Image combining device and imaging apparatus
First Claim
1. An image combining device comprising:
- a motion vector calculating portion which calculates a motion vector between different divided exposure images of a plurality of divided exposure images obtained as a result of continuous shooting,wherein the image combining device positions the divided exposure images based on the motion vector thus calculated, and combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another so as to form one composite image,wherein the image combining device further comprises;
a mixture proportion calculating portion which calculates, based on information commensurate with a motion of an image between the different divided exposure images, a mixture proportion of each divided exposure image to the composite image,wherein the image combining device combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another in mixture proportions thus calculated so as to form the composite image,wherein the motion vector calculating portion calculates the motion vector based on a plurality of cumulative total correlation values between the different divided exposure images, the plurality of cumulative total correlation values being obtained by an image matching method,wherein the mixture proportion calculating portion calculates the mixture proportions based on the plurality of cumulative total correlation values used as the information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of divided exposure images (first to fourth images) are obtained by dividing a normal exposure time. By an image matching method, a motion detection circuit calculates a plurality of cumulative total correlation values between different divided exposure images, and searches the plurality of cumulative total correlation values for the smallest cumulative total correlation value, thereby calculating a motion vector between the different divided exposure images. In addition, based on the level of the smallest cumulative total correlation value, the level of reliability B[i] indicating the accuracy of the motion vector is calculated. An image combining circuit uses the level of reliability B[i] as a mixture proportion. The image combining circuit positions the divided exposure images based on the motion vector, and combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another in mixture proportions (B[i]), so as to form one still image that suffers less from camera shake.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. An image combining device comprising:
-
a motion vector calculating portion which calculates a motion vector between different divided exposure images of a plurality of divided exposure images obtained as a result of continuous shooting, wherein the image combining device positions the divided exposure images based on the motion vector thus calculated, and combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another so as to form one composite image, wherein the image combining device further comprises; a mixture proportion calculating portion which calculates, based on information commensurate with a motion of an image between the different divided exposure images, a mixture proportion of each divided exposure image to the composite image, wherein the image combining device combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another in mixture proportions thus calculated so as to form the composite image, wherein the motion vector calculating portion calculates the motion vector based on a plurality of cumulative total correlation values between the different divided exposure images, the plurality of cumulative total correlation values being obtained by an image matching method, wherein the mixture proportion calculating portion calculates the mixture proportions based on the plurality of cumulative total correlation values used as the information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An image combining method comprising:
-
a first step which calculates a motion vector between different divided exposure images of a plurality of divided exposure images obtained as a result of continuous shooting; and a second step which positions the divided exposure images based on the motion vector thus calculated, and combines the divided exposure images together one on top of another so as to form one composite image, wherein, based on information commensurate with a motion of an image between the different divided exposure images, a mixture proportion of each divided exposure image to the composite image is calculated, wherein the divided exposure images are combined together one on top of another in mixture proportions thus calculated so as to form the composite image, wherein the motion vector is calculated based on a plurality of cumulative total correlation values between the different divided exposure images, the plurality of cumulative total correlation values being obtained by an image matching method, wherein the mixture proportions are calculated based on the plurality of cumulative total correlation values used as the information.
-
Specification