Image processing apparatus and method for changing the dynamic range of an image

• US 7,702,151 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Samir A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu; Li
• Application Number:
  US11/118,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 382/168, 382/169, 382/171, 382/172
• US Class Current: 382/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/40 using histogram techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/92 based on global image properties

Abstract

A histogram is generated on the basis of the pixel value of an image. An LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image is generated on the basis of the histogram value in each pixel value interval of the generated histogram. The dynamic range of the image is changed on the basis of the generated LUT.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus which changes a dynamic range of an image, comprising:

histogram generation means for generating a differential histogram of the image over pixel value intervals;

LUT generation means for automatically generating an LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of a histogram value in each pixel value interval of the histogram generated by said histogram generation means without requiring user intervention; and

changing means for changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of the LUT generated by said LUT generation means,

wherein, in compressing the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation means, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values small in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are small, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range, and

wherein, in expanding the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation means, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values large in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are large, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising change amount setting means for setting a change amount of the dynamic range of the image,

wherein said LUT generation means generates the LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image, with which the dynamic range set by said change amount setting means is obtained, on the basis of the histogram generated by said histogram generation means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

region extracting means for extracting a region of interest in the image; and

change amount setting means for setting a change amount of the dynamic range in the region of interest extracted by said region extracting means,

wherein said histogram generation means generates at least one of the density value histogram and the differential histogram in the region of interest extracted by said region extracting means, and

said LUT generation means generates the LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image, with which the dynamic range set by said change amount setting means is obtained in the region of interest extracted by said region extracting means, on the basis of the histogram generated by said histogram generation means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said LUT generation means sets a limit value for a compression ratio and expansion ratio in each pixel value interval and generates the LUT in a range of the limit value.

5. An image processing method of changing a dynamic range of an image, comprising:

a histogram generation step of generating a differential histogram of the image over pixel value intervals;

an LUT generation step of automatically generating an LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of a histogram value in each pixel value interval of the histogram generated in the histogram generation step without requiring user intervention; and

a changing step of changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of the LUT generated in the LUT generation step,

wherein, in compressing the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation means, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values small in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are small, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range, and

wherein, in expanding the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation means, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values large in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are large, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range, and

wherein said steps are performed by means of a computer.

6. A computer-readable medium, storing, in executable form, a program which causes a computer to implement an image processing method of changing a dynamic range of an image, said method comprising:

a histogram generation step of generating a differential histogram of the image over pixel value intervals;

an LUT generation step of automatically generating an LUT used for changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of a histogram value in each pixel value interval of the histogram generated in the histogram generation step without requiring user intervention; and

a changing step of changing the dynamic range of the image on the basis of the LUT generated in the LUT generation step,

wherein, in compressing the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation step, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values small in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are small, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range, and

wherein, in expanding the dynamic range of the image, said LUT generation step, iteratively, makes the variation in output pixel values large in each pixel value interval where the histogram values in the pixel value interval are large, shifts the output pixel values in other pixel value intervals to maintain pixel gradients in these other pixel value intervals, and redefines the pixel value intervals, until an output dynamic range of the image equals a desired dynamic range.