizontal scanning signal for selecting a plurality of pixels 300 in units of columns based on the output signal of the horizontal accumulation time circuit 305.

  Here, the vertical scanning circuit 301, the CDS circuit 303, and the horizontal scanning circuit 304 have the same functions as the conventional one, but the accumulation time control for each pixel is performed by the functions of the newly added vertical accumulation time circuit 302 and horizontal accumulation time circuit 305. It is possible. Specifically, the accumulation time control is performed as follows. That is, based on the accumulation time signal for each pixel, the vertical accumulation time circuit 302 and the horizontal accumulation time circuit 305 decrease the reset voltage for pixels with a short accumulation time and set the reset voltage for pixels with a long accumulation time. Increase. The accumulation time signal for each pixel is set based on the distance information of the distance information acquisition unit 104. For example, the accumulation time is shortened for pixels at a distance close to the photographing apparatus, and the accumulation time is lengthened for a distant distance. The storage time information is transmitted as a storage time signal via the storage time control unit 102.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the accumulation time control unit 102.

  The area designation unit 400 designates the distance measurement image 206 as three areas: a foreground area, an intermediate area, and a distant view area. There are two specification methods: automatic processing and manual processing. In the automatic processing, the boundary distance A and the boundary distance B prepared in advance in the area specifying unit 400 are used. Here, the boundary distance B is longer than the boundary distance A. The range-finding image 206 is divided into three areas, with the distance from the imaging device to the boundary distance A as a foreground area, the infinite distance from the boundary distance B as a distance area, and the middle as an intermediate area.

  In the manual process, the user arbitrarily sets the boundary distance A and the boundary distance B using the exposure setting IF 110. This method will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Then, the area designating unit 400 sets which area belongs to all the pixels based on the distance information of each pixel. In this way, an area image obtained by dividing the distance measurement image 206 into three areas is generated.

  The accumulation time designation unit 401 instructs the accumulation time for each pixel to the vertical accumulation time circuit 302 and the horizontal accumulation time circuit 305. There are two specification methods: automatic processing and manual processing. In the automatic processing, predetermined accumulation times are prepared in advance for the foreground area, the intermediate area, and the distant area determined by the boundary distance A and the boundary distance B of the area specifying unit 400, and these are used. The accumulation time in the foreground area is longer than that in normal shooting, the accumulation time in the far view area is shorter than in normal shooting, and the accumulation time in the intermediate area is the same as that in normal shooting.

  In the manual processing, the user arbitrarily sets an accumulation time (exposure correction) for each region using the exposure setting IF 110. This method will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the area is divided into three areas, but it may be divided into two areas, a foreground area and a distant area. In this case, the distance prepared in the area designating unit 400 is only the boundary distance A, and the area is designated by setting the distance from the imaging device to the boundary distance A as the foreground area and the distance from the boundary distance A to the far area. Since the amount of calculation can be reduced by using only two regions, it is suitable for an imaging apparatus having a low calculation capability of the control unit 107 and the storage time control unit 102.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109.

  The ISO sensitivity setting IF 109 is obtained by adding a “distance” mode to an ISO sensitivity setting IF provided in a normal imaging apparatus. When the user selects the “distance” mode, the accumulation time is changed by the distance information using the distance measurement image 206. When the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109 is selected in the “distance” mode and no other area designation or accumulation time designation operation is performed, the area designation and accumulation time designation are performed by automatic processing. When selecting manual, it is set by the method described in the next figure.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing the exposure setting IF 110.

  FIG. 6A shows an initial menu screen 601 displayed on the display unit 108. When the cursor 602 is moved to the D (Depth) menu and selected, the exposure setting IF 110 is switched.

  FIG. 6B shows the exposure setting IF 110. In the exposure setting IF 110, distance designation and accumulation time designation (exposure designation) can be performed. However, since “accumulation time designation” is not familiar to the user as a name, “exposure designation” on the display of the exposure setting IF 110 is changed to the accumulation time setting by internal processing after exposure setting. In the figure, the description will be given below as exposure designation, which is synonymous with accumulation time designation.

