JP2000138869A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the image quality of an image pickup device such as a CCD by preventing deterioration in a video image caused by smears due to high luminance data and a fault in image processing, when photographing an object in a high speed photographing mode. SOLUTION: This video camera is provided with a CCD 1 having a solid-stage image pickup section, a plurality of black reference detection elements 13-16 which are formed by shielding the elements of a prescribed range among photoelectric conversion elements from light, calculation sections 41, 51 that integrate data from a plurality of the black reference detection elements 13-16 and calculate the mean value, a microcomputer 91 that detects whether or not the calculation result of the calculation sections 41, 51 exceeds a prescribed value, and a changeover means SW 53 that replaces data from the detection element whose output exceeds a prescribed value with other data, on the basis of the detection result by the microcomputer 91.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CCD, a video camera device, and the like for imaging a subject using a photoelectric conversion element.
The present invention relates to an imaging device such as a camera device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In today's video camera devices, a solid-state image pickup unit (CCD image sensor) formed by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is used as an image pickup means because it can be made smaller, lighter and lower cost than an image pickup tube. Is provided.

[0003] In general, a CCD image sensor has a solid-state imaging section in which photoelectric conversion elements that receive light and accumulate them as electric charges are arranged in a grid pattern, and the electric charges accumulated by each photoelectric conversion element are read out. Is transferred and output as an image pickup signal.

By the way, such a conventional video camera apparatus is, as shown in FIG.
An image sensor 1 and a correlated double sampling / automatic gain control unit 2 which removes noise components from an image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 1 using a correlated double sampling method, amplifies the noise component with an appropriate gain, and outputs the amplified signal. (CDS /
AGC unit), an A / D 3 for converting an analog signal from the CDS / AGC unit 2 into a digital signal, and a digital signal processor 4 for subjecting the digital signal from the A / D 3 to a predetermined video process processing and the like and outputting the processed signal. (DSP)
And

[0005] In the DSP 4, in particular, the data relating to the horizontal OB in the output from the A / D 3 is integrated by an arithmetic unit 41 to obtain an average value.
In step 2, a difference between the video signal data and the average integrated value of the horizontal OB data is obtained, and the horizontal OB data is clamped using the difference.

Here, the horizontal OB is a reference for an optical black used when displaying an image. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal OB is provided in the CCD image sensor 1. This is an output from a horizontal black reference detection element (HOB) 201 which is configured such that a photoelectric conversion element disposed at an edge of the solid-state imaging unit 200 is shielded by aluminum or the like so that light is not irradiated. The above-described HOB average integration is calculated by reading out all data of the HOBs 201 arranged vertically on the side of the effective image area 12.

[0007] The HOB average integrated data obtained by the DSP 4 is read by a microcomputer 91 provided in the control section 9 and is processed so that the data becomes a certain value, which is then subjected to D / A (EVR). 92, where an analog voltage is generated from the digital signal and the CDS / AG
Adjust the offset voltage at C2.

The CDS / AGC 2 performs an arithmetic operation on the OB data thereafter input from the CCD 1 based on the adjusted offset voltage. That is, the offset voltage adjustment process is performed by the CDS / AGC
2, OB which is repeatedly executed by A / D3, DSP4, and loop processing in the control unit 9 and input to the DSP2
Control is performed so that the data always has a value within a predetermined range.

On the other hand, in today's video camera image pickup apparatuses, a so-called high-speed image pickup mode has been developed in which a photoelectric conversion element is read out a plurality of times in one field period to pick up a plurality of images in one field period. And
In this high-speed imaging mode, in order to improve the accuracy of the black reference adjustment of each image, a signal from a vertical black reference detection element (VOB) constituted by photoelectric conversion elements arranged horizontally at the upper end of the solid-state imaging unit 200 is used. A method of reading output for each image has been developed.

[0010]

However, in the method of adjusting the offset voltage using the OB average integrated data having the above-described structure, when the photoelectric conversion element receives a strong light and smears occur, the high luminance data is obtained. As a result, abnormally large OB data is input to the DSP 2.

