Information terminal

• US 20060101080A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Atsumi, Eiji, Shin, Kazunobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/046 Colour interpolation to calculate the missing colour values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

An information terminal that can perform image processing in consonance with the use state and the use purpose. When a retrial module is started, removal means removes part or all of the interpolation processing performed for a Bayer-type module. Thereafter, data obtained by the removal are transmitted to color interpolation means, another color interpolation process is performed for the data, and the resultant data are transmitted to image quality correction means. The image quality correction means performs another image quality correction process for the data, and transmits the obtained data to JPEG encoding means.

Claims

1. An information terminal, including data operation processing means for performing operation processing for input image data and preparing output image data, characterized by comprising:

removal means, for removing, from the output image data, part or all of the steps of an operational processing sequence performed for the input image data; and

data processing means, for performing other operational processing steps for data obtained by the removal means and for preparing output image data.

2. An information terminal according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a camera module including a lens, an image sensor and a camera DSP, and characterized in that:

the camera DSP includes color correction means, gamma correction means, color interpolation means and image quality correction means;

the camera module produces the input image data; and

the removal means removes an interpolation process by performing an intermittent process for pixels that are interpolated by the color correction means of the camera DSP, minimizes affects due to a color correction process and an image quality correction process that are performed by the camera DSP, and again performs an arbitrary color interpolation process and an arbitrary image quality correction process.

3. An information terminal according to 2, characterized in that the removal means identifies an arrangement pattern for color filters that are laid on the image sensor, and separates color elements of pixels generated during the interpolation process from color elements of pixels used to produce those color elements, and selectively performs an intermittent process for the color elements of the pixels generated during the interpolation process.

4. A data processing method, including a step of obtaining image data, a step of performing an interpolation process for the image data thus obtained, and a step of outputting the image data resulting from the interpolation process, characterized by comprising the steps of:

removing the interpolation process from the image data resulting from the interpolation process; and

performing another interpolation process for data obtained after the interpolation process has been removed.

5. An information terminal characterized by comprising:

a camera module, having an image sensor, for digitizing and using a signal output by the image sensor to prepare first Bayer-type data, and for employing the first Bayer-type data to prepare first image data, using a first algorithm, and transmitting the first image data; and

a host module, having a main storage device, for receiving the first image data obtained by the camera module and storing the received first image data in the main storage device, for reading the first image data from the main storage device and extracting second Bayer-type data from the first image data that have been read, and for employing the second Bayer-type data to prepare second image data using a second algorithm.

6. An information terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the first image data and the second image data have an RGB form or a YUV form.

7. An information terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the first image data provided is compressed.

8. An information terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the host module includes a data output unit for outputting data to a printer, so that the second image data are output to the printer through the data output unit.