Image processing apparatus, electronic camera, and medium storing image processing program

• US 9,294,685 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2011
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Muramatsu, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/177,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10144 Varying exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20208 High dynamic range [HDR] image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20212 Image combination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/92 based on global image properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/407 Control or modification of tonal gradation or of extreme levels, e.g. background level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/202 Gamma control circuits for controlling camera response irrespective of the scene brightness H04N23/82

Abstract

In an image processing apparatus performing synthetic processing on N number of images (where N is an integer of two or larger) being captured from a same photographic scene under mutually different exposure conditions to generate a synthetic image with a higher dynamic range than the N number of images, obtaining the N number of images, and performing low-pass processing on at least one image among the N number of images to generate a low-pass image. Then, a weighting amount in the synthetic processing is decided based on the low-pass image, and the synthetic processing is performed on the N number of images according to the decided weighting amount to generate the synthetic image. Accordingly, a natural synthetic image with fewer changes in contrast, hue, and chroma is generated in a simple configuration when generating the synthetic image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus generating a synthesized image from (i) a first image obtained by image-capturing at a first exposure amount, and (ii) a second image obtained by image-capturing at a second exposure amount larger than the first exposure amount, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:

a processor configured to;

perform a low-pass processing on the first image;

select a gradation curve for a gradation conversion processing, from among a plurality of gradation curves;

perform the gradation conversion processing on the first image on which the low-pass processing is performed according to the selected gradation curve; and

generate the synthesized image from the first image on which the low-pass processing has not been performed and the second image by using the first image on which the low-pass processing and the gradation conversion processing has been performed.

2. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a weighting amount, from the first image on which the low-pass processing is performed, that is used when the first and second images are synthesized.

3. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing from among (i) a first gradation curve having a first gradation conversion characteristic, (ii) a second gradation curve having a second gradation conversion characteristic that makes a boundary between the first and second images of the synthesized image more clear than the first gradation curve, and (iii) a third gradation curve having a third gradation conversion characteristic that makes a boundary between the first image on which the low-pass processing has not been performed and the second image of the synthesized image more vague than the first gradation curve.

4. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing from among (i) a first gradation curve having a first gradation conversion characteristic, (ii) a second gradation curve having a second gradation conversion characteristic that is shifted more to a dark side of gradation than the first gradation curve, and (iii) a third gradation curve having a third gradation conversion characteristic that is shifted more to a bright side of gradation than the first gradation curve.

5. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing according to an operation by a user.

6. An image-capturing apparatus generating a synthesized image from (i) a first image obtained by image-capturing at a first exposure amount, and (ii) a second image obtained by image-capturing at a second exposure amount larger than the first exposure amount, wherein the image-capturing apparatus comprises:

an image-capturing sensor; and

a processor configured to;

perform a low-pass processing on the first image;

select a gradation curve used for a gradation conversion processing from among a plurality of gradation curves;

perform the gradation conversion processing on the first image on which the low-pass processing is performed according to the selected gradation curve; and

generate the synthesized image from the first image on which the low-pass processing has not been performed and the second image by using the first image on which the low-pass processing and the gradation conversion processing has been performed.

7. The image-capturing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a weighting amount, from the first image on which the low-pass processing is performed by the low-pass processing unit, that is used when the first and second images are synthesized.

8. The image-capturing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing from among:

(i) a first gradation curve having a first gradation conversion characteristic, (ii) a second gradation curve having a second gradation conversion characteristic that makes a boundary between the first and second images of the synthesized image more clear than the first gradation curve, and (iii) a third gradation curve having a third gradation conversion characteristic that makes a boundary between the first image on which the low-pass processing has not been performed and the second image of the synthesized image more vague than the first gradation curve.

9. The image-capturing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing from among:

(i) a first gradation curve having a first gradation conversion characteristic, (ii) a second gradation curve having a second gradation conversion characteristic that is shifted more to a dark side of gradation than the first gradation curve, and (iii) a third gradation curve having a third gradation conversion characteristic that is shifted more to a bright side of gradation than the first gradation curve.

10. The image-capturing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to select the gradation curve used for the gradation conversion processing according to an operation by a user.