For this reason, if the offset adjustment is to be performed using this abnormal OB data, the EVR voltage becomes MAX.
, And exceeds the adjustment range, so that the OB data is input to the DSP 4 while the OB data is high.
Then, the abnormally large horizontal OB data is continuously integrated, and the signal processing is performed so that the OB data becomes 0 using the integration result. As a result, data equal to or larger than the normal OB data is continuously subtracted from the signal component. Therefore, there is a problem that a phenomenon occurs in which a video component is not output because a signal component becomes too small.

On the other hand, in the above-described high-speed imaging mode, as shown in FIG. 6, a VOB 20 is output for each image read out a plurality of times (two times in the illustrated example) during one field period.
Since the second VOB 205 is read out, the VOB 205 read out for the second time is located within the effective video range 12, for example. On the other hand, as for the HOB, as shown in FIG.
HOB 203 existing on the active line to which 6 belongs, 2
HO existing on the active line to which the image 207 belongs
B204 is read separately. At this time, HOB
Border 208 between 203, VOB05 and HOB204
In a and 208b, the HOB is not read, and no data exists in this portion.

In a conventional imaging apparatus, as shown in FIG.
Since the integrated average value of the data over the entire area of the OB 12 is obtained and the clamping process is performed based on the integrated average value, the result is that the portions 208a and 208b in which no data exists as described above are integrated as having a value. Therefore, in the integration processing including such non-existent values, H
The OB average value becomes smaller than usual, and if the above-described offset adjustment is performed based on this average value, data equal to or less than the regular HOB data is continuously subtracted from the signal component, and the output image becomes too bright. There is a fear that the result will be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of a failure in the image processing and improving the image quality.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for detecting light arranged in a grid in a row direction and a column direction. In an image pickup apparatus for transferring an electric charge accumulated by light reception by these photoelectric conversion elements and taking an image, an element arranged in a horizontal direction over one or more rows of the photoelectric conversion elements is shielded so as not to receive light. A vertical black reference detection element configured as described above, and a horizontal black reference detection element configured by blocking elements arranged in the vertical direction over one or more columns of the photoelectric conversion elements so as not to receive light, Detecting means for detecting that the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element has exceeded a predetermined value; and, based on a detection result by the detecting means, the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element having exceeded the predetermined value. It is provided with a switching means for switching the data from the vertical black reference detection elements.

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
For example, in normal times, the black reference is adjusted based on the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element, and when the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element shows an abnormal value due to smear or the like, This is detected by the detecting means, and by switching the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element indicating the abnormal value to the data from the vertical black reference detecting element, deterioration of the image quality due to smear or the like can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid-state image pickup section in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for detecting light are arranged in a grid in a row direction and a column direction, and these photoelectric conversion elements accumulate by receiving light. In an imaging apparatus for transferring an image by transferring electric charges, a vertical black reference detection element configured to shield one of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a horizontal direction over one or more rows so as not to receive light; A horizontal black reference detecting element configured to shield one of the conversion elements arranged in the vertical direction over one or a plurality of columns so as not to receive light, and the electric charge accumulated by the photoelectric conversion element is stored in one field period. Switching means for switching data from the horizontal black reference detecting element to data from the vertical black reference detecting element when reading a plurality of times is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
In a so-called “high-speed imaging mode” in which a plurality of images are read out during one field period, data from the horizontal black reference detection element is switched to data from the vertical black reference detection element, thereby changing the black in accordance with the change in the imaging mode. It is possible to prevent data from the reference detection element from fluctuating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to the first or second aspect, setting means for presetting black reference data is provided, and the switching means is provided from the horizontal black reference detecting element. And the data set in the setting means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Under normal conditions, the black reference is adjusted based on the data from the horizontal black reference detection element, and smears etc. occur, and the data from the horizontal black reference detection element indicates an abnormal value, or the camera enters the high-speed imaging mode. If the value of the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element changes due to switching,
It is possible to switch to the data for the black reference set in advance, and it is possible to prevent the image quality from deteriorating due to the occurrence of smear or the change of the imaging mode.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a first preferred embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The imaging device according to the present invention can be applied to a video camera device.

