Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and image processing program

• US 20050248655A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Wataru, Kitamura, Yoshiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/187
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction

Abstract

High frequency components are efficiently extracted from blurred images, and blur correction is efficiently performed. A blur analyzing means judges whether an image is a blurred image. If the image is judged to be a blurred image, blur data Q, which includes a blur width, is generated and transmitted to a blur correcting means. The blur correcting means extracts high frequency components from the image if the blur width is less than a predetermined threshold value, and performs blur correction by adding the high frequency components to the image. Meanwhile, if the blur width is greater than or equal to the threshold value, a reducing means reduces the size of the image to obtain a reduced image. Then, the blur correcting means extracts high frequency components from the reduced image, and performs blur correction by emphasizing and adding the extracted high frequency components to the reduced image.

Claims

1. An image processing method, for extracting high frequency components from digital photographic images, comprising the steps of:

obtaining the degree of blur within the digital photographic images;

obtaining reduced images, by reducing digital photographic images having a degree of blur greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and

extracting the high frequency components by employing the reduced images.

2. An image processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

blur correction is administered on the digital photographic images, employing the extracted high frequency components.

3. An image processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

blur correction is administered on the reduced images, employing the extracted high frequency components.

4. An image processing method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

reduction of the digital photographic images is performed such that greater reduction rates are employed as the degree of blur increases.

5. An image processing apparatus, for extracting high frequency components from digital photographic images, comprising:

blur degree obtaining means, for obtaining the degree of blur within the digital photographic images;

reducing means, for reducing digital photographic images having a degree of blur greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and

extracting means, for extracting the high frequency components by employing the reduced images.

6. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

correcting means, for administering blur correction on the digital photographic images, employing the high frequency components extracted by the extracting means.

7. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

correcting means, for administering blur correction on the reduced images, employing the high frequency components extracted by the extracting means.

8. A program that causes a computer to execute an image processing method for extracting high frequency components from a digital photographic image, comprising the procedures of:

obtaining the degree of blur within the digital photographic images;

obtaining reduced images, by reducing digital photographic images having a degree of blur greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and

extracting the high frequency components by employing the reduced images.

9. Aprogram as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

a procedure for administering blur correction on the digital photographic images, employing the extracted high frequency components.

10. A program as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

a procedure for administering blur correction on the reduced images, employing the extracted high frequency components.

11. A computer readable medium having the program defined in claim 8 recorded therein.

12. A computer readable medium having the program defined in claim 9 recorded therein.

13. A computer readable medium having the program defined in claim 10 recorded therein.