Patent ID: 7872680

Claim:
A method for creating pixel information in an imaging device having an imaging area comprised of a plurality of pixels, with each pixel having first and second light-receiving elements of different light-receiving sensitivities and light-receiving signal saturation levels, and having a signal readout device which reads output signals of the first and second light-receiving elements, the method comprising the steps of: reading, using the signal readout device, an output signal of the first light-receiving element for each pixel to create first information indicating whether the pixel is defective or not using a signal processing device connected to the imaging device; reading, using the signal readout device, an output signal of the second light-receiving element for each pixel to create second information indicating whether the pixel is defective or not, using the signal processing device; and computing a logic sum of the first and second information created in the above steps using the signal processing device and creating pixel information for defining as a defective pixel a pixel with the result of the computation being equal to 1.