High precision color processing for wide dynamic range sensors

An image processing pipeline comprising:

• a front end module configured to receive image data having a first bit depth, wherein the image data includes color values for a first set of colors associated with a first color space;
• and
• a color processing module including a demosaicing module, the demosaicing module configured to:
• interpolate the image data to generate color values for a second set of colors;
• expand the image data from the first bit depth to a second bit depth that is higher than the first bit depth, wherein color values of the expanded image data have a linear dynamic range;
• convert the color values of the expanded image data from the first color space to a second color space;
• and
• compress the color values of the image data to a third bit depth that is lower than the second bit depth, wherein the compressed color values have a nonlinear dynamic range.

A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:

• receive a set of image data having a first bit depth, wherein the image data includes color values corresponding top a first set of colors associated with a first color space;
• interpolate the image data to generate color values corresponding to a second set of colors;
• expand the image data from the first bit depth to a second bit depth that is higher than the first bit depth, wherein color values of the expanded image data have a linear dynamic range;
• convert the color values of the expanded image data from the first color space to a second color space;
• and
• compress the color values of the converted image data to a third bit depth that is lower than the second bit depth, wherein the compressed color values have a nonlinear dynamic range.