Patent ID: 6819358
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for generating a digital representation of an image, the apparatus comprising:an image sensor having an array of pixels that generate analog electrical signals in proportion to intensity of light striking the pixels; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the image sensor and converting the electrical signals into digital data representative of the image; pixel defect memory storing information indicative of locations of defective pixels in the image sensor array of pixels, wherein the pixel defect memory stores information indicative of at least one group of pixels by including in the at least one group of pixels at least one non-defective pixel and at least one defective pixel; and compensation circuitry coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and to the pixel defect memory, the compensation circuitry compensating the digital data representative of the image using the information indicative of the locations of the defective pixels to provide compensated digital data representative of the image, wherein compensating the digital data to provide the compensated digital data further comprises adjusting portions of the digital data corresponding to each of the pixels in the at least one group.