(Overall Configuration of Video Camera Device) A video camera device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
And a CDS / AGC 2 for removing noise components from an image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 1 by using a correlated double sampling method and amplifying and outputting the same, as shown in FIG. And an A / D 3 for converting the imaging signal from the CDS / AGC 2 into a digital signal, and a DSP 4 for subjecting the digital signal output from the A / D 3 to predetermined video processing and the like and outputting the digital signal. I have.

The video camera device 100 has a D
A memory 6 for temporarily storing an image pickup signal from the SP 4; a recording / reproducing unit (VTR) 7 for recording and reproducing the image pickup signal from the DSP 4 on a video tape;
A switch 11 for selecting and outputting an image signal from the memory 6 during reproduction and selecting and outputting an image signal reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 7; and a memory control unit 5 for controlling storage and reading of the memory 6. are doing.

Further, the video camera device 100
Image and VT according to imaging signal supplied from DSP4
A display section 8 formed of, for example, an electronic viewfinder or a small liquid crystal monitor for displaying an image reproduced by R7, and an external output terminal 10 for supplying an image signal to an external monitor device such as a television receiver, for example. And C at the time of recording
A control unit 9 for variably controlling how to read out the charges stored in the CD image sensor 1;

In the video camera device 100, at the time of imaging (at the time of recording), the terminals 11b and 11c of the switch 11 are connected, and the output from the CCD 1 is transmitted via the memory control unit 5 to the display unit. While displaying an image on the monitor 8 or a monitor device, the imaging signal is recorded on the VTR 7, and at the time of reproduction, the terminals 11 a and 11 c of the switch 11 are connected and the imaging signal recorded on the VTR 7 is stored in the memory control unit 5. And display it on the display unit 8 or the monitor device.

(Configuration of CCD 1) The CCD image sensor 1 has a solid-state imaging section 17 in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a grid as shown in FIG. 2, and each photoelectric conversion element accumulates by receiving light. The electric charge is output as an electric signal.

That is, in the solid-state imaging section 17, the electric charges accumulated by the photoelectric conversion elements are vertically transferred to the horizontal transfer paths 22 via the respective vertical transfer paths 21, and then horizontally transferred in the horizontal transfer paths 22. The signal is supplied to the CDS / AGC 2 via an output terminal 23.

In the present embodiment, the solid-state imaging section 17 is used to receive an effective image area 12 for receiving an optical image.
And optical black reference detecting elements VOB13,14 and HOB15,16, which are obtained by shielding the photoelectric conversion elements arranged around the effective image area 12 with, for example, aluminum.

The VOBs 13 and 14 are formed by shielding photoelectric conversion elements horizontally arranged at the uppermost and lowermost stages of the solid-state image pickup unit 17 and detecting a vertical black reference in the effective image area 12. It is. Also, HOB1
Reference numerals 5 and 16 denote photoelectric conversion elements arranged vertically on the left and right sides of the solid-state imaging unit 17, and detect a horizontal black reference in the effective image area 12.

(Configuration of Detection and Correction Circuit) In particular, the video camera apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the horizontal OB data output from the CCD 1 due to the influence of smear or the like, removes this abnormality. Detect and
A circuit is provided for correcting the OB data in which an abnormality has occurred.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of such a circuit. In the figure, the detection and correction circuit is mainly composed of the C
The CD1, CDS / AGC2, A / D3, DSP4 and control unit 9 are connected to form a loop structure.

The DSP 4 includes a signal processing unit 55 for processing the digital signal output from the A / D 3, a horizontal OB integrating unit 41 for obtaining an average integrated value of horizontal and vertical OB data output from the A / D 3, and a vertical OB integrating unit 41. An OB accumulator 51;
A calculation unit 5 that subtracts the OB integrated average value calculated by the horizontal / vertical OB integration units 41 and 51 from the video signal.
2 and a SW 53 that selectively supplies the output from the horizontal / vertical OB integrating units 41 and 51 to the arithmetic unit 52.

