Patent ID: 8035699
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit which has an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image, and generates an image signal on the basis of an output signal from the image sensor; a storage unit which stores foreign substance information including information on at least a position and size of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element arranged in front of the image sensor; a buffer unit which temporarily stores the image signal output from said image capturing unit; a correction unit which corrects, based on the foreign substance information, an image signal corresponding to a shadow of the foreign substance among image signals output from said buffer unit and outputs a corrected image signal; and a control unit which controls said buffer unit and said correction unit to change, in accordance with a free area of said buffer unit, an amount of the image signal corresponding to the shadow of the foreign substance that is to be corrected among image signals output from said image capturing unit.