Image pickup apparatus and fingerprint recognition apparatus

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus is provided which performs correction of shading without performing correction of an image signal with a complicated algorithm or a large-scale correction circuit. The image pickup apparatus includes light irradiation unit that irradiates light on an object of image pickup and an image pickup element that receives reflected light or transmitted light from the object of image pickup to generate an electric signal corresponding to an amount of received light, in which a light receiving condition of a pixel of the image pickup element is changed such that shading of a signal from the image pickup element is corrected. The light receiving condition is changed by changing areas of opening portions of pixels 10 - 1 to 10 - 5 of the image pickup element, a shape of a lens provided on the opening parts, or an impurity concentration in a photoelectric conversion region of the image pickup element, or changing storage time, storing being performed through driving of the image pickup element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image-pickup apparatus comprising: 
 light irradiation means that irradiates light on an object of image pickup; and    an image pickup element that receives reflected light or transmitted light from the object of image pickup to generate an electric signal corresponding to an amount of received light,    wherein a light receiving condition of a pixel of the image pickup element is changed such that shading of a signal from the image pickup element is corrected.    
     
     
         2 . An image pickup apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the light receiving condition is determined by a pixel structure of the image pickup element.    
     
     
         3 . An image pickup apparatus according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the condition determined by the pixel structure is determined by an area of an opening portion or a shape of a lens provided on the opening portion.    
     
     
         4 . An image pickup apparatus according to claim  1 , 
 wherein the light receiving condition is a storage time during a driving of the image pickup element.    
     
     
         5 . An image pickup apparatus according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the storage time is controlled by controlling the image pickup element with an electronic shutter.    
     
     
         6 . An image pickup apparatus according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the storage time is controlled for each horizontal line of the image pickup element.    
     
     
         7 . A fingerprint recognition apparatus comprising an image pickup apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  as fingerprint image input means.