KR20100101380A - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and a device for processing an image are provided to shorten an photographing time without not consuming additional time for noise elimination. CONSTITUTION: An optical transformation unit(20) has plurality of pixels converting a image light into an electrical signal and outputs the image light by transforming the light into an image signal. A sensitivity control unit(32) changes the intensity of electrical signal of the pixels and sets the imaging sensitivity which the photoelectro transform unit operates. A noise storing unit(40) stores a noise signal information about a noise signal including an electrical signal of the pixels. A noise correction unit(50) subtracts the noise signal relevant to an image sensitivity from an image signal of the photoelecto transform unit.

Description

Image processing apparatus and image processing method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly, to photographing at a high sensitivity by removing noise in a signal using noise signal information previously obtained and stored at the time of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion unit. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can be shortened.

In the days of film cameras, high sensitivity (ISO) film was used to shoot in low light conditions or to capture fast motion changes. However, in recent cameras in which imaging devices (image sensors) such as CCD and CMOS have replaced film, the ISO setting of the camera may be changed.

However, changing the ISO setting of the digital camera to high sensitivity means amplifying the signal of the image sensor to increase the sensitivity of the sensor itself. As with all electrical circuits, the signal from the image sensor contains noise (noise), an unwanted signal. In digital images, noise appears in the form of particles, dots, or lines with the wrong color.

At low ISO settings, the amount of noise is relatively small for the signal produced by the image sensor. Because of this, the noise of the image sensor does not significantly affect the quality of the photographing result. At higher ISO settings, the camera's image sensor must amplify weaker signals, but the camera can't tell which signal is the noise and which one is the desired signal. As a result, the noise is also greatly amplified at high ISO settings, and a lot of noise can be found in the shooting result. The relationship between such a signal (a signal containing actual image information) and noise (undesired false information) is known as a signal to noise ratio (S / N ratio), and the higher the signal-to-noise ratio, the more noise in the picture. May decrease.

As described above, in the digital camera, various methods have been devised to reduce noise generated when shooting with high ISO setting.

As an example of a conventional technique for reducing noise, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-125155 discloses a noise-acquisition photographing and a photographing subject performed in a state where shading is performed so that external light does not enter the image sensor during photographing. After photographing two times with this photographing, a technique of removing noise obtained through photographing for noise acquisition from an image obtained by the photographing has been disclosed.

1 is a signal graph illustrating an example of an operation for removing noise in a conventional image processing apparatus.

In the conventional image processing apparatus using a method of removing noise after performing shooting twice, there is a disadvantage in that the shooting time is long. FIG. 1 takes about 1.7 seconds for the first shot, and 1.7 seconds for the second shot. Because of this, it takes twice as long to remove noise after shooting.

In recent years, the number of pixels of an image sensor used in a digital camera has sharply increased. However, if a user shoots twice in a conventional manner, it takes more than twice as much as taking a single shot. There was a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method in which noise (noise) generated even when shooting with high sensitivity is effectively removed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method in which a time required for removing noise (noise) generated when shooting with high sensitivity is greatly shortened.

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for removing noise in a signal by using noise signal information previously acquired and stored at the time of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion unit when photographing with high sensitivity.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of pixels for converting image light into an electrical signal, and converting and outputting the image light into an image signal, and a photoelectric conversion unit by changing the intensity of an electrical signal of the pixels. A sensitivity controller configured to set an operating imaging sensitivity, and a noise storage unit storing noise signal information regarding a noise signal included in an electrical signal of the pixels corresponding to the imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity controller so that the photoelectric conversion unit performs the imaging operation And a noise correction unit for subtracting a noise signal corresponding to the imaging sensitivity when the photoelectric conversion unit generates the image signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit.

In the present invention, the noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit may change the electrical signal of the pixels so as to correspond to each imaging sensitivity in a state in which light incident on the pixels is blocked at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric conversion unit, thereby changing the electrical signal of the photoelectric conversion unit. It may include a black image picture signal obtained from.

In the present invention, the noise correction unit can subtract the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit when the imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity control unit falls within a predetermined range.

In the present invention, the noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit may include temperature information of the photoelectric conversion unit detected when the black image image signal is obtained.

In the present invention, the image processing apparatus may further include a temperature sensing unit for sensing the temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit, the noise correction unit, the noise storage unit in response to the imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity control unit temperature detected by the temperature sensing unit The noise signal can be subtracted from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion section when it is within a predetermined range of the temperature information stored in the.

