Patent ID: 7145599

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup area where a plurality of pixels each having at least first and second photoelectric conversion sections are arranged in a depth direction; a first correction unit which performs differential processing between a signal obtained in the first photoelectric conversion section in case that said image pickup area is light-sheilded and a signal obtained in the first photoelectric conversion section by picking up an object image in said image pickup area, and differential processing between a signal obtained in the second photoelectric conversion section in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded and a signal obtained in the second photoelectric conversion section by picking up an object image in said image pickup area; a second correction unit provided in the rear stage of the first correction unit, which performs correction of each of signals from the first and second photoelectric conversion sections arranged in the depth direction in the same pixel to correct a defective pixel; and a detection wilt which detects a defective pixel in said image pickup area, wherein, when it is detected that a signal from one photoelectric conversion section in the same pixel requires correction, said detection unit controls said second correction unit so that signals from the other photoelectric conversion sections in the same pixel are also corrected, and detects a defective pixel on the basis of a signal before being input into said first correction unit.