Image capture device and image processing method for the same

A defective pixel detection device for an image capture device comprising:

• an image capture unit having an image capture element for outputting a first image signal taken of a subject;
• a defect information storage unit adapted to store defective pixel data representing defective pixels of the image capture element in advance, wherein the defective pixel data is in the form of address and defective value of the image capture element;
• a signal conversion unit adapted to convert a first pixel value of the first image signal to a second pixel value of a second image signal, wherein the second pixel value excludes the defective value;
• a first comparison unit having comparators, wherein each of the comparators loads and extracts the defective pixel data stored in the defect information storage unit respectively, and then compares the extracted defective pixel data with the second image signal of the signal conversion unit, and converts the second pixel value of the second image signal to the defective value when the second image signal matches the defective pixel data;
• an image signal storage unit adapted to save the defective value output from the first comparison unit in frame units chronologically and in order of address;
• and
• a second comparison unit adapted to carry out a comparison process, in which the second comparison unit compares chronologically and in order of address between the defective value stored in the image signal storage unit and the second pixel value of the second image signal, and converts the second pixel value to the defective value when the second pixel value mates the defective value at each of the address;
• wherein the first comparison unit carries out a default data setting process, in which the first comparison unit acquires the defective pixel data in frame units and in multiple increments from the defect information storage unit, and upon completion of acquisition and comparison process of all the defective pixel data, the first comparison unit halts comparison of the second image signal data with the defective pixel data, and
• in sequence of the default data setting process, the second comparison unit carries out the comparison process.

A marking device comprising:

• an image capture unit having an image capture element for outputting a first image signal taken of a subject;
• a marking information storage unit adapted to store making data representing marking pixels of the image capture element in advance, wherein the making data is in the form of address and marking values of the image capture element;
• a signal conversion unit adapted to convert a first pixel value of the first image signal to a second pixel value of a second image signal, wherein the second pixel value excludes the marking values;
• a first comparison unit having comparators, wherein each of the comparators loads and extracts the marking data stored in the marking information storage unit respectively, and then compares the extracted marking data with the second image signal of the signal conversion unit, and converts the second pixel value of the second image signal to the marking value when the second image signal matches the marking data;
• an image signal storage unit adapted to save the marking value output from the first comparison unit in frame units chronologically and in order of address;
• and
• a second comparison unit adapted to carry out a comparison process, in which the second comparison unit compares chronologically and in order of address between the marking value stored in the image signal storage unit and the second pixel value of the second image signal, and converts the second pixel value to the marking value when the second pixel value mates the marking value at each of the address;
• wherein the first comparison unit carries out a default data setting process in which the first comparison unit acquires the marking pixel data in frame units and in multiple increments from the defect information storage unit, and upon completion of acquisition and comparison process of all the marking pixel data, the first comparison unit halts comparison of the second image signal data with the marking pixel data, and
• in sequence of the default data setting process, the second comparison unit carries out the comparison process.

An image processing method for an image capture device including an image capture unit having an image capture element for capturing a subject, and outputting an image signal with pixel values output by the image capture element in a form associated with addresses of pixels of included in the image capture element, the method comprising:

• storing a number n of addresses in the image capture element, where n is an integer equal to or more than two;
• acquiring the stored n addresses in a number m of comparators in multiple increments of m,
• repeatedly carrying out a comparison process for comparison of the m addresses with the addresses of the image signal output by the image capture unit, for the image signal of at least one frame, during each acquisition, where 1≦m<n;
• and
• saving default values as values lying out of range of the pixel values output by the image capture element and as image data of at least one frame in an image signal storage unit, wherein the default values are values in which the m comparators determine that addresses saved in the comparators match addresses of the image signal captured by the image capture element until acquisition of the n addresses has been completed.

A image processing method for an image capture device including an image capture unit having an image capture element for outputting a first image signal taken of a subject;

• the method comprising:
• storing defective pixel data representing defective pixels of the image capture element in advance in a defect information storage unit, wherein the defective pixel data is in the form of address and defective value of the image capture element;
• converting a first pixel value of the first image signal to a second pixel value of a second image signal in a signal conversion unit, wherein the second pixel value excludes the defective value;
• loading and extracting the defective pixel data stored in the defect information storage unit respectively in comparators of a first comparison unit
• comparing the extracted defective pixel data with the second image signal of the signal conversion unit
• converting the second pixel value of the second image signal to the defective value by the comparators when the second image signal matches the defective pixel data;
• saving the defective value output from the first comparison unit in frame units chronologically and in order of address in an image signal storage unit;
• and
• carrying out a comparison process, in which the second comparison unit compares chronologically and in order of address between the defective value saved in the image signal storage unit and the second pixel value of the second image signal, and converts the second pixel value to the defective value when the second pixel value mates the defective value at each of the address by a second comparison unit;
• wherein carrying out a defect data setting process for the first comparison unit, in which the first comparison unit acquires the defective pixel data in frame units and in multiple increments from the defect information storage unit, and upon completion of acquisition and comparison process of all the defective pixel data, the first comparison unit halts comparison of the second image signal data with the defective pixel data, and
• in sequence of the defect data setting process, carrying out the comparison process for the second comparison unit.