Patent ID: 7141774
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for setting individual information that is unique to a solid-state image sensor to an imaging device that comprises the solid-state image sensor, wherein the solid-state image sensor has a photosensitive surface on which an optical image of a photographic subject is formed, and the solid-state image sensor converts the optical image to an electric charge and outputs the electric charge as an image signal, the method comprising: storing the individual information in advance to a non-effective pixel region, which is not used in generating an image, on the photosensitive surface of the solid-state image sensor such that the stored individual information can be output as an image signal; activating the solid-state image sensor; calculating a predetermined threshold value based on: (i) an image signal output from an effective pixel region, which is used in generating an image, on the photosensitive surface of the solid-state image sensor, and (ii) an image signal output from the non-effective pixel region; obtaining the individual information stored to the non-effective pixel region by comparing the image signal output from the non-effective pixel region with the calculated threshold value; and storing the obtained individual information to a predetermined recording medium of the imaging device, thereby setting the individual information to the imaging device.