The horizontal / vertical OB calculation units 41 and 51 provide A /
The OB data signal among the digital signals output from D3, that is, the VOBs 13, 1 of the solid-state imaging unit 17 described above.
4 and the integrated average values of the data from the HOBs 15 and 16 are obtained.
The data is sent to the SW 53 and also sent to the microcomputer 91 provided in the control unit 9.

The SW 53 selects the OB data to be sent to the signal processing unit 55 based on the OB switching data from the microcomputer 91. In addition to the arithmetic units 41 and 51, a fixed external device set by the microcomputer 91 or the like is used. A storage unit 54 for holding OB data is connected. That is, this S
W53 is a horizontal OB integrated average value or a vertical OB integrated average value output from the horizontal / vertical OB integrating units 41 and 51 based on the OB switching data input from the microcomputer 91, or a microcomputer set value stored in the storage unit 54. (External OB data) is selectively sent to the signal processing unit 55.

Here, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 54
Holds the OB integrated average value calculated by the calculation units 51 and 50. When the microcomputer 91 detects an abnormal value such as smear, the OB integrated average value before the occurrence of the abnormal value is calculated by the microcomputer. It is output as a set value. The microcomputer setting value may be set to a fixed value in advance, for example, or may be set by the operator as desired.

The control unit 9 includes a microcomputer 91 for performing various arithmetic processing, a D / A (EVR) 92 for converting a control signal from the microcomputer 91 into an analog signal, and a microcomputer 9.
And a TG 93 which is controlled by the control unit 1 to transmit a CLP pulse to the CDS / AGC 2.

The microcomputer 91 monitors the average OB value output from the DSP 4, and when there is an abnormality in the average value, S
In order to control the operation of W53, the OB switching data
To send to. The microcomputer 91 monitors such that the average OB value does not reach, for example, MAX, which is an allowable value for each device, or does not fall outside a certain threshold range. As this threshold value, for example, a value of about ± 5% of a standard value can be used.

In the present embodiment, there are two types of switching based on the OB switching data. The first type includes a horizontal OB integrating unit 41 and a horizontal OB integrating unit 41 in order to use the vertical OB integrated average instead of the horizontal OB integrated average. The second method switches the vertical OB accumulating unit 51 to connect to the arithmetic unit 52. The second method uses a microcomputer setting value held in the storage unit 54 instead of the horizontal OB accumulating average value. It is determined whether the horizontal OB integrating unit 41 and the storage unit 54 are switched to be connected to the arithmetic unit 52 by S
Request to W53.

In the control section 9, the microcomputer 91 reads the horizontal or vertical OB average integrated data described above from the DSP 4, monitors the average value with the microcomputer 91, and makes the read data have a certain value. After the above processing, data is sent from the microcomputer 91 to the D / A (EVR) 92, and the D / A (EVR) 92 generates an analog voltage. Based on the analog voltage generated from D / A (EVR) 92, CDS / AGC2
Adjusts the offset voltage. As described above, the detection and correction circuit controls the microcomputer 91 and the D / A 92 so that the OB data input to the DSP 4 has a constant value in a loop structure.

(Operation of Correction Circuit) The operation of the correction circuit having such a configuration will be described below. First, in the present embodiment, in a normal time, the horizontal OB accumulator 41 calculates the OB average value of the data from the HOB 16 and supplies the average value to the arithmetic unit 52 via the SW 53. The arithmetic unit 52 subtracts this OB average value from the video signal portion and sends it to the signal processing unit 55. The horizontal OB accumulator 41
Sends the calculated OB average value to the microcomputer 91. The microcomputer 91 monitors the OB average value.

The microcomputer 91 determines that the control voltage has reached a predetermined value due to an abnormal value in the horizontal OB data.
, The microcomputer 91 selects appropriate OB switching data and sends it to the SW 53.

