Image processing apparatus for correcting captured image

• US 7,796,169 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kitani, Kazunari
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, KENT F
• Application Number:
  US11/109,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 348/247, 348/246
• US Class Current: 348/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/683 by defect estimation performed on the scene signal, e.g. real time or on the fly detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/646 for image enhancement, e.g. vertical detail restoration, cross-colour elimination, contour correction, chrominance trapping filters

Abstract

An image processing apparatus selects a correction method of a defective pixel in accordance with the type of the defective pixel. The image processing apparatus includes an imaging device consisting of a plurality of pixels, a storage device for storing a captured image output from the imaging device, a first correction processing device for correcting a defective pixel in the captured image based on first corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device in accordance with input of a signal output from the defective pixel in the imaging device, and a second correction processing device for correcting the defective pixel in the captured image stored in the storage device based on second corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an imaging device comprising a plurality of pixels for outputting image data comprising signals output from the plurality of pixels;

an image recording device for recording image data output from the imaging device;

a defective information storing device for storing first defective pixel address information including information of an address for a first defective pixel, and second defective pixel address information including information of an address for a second defective pixel, wherein the first defective pixel does not have another adjacent defective pixel but the second defective pixel has another adjacent defective pixel;

a first correction processing device for correcting a first defective pixel included in the image data based on the first defective pixel address information which is stored in the defective information storing device before recording the image data in the image recording device; and

a second correction processing device for correcting a second defective pixel included in the image data corrected by the first correction processing device based on the second defective pixel address information which is stored in the defective information storing device before recording the image data in the image recording device.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first correction processing device and the second correction processing device selects a corrective data item by using at least one of shooting conditions and environmental conditions.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shooting conditions include at least one of a continuous shooting mode, a shutter speed, and an ISO speed.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first correction processing device operates at all times regardless of shooting conditions and environmental conditions.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shooting conditions include at least one of a continuous shooting mode, a shutter speed, and an ISO speed.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second correction processing device stops operating depending on at least one of shooting conditions and environmental conditions.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shooting conditions include at least one of a continuous shooting mode, a shutter speed, and an ISO speed.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lens for forming an image on the imaging device;

an analog-to-digital converter for analog-to-digital converting a signal from the imaging device; and

a storage control device for carrying out control to store a signal output from the analog-to-digital converter in the storage device.

12. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first correction processing device replaces data of the first defective pixel to be corrected with data output from a pixel having the same color as the first defective pixel, and

wherein the second correction processing device replaces data of the second defective pixel to be corrected with data output from a plurality of pixels having the same color as the second defective pixel.

13. An image processing method comprising:

outputting image data comprising signals output from a plurality of pixels;

correcting a first defective pixel included in the image data based on first defective pixel address information including information of an address for the first defective pixel which is stored in a defective information storing device, the first defective pixel not having another adjacent defective pixel;

recording the image data of which the first defective pixel is corrected in an image recording device; and

correcting a second defective pixel included in the image data recorded in the image recording device based on second defective pixel address information including information of an address for the second defective pixel which is stored in the defective information storing device, the second defective pixel having another adjacent defective pixel.