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

• US 8,406,547 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Monobe, Yusuke, Yamashita, Haruo, Ito, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Allison, Andrae S
• Application Number:
  US13/005,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 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, 358/3.26, 358/3.27, 358/532, 358/537, 358/540, 358/463, 358/464
• US Class Current: 382/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20012 Locally adaptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20021 Dividing image into blocks, subimages or windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20192 Edge enhancement; Edge preservation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/94 based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4092 Edge or detail enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/142 Edging; Contouring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/20 Circuitry for controlling amplitude response

Abstract

A visual processing device inhibits artifacts, even when a special image is input. The visual processing device includes a spatial processing portion extracting surrounding image information from an input image signal, and a special image detection portion outputting a special image effect adjustment signal according to a degree of a statistical bias of the input image signal. The visual processing device also includes a continuous changing portion outputting an effect adjustment signal in which the special image effect adjustment signal is continuously changed between frames, an effect adjustment portion outputting a synthesized signal in which the effect of the visual processing differs depending on the effect adjustment signal, and a visual processing portion outputting a processed signal obtained by visually processing the image signal based on the image signal and the synthesized signal.

Claims

1. A visual processing device, comprising:

a surrounding image information extraction portion operable to extract, from a pixel group of a pixel area surrounding a target pixel of an input image, surrounding image information including luminance information of the pixel group; and

a visual processing portion including a processor operable to (i) receive a pixel value of the target pixel, (ii) receive the surrounding image information, (iii) obtain a converted pixel value by converting the pixel value of the target pixel, and (iv) output an output image including a group of converted target pixels, such that each target pixel, of the group of converted target pixels, has the converted pixel value,

wherein the visual processing portion enhances a local contrast in a predetermined area included in the input image, and

wherein, when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which a gradation changes when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is decreasing, or when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which the gradation does not change when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is increasing, the visual processing portion weakens a degree for enhancing the local contrast in the predetermined area.

2. A display device, comprising:

a data reception portion operable to receive transmitted or broadcast image data;

a decoding portion operable to decode the received image data into video data;

the visual processing device according to claim 1 that performs visual processing with respect to the video data decoded from the received image data and that outputs an output signal obtained from the visual processing; and

a display portion operable to display the output signal obtained from the visual processing.

3. A television device comprising:

a reception portion operable to receive a video signal;

a decoding portion operable to decode the received video signal and output an image signal;

the visual processing device according to claim 1 that performs visual processing with respect to the video signal decoded by the decoding portion and that outputs an output signal; and

a display portion operable to display the output signal.

4. A portable information terminal device comprising:

a reception portion operable to receive a video signal;

a decoding portion operable to decode the received video signal and output an image signal;

the visual processing device according to claim 1 that performs visual processing with respect to the video signal decoded by the decoding portion and that outputs an output signal; and

a display portion operable to display the output signal.

5. A camera comprising:

an imaging portion operable to capture an image and generate an image signal; and

the visual processing device according to claim 1 that performs visual processing with respect to the image signal and that outputs an output signal.

6. A visual processing method, comprising:

extracting, from a pixel group of a pixel area surrounding a target pixel of an input image, surrounding image information including luminance information of the pixel group; and

performing, via a processor, a visual processing by (i) receiving a pixel value of the target pixel, (ii) receiving the surrounding image information, (iii) obtaining a converted pixel value by converting the pixel value of the target pixel, and (iv) outputting an output image including a group of converted target pixels, such that each target pixel, of the group of converted target pixels, has the converted pixel value,

wherein the performing of the visual processing enhances a local contrast in a predetermined area included in the input image, and

wherein, when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which a gradation changes when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is decreasing, or when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which the gradation does not change when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is increasing, the performing of the visual processing weakens a degree for enhancing the local contrast in the predetermined area.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program for performing a visual processing, and the program causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

extracting, from a pixel group of a pixel area surrounding a target pixel of an input image, surrounding image information including luminance information of the pixel group; and

performing the visual processing by (i) receiving a pixel value of the target pixel, (ii) receiving the surrounding image information, (iii) obtaining a converted pixel value by converting the pixel value of the target pixel, and (iv) outputting an output image including a group of converted target pixels, such that each target pixel, of the group of converted target pixels, has the converted pixel value,

wherein the performing of the visual processing enhances a local contrast in a predetermined area included in the input image, and

wherein, when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which a gradation changes when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is decreasing, or when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which the gradation does not change when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is increasing, the performing of the visual processing weakens a degree for enhancing the local contrast in the predetermined area.

8. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a surrounding image information extraction portion operable to extract, from a pixel group of a pixel area surrounding a target pixel of an input image, surrounding image information including luminance information of the pixel group; and

a visual processing portion operable to (i) receive a pixel value of the target pixel, (ii) receive the surrounding image information, (iii) obtain a converted pixel value by converting the pixel value of the target pixel, and (iv) output an output image including a group of converted target pixels, such that each target pixel, of the group of converted target pixels, has the converted pixel value,

wherein the visual processing portion enhances a local contrast in a predetermined area included in the input image, and

wherein, when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which a gradation changes when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is decreasing, or when a ratio of part regions of the predetermined area in which the gradation does not change when compared to other part regions in the predetermined area is increasing, the visual processing portion weakens a degree for enhancing the local contrast in the predetermined area.