IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20120320239A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: UEHARA, Hiroyasu
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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; and

an image processor that subjects an image to an image process that depends on the distance to the main subject.

2. The image processing device as in claim 1, wherein the image process comprises a blurring process.

3. The image processing device as in claim 2, wherein only image objects farther than the main subject is subjected to the blurring process when the distance to the main subject is greater than a predetermined distance.

4. The image processing device as in claim 2, wherein the blurring process enhances the depth of field about the main subject when the distance to the main subject is less than a predetermined distance.

5. The image processing device as in claim 2, further comprising a blur setting processor for setting the degree of the blurring performed in the blurring process.

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

7. 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 the objects captured in each of the areas dividing the image.

8. A digital camera comprising:

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

an image processor that subjects an image to image processing that depends on the distance to the main subject.

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

10. An image processing method, comprising:

designating a main subject from an image;

subjecting an image to image processing, and

the image process being dependent on a distance to the main subject.

11. A 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 image processing, and

the image process being dependent on a distance to the main subject.