Visual processing device, display device, visual processing method, program, and integrated circuit

• US 8,311,357 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Haruo, Ito, Takeshi, Monobe, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Allison, Andrae S
• Application Number:
  US12/972,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20110085085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 382/165, 382/167, 382/190, 382/199, 382/219, 382/220, 382/250, 382251-252, 382255-256, 382260-266, 348/607, 348/610, 348/615, 348/622, 348/625, 348/627
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20192 Edge enhancement; Edge preservation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/75 Unsharp masking
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0271 Adjustment of the gradation levels within the range of the gradation scale, e.g. by redistribution or clipping
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4092 Edge or detail enhancement

Abstract

A visual processing device, display device, visual processing method, program, and integrated circuit that change a strength of visual processing of an image in real-time. A spatial processing portion (2) creates an unsharp signal US from an input signal IS. A target level setting portion (4) sets a predetermined target level value L for setting a range according to which the strength of the visual processing is adjusted. An effect adjustment portion (5) creates a synthesized signal MUS by synthesizing the predetermined target level value L and the unsharp signal US in accordance with an effect adjustment signal MOD that has been set externally. A visual processing portion (3) outputs an output signal OS in accordance with the input signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS, making it possible to change the strength of the visual processing.

Claims

1. A visual processing device for performing visual processing on an input image signal, the visual processing device comprising:

a spatial processing portion operable to output a processed signal generated by reducing spatial high frequency components of pixels surrounding a target pixel in the input image signal;

an effect adjustment portion operable to output a correction signal obtained by correcting the processed signal, according to an effect adjustment signal for setting an effect of the visual processing; and

a visual processing portion operable to (i) receive the correction signal and the input image signal, (ii) perform the visual processing on the input image signal, and (iii) output an output signal as a result of the visual processing, the visual processing being performed using the input image signal and the correction signal output by the effect adjustment portion,

wherein the visual processing portion performs the visual processing using tone conversion characteristics, such that, when a value of the input image signal is a predetermined value, a corresponding value of the output signal monotonically decreases with respect to a value of the correction signal obtained by correcting the processed signal that is generated by reducing the spatial high frequency components of the pixels surrounding the target pixel in the input image signal.

2. A visual processing method for performing visual processing on an input image signal, the visual processing method comprising:

a spatial processing step of outputting a processed signal generated by reducing spatial high frequency components of pixels surrounding a target pixel in input image signal;

an effect adjustment step of outputting a correction signal obtained by correcting the processed signal, according to an effect adjustment signal for setting an effect of the visual processing; and

a visual processing step of (i) receiving the correction signal and the input image signal, (ii) performing the visual processing on the input image signal, and (iii) outputting an output signal as a result of the visual processing, the visual processing being performed using the input image signal and the correction signal output by the effect adjustment step,

wherein the visual processing step includes performing the visual processing using tone conversion characteristics, such that, when a value of the input image signal is a predetermined value, a corresponding value of the output signal monotonically decreases with respect to a value of the correction signal obtained by correcting the processed signal that is generated by reducing the spatial high frequency components of the pixels surrounding the target pixel in the input image signal.