An image processing method according to the present invention includes a sensitivity setting step of setting an imaging sensitivity at which a photoelectric conversion unit operates by changing an intensity of an electrical signal of pixels in a photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of pixels for converting image light into an electrical signal; And an imaging signal for driving the photoelectric conversion unit to convert the image light into an image signal and outputting the image signal, and the noise signal information previously stored about the noise signal included in the electrical signal of the pixels corresponding to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit performs the imaging operation. And a noise correction step of subtracting the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit.

In the image processing apparatus and image processing method of the present invention as described above, noise (noise) generated when shooting with high sensitivity can be effectively removed. In addition, since the noise removing process is performed by using the noise signal information previously acquired and stored at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric conversion unit, the additional time for removing the noise may not be required and the shooting time may be shortened.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating each component of an image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a photoelectric converter 20 including a plurality of pixels 21 and a sensitivity controller 32 for setting an imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric converter 20 operates. And a noise storage unit 40 for storing information about the noise signal included in the electrical signal of the pixels 21 in response to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 20 operates, and the photoelectric conversion unit 20 of the noise storage unit 20. And a noise correction unit 50 for subtracting the noise signal from the image signal.

The photoelectric converter 20 converts the image light incident through the optical system 10 into an image signal. As the photoelectric conversion unit 20, an imaging device capable of performing a photoelectric conversion function such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) may be used. The photoelectric converter 20 includes a plurality of pixels 21 arranged in a matrix to convert image light into an electrical signal, and convert the image light incident through the optical system 10 into an image signal as an electrical signal. To convert.

The photoelectric converter 20 may be controlled by the photographing controller 30 to perform an imaging operation of converting and outputting image light into an image signal. The photographing control unit 30 changes the intensity of an electric signal of the driver 31 driving the pixels 21 of the photoelectric converter 20 and the pixels 21 to operate the photoelectric converter 20. The sensitivity control part 32 which sets the imaging sensitivity to do is provided.

The analog-to-digital converter (A / D converter) 25 performs a function of converting the image signal generated by the photoelectric converter 20 into a digital signal. The analog image signal Ao output from the photoelectric conversion unit 20 by the A / D converter 25 is converted into a digital image signal Do.

The noise storage unit 40 functions to store noise signal information regarding noise signals included in the electrical signals of the pixels 21 in response to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 20 performs the imaging operation. The noise storage unit 40 may store noise signal information stored at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric converter 20 in advance.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an operation state of storing noise signal information corresponding to imaging sensitivity in a noise storage unit in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, the black image image signal Db obtained from the photoelectric converter 20 is stored in the noise storage unit 40 in a state where light incident on the photoelectric converter 20 is blocked. The black image image signal Db is obtained by changing the electrical signals of the pixels 21 to correspond to the respective stages of the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion section 20.

Conventionally, in order to remove noise generated in an image pickup device during high ISO shooting, a frame subtraction is performed on an image signal of the image pickup device without considering temperature in a frame obtained by shielding the image pickup device in a light shielding state. . However, according to this conventional method, there is a problem that the noise removing effect is not clear because the temperature is not considered.

Therefore, the black image image signal Db stored in the noise storage unit 40 may include temperature information of the photoelectric conversion unit 20. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensor 15 is disposed in the photoelectric conversion unit 20. The reason why temperature information is included in the black image image signal Db is that noise generated in the image pickup device during high-sensitivity ISO imaging is closely related to temperature.

Examples of reference information when the black image image signal is stored in the noise storage unit 40 include 45 ° C at ISO 1600 (shooting sensitivity), 50 ° C at ISO 1600, 55 ° C at ISO 1600, and 60 ° C at ISO 1600. , ISO 3200 to 45 ° C., ISO 3200 to 50 ° C., ISO 3200 to 55 ° C., and ISO 3200 to 60 ° C. As described above, since the temperature information is stored in the noise storage unit 40 together with information on the noise signal included in the electrical signals of the pixels at high sensitivity, the noise canceling effect of the noise correction unit 50 to be described below is improved. Can be.

Referring to FIG. 2, the noise compensator 50 performs a function of subtracting the noise signal Db of the noise storage unit 40 from the image signal Do of the photoelectric converter 20. The noise correction unit 50 may include a correction determination unit 51 that determines whether to correct the correction, and a subtractor 52 that performs a subtraction process of the signal. The subtractor 52 performs a subtraction process by matching the noise signal Db corresponding to the imaging sensitivity when the photoelectric conversion unit 20 generates the image signal Do.

