Patent ID: 8089533
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A fixed pattern noise removal circuit for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of an image sensor including an output system for every predetermined number of columns, comprising: a correction signal output unit configured to output a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system; and a signal correction unit configured to remove the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit, wherein the correction signal output unit includes a plurality of registers configured to output the correction signals corresponding to the output systems, a selector configured to selectively retrieve a predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers, a memory configured to store an output selection signal corresponding to each of the output systems, and a memory control unit configured to read out, from the memory, an output selection signal corresponding to the output system that outputs an output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the synchronization signal that is synchronized with the output signal of the image sensor, and wherein the selector selectively retrieves the predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers on the basis of the output selection signal read out from the memory.