Image processing support system, image processing device and image display device

An image processing support system comprising:

• an image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device;
• and
• an image processing support device for preparing the parameters and setting the prepared parameters in the image processing device,
• wherein the image processing device includes:
• a parameter storing unit operable to store an inverse gamma correction parameter, a color conversion parameter, and a gamma correction parameter which are the parameters set by the image processing support device;
• an inverse gamma correcting unit operable to perform an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter so as to reproduce a linear characteristic,
• a color converting unit operable to perform a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal inputted from the inverse gamma correcting unit on the basis of the color conversion parameter, and output the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting unit operable to perform a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal from the color converting unit which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter, and output the processed signal, and
• the image processing support device calculates a gamma correction parameter which enables a high input level to have a saturation characteristic in an output level direction so that the output signal from the gamma correcting unit corresponding to, the high input level can be at or below the maximum level of the input image signal.

An image processing support system comprising:

• an image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device;
• and
• an image processing support device for preparing the parameters and setting the prepared parameters in the image processing device,
• wherein the image processing device includes:
• a parameter storing unit operable to store an inverse gamma correction parameter, a color conversion parameter, and a gamma correction parameter which are the parameters set by the image processing support device;
• an inverse gamma correcting unit operable to perform an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter so as to reproduce a linear characteristic, and perform partial enhancement or partial control of brightness for the input image signal,
• a color converting unit operable to perform a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal inputted from the inverse gamma correcting unit on the basis of the color conversion parameter, and output the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting unit operable to perform a correction of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal from the color converting unit which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter, and output the processed signal, and
• the image processing support device calculates an inverse gamma correction parameter which realizes a characteristic in which an output level corresponding to a low input level is higher than an output level of an inverse characteristic of a display device characteristic, when calculating the inverse gamma correction parameter, and calculates a gamma correction parameter which enables a high input level to have a saturation characteristic in an output level direction so that the output signal from the gamma correcting unit corresponding to the high input level can be at or below the maximum level of the input image signal.

An image displaying device comprising:

• a processor for executing software;
• and
• an image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device,
• wherein the processor performs an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal using the software, and outputs the processed signal to the image processing device, and
• the image processing device includes:
• a parameter storing unit operable to store a color conversion parameter and a gamma correction parameter which are the parameters set from outside the image processing device;
• a color converting unit operable to perform a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal inputted from the processor on the basis of the color conversion parameter, and output the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting unit operable to perform a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal from the color converting unit which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter, and output the processed signal to the display device.

An image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device;

• the image processing device comprising:
• a parameter storing unit operable to store an inverse gamma correction parameter, a color conversion parameter and a gamma correction parameter which are the parameters set from outside the image processing device;
• a color converting unit operable to perform a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the input image signal on the basis of the color conversion parameter, and output the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• a gamma correcting unit operable to perform a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal from the color converting unit which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter, and output the processed signal to the display device;
• and
• an external interface unit operable to read the inverse gamma correction parameter from the parameter storing unit and output the readout parameter to outside the image processing device.

An image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device;

• the image processing device comprising:
• a parameter storing unit operable to store an inverse gamma correction parameter, a color conversion parameter and a gamma correction parameter which are the parameters set from outside the image processing device;
• an inverse gamma correcting unit operable to perform an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter so as to reproduce a linear characteristic;
• a color converting unit operable to perform a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal inputted from the inverse gamma correcting unit, on the basis of the color conversion parameter, and output the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting unit operable to perform a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal from the color converting unit which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter, and output the processed signal to the display device.

An image processing support system comprising:

• an image processing support device that includes a processor for executing software and a recording medium that stores image processing software for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the processor and outputting the processed image signal;
• a display device for displaying the image signal which has been outputted after being performed of the signal processing by the image processing software on the processor;
• and
• a measuring device for measuring a gamma characteristic and a color reproduction characteristic of the display device,
• wherein the image processing support device prepares parameters according to results of measurements made by the measuring device and an operation input from an operator, and executes the image processing software on the processor using the parameters.

An image processing support method for a system that comprises an image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, and an image processing support device for preparing the parameters and setting the prepared parameters in the image processing device, the image processing support method comprising a step (i) executed in the image processing support device and steps (ii) executed in the image processing device,

• wherein the step (i) is a gamma correction parameter calculating step for calculating a gamma correction parameter that enables a high input level to have a saturation characteristic in an output level direction so that an output signal corresponding to the high input level for which a gamma correction process has been performed can be at or below the maximum level of the input image signal, and
• the steps (ii) are:
• an inverse gamma correcting step for performing an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, so as to reproduce a linear characteristic;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal processed in the inverse gamma correcting step on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, and outputting the processed signal.

An image processing support method for a system that comprises an image processing device for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside the image processing device and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, and an image processing support device for preparing the parameters and setting the prepared parameters in the image processing device, the image processing support method comprising steps (i) executed in the image processing support device and steps (ii) executed in the image processing device,

• wherein the steps (i) are:
• an inverse gamma correction parameter calculating step for calculating an inverse gamma correction parameter which realizes a characteristic in which an output level corresponding to a low input level is higher than an output level of an inverse characteristic of a display device characteristic;
• and
• a gamma correction parameter calculating step for calculating a gamma correction parameter that enables a high input level to have a saturation characteristic in an output level direction so that an output signal corresponding to the high input level for which a gamma correction process has been performed can be at or below the maximum level of the input image signal, and
• the steps (ii) are:
• an inverse gamma correcting step for performing an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, so as to reproduce a linear characteristic and perform partial enhancement or partial control of brightness for the input image signal;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal processed in the inverse gamma correcting step on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set by the image processing support device, and outputting the processed signal.

An image processing method for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, the image processing method comprising:

• an outputting step for reading an inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside and outputting the readout inverse gamma correction parameter to outside an image processing device;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the input image signal on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal to the display device.

An image processing method for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, the image processing method comprising:

• an inverse gamma correcting step for performing an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, so as to reproduce a linear characteristic;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal processed in the inverse gamma correcting step on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal to the display device.

A program for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, the program having a computer execute the following steps:

• an outputting step for reading an inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside and outputting the readout inverse gamma correction parameter to outside an image processing device;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the input image signal on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal.

A program for performing signal processing for changing brightness and colors of an input image signal on the basis of parameters which are set from outside, and outputting the processed image signal to a display device, the program having a computer execute the following steps:

• an inverse gamma correcting step for performing an inverse gamma correction process for the input image signal on the basis of the inverse gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, so as to reproduce a linear characteristic;
• a color converting step for performing a color space correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of colors for the signal processed in the inverse gamma correcting step on the basis of the color conversion parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal indicating a value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding a maximum level of the input image signal, as an output signal;
• and
• a gamma correcting step for performing a correction, and partial enhancement or partial control of a gamma characteristic of the display device for the output signal processed in the color converting step which indicates the value ranging from a negative value to a value exceeding the maximum level of the input image signal, on the basis of the gamma correction parameter which is one of the parameters set from outside, and outputting the processed signal to the display device.