US Patent 7310434 Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus for processing a subject image signal obtained from a sensor has a first shading data generator, a second shading data generator, and a removal unit. The first shading data generator generates shading data from image signals obtained from at least two portions within the image signal obtained from the sensor. The second shading data generator generates shading data for the remaining portion of the sensor based on the shading data generated by the first shading data generator. The removal unit removes the shading data generated by the second shading data generator from the subject image signal of the remaining portion of the sensor.