  The distance designation selects the second icon from the top of the exposure setting IF 110, and the exposure designation selects the third icon. In FIG. 6B, the cursor 602 is moved to the distance designation icon and selected to designate the distance. When the distance designation is selected, a near view distance bar 603 and a distant view distance bar 604 appear on the display screen. By using these bars 603 and 604, it is possible to designate a near view area and a distant view area between 0 m and 12 m. To specify, two pointers 605 are moved. In this figure, since pointers 605 are arranged at 2 m and 8 m, the near view is designated as 0m to 2m, the far view is designated as 8m to infinity, and the intermediate region is designated between them.

  In FIG. 6C, the cursor 602 is moved to the exposure designation icon in the exposure setting IF 110 and is selected for exposure designation. When exposure designation is selected, a foreground exposure bar 606 and a distant view exposure bar 607 appear on the display screen. Both can be specified from -2 to +2, and the pointer 605 is moved to specify. In this figure, a pointer 605 is arranged at +2 in the foreground exposure bar 606 and -1 at the far view exposure bar 607 to designate exposure. Based on the designated exposure, the accumulation time control unit 102 changes the accumulation time.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the control unit 107 that changes the accumulation time based on the distance information.

  In step S700, a signal for turning on the “distance” mode is detected from the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109. This is a case where the user operates the ISO sensitivity setting IF 109 to select the “distance” mode.

  In step S701, it is detected whether or not half-pressed, and if half-press is detected, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, a shooting command signal is transmitted to the ranging image pickup unit 103. Therefore, the left luminance sensor 202 and the right luminance sensor 203 of the ranging image pickup unit 103 take two luminance images (monochrome images). After shooting, the distance measurement imaging unit 103 is instructed to transmit two luminance images (monochrome images) to the distance information acquisition unit 104.

  In step S703, a command signal for acquiring distance information for each pixel is transmitted to the distance information acquisition unit 104. The distance information acquisition unit 104 acquires distance information for each pixel using a predetermined distance measurement method using a stereo method, and creates a distance measurement image 206 (see FIG. 2). The ranging image 206 is temporarily stored in the image memory 106 via the control unit 107. Thereafter, when the captured image 205 is recorded on the recording medium 111 by capturing with the image sensor 101, the ranging image 206 is also recorded at the same time. If the image pickup device 101 for shooting has not been shot only by half-pressing, the distance measurement image 206 temporarily stored in the image memory 106 is deleted.

  In step S704, it is detected whether or not manual setting is performed by specifying the distance area and the storage time. If manual setting has not been performed in advance by the exposure setting IF 110 before performing the main photographing (main flow), the values included in the area designation unit 400 and the accumulation time designation unit 401 of the accumulation time control unit 102 are used. Since no instruction signal is issued, the process proceeds to step S706.

  If manual setting has already been performed before performing the main photographing (main flow), the distance designation and exposure designation values set in the exposure setting IF 110 are acquired in step S705 and transmitted to the accumulation time control unit 102. . The area designation unit 400 of the accumulation time control unit 102 sets the distance range of the foreground area, the far view area, and the intermediate area according to the received distance designation. The accumulation time designation unit 401 obtains the accumulation time based on the received exposure designation, and sets the accumulation time for the foreground area and the foreground area. The intermediate area accumulation time is set by determining an optimum value from the obtained accumulation time of the foreground area and the far scene area. For example, a method may be considered in which the accumulation time of the intermediate area is half the sum of the accumulation times of the foreground area and the distant area.

  In step S706, a command signal for calculating a region image is transmitted to the accumulation time control unit 102. The accumulation time control unit 102 acquires a distance measurement image 206 from the image memory 106 and divides the distance measurement image 206 into a foreground area, a far background area, and an intermediate area to create an area image.

  In step S707, the accumulation time control unit 102 is caused to transmit the area information and the accumulation time of each area to the imaging element 101 for photographing. The vertical accumulation time circuit 302 and the horizontal accumulation time circuit 305 of the image pickup device 101 for photographing receive the accumulation time and set the accumulation time for each pixel.

  In step S708, it is detected whether or not the main push is in the state. If the main push is detected, the process proceeds to step S709.

  In step S709, shooting is performed with the storage time changed for each pixel by the imaging element 101 for shooting.

  Through the above steps, it is possible to take a captured image 205 in which the accumulation time is changed for each pixel.

