Patent ID: 8072513
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image capturing system comprising: a signal correction unit which corrects a signal output from a defective pixel in an optical black region having a plurality of optical black pixels arranged in rows and columns for outputting a dark reference signal, on the basis of a signal output from a normal pixel in the optical black region, wherein the optical black region has a plurality of pixel blocks, wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks has at least three pixels arranged in a column and each having a photoelectric conversion element, wherein optical black pixels of each pixel block share an amplifying element provided to the pixel block, wherein relative positions of the photoelectric conversion elements of the optical black pixels of the pixel block, which are positions relative to the shared amplifying element provided to the pixel block, are different from each other, wherein the signal correction unit corrects the signal output from the defective pixel on the basis of a signal output from a normal pixel which is included in another pixel block different from the pixel block of the defective pixel and in the same column and a different row from the defective pixel, and wherein a relative position of the photoelectric conversion element of the normal pixel, which is a position relative to the shared amplifying element provided to the another pixel block, is the same as a relative position of the photoelectric conversion element of the defective pixel, which is a position relative to the shared amplifying element provided to the pixel block of the defective pixel.