Patent ID: 7733399
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of acquiring traveling characteristics of a light-shielding member in an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element including a plurality of pixels that converts an optical image of an object incident thereon to an electrical image signal and outputs the image signal, the light-shielding member being operable to occlude an aperture to the image sensing element, said method comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring the traveling characteristics of the light-shielding member based on an image signal output from a selected partial area of the image sensing element, storing the acquired traveling characteristics in a storage means; a shifting step of shifting the selected partial area to another partial area placed at a different position spaced apart from the selected partial area along the traveling direction of the light-shielding member, wherein the traveling characteristics of the light-shielding member is acquired in said acquisition step on the basis of image signals output from the selected partial area and the another partial area; and wherein the acquiring step includes: a first reading step of reset scanning the image sensing element based on the traveling characteristics stored in the storage medium, shielding the image sensing element by driving the light-shielding member after a preset exposure period, and outputting an image signal from the partial area; a second reading step, prior to said first reading step, of accumulating charge for the same length of time as the exposure period, and outputting an image signal from the partial area; a step of acquiring characteristic data showing the traveling characteristics based on the image signals output in said first and second reading steps, and storing the acquired characteristic data in the storage means; and a step of acquiring the traveling characteristics using the characteristic data stored in the storage medium.