According to the present embodiment, the exposure time of the subject in the foreground and the exposure time of the subject in the distant view can be individually set without performing a troublesome operation. It becomes possible to prevent whiteout. In addition, since an algorithm with a large amount of calculation such as subject extraction is not required, the real-time performance is excellent, and the shooting according to the present embodiment can be performed with the normal shooting operation of half-press and full-press. In addition, because it uses an image sensor that changes the accumulation time for each pixel and a distance measurement method using a single eye, the image pickup device does not have a special shape, and can be applied to ordinary image pickup devices (lens interchangeable digital cameras, small digital cameras). It is easy to do.
(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment has a person recognition unit in the internal configuration of the imaging apparatus (not shown). The person recognition unit can perform person recognition on the captured image 205 and the distance measurement image 206. However, only the person recognition of the distance measurement image 206 is used in the present embodiment. As an example of the person recognition method, the image is binarized (the distance measurement image 206 is a black and white image, so the binarization process is omitted), and the obtained image and a face pattern prepared in advance in the person recognition unit There is a method of performing person recognition by matching with. There are various other person recognition methods such as the AdaBoost method, and any method may be used in this embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the control unit 107 when performing person recognition and changing the accumulation time based on distance information. Differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  Steps S801 to S803 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In step S804, a command signal for recognizing the person with respect to the distance measurement image 206 is transmitted to the person recognition unit. The person recognition unit acquires the distance measurement image 206 from the image memory 106 and performs person recognition. That is, it is determined whether or not a person exists in the distance measurement image.

  In step S805, it is determined whether there is a person. If there is no person, it is detected in step S807 whether there is a manual setting in the distance area designation and the accumulation time designation. Since this step is the same as that of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  If there is a person, the person recognition unit transmits to the distance information acquisition unit 104 which pixel of the distance measurement image 206 is present in step S806.

  In step S809, the distance information acquisition unit 104 transmits the distance information on the pixel to the accumulation time control unit 102 as the distance to the person. When the accumulation time control unit 102 receives the distance to the person, the distance from the imaging device (0 m) to the person is set as the foreground area. The setting of the distant view area is the same as the automatic processing.

  Subsequent steps are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

According to the present embodiment, since up to a person is set as a foreground area by automatic processing, it becomes possible to prevent the subject from being over-exposed more accurately than in the first embodiment.
(Third embodiment)
When a person is photographed against a night scene, the flash is usually turned on so that the person is irradiated with light from the flash. In such a case, by setting the charge accumulation time in the distant view area longer than the charge accumulation time in the distant view area, it is possible to take a bright image of the background that is not irradiated with the flash.

It is an internal block diagram of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structure of the imaging part for ranging by the embodiment of this invention, the concept of ranging, and a ranging image. It is the figure which showed the structure of the imaging device for imaging | photography by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structure and area | region designation | designated method of the accumulation | storage time control part by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed ISO sensitivity setting IF by the execution form of this invention. It is the figure which showed exposure setting IF by embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image pick-up optical system 101 Image sensor for imaging 102 Storage time control part 103 Image pick-up part for distance measurement 104 Distance information acquisition part 105 Image processing part 106 Image memory 107 Control part 108 Display part 109 ISO sensitivity setting IF
110 Exposure setting IF
111 recording media

Claims (5)

An image sensor for imaging a subject,
Means for acquiring distance information to the imaging target of each pixel of the image sensor;
A distance information acquisition unit that acquires distance information before the imaging;
With
The image sensor has a light receiving surface that receives external light and performs photoelectric conversion, and can control charge accumulation time by the photoelectric conversion in units of pixels.
An imaging apparatus, further comprising: an accumulation time control unit that controls a charge accumulation time of the image sensor in units of pixels based on the distance information. The accumulation time control unit
A region set up by a user or a region up to a predetermined boundary distance is set as a foreground region, and at least a part of the region far from the boundary distance is set as a background region, and charge accumulation time is controlled in units of pixels. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. A person recognition unit for recognizing whether a person is present in the image obtained by the image sensor;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when a person exists, a distance to the person is set as the boundary distance.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accumulation time control unit makes the charge accumulation time in the foreground area longer than the charge accumulation time in the distant area.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accumulation time control unit makes the charge accumulation time in the distant view area longer than the charge accumulation time in the near view area.