Solid-state image pickup apparatus having a defect detecting mode

摘要

A solid-state image pickup apparatus for use as a video camera has a defect detecting mode and an operation mode. The solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor having pixels arranged in rows and columns for producing an output signal representing a detected image. The solid-state image sensor operates in a field reading mode for reading electric charges from the pixels in approximately one field period such that the electric charges of the pixels of two adjacent rows are summed before being outputted from the solid-state image sensor, the summed electric charges being different in even- and odd-numbered fields, and also operates in a frame reading mode for reading electric charges from the pixels in approximately one frame period such that the electric charges of the pixels of one of two vertically adjacent rows are read in even-numbered fields and the electric charges of the pixels of the other of two adjacent rows are read in odd-numbered fields. The positions of defective pixels of the solid-state image sensor are detected in the defect detecting mode, the defective pixels causing noise in the output signal at corresponding times in sampled data of the output signal. The detected positions of the defective pixels are stored in a memory. When the defect detecting mode is selected, the solid-state image sensor is controlled to operate in the frame reading mode.