Patent ID: 6980241
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A solid image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing device; said image capturing device includes means for receiving an optical image; means responsive to said optical image for conducting photoelectric conversion of said optical image to produce an image output signal; means for generating characteristic data of said image capturing device to produce a characteristic data signal; an output terminal; means for outputting an output signal from output terminal; and said means for outputting including means for outputting said output signal including both said image output signal and said characteristic data signal, wherein said image capturing device includes an image field; said image field includes an effective image field and an invalid image field; said invalid image field includes characteristic data of said solid image capturing device; said solid image capturing device includes an optical mask covering said invalid image field; and said optical mask includes a memory field which optically stores said characteristic data.