Image processing device and image processing method including a blurring process

• US 8,830,357 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Uehara, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSSELMAN, JOEL W
• Application Number:
  US13/495,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.99, 348/239, 348/345, 382/254, 382/255
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability

Abstract

An image processing device is provided that includes a subject image designator and an image processor. The subject image designator designates a main subject in an image. The image processor subjects an image to image processing that depends on the distance to the main subject.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

a subject image designator that designates a main subject in an image;

an image processor that subjects an image to an image process that depends on a distance to the main subject, the image process comprises a blurring process that includes a near distance operational mode and a far distance operational mode, wherein, one of the near distance operational mode and the far distance operational mode is selected in accordance with the distance to the main subject, and in the near distance operational mode, blurring intensity is increased in accordance with an increase in distance from the main subject, and in the far distance operational mode, only objects in an area farther than the main subject are subjected to a constant intensity blurring; and

a blur setting processor that sets the degree of the blurring performed in the blurring process.

2. The image processing device as in claim 1, wherein a threshold distance to the main subject for changing the blurring process between the near and far distance operational modes is altered according to an f-number used when capturing the image.

3. The image processing device as in claim 1, wherein the distance to the main subject is determined with reference to distance map data that includes distance information of objects captured in each of areas dividing the image.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein in the far distance operational mode, the constant intensity blurring comprises a maximum blurring intensity.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the main subject is determined based upon face detection processing.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein in the near distance operational mode, a rate of change of the blurring intensity is adjustable.

7. A digital camera comprising:

a subject image designator that designates a main subject in an image;

an image processor that subjects an image to image processing that depends on the distance to the main subject, the image processing comprises a blurring process that includes a near distance operational mode and a far distance operational mode, wherein, one of the near distance operational mode and the far distance operational mode is selected in accordance with the distance to the main subject, and in the near distance operational mode, blurring intensity is increased in accordance with an increase in distance from the main subject, and in the far distance operational mode, only an area farther than the main subject is subjected to a constant intensity blurring; and

a blur setting processor for setting a degree of the blurring performed in the blurring process.

8. The digital camera as in claim 7, further comprising a distance information detector that detects distance information for image objects in each of areas dividing the image.

9. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein a threshold distance to the main subject for changing the blurring process between the near and far distance operational modes is altered according to an f- number used in capturing the image.

10. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the distance to the main subject is determined with reference to distance map data that includes distance information of objects captured in each of areas dividing the image.

11. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein in the far distance operational mode, the constant intensity blurring comprises a maximum blurring intensity.

12. An image processing method, comprising:

designating a main subject in an image;

subjecting an image to an image process, and

the image process being dependent on a distance to the main subject, the image process comprises a blurring process that includes a near distance operational mode and a far distance operational mode, wherein, one of the near distance operational mode and the far distance operational mode is selected in accordance with the distance to the main subject, and in the near distance operational mode, blurring intensity is increased in accordance with an increase in distance from the main subject, and in the far distance operational mode, only an area farther than the main subject is subjected to a constant intensity blurring; and

a blur setting processor for setting a degree of the blurring performed in the blurring process.

13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein a threshold distance to the main subject for changing the blurring process between the near and far distance operational modes is altered according to an f-number used in capturing the image.

14. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein the distance to the main subject is determined with reference to distance map data that includes distance information of objects captured in each of areas dividing the image.

15. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein in the far distance operational mode, the constant intensity blurring comprises a maximum blurring intensity.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having instructions for controlling a computer to execute a method comprising:

designating a main subject in an image;

subjecting an image to an image process, and

the image process being dependent on a distance to the main subject, the image process comprises a blurring process that includes a near distance operational mode and a far distance operational mode, wherein, one of the near distance operational mode and the far distance operational mode is selected in accordance with the distance to the main subject, and in the near distance operational mode, blurring intensity is increased in accordance with an increase in distance from the main subject, and in the far distance operational mode, only an area farther than the main subject is subjected to a constant intensity blurring; and

a blur setting processor for setting a degree of the blurring performed in the blurring process.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein a threshold distance to the main subject for changing the blurring process between the near and far distance operational modes is altered according to an f-number used in capturing the image.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the distance to the main subject is determined with reference to distance map data that includes distance information of objects captured in each of areas dividing the image.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein in the far distance operational mode, the constant intensity blurring comprises a maximum blurring intensity.