The SW 53 disconnects the horizontal OB accumulator 41 from the SW 52 and connects the vertical OB accumulator 51 or the memory 54 to the SW 53 based on the OB switching data.

When the vertical OB integrated average value is used instead of the horizontal OB integrated average value, the microcomputer 91 sends the data acquired from the vertical OB integrated unit 51 to the CDS / AGC 2 via the D / A 92. The setup adjustment is performed based on the horizontal OB integrated average value.

On the other hand, when the microcomputer setting value is used in place of the horizontal OB integrated average value, the same value as the microcomputer setting value held in the storage unit 54 is stored in the CDS via the D / A 92.
/ AGC2, and performs setup adjustment based on the horizontal OB integrated average value.

As a result, the loop processing in the DSP 4 is not performed, and the video signal does not continue to be subtracted in the DSP 4 even if data equal to or more than the normal OB data is input.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The schematic configurations of the video camera device and the correction circuit according to the present embodiment are the same as those according to the first samurai history mode described above.

That is, the video camera device 100 according to the second embodiment has a CCD image sensor 1, CDS / AGC2, A / D3, DSP4 and the like as shown in FIG. Has a horizontal OB integrating unit 41 and a vertical OB integrating unit 51 for respectively obtaining an average integrated value of the horizontal and vertical OB data, an arithmetic unit 52, and a SW 53 for switching the output from the horizontal and vertical OB integrating units 41 and 51. are doing.

In the first embodiment described above, the average OB value output from the DSP 4 is monitored by the microcomputer 91, and when an abnormal value due to smear or the like is detected, the horizontal OB value is detected by the SW 53.
Although the integrated average value is switched to other data, the present embodiment is characterized in that the horizontal OB integrated average value is switched to other data during imaging in the “high-speed imaging mode”.

In the video camera device according to the second embodiment, in the CCD image sensor 1, the photoelectric conversion element is read out once in one field period, and one image is picked up in one field period. A normal imaging mode "and a" high-speed imaging mode "in which the photoelectric conversion element is read out a plurality of times in one field period to capture a plurality of images in one field period.

In this embodiment, the "high-speed imaging mode"
At times, VOBs are read a plurality of times during one field period. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, the images 206 and 207 are read twice within one field period,
Each time the video images 206 and 207 are read, VOB2
02 and 205 are read out.

The correction circuit according to the present embodiment
This is to correct a decrease in the average HOB value due to the discontinuity of the HOB caused by reading a plurality of images during the field period. Specifically, “Normal imaging mode”
In normal times, the setup adjustment is performed using the horizontal OB integrated average value. However, when the operator selects the “high-speed imaging mode”, the microcomputer 91 detects this and switches the OB switching to the SW 52. The data is transmitted, and setup adjustment is performed based on the vertical OB integrated average value or the microcomputer set value instead of the horizontal OB integrated average value.

Thus, in the “high-speed imaging mode”, the boundary portion 208 before and after the VOB 32 existing on the screen is displayed.
Even if the horizontal OB integrated average value decreases due to a and 208b, it is possible to prevent the image quality from deteriorating by switching between this and the vertical OB integrated average value or the microcomputer setting value.

(Modification 1 of Second Embodiment) In the correction circuit according to the present embodiment, as described above, the HOB becomes discontinuous by reading a plurality of images within one field period. In order to prevent the accompanying decrease in the average HOB value, a function of changing the set value of the HOB in the correction circuit can be provided.

In other words, the threshold value of the integrated average of the HOBs in the “normal imaging mode” and the “high-speed imaging mode” is changed, and in the “high-speed imaging mode”, the threshold is changed based on the changed threshold value. The subtraction processing by the calculation unit 52, the smear detection by the microcomputer 91, and the offset adjustment by the CDS / AGC2 are performed.

According to the correction circuit having such a function, the threshold value is changed over the entire correction circuit in accordance with the imaging mode, so that the circuit used in the first embodiment is used as it is. be able to.