The correction determination unit 51 functions to determine whether the current imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 20 performs the imaging operation requires noise removal. In the image processing apparatus, the correction determination unit 51 is set in advance so that the noise correction unit 50 does not perform the noise removal process for the range of the imaging sensitivity in which noise is less likely to occur based on the characteristics of the photoelectric conversion unit 20. Can be set.

When the correction determining unit 51 determines whether noise reduction is required, the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 performing the imaging operation may be taken into consideration. To this end, the image processing apparatus may include a temperature sensor 15 that detects a temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20. The temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 sensed by the temperature sensor 15 is input to the correction determining unit 51, and the sensitivity control signal of the sensitivity control unit 32 which sets the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 is also shown. It is input to the correction determination part 51.

The correction determining unit 51 needs to remove noise when the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 is within a predetermined range of temperature information of the noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit 40 in response to the image pickup sensitivity currently set. It can be determined that there is. Therefore, even if the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 20 is currently operated is a high sensitivity region requiring noise removal, the correction determination unit 51 may reduce the noise if the temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 does not correspond to a range causing noise. It may also be determined that no processing for removing is necessary.

In addition, when the correction determination unit 51 determines that the operating temperature and the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 need noise reduction, the imaging sensitivity and the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 20 from the noise storage unit 40. By subtracting the noise signal Db corresponding to the subtractor 52, the subtractor 52 can perform the subtraction process.

When the noise canceling process for the image signal Do is completed by the noise correcting unit 50, the signal Dn from which the noise is removed is output. The signal processor 75 may perform image processing on the signal Dn from which the noise is removed. For example, the signal processor 75 may perform detailed steps such as signal processing such as pixel defect correction, gain correction, white balance correction, and gamma correction on the digital signal.

4 is a flowchart illustrating steps of an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image processing method shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a sensitivity setting step (S100) of setting an imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit operates, an imaging step (S110) of driving the photoelectric conversion unit to perform imaging, and an image sensitivity in the image signal. And a noise correction step (S130) of subtracting the prestored noise signal. The image processing method may further include a correction determination step S120 of determining whether noise correction is necessary.

The sensitivity setting step S100 is a step of setting the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit operates. The photoelectric conversion unit is an imaging device including a plurality of pixels that convert incident image light such as a CCD or a CMOS into an electric signal. In the sensitivity setting step S100, the imaging sensitivity is set by changing the intensity of the electric signals of the pixels.

The imaging step S110 is a step of converting image light into an image signal by driving the photoelectric conversion unit with the imaging sensitivity set in the sensitivity setting step S100 to output the image signal.

The noise correction step S130 is a step of subtracting a noise signal from an image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit by using noise signal information corresponding to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit performs the imaging operation. The noise signal information is information stored in advance at the time of manufacture of the photoelectric converter, and is a black image image obtained from the photoelectric converter by changing an electric signal of the pixels so as to correspond to respective imaging sensitivity while blocking light incident on the pixels. Information containing a signal.

When using a noise signal stored in advance when shooting with high sensitivity in a state where light is blocked in this way, it is possible to obtain an effect of shortening the shooting time since it is not necessary to perform shooting to acquire a noise signal when actually shooting. .

The noise correction step S130 may be executed by the determination result of the correction determination step S120. The correction determination step S120 serves to determine whether the current imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit performs the imaging operation requires noise reduction. Therefore, based on the characteristics of the photoelectric conversion unit, it is determined that the noise removal is not necessary in the correction determination step (S120), and thus branches to step S140 without performing the noise removal process for the range of the imaging sensitivity in which the noise is less likely to occur. have.

When determining whether to eliminate the noise in the correction determination step (S120), the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit performing the imaging operation may be considered. To this end, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the photoelectric converter may be used.

In the correction determination step (S120), when the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit is within a predetermined range of temperature information of the noise signal information stored in advance corresponding to the currently set imaging sensitivity, it may be determined that the noise needs to be removed. Therefore, in the correction determination step (S120), even if the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit is currently operated is a high sensitivity region requiring noise removal, if the temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit does not correspond to the range in which the noise is generated, no noise removing process is required. You can also judge.

