US 2002/0164085 A1 · Image processing method and apparatus

Abstract

The image processing method and apparatus calculate and store gradients representing directions and intensities of a pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels from pixel values of the pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels of image composed of the color image signals that are to be subjected to image processing, calculate connectivity of the pixel of interest with its surrounding pixels from the directions of the stored gradients, calculate directivities of respective R, G and B of the pixel of interest by calculating gradients of respective R, G and B channels of the pixel of interest and decide whether the pixel of interest is an edge portion or not from the calculated connectivity and directivities of respective R, G and B to extract the edge portion. As a result, the method and the apparatus can raise extraction precision of the edge portion, accurately perform the edge portion extraction and increase image quality. Moreover, the method and apparatus calculate correction amounts of degree of sharpness enhancement and granularities of a plurality of the specified regions formed by dividing the image data based on the extraction result of the edge portion and correct the image data based on these correction amounts. Accordingly, careful and minute corrections of granularity and degree of sharpness enhancement can be performed on the image recorded in one frame.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An image processing method for subjecting digital image data of color image signals to specified image processing, comprising the steps of:

calculating gradients representing directions and intensities of a pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels from pixel values of said pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels of image composed of said color image signals that are to be subjected to image processing;
storing the calculated gradients;
calculating connectivity of said pixel of interest with its surrounding pixels from the directions of said stored gradients;
calculating directivities of respective R, G and B of said pixel of interest by calculating gradients of respective R, G and B channels of said pixel of interest;
and
deciding whether said pixel of interest is an edge portion or not from said connectivity and said directivities of respective R, G and B to extract said edge portion.

3 more elements

An image processing apparatus for subjecting digital image data of color image signals to specified image processing, comprising:

calculating means for calculating gradients of a pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels that represent directions and intensities of an edge from pixel values of said pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels of image composed of said color image signals that are to be subjected to image processing;
storing means for storing said calculated gradients;
calculating means for calculating connectivity of said pixel of interest with its surrounding pixel from the directions of said stored gradients;
calculating means for calculating directivities of respective R, G and B of said pixel of interest by calculating gradients of respective R, G and B channels of said pixel of interest;
and
deciding means for deciding whether said pixel of interest is an edge portion or not from said connectivity and the directivities of respective R, G and B, thereby edge portion extraction is performed.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image processing method and apparatus

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Image processing method and apparatus

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Abstract

Claims34