Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a structure index calculation unit that calculates a structure index that is an index of magnitude of variation of a pixel value in a predetermined range around a target pixel of an input image, with respect to each target pixel; a high frequency component extraction unit that extracts a high frequency structure index that is a high frequency component of the structure index; a smoothing unit that calculates a smoothed structure index obtained by smoothing the structure index, with respect to the each target pixel; a flatness index calculation unit that calculates a synthesis index obtained by synthesizing the smoothed structure index and the high frequency structure index, as a flatness index of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit that performs a noise reduction process of the target pixel in accordance with the flatness index.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a structure index calculation unit that calculates a structure index that is an index of magnitude of variation of a pixel value in a predetermined range around a target pixel of an input image, with respect to each target pixel; a high frequency component extraction unit that extracts a high frequency structure index that is a high frequency component of the structure index; a smoothing unit that calculates a smoothed structure index obtained by smoothing the structure index, with respect to the each target pixel; a flatness index calculation unit that calculates a synthesis index obtained by synthesizing the smoothed structure index and the high frequency structure index, as a flatness index of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit that performs a noise reduction process of the target pixel in accordance with the flatness index.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a histogram calculating section, a tone curve determining section and a tone curve applying section that perform different tone corrections on pixels at different positions in a color image and a false contour detecting section that calculates the degree of false contour occurrence for the color image based on the difference in signal saturation level between color signals. Based on the result of the calculation by the false contour detecting section, the tone curve determining section controls the tone correction characteristics to make a false contour less prominent.

Abstract: In a high precision image processor and image processing program, an output of a one-chip Bayer array CCD is A/D converted and noise reduced, and then entered in a G interpolation circuit which comprises interpolation circuit B which implements interpolation processing of a less resolving power but does not reflect on the result of interpolation an apparent sensitivity difference occurring at a pixel value of a G pixel of the one-chip CCD, and interpolation circuit A which implements interpolation processing of an improved resolving power but reflects an apparent sensitivity difference on the result of interpolation. G interpolation circuit estimates a sensitivity difference at a pixel of interest and combines outputs of interpolation circuits A and B such that for a large sensitivity difference, the output of circuit B is used more, and for a small sensitivity difference, the output of circuit A is used more.

Abstract: An object is to provide an image processor for improving the preservability in an edge portion while effectively removing isolated points.

Abstract: The object is to enable picture compositing having a balanced and uniform appearance over the whole image even when performing space-variant image-signal processing. Provided is an image-signal processing apparatus for performing image-signal processing on an input image signal, the image-signal processing apparatus comprising a first signal processing unit for performing first signal processing on the input image signal; a correction-coefficient calculating unit for calculating a first correction coefficient on the basis of the image signal after being subjected to the first signal processing by the first signal processing unit; and a second signal processing unit for performing second signal processing on the input image signal using the first correction coefficient.

Abstract: The digital camera (100) has an image processor that corrects an input image for a spatial frequency band. The edge enhancement block (106) computes an edge component for band correction. A signal interpolated at color interpolation block (107) to make compensation for a color component missing from each pixel of a single-chip image is then converted at YC transform block (108) into a luminance signal and a color difference signal after tone correction, the luminance and color signals sent out to YC synthesis block (110) and color saturation correction block (109), respectively. Then, the color saturation correction block (109) controls the color saturation of the color difference signal to send it out to YC synthesis block (110). At the same time, the edge component computed at edge enhancement block (106) is sent out to YC synthesis block (110), too.

Abstract: The digital camera (100) has an image processor that corrects an input image for a spatial frequency band. The edge enhancement block (106) computes an edge component for band correction. A signal interpolated at color interpolation block (107) to make compensation for a color component missing from each pixel of a single-chip image is then converted at YC transform block (108) into a luminance signal and a color difference signal after tone correction, the luminance and color signals sent out to YC synthesis block (110) and color saturation correction block (109), respectively. Then, the color saturation correction block (109) controls the color saturation of the color difference signal to send it out to YC synthesis block (110). At the same time, the edge component computed at edge enhancement block (106) is sent out to YC synthesis block (110), too.

Abstract: An object is to provide an image processor for improving the preservability in an edge portion while effectively removing isolated points.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a histogram calculating section, a tone curve determining section and a tone curve applying section that perform different tone corrections on pixels at different positions in a color image and a false contour detecting section that calculates the degree of false contour occurrence for the color image based on the difference in signal saturation level between color signals. Based on the result of the calculation by the false contour detecting section, the tone curve determining section controls the tone correction characteristics to make a false contour less prominent.

Abstract: The object is to enable picture compositing having a balanced and uniform appearance over the whole image even when performing space-variant image-signal processing. Provided is an image-signal processing apparatus for performing image-signal processing on an input image signal, the image-signal processing apparatus comprising a first signal processing unit for performing first signal processing on the input image signal; a correction-coefficient calculating unit for calculating a first correction coefficient on the basis of the image signal after being subjected to the first signal processing by the first signal processing unit; and a second signal processing unit for performing second signal processing on the input image signal using the first correction coefficient.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus inputs an image obtained by sensing an optical image by an image sensing system, compensates an omitted color component, and outputs a color image. A weight setting unit sets a weight Wk in each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) of a plurality of directions S1, S2, . . . , Sn (n is an integer of not less than 1) starting from a pixel of interest in a predetermined neighborhood of the pixel of interest. An average value calculation unit calculates a weighted average of pixel values Vk of pixels having a specific color component and located on each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) in the predetermined neighborhood by using weights W1 to Wn of the pixel values V1 to Vn. An restoration unit causes the average calculation unit to calculate weighted averages of a plurality of types of color components and restores a value of an omitted color component of the pixel of interest on the basis of the weighted average result and the pixel value of the pixel of interest.

