Image processing apparatus and method, and video camera
First Claim
1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
- image sensing means for outputting one input image signal;
amplifying means for amplifying said one input image signal so as to provide identical first and second image signals and amplifying at least one of the first and second image signals in conformity with a difference in brightness between a relatively bright area and a relatively dark area of an image represented by the one input image signal;
discriminating means for discriminating a boundary between the relatively bright area and the relatively dark area of the image; and
synthesizing means for producing a composite image signal using the first image signal obtained from said amplifying means with regard to the relatively bright area and the second image signal obtained from said amplifying means with regard to the relatively dark area, said relatively bright and dark areas being demarcated by the boundary discriminated by said discriminating means.
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Abstract
A suitable image signal is obtained even with regard to a subject exhibiting a very large difference in luminance between bright and dark areas. A video signal obtained from a CCD by imaging the subject is amplified by a first amplifier, converted into digital image data A by a first A/D converter and then stored in a first memory. The video signal from the CCD is also amplified by first and second amplifiers, converted into image data B by a second A/D converter and then stored in a second memory. The amplification factor of the first second amplifier is set such that a comparatively dark area of the image of the subject will assume a level having an appropriate brightness. A multiplexer selects data representing a comparatively bright area of the image of the subject from image data read out of the first memory as well as data representing a comparatively dark area of the image of the subject from image data read out of the second memory. The selected items of data are combined (by inlay synthesis) to obtain image data representing an image exhibiting overall brightness.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
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image sensing means for outputting one input image signal; amplifying means for amplifying said one input image signal so as to provide identical first and second image signals and amplifying at least one of the first and second image signals in conformity with a difference in brightness between a relatively bright area and a relatively dark area of an image represented by the one input image signal; discriminating means for discriminating a boundary between the relatively bright area and the relatively dark area of the image; and synthesizing means for producing a composite image signal using the first image signal obtained from said amplifying means with regard to the relatively bright area and the second image signal obtained from said amplifying means with regard to the relatively dark area, said relatively bright and dark areas being demarcated by the boundary discriminated by said discriminating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A still-video camera comprising:
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image pick-up means, which includes a solid-state electronic image sensing device, for outputting a video signal, which represents an image obtained by imaging a subject, from said solid-state electronic image sensing device; first amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a first amplification factor suited to a comparatively bright area of the image, and outputting a first video signal obtained by said first amplification factor; second amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a second amplification factor greater than the first amplification factor and suited to a comparatively dark area of the image, and outputting a second video signal obtained by said second amplification factor; first A/D converting means for converting the first video signal into first digital image data corresponding to said first video signal; second A/D converting means for converting the second video signal into second digital image data corresponding to said second video signal; discriminating means for discriminating a boundary between the comparatively bright area and the comparatively dark area of the image based upon the first digital image data or the second digital image data; and synthesizing means for producing composite image data using the first digital image data obtained from said first A/D converting means with regard to the comparatively bright area and the second digital image data obtained from said second A/D converting means with regard to the comparatively dark area, said comparatively bright and dark areas being demarcated by the boundary discriminated by said discriminating means.
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15. A still video camera comprising:
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image pick-up means, which includes a solid-state electronic image sensing device, for outputting a video signal, which represents an image obtained by imaging a subject, from said solid-state electronic image sensing device; first amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a first amplification factor suited to a comparatively bright area of the image, and outputting a first video signal obtained by said first amplification factor; second amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a second amplification factor greater than the first amplification factor and suited to a comparatively dark area of the image, and outputting a second video signal obtained by said second amplification factor; comparison means for comparing the first video signal with a prescribed threshold level and generating an output when the level of the first video signal exceeds said prescribed threshold level; and a multiplexer, to which the first and second video signals are entered, for normally selecting and outputting the second video signal and selecting and outputting the first video signal when an output of said comparator is applied thereto.
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16. An image processing apparatus for a still-video camera including image sensing means for outputting one input image signal, comprising:
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amplifying means for producing identical first and second image signals from one input image signal and amplifying at least one of said first and second image signals in conformity with a difference in brightness between a relatively bright area and a relatively dark area of an image represented by the one input image signal; and synthesizing means for combining the first image signal and the second image signal, which are obtained from said amplifying means, by adding said first and second image signals at a prescribed ratio. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A digital still video camera comprising:
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image pick-up means, which includes a solid-state electronic image sensing device, for outputting a video signal, which represents an image obtained by imaging a subject, from said solid-state electronic image sensing device; first amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a first amplification factor suited to a comparatively bright area of the image, and outputting a first video signal obtained by said first amplification factor; second amplifier means for amplifying the video signal, which is outputted by said image pick-up means, at a second amplification factor greater than the first amplification factor and suited to a comparatively dark area of the image, and outputting a second video signal obtained by said second amplification factor; first A/D converting means for converting the first video signal into first digital image data corresponding to said first video signal; second A/D converting means for converting the second video signal into second digital image data corresponding to said second video signal; and synthesizing means for combining the first digital image data and the second digital image data by adding the first and second digital image data at a prescribed ratio.
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23. An image processing method comprising the steps of:
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producing identical first and second image signals from one input image signal; amplifying at least one of the first and second image signals in conformity with a difference in brightness between a relatively bright area and a relatively dark area of an image represented by the one input image signal; finding a boundary between the relatively bright area and the relatively dark area of the image; and producing a composite image signal using the first image signal with regard to the relatively bright area and the second image signal with regard to the relatively dark area, said relatively bright and dark areas being demarcated by the boundary found.
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24. An image processing method for a still-video camera comprising the steps of:
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producing identical first and second image signals from one input image signal; amplifying at least one of the first and second image signals in conformity with a difference in brightness between a relatively bright area and a relatively dark area of an image represented by the one input image signal; and combining the first image signal and the second image signal at a prescribed ratio.
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Specification