Patent ID: 7283163

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a read-out unit which reads out a photoelectric conversion signal accumulated in a pixel during a first accumulation duration, wherein the photoelectric conversion signal includes a first noise component; an operation unit which calculates a noise correction value corresponding to the first noise component by using a correction value corresponding to a second noise component accumulated in the pixel during a second accumulation duration, and by using a correction value corresponding to a third noise component accumulated in the pixel during a third accumulation duration, wherein said noise correction value is calculated on the basis of changes in the first, second and third accumulation durations, and changes between the first, second and third noise components accumulated in the pixel, and wherein the first, second and third accumulation durations are different from each other; and a correction unit correcting the photoelectric conversion signal using the correction value corresponding to the first noise component, wherein said read-out unit reads out a photoelectric conversion signal accumulated in a pixel during a first accumulation duration in response to a sensor accumulation completion signal from a sensor representing the pixel, and wherein said operation unit calculates a noise correction value corresponding to the first and second noise components by using correction values corresponding to second and third noise components accumulated in the pixel during second and third accumulation durations, which are both set by a timer independently of the sensor accumulation completion signal.