(Modification 2 of Second Embodiment) Further, as described above, the correction circuit according to the present embodiment involves reading out a plurality of images within one field period, thereby causing the HOB to be discontinuous. In order to prevent the HOB average value from decreasing, the solid-state imaging unit 17 also has a function of changing the HOB integration averaging method.

That is, when a VOB is read a plurality of times within one field period, the average of the HOB data based on only the HOB data (HOB 203, 204 in FIG. 6) on the line to which the image to be read belongs belongs. A value is calculated, and data from elements belonging to the boundary between the VOB and HOB (208a, 208b in FIG. 6)
Is not included in the horizontal OB integrated averaging process.

Thus, it is possible to prevent the HOB data having no value from being read out from being included in the integrated averaging process, and to prevent the integrated average value of the HOB from being reduced. In this case, since the HOB integrated average value does not decrease due to switching between the “normal imaging mode” and the “high-speed imaging mode”, the correction circuit according to the above-described first embodiment should be used as it is in normal times. Can be.

That is, in the normal state in the “high-speed imaging mode”, the divided HOBs 203 and 204 are read out.
When the smear or the like occurs, the clamp processing is performed using the VOB 205 or the VOB 205, the integrated average value based on the VOB 202 or 205 is switched to the microcomputer setting value, and the clamp processing is performed using these.

[0059]

According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the CCD
Thus, it is possible to prevent deterioration of an image that occurs when smear due to high-luminance data occurs in an imaging apparatus such as the one described above, and to prevent occurrence of an obstacle in image processing when imaging in a high-speed imaging mode, thereby improving image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a video camera device according to an embodiment to which an imaging device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a CCD image sensor provided in the video camera device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a detection and correction circuit provided in the video camera device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit for performing offset adjustment based on OB data in a conventional video camera device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a video signal captured by a conventional video camera device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a video signal captured by a conventional video camera device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: CCD image sensor, 2: Correlated double sampling / automatic gain controller (CDS / AGC), 3: Analog
Digital conversion (A / D), 4 ... Digital signal processor (DSP), 41, 51 ... OB integrating section, 52 ... Calculating section, 53 ... Switching section, 54 ... Storage section, 55 ... Signal processing section, 91 ... Microcomputer ( Detector),

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B047 BB04 DA03 DB01 DC01 DC06 5C024 AA01 CA04 CA05 CA10 DA07 FA01 GA11 GA22 GA49 GA50 GA52 HA03 HA07 HA12 HA14 HA18 HA23 HA27 5C072 AA01 BA15 DA15 EA05 FB15 RA15 UA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state imaging unit having a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for detecting light arranged in a grid in a row direction and a column direction.
In an imaging device for transferring and accumulating charges accumulated by light receiving by these photoelectric conversion elements, an element arranged in a horizontal direction over one or more rows of the photoelectric conversion elements is shielded so as not to receive light. A vertical black reference detecting element, a horizontal black reference detecting element configured to shield one of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged vertically in one or more columns so as not to receive light, and the horizontal black reference detection. Detecting means for detecting that data from the element for use has exceeded a predetermined value; and, based on the detection result by the detecting means, the data from the horizontal black reference detecting element having exceeded the predetermined value is referred to as the vertical black reference. An imaging apparatus, comprising: switching means for switching to data from a detection element. 2. A solid-state imaging unit having a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for detecting light arranged in a grid in a row direction and a column direction.
In an imaging device for transferring and accumulating charges accumulated by light receiving by these photoelectric conversion elements, an element arranged in a horizontal direction over one or more rows of the photoelectric conversion elements is shielded so as not to receive light. A vertical black reference detection element, a horizontal black reference detection element configured by blocking one of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged vertically in one or more rows so as not to receive light, and the photoelectric conversion element Switching means for switching data from the element for detecting a horizontal black reference to data from the element for detecting a vertical black reference when the stored charge is read a plurality of times within one field period is provided. Imaging device. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting unit for setting data for black reference in advance, wherein the switching unit sets the data from the element for detecting a horizontal black reference and the setting for the data. An imaging apparatus for switching between data set in a unit and data.