In addition, when it is determined in operation S12 that the operating temperature and the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion section need to remove noise, a noise signal corresponding to the imaging sensitivity and the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion section is read and subtracted from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion section. A subtraction process can be performed.

5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a concept of removing noise by the image processing method of FIG. 4.

In the case of setting the high sensitivity imaging sensitivity in the sensitivity setting step S100, the image 91 represented by the image signal generated by the photoelectric conversion unit performing the imaging operation in the imaging step S110 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The noise 92 caused by the characteristic is shown.

In the noise correction step S130, a subtraction process of subtracting the noise signal of the black image 95 by the prestored noise signal information from the image signal is performed. As a result, as shown in FIG. Clear image 98 can be obtained.

When the noise canceling process for the image signal is completed by the noise correction step S130, a signal processing step S140 for performing image processing on the signal from which the noise is removed may be performed in the signal processing step S140. For example, in the signal processing step S140, detailed steps, such as signal processing such as pixel defect correction, gain correction, white balance correction, and gamma correction, may be performed on the digital signal.

6 is a graph illustrating a time required for image processing in the image processing method of FIG. 4.

Conventionally, two shots have been performed for acquiring noise information that is performed in a state where shading is prevented so that external light does not enter the image sensor during shooting and a main shot for photographing a subject. There was a problem that takes twice as much time.

However, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the noise removing process is performed by using the noise signal information previously acquired and stored at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric conversion unit, thereby additional processing. It does not take time. Referring to the graph shown in Fig. 6, the noise elimination effect can be obtained even with a short time of 1.7 seconds when one shooting is performed, so that the shooting time is greatly reduced.

7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating each component of an image processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The image processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a photoelectric converter 120 including a plurality of pixels 121 and a sensitivity controller 132 for setting an imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric converter 120 operates. And a noise storage unit 140 for storing information about the noise signal included in the electrical signal of the pixels 121 in response to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 120 operates, and the photoelectric conversion unit 120 of the noise storage unit 120. The noise correction unit 150 subtracts the noise signal from the image signal.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the photoelectric conversion unit 120, the noise storage unit 140, and the noise correction unit 150 implement one imaging device 100 for converting image light into an image signal. Due to such a configuration, the image pickup apparatus 100 may perform a noise removing process on the image signal So of the photoelectric converter 120, for example, without having to convert the analog signal into a digital signal. For this configuration, the noise storage unit 140 and the noise correction unit 150 may be implemented as a semiconductor chip or a circuit electrically connected to the photoelectric converter 120.

The photoelectric converter 120 performs a function of converting image light incident through the optical system 10 into an image signal. As the photoelectric converter 120, an image pickup device capable of performing a photoelectric conversion function such as a CCD or a CMOS may be used. The photoelectric converter 120 includes a plurality of pixels 21 capable of converting image light into an electrical signal, and converts the image light incident through the optical system 10 into an image signal which is an electrical signal.

The photoelectric converter 120 may be controlled by the photographing controller 130 to perform an imaging operation of converting and outputting image light into an image signal. The photographing controller 130 operates the driver 131 for driving the respective pixels 121 of the photoelectric converter 120 and the photoelectric converter 120 operates by changing the intensity of the electric signals of the pixels 121. And a sensitivity control unit 132 for setting the imaging sensitivity.

The image signal So output from the photoelectric converter 120 is processed as a signal Sn from which the noise signal is removed through the noise processor 110. The noise processing unit 110 includes a noise storage unit 140 and a noise correction unit 150.

The noise storage unit 140 stores noise signal information regarding noise signals included in the electrical signals of the pixels 121 in response to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 120 performs the imaging operation. The noise storage unit 140 may store noise signal information stored at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric converter 120 in advance. The noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit 140 may include temperature information of the photoelectric converter 120. The reason why temperature information is included in the noise signal information is that noise generated during high ISO speed imaging is closely related to temperature.

The noise corrector 150 removes the noise signal from the image signal So of the photoelectric converter 120. Removal of the noise signal may be performed by, for example, a subtraction process. When the noise corrector 150 determines whether noise cancellation is required, the operating temperature of the photoelectric converter 120 performing the imaging operation may be considered. To this end, the image processing apparatus may include a temperature sensor 115 that detects a temperature of the photoelectric converter 120. The temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 sensed by the temperature sensor 115 is input to the noise correction unit 150, and the sensitivity control signal of the sensitivity control unit 132 which sets the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 is also included. It is input to the noise corrector 150.

