Patent ID: 8462234
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup device in which an effective pixel area, an optical black part and a drive circuit for the image pickup device are formed; a signal detection unit that detects a signal of the pixel of the optical black part and a signal of the pixel of the effective pixel area; a storage unit that previously stores a correction pattern used for obtaining a second black level included in the detected signal of the effective pixel of the effective pixel area based on a first black level detected from the pixel of the optical black part by the signal detection unit in accordance with an operation pattern of the drive circuit of the image pickup device; and a clamp unit that obtains the second black level from the correcting pattern read out from the storage unit in accordance with the operation pattern of the drive circuit of the image pickup device and the first black level, and subtracts the second black level as a clamp level from a level of the output signal of the effective pixel, wherein the signal detection unit adds a plurality of pixels in the optical black part and in the effective pixel area and detects the respective signals of the pixel of the optical black part and the effective pixel area, wherein the correction pattern, in a case where the operation pattern is a pattern in which the temperature of the pixels of the optical black part becomes higher than that of the effective pixels, adjusts the number of pixels for addition of the optical black part to be fewer than that of the effective pixels, and, in a case where the operation pattern is a pattern in which the temperature of the pixels of the optical black part becomes lower than that of the effective pixels, adjusts the number of pixels for addition of the optical black part to be more than that of the pixel of the effective pixels, such that the first black level is obtained, and wherein the second black level is obtained based on the obtained first black level.