Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium

• US 6,831,694 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohki, Mitsuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/932,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20020122132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 348/218.1, 348/219.1, 348/222.1, 348/345, 348/349, 348/351, 348/354, 348/355, 250/208.1, 282/254, 282/255
• US Class Current: 348/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/676 Bracketing for image capture at varying focusing conditions

Abstract

An image processing apparatus and a method are disclosed in which images picked up on a plurality of image pickup planes having different distances to a lens are processed. The apparatus and method include: an acquiring element or step for acquiring a plurality of images of a target object picked up on the plurality of image pickup planes; a first computing element or step for computing weights of the plurality of images acquired by the acquiring element; a second computing element or step for computing averages of the plurality of images acquired by the acquiring element; and an image creating element or step for creating an optimum image of the target object by obtaining a weighted average based on the weights computed by the first computing element and on the averages of the plurality of images computed by the second computing element.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for processing images picked up on a plurality of image pickup planes having different distances to a lens, the apparatus comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring a plurality of images of a target object picked up on said plurality of image pickup planes;

first computing means for computing weights of said plurality of images acquired by said acquiring means;

second computing means for computing averages of said plurality of images acquired by said acquiring means; and

image creating means for creating an optimum image of said target object by obtaining a weighted average based on said weights computed by said first computing means and on said averages of said plurality of images computed by said second computing means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image pickup means for picking up images of said target object on said plurality of image pickup planes.

3. An image processing method for use with an image processing apparatus for processing images picked up on a plurality of image pickup planes having different distances to a lens, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a plurality of images of a target object picked up on said plurality of image pickup planes;

firstly computing weights of said plurality of images acquired in said acquiring step;

secondly computing averages of said plurality of images acquired in said acquiring step; and

creating an optimum image of said target object by obtaining a weighted average based on said weights computed in said first computing step and on said averages of said plurality of images computed in said second computing step.

4. A storage medium which stores a computer-readable program for use with an image processing apparatus for processing images picked up on a plurality of image pickup planes having different distances to a lens, said program comprising the steps of:

acquiring a plurality of images of a target object picked up on said plurality of image pickup planes;

firstly computing weights of said plurality of images acquired in said acquiring step;

secondly computing averages of said plurality of images acquired in said acquiring step; and

creating an optimum image of said target object by obtaining a weighted average based on said weights computed in said first computing step and on said averages of said plurality of images computed in said second computing step.