Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and determination method for controlling light emission

• US 9,473,692 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Gando, Takashi, Saito, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Amy
• Application Number:
  US14/665,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate a contrast evaluation value of each of first image data and second image data in which an object is imaged in a state in which auxiliary light is emitted to the object included in a first image corresponding to the first image data; a determination unit configured to determine that fog or haze is occurring at a time the contrast evaluation value of the first image data, which has been calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit, is equal to or greater than the contrast evaluation value of the second image data; and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing to the first image data or the second image data based on a determination result of the determination unit.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit configured to generate image data of an object by imaging the object;

an auxiliary light emitting unit configured to emit auxiliary light to the object;

an evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate a contrast evaluation value of each of first image data generated by the imaging unit and second image data generated by the imaging unit in a state in which the auxiliary light emitting unit emits auxiliary light to the object;

a determination unit configured to determine that fog or haze is occurring at a time the contrast evaluation value of the first image data, which has been calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit, is equal to or greater than the contrast evaluation value of the second image data; and

a light emission controller configured to output an inhibition signal for inhibiting auxiliary light emission to the auxiliary light emitting unit at a time the determination unit determines that the fog or haze is occurring.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation value calculation unit is configured to divide each of a first image corresponding to the first image data and a second image corresponding to the second image data into multiple areas and calculate a contrast evaluation value of the first image data and a contrast evaluation value of the second image data by adding a contrast evaluation value of each area.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the determination unit is configured to determine whether the contrast evaluation value of the first image data is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and

the light emission controller is configured to output an irradiation instruction signal for causing the auxiliary light emitting unit to emit auxiliary light before the imaging apparatus captures the object at a time the determination unit determines that the contrast evaluation value of the first image data is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,

an input unit configured to receive input of an image capturing instruction signal for instructing capturing an image to the imaging unit, wherein

the light emission controller outputs an emission instruction signal for instructing auxiliary light emission to the auxiliary light emitting unit at a time the input unit inputs the image capturing instruction signal in the case where the determination unit determines that the fog or haze is not occurring.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising

an imaging controller configured to cause the imaging unit to perform capturing an image in the case where the image capturing instruction signal is input from the input unit, wherein

the input unit can receive input of either of an image capturing preparation signal for instructing an image capturing preparation operation by an operation from the outside or the image capturing instruction signal,

the light emission controller outputs the light emission instruction signal to the auxiliary light emitting unit in the case where the input unit has input the image capturing preparation signal, and

the imaging controller causes the imaging unit to generate the second image data by synchronizing a light emission timing of the auxiliary light emitting unit and an image capturing timing of the imaging unit.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a bright point detector configured to detect a bright point in a third image corresponding to third image data generated by the imaging unit after the light emission controller has output the inhibition signal to the auxiliary light emitting unit; and

an image processing unit configured to perform processing to lower an exposure value and/or color saturation with respect to the third image data at a time the bright point detector has detected a bright point in the third image.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising

an imaging controller configured to cause the imaging unit to perform image capturing at a time the input unit has input the image capturing instruction signal, wherein

the light emission controller is configured to output the instruction signal to the auxiliary light emitting unit just after the input unit has received input of the image capturing instruction signal, and

the imaging controller is configured to cause the imaging unit to capture an image to generate the second image data by synchronizing an light emission timing of the auxiliary light emitting unit and an image capturing timing of the imaging unit.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

a recording medium configured to record image data; and

a temporary storage unit configured to temporarily store the second image data generated by the imaging unit, wherein

the imaging controller is configured to record the second image data stored in the temporary storage unit in the recording medium at a time the determination unit determines that the fog or haze is not occurring.

9. A method for controlling light emission in an imaging system, the method comprising:

generating, with the imaging system, image data of an object by imaging the object;

emitting, with the imaging system, auxiliary light to the object;

calculating, with the imaging system, a contrast evaluation value of each of first image data generated by the imaging system and second image data generated by the imaging system in a state in which the imaging system emits auxiliary light to the object;

determining, with the imaging system, that fog or haze is occurring at a time the calculated contrast evaluation value of the first image data is equal to or greater than the calculated contrast evaluation value of the second image data; and

outputting an inhibition signal for inhibiting auxiliary light emission responsive to a determination that the fog or haze is occurring.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a least one processor performs a method for controlling light emission in an imaging system, the method comprising:

generating, with the imaging system, image data of an object by imaging the object;

emitting, with the imaging system, auxiliary light to the object;

calculating, with the imaging system, a contrast evaluation value of each of first image data generated by the imaging system and second image data generated by the imaging system in a state in which the imaging system emits auxiliary light to the object;

determining, with the imaging system, that fog or haze is occurring at a time the calculated contrast evaluation value of the first image data is equal to or greater than the calculated contrast evaluation value of the second image data; and

outputting an inhibition signal for inhibiting auxiliary light emission responsive to a determination that the fog or haze is occurring.