Image processing apparatus and method of operating the same

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a noise calculator configured to receive luminance image data comprising luminance values of a plurality of pixels obtained by converting input image data, and sum noise values corresponding to locations of neighboring pixels around a target pixel of the plurality of pixels with luminance values corresponding to the neighboring pixels, to generate sum values;
• a gain blender configured to adjust a first weight of the target pixel generated based on applying a first tone curve to a luminance value of the target pixel and the sum values of the neighboring pixels, and a second weight of the target pixel generated based on applying a second tone curve to the luminance value of the target pixel and the sum values of the neighboring pixels, wherein the gain blender is configured to adjust the first weight and the second weight for the target pixel based on differences in luminance values between the target pixel and the neighboring pixels;
• and
• a display device configured to display output image data based on the adjusted first weight and the adjusted second weight.

A method of operating an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving input image data;
• converting the input image data into luminance image data comprising luminance values of a plurality of pixels;
• adding noise values corresponding to neighboring pixels located around a target pixel of the plurality of pixels to luminance values of the neighboring pixels;
• generating first mapping data and second mapping data by applying a first tone curve and a second tone curve to a luminance value of the target pixel and sum values of the neighboring pixels;
• calculating a first weight for the first mapping data of the target pixel and calculating a second weight for the second mapping data of the target pixel;
• adjusting the first weight and the second weight based on the target pixel and the neighboring pixels;
• generating output image data based on the adjusted first weight and the adjusted second weight;
• and
• displaying, on a display device, the output image data based on the adjusted first weight and the adjusted second weight.