Patent ID: 8259198

Claim:
A method for detecting and correcting defective image pixels during image processing, comprising: using an image processor; receiving an input pixel of image data acquired using an image sensor; comparing the location of the input pixel within a processing region of an imaging frame of the image sensor to a set of location entries stored in a static defect table; if the location of the input pixel corresponds to one of the set of location entries, marking the input pixel as a static defect and determining a first replacement value for the input pixel; if the location of the input pixel does not correspond to one of the set of location entries, identifying a set of neighboring pixels having the same color component as the input pixel, determining whether the input pixel is either a dynamic defect or speckled with respect to the set of neighboring pixels, and determining a second replacement value for the input pixel if the input pixel is determined to be either a dynamic defect or speckled; and correcting the input pixel, wherein correcting the input pixel comprises: replacing a current value of the input pixel with the first replacement value if the input pixel is marked as a static defect; replacing the current value of the input pixel with the second replacement value if the input pixel is determined to be either a dynamic defect or speckled; and storing the static defect table and the first replacement value in a memory, wherein the static defect table is configured to be updated intermittently to store locations corresponding to newly-detected static defects.