Fixed pattern noise removal circuit, fixed pattern noise removal method, program, and image pickup apparatus

1. A fixed pattern noise removal circuit for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of an image sensor including an output system for every predetermined number of columns, comprising:

a correction signal output unit configured to output a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system; and

a signal correction unit configured to remove the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit,

wherein the correction signal output unit includes a plurality of registers configured to output the correction signals corresponding to the output systems, a selector configured to selectively retrieve a predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers, a memory configured to store an output selection signal corresponding to each of the output systems, and a memory control unit configured to read out, from the memory, an output selection signal corresponding to the output system that outputs an output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the synchronization signal that is synchronized with the output signal of the image sensor, and wherein the selector selectively retrieves the predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers on the basis of the output selection signal read out from the memory.

2. The fixed pattern noise removal circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the correction signal output unit outputs a first correction signal corresponding to the offset component and a second correction signal corresponding to the light-intensity-dependent component, and wherein the signal correction unit includes a subtracter configured to subtract a black level from the output signal of the image sensor, a first adder configured to add the first correction signal to an output signal of the subtracter, a multiplier configured to multiply an output signal of the first adder by the second correction signal, and a second adder configured to add the black level to an output signal of the multiplier.

3. A fixed pattern noise removal method for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of an image sensor including an output system for a predetermined number of columns, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, by use of a correction signal output unit, a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system; and

removing the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal retrieved in the step of acquiring a correction signal corresponding to the output system,

wherein the correction signal output unit includes a plurality of registers configured to output the correction signals corresponding to the output systems, a selector configured to selectively retrieve a predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers, a memory configured to store an output selection signal corresponding to each of the output systems, and a memory control unit configured to read out, from the memory, an output selection signal corresponding to the output system that outputs an output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the synchronization signal that is synchronized with the output signal of the image sensor, and wherein the selector selectively retrieves the predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers on the basis of the output selection signal read out from the memory.

4. An image pickup apparatus comprising:

an image sensor including an output system for every predetermined number of columns; and

a fixed pattern noise removal circuit for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of the image sensor;

wherein the fixed pattern noise removal circuit includes a correction signal output unit configured to output a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system and a signal correction unit configured to remove the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit, and

wherein the correction signal output unit includes a plurality of registers configured to output the correction signals corresponding to the output systems, a selector configured to selectively retrieve a predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers, a memory configured to store an output selection signal corresponding to each of the output systems, and a memory control unit configured to read out, from the memory, an output selection signal corresponding to the output system that outputs an output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the synchronization signal that is synchronized with the output signal of the image sensor, and wherein the selector selectively retrieves the predetermined correction signal from among the correction signals output from the registers on the basis of the output selection signal read out from the memory.