Patent ID: 7436439
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit which picks up an image of a subject to output an image pickup signal; first and second amplifying units configured to individually amplify color components of the image pickup signal outputted by the image pickup unit; a first gain value storing unit configured to store plural types of gain values for respective color components which are used to maintain a white balance of the subject; a gain value varying unit configured to sequentially vary types of gain values for the respective color components set in the second amplifying unit; a gain value detecting unit configured to detect a type of gain values corresponding to color information contained in a predetermined white detection range on the basis of image information generated using the image pickup signal amplified by the second amplifying unit using the types of gain values for the respective color components sequentially varied by the varying unit; a gain value selecting unit configured to select, from the plural types of gain values stored in the first gain value storing unit, a type of gain values to be set in the first amplifying unit, on the basis of the type of gain values detected by the detecting unit; a gain value setting unit configured to set the type of gain values selected by the selecting unit, in the first amplifying unit; and a recording control unit configured to cause image information generated using the image pickup signal amplified by the first amplifying unit using the type of gain values set by the setting unit to be recorded in an image recording section.