Patent ID: 7876369

Claim:
An image processing apparatus adapted to process an image output from image sensing means, comprising: defect detection means for detecting a defective pixel; and defect correction means for correcting a pixel value of a pixel of the image output from the image sensing means, in accordance with a defect data table in which defect data associated with the defective pixel detected by the defect detection means is registered, the defect detection means including white defect detection means and black defect detection means, the white defect detection means being adapted to detect a defective pixel and a defect level indicating the degree of a defect of the detected defective pixel, by comparing a maximum pixel value detected at each pixel position of a plurality of images captured via an image taking operation performed a plurality of times by the image sensing means with a threshold value for detecting white defect, the black defect detection means being adapted to detect a defective pixel and a defect level indicating the degree of a defect of the detected defective pixel, by comparing a minimum pixel value detected at each pixel position of the plurality of images with a threshold value for detecting black defect, and defective pixel selection means for selecting, based on the defect levels, a predetermined plurality of defective pixels with high defect degrees, and registering defect data associated with the predetermined plurality of selected defective pixels in the defect data table.