Patent ID: 7518644
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An electronic camera including an image sensor, on which a plurality of pixels are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, and a sensitivity setter for setting one of imaging sensitivities, said image sensor including a vertical transfer path provided for each pixel row of the vertically arranged pixels to vertically move a signal charge of the corresponding pixel row, and a charge detector provided for each of the vertical transfer paths to convert said signal charge outputted from said vertical transfer path into a voltage signal, said electronic camera thinning said pixel rows under a thinning mode in accordance with the set imaging sensitivity, said electronic camera comprising: a first memory for storing first row-information of the respective imaging sensitivities, said first row-information designating the pixel rows to be read out under said thinning mode, said pixel rows to be read out being determined so as to minimize defective pixel rows having line-shaped defect extending in the vertical direction; a second memory for storing second row-information of the respective imaging sensitivities, said second row-information designating said defective pixel rows included in the pixel rows designated by said first row-information; a horizontal scanning device for sequentially selecting said charge detectors of the pixel rows designated by said first row-information, which corresponds to the imaging sensitivity set by said sensitivity setter, under said thinning mode, said horizontal scanning device horizontally transferring and outputting the voltage signal of the selected charge detector; and a defect corrector for correcting the defect regarding said voltage signals of the pixel rows designated by said second row-information, which corresponds to the imaging sensitivity set by said sensitivity setter, under said thinning mode.