Image data forming apparatus and image data processing method capable of recording with a wide dynamic range

• US 6,809,761 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tamaru, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/599,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/218.1, 348/220.1, 348/221.1, 348/222.1, 348/231.99, 348/231.3, 348/231.6, 348/231.7, 348/254, 348/294, 348/296, 348/297, 348/239, 348/229.1, 348/230.1, 348/207.2, 348/333.01, 358/518, 358/519, 358/521
• US Class Current: 348/229.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors

Abstract

The image data forming apparatus and an image data processing method for recording image data on an image data recording medium in a wide dynamic range and reproducing a finished image from the image data. The apparatus separates a wide dynamic range image signal of an image, generated from a solid-state imaging device, into main data M suitable for forming the finished image and highlight data H having a higher range with the use of a range separator, associates the main data M with the highlight data H, and records them in an image recording memory. At this time, a main data processor performs gradation control and compression on the main data M. A highlight data processor performs gradation control and compression on the highlight data H as necessary. An image reproducer reads out the main data M and the highlight data H, associated with each other as one image, from the image recording memory and develops them on a common axis Q for composition. This restores the original dynamic range image signal and allows the image to be reproduced on a printer. From the main data M, the image is displayed on a video monitor as the finished image.

Claims

1. An image data forming apparatus comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a first image signal forming an image;

a range separator connected to said receiving circuit for separating the first image signal into a second and a third image signal, the second image signal corresponding to a first range of a dynamic range which the first image signal has and being suitable for forming a finished image of the first image signal, the third image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range; and

an output circuit connected to said range separator for associating the second image signal with the third image signal as the image and outputting the second and third image signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output circuit comprises a first processor for controlling a gradation of the second image signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first processor compresses and encodes the second image signal gradation-controlled.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said output circuit further comprises a second processor for controlling a gradation of the third image signal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second processor compresses and encodes the third image signal gradation-controlled.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said output circuit further comprises a second processor for compressing and encoding the third image signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output circuit comprises a recording memory for recording therein the second image signal and the third image signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving circuit comprises a solid-state imaging device for imaging a subject field as the image and generating an image signal representing the subject field as the first image signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said input circuit further comprises a signal processor for processing the first image signal according to characteristics of said solid-state imaging device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said input circuit further comprises a signal converter for converting the first image signal to digital data and developing the digital data to said range separator.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said solid-state imaging device generates the first image signal in a wide dynamic range.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said output circuit comprises a recording memory for recording therein the second and third image signals,

said first and second processors each recording the second and third image signals in said recording memory as a common file.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said second processor records the third image signal in a management area in said file.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said recording memory includes a memory card, said output circuit comprising a connector for removably connecting the memory card to said first and second processors.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said input circuit analyzes distribution of an intensity of the first image signal and, if there is a trough in the distribution, sets a threshold corresponding to the trough in said range separator, said range separator separating the range into the first and second ranges with the trough as a boundary.

16. An image reproducer comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a first image signal corresponding to a first range suitable for forming a finished image of an image and a second image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range with the first and second image signals associated with each other as the image;

a range combiner connected to said input circuit for developing and combining the first and second image signals on a common axis and for generating a third image signal having a dynamic range including the first and second ranges; and

an image output circuit for reproducing the image from the third image signal,

wherein the first image signal is a gradation-controlled signal, said receiving circuit comprising a first processor for inversely converting a gradation of the first image signal.

17. The image reproducer according to claim 16 wherein the first image signal is a compressed and coded signal, said first processor expanding the first image signal.

18. The image reproducer according to claim 16 wherein the second image signal is a gradation-controlled signal, said input circuit further comprising a second processor for inversely converting a gradation of the second image signal.

19. The image reproducer according to claim 18 wherein the second image signal is a compressed and coded signal, said second processor expanding the second image signal.

20. The image reproducer according to claim 16 wherein said input circuit comprises:

a recording memory for recording therein the first and second image signals associated with each other; and

a reading circuit reading out the first and second image signals from said recording memory, the first and second image signals being associated with each other as the image.

21. The image reproducer according to claim 16 further comprising a video display for receiving the first image signal and visualizing the image in the form of a finished image.

22. The image reproducer according to claim 16, wherein said image output circuit comprises a printer for receiving the third image signal and printing thereon the image.

23. The image reproducer according to claim 22 wherein said image output circuit cuts out a desired part of the dynamic range, and performs gradation control on the part cut out based on gradation characteristics of said printer.

24. An image recording system comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a first image signal forming an image;

a range separator connected to said input circuit for separating the first image signal into a second image signal and a third image signal, the second image signal corresponding to a first range of a dynamic range which the first image signal has and being suitable for forming a finished image of the first image signal, the third image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range;

a recording memory connected to said range separator for associating the second image signal with the third image signal as the image and recording therein the second and third image signals;

a reading circuit reading out the second and third image signals associated with each other as the image from said recording memory;

a range combiner connected to said reading circuit for developing and combining the second and third image signals on a common axis and for forming the first image signal having the dynamic range; and

an image output circuit connected to said range combiner for reproducing the image from the first image signal formed.

25. The system according to claim 24, further comprising a video display connected to said reading circuit for receiving the second image signal and visualizing the image in a form of finished image.

26. A method of processing image data comprising the steps of:

receiving a first image signal forming an image;

separating the first image signal into a second and a third image signal, the second image signal corresponding to a first range of a dynamic range which the first image signal has and being suitable for forming a finished image of the first image signal, the third image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range; and

associating the second image signal with the third image signal as the image and outputting the second and third image signals.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of recording the second and third image signals associated and output on a recording medium.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

reading out the second and third signals from the recording medium associated with each other as the image;

developing and combining the second and third image signals read out on a common axis and forming the first image signal having the dynamic range; and

reproducing the image from the first image signal formed.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

reading out the second image signal from the recording medium; and

visualizing the image in a form of finished image from the second image signal read out.

30. An image reproducer comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a first image signal corresponding to a first range suitable for forming a finished image of an image and a second image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range with the first and second image signals associated with each other as the image;

a range combiner connected to said input circuit for developing and combining the first and second image signals on a common axis and for generating a third image signal having a dynamic range including the first and second ranges;

an image output circuit for reproducing the image from the third image signal, and a video display for receiving the first image signal and visualizing the image in the form of finished image.

31. An image reproducer comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a first image signal corresponding to a first range suitable for forming a finished image of an image and a second image signal corresponding at least to a second range other than the first range with the first and second image signals associated with each other as the image;

a range combiner connected to said input circuit for developing and combining the first and second image signals on a common axis and for generating a third image signal having a dynamic range including the first and second ranges; and

an image output circuit for reproducing the image from the third image signal,

wherein said image output circuit comprises a printer for receiving the third image signal and printing thereon the image, and

wherein said image output circuit cuts out a desired part of the dynamic range, and performs gradation control on the part cut out based on gradation characteristics of said printer.