The noise correction unit 150 may remove noise when the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 is within a predetermined range of temperature information of the noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit 140 in response to the currently set imaging sensitivity. have. Therefore, even when the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit 120 is currently operated is a high sensitivity region requiring noise removal, the noise correction unit 150 may reduce the noise if the temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 does not correspond to a range causing noise. It may not be performed to remove the process.

In addition, when the operating temperature and the imaging sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 require noise removal, the noise correction unit 150 corresponds to the imaging sensitivity and the operating temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit 120 from the noise storage unit 140. The noise signal can be read and subtracted. When the noise canceling process for the image signal So is completed by the noise corrector 150, the signal Sn from which the noise is removed is output.

According to the image processing apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, since the noise removing process is performed by using the noise signal information previously obtained and stored at the time of manufacturing the photoelectric conversion unit, additional processing time is not required and the shooting time is shortened. Can be.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, these are merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the appended claims.

1 is a signal graph illustrating an example of an operation for removing noise in a conventional image processing apparatus.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating each component of an image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an operation state of storing noise signal information corresponding to imaging sensitivity in a noise storage unit in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

4 is a flowchart illustrating steps of an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a concept of removing noise by the image processing method of FIG. 4.

6 is a graph illustrating a time required for image processing in the image processing method of FIG. 4.

7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating each component of an image processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: optical system 51: correction determination unit

15, 115: temperature sensor 52: subtractor

20, 120: photoelectric conversion unit 75: signal processing unit

21, 121 pixels 91

25: A / D converter 92: Noise

30, 130: shooting control part 95: black image

31, 131: drive portion 98: clean image

32, 132: sensitivity controller 100: imaging device

40 and 140: noise storage unit 110: noise processing unit

50, 150: noise compensator

Claims (10)

A photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of pixels for converting the image light into an electric signal, and converting the image light into an image signal and outputting the image signal; A sensitivity controller configured to set an imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit operates by changing an intensity of an electrical signal of the pixels; A noise storage unit for storing noise signal information about a noise signal included in an electrical signal of the pixels, in response to an imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity controller so that the photoelectric conversion unit performs an imaging operation; And And a noise correction unit for subtracting the noise signal corresponding to the imaging sensitivity when the photoelectric conversion unit generates the image signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit. The method of claim 1, The noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit may change the electrical signal of the pixels so as to correspond to the respective imaging sensitivitys in a state in which light incident on the pixels is blocked when the photoelectric conversion unit is manufactured. And a black image image signal obtained from a converter. The method of claim 2, And the noise correction unit subtracts the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit when the imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity control unit falls within a predetermined range. The method of claim 3, The noise signal information stored in the noise storage unit includes temperature information of the photoelectric conversion unit detected when the black image image signal is obtained. The method of claim 4, wherein The image processing apparatus may further include a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the photoelectric converter, and the noise corrector may include a noise detector configured to correspond to an imaging sensitivity at which a temperature detected by the temperature detector is set by the sensitivity controller. And subtracting the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion section when within the predetermined range of the stored temperature information. A sensitivity setting step of setting an imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit operates by changing an intensity of an electrical signal of the pixels in the photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of pixels for converting image light into an electrical signal; An imaging step of driving the photoelectric conversion unit to convert the image light into an image signal and output the image signal; And A noise correction step of subtracting the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion unit by using the noise signal information stored in advance for the noise signal included in the electrical signal of the pixels in response to the imaging sensitivity at which the photoelectric conversion unit performs the imaging operation It includes; Image processing method. The method of claim 6, The noise signal information is obtained from the photoelectric conversion unit by changing an electrical signal of the pixels to correspond to the respective imaging sensitivity in a state in which light incident on the pixels is blocked when the photoelectric conversion unit is manufactured. An image processing method comprising an image signal. The method of claim 7, wherein And the noise correction step subtracts the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion section when the imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity setting step falls within a predetermined range. The method of claim 8, And the noise signal information includes temperature information of the photoelectric conversion section detected when the black image image signal is obtained. 10. The method of claim 9, The image processing method may further include a temperature sensing step of sensing a temperature of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the noise correction step may include the temperature detected by the temperature sensing step corresponding to an imaging sensitivity set by the sensitivity setting step. And subtracting the noise signal from the image signal of the photoelectric conversion section when within the predetermined range of the temperature information included in the noise signal information.

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