Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method

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-shielded 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 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 unit 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.

An image pickup method using 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, comprising:

• an image pickup step of picking up an object image in said image pickup area and obtaining signals from the first and second photoelectric conversion sections in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded;
• a first correction step of performing differential processing between a first signal obtained in the first photoelectric conversion section in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded 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 second 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 detection step of detecting a defective pixel in said image pickup area on the basis of the first and second signals;
• and
• a second correction step of correcting each of signals from the first and second photoelectric conversion sections arranged in the depth direction in the same pixel in accordance with a detection result in said detection step.