Abstract: The digital camera (100) has an image processor that corrects an input image for a spatial frequency band. The edge enhancement block (106) computes an edge component for band correction. A signal interpolated at color interpolation block (107) to make compensation for a color component missing from each pixel of a single-chip image is then converted at YC transform block (108) into a luminance signal and a color difference signal after tone correction, the luminance and color signals sent out to YC synthesis block (110) and color saturation correction block (109), respectively. Then, the color saturation correction block (109) controls the color saturation of the color difference signal to send it out to YC synthesis block (110). At the same time, the edge component computed at edge enhancement block (106) is sent out to YC synthesis block (110), too.

Abstract: The present invention is an image processing apparatus applied to a digital camera which includes a Bayer array CCD for producing and outputting an image lacking at least one type of color component per pixel by capturing an optical image focused by an optical system, a line correction circuit for correcting the difference in gain between lines on the image output from the CCD via a single-chip image buffer, and an interpolation circuit for producing color image data by interpolating a missing color component at each pixel of the single-chip image data output from the line correction circuit via a WB correction circuit based on information regarding neighborhood pixels.

Abstract: The invention is an image pickup apparatus comprising an LE-SE buffer for storing multiple images with different exposure amounts that have been taken with a CCD, an SL synthesizing circuit for performing Super Latitude (SL) processing for the multiple images to generate a synthesized image with a wide dynamic range, a suitability evaluating circuit for evaluating whether the photography scene is suitable for performing SL processing with the SL synthesizing circuit, an image quality evaluating circuit for comparing the synthesized image with the images before synthesizing and evaluating image quality, and a recording format selecting circuit for which of the multiple images before synthesizing and the synthesized image to be recorded by a recording circuit, based on the image quality evaluation results and operating input from a key input circuit.

Abstract: In a high precision image processor and image processing program, an output of a one-chip Bayer array CCD is A/D converted and noise reduced, and then entered in a G interpolation circuit which comprises interpolation circuit B which implements interpolation processing of a less resolving power but does not reflect on the result of interpolation an apparent sensitivity difference occurring at a pixel value of a G pixel of the one-chip CCD, and interpolation circuit A which implements interpolation processing of an improved resolving power but reflects an apparent sensitivity difference on the result of interpolation. G interpolation circuit estimates a difference at a pixel of interest and combines outputs of interpolation circuits A and B such that for a large sensitivity difference, the output of circuit B is used more, and for a small sensitivity difference, the output of circuit A is used more.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including: a single-chip image sensor with a color filter array and capable of intermittent readout operation in horizontal and vertical directions; an intermittence control means for controlling the intermittent readout operation of the image sensor; and an interpolation means for processing signals read out from the image sensor in a thinned out pattern designated by the intermittence control means to form a reduced image consisting of trichromatic components; wherein the intermittence control means reads signals at a plurality of locations on the image sensor correspondingly to each pixel of the reduced image and controls reading at that time so that there are two or more types of color filters at the readout locations and at least one type of the color filters thereof is common to all pixels of the reduced image and at least one type of the color filters is not common to all pixels of the reduced image; and the interpolation means supplements signals corresponding to the type of unrea

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first correction section configured to correct a component of an input color signal represented by a plurality of components including a lightness component, the component to be corrected being other than the lightness component, and a parameter setting section configured to set parameters of the first correction section depending on the lightness component of the input color signal. The image processing apparatus further comprises an adjusted value calculation section configured to calculate an adjusted value for determining the final degree of color correction depending on one of the input color signal and a correction result of the first correction section, and a second correction section configured to correct the input color signal based on the correction result of the first correction section, input color signal, and adjusted value of the adjusted value calculation section and output a final color correction result.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus 200 includes an image pickup means 220, a tone conversion means 250, and conversion characteristic determination means 260. The tone conversion means 250 applies tone conversion processing to image data that the image pickup means 220 for acquiring image data of a subject has acquired using tone conversion characteristic T? (v) differing depending on the pixel position. The conversion characteristic determination means 260 determines the tone conversion characteristic T? (v) depending on an image pickup condition that has been set in the image pickup means 220 for acquisition of the digital image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus inputs an image obtained by sensing an optical image by an image sensing system, compensates an omitted color component, and outputs a color image. A weight setting unit sets a weight Wk in each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) of a plurality of directions S1, S2, . . . , Sn (n is an integer of not less than 1) starting from a pixel of interest in a predetermined neighborhood of the pixel of interest. An average value calculation unit calculates a weighted average of pixel values Vk of pixels having a specific color component and located on each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) in the predetermined neighborhood by using weights W1 to Wn of the pixel values V1 to Vn. An restoration unit causes the average calculation unit to calculate weighted averages of a plurality of types of color components and restores a value of an omitted color component of the pixel of interest on the basis of the weighted average result and the pixel value of the pixel of interest.