Image sensing apparatus and control method for the image sensing apparatus

• US 8,159,570 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Negishi, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGUE, DENNIS A
• Application Number:
  US12/504,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/68 applied to defects

Abstract

An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a pixel array, on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a reading section configured to read a signal from the pixel array, a detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel in the pixel array based on a signal read from the pixel array by the reading section under a condition that the pixel array is shielded from light, and a control unit configured to control the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array under a condition that a defect tends to occur when the detection unit detects the defective pixel.

Claims

1. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

an image sensor including a pixel array, on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a reading section configured to read a signal from the pixel array;

a detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel in the pixel array based on a signal read from the pixel array by the reading section under a condition that the pixel array is shielded from light; and

a control unit configured to control the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array under a condition that a defect tends to occur when the detection unit detects the defective pixel,

wherein the reading section includes gate electrodes used to read signals from the pixel array, and

wherein, when the detection unit detects the defective pixel, the control unit supplies, to the gate electrodes, a voltage higher than a voltage supplied when ordinary photographing is performed.

2. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct a signal from the defective pixel detected by the detection unit using a signal from a pixel adjacent to the defective pixel.

3. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array a plurality of times in one frame period when the detection unit detects the defective pixel.

4. A method for controlling an image sensing apparatus including an image sensor including a pixel array, on which a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a reading section configured to read a signal from the pixel array, and a detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel in the pixel array based on a signal read from the pixel array by the reading section under a condition that the pixel array is shielded from light, the method comprising:

controlling the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array under a condition that a defect tends to occur when the detection unit detects the defective pixel,

wherein the reading section includes gate electrodes used to read signals from the pixel array, and

wherein the method further comprises, when the detection unit detects the defective pixel, supplying, to the gate electrodes, a voltage higher than a voltage supplied when ordinary photographing is performed.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising correcting a signal from the defective pixel detected by the detection unit using a signal from a pixel adjacent to the defective pixel.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising controlling the reading section to read a signal from the pixel array a plurality of times in one frame period when the detection unit detects the defective pixel.