Image processing apparatus and image processing method
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsMasami Ogata, Takashi Tsuchiya, Kazuhiko Ueda
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Abstract
The invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. An area to which image data belongs is discriminated, and a correction coefficient to be used for correction of a pixel value of the image data is produced based on a result of the discrimination. Then, the pixel value of the image data is corrected with the correction coefficient. The relationship in magnitude among pixel values in the same area is maintained because the same coefficient is used, but pixel values which belong to different areas can be varied or even reversed. This allows the gradation of an entire image to be corrected while preventing partial deterioration of the contrast.
Claims116
An image processing apparatus capable of correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- area discrimination means for discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- coefficient calculation means for outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- correction means for correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing method for correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- an area discrimination step of discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- a coefficient calculation step of outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- a correction step of correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing apparatus capable of correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- brightness data separation means for separating brightness data and color data from the image data;
- area discrimination means for discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- coefficient calculation means for outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the brightness data based on the discrimination results received from said area discrimination means;
- and
- correction means for correcting the pixel values of the brightness data and the color data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing method for correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- a brightness data separation step of separating brightness data and color data from the image data;
- an area discrimination step of discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- a coefficient calculation step of outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the brightness data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- a correction step of correcting the pixel values of the brightness data and the color data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing apparatus capable of correcting the gradation of image data formed from a brightness signal and a color signal sequentially superposed on the brightness signal in a time divisional relationship, comprising:
- characteristic amount detection means for successively detecting a characteristic amount indicative of a predetermined range neighboring to each of pixels of the image data;
- area discrimination means for discriminating areas to which the image data belong based on the characteristic amounts and outputting discrimination results;
- coefficient calculation means for outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of the pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- correction means for correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing method for correcting the gradation of image data formed from a brightness signal and a color signal sequentially superposed on the brightness signal in a time divisional relationship, comprising:
- a characteristic amount detection step of successively detecting a characteristic amount indicative of a predetermined range neighboring to each of pixels of the image data;
- an area discrimination step of discriminating areas to which the image data belong based on the characteristic amounts and outputting discrimination results;
- a coefficient calculation step of outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of the pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- a correction step of correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients.
An image processing apparatus capable of correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- area discrimination means for discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- coefficient calculation means for outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- correction means for correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients;
- said area discrimination means or said coefficient calculation means producing the discrimination results or the correction coefficients such that the resolution of the correction coefficients may be switched in response the pixel values of the image data.
An image processing method for correcting the gradation of image data, comprising:
- an area discrimination step of discriminating areas to which the image data belong and outputting discrimination results;
- a coefficient calculation step of outputting correction coefficients to be used for correction of pixel values of the image data based on the discrimination results;
- and
- a correction step of correcting the pixel values of the image data with the correction coefficients;
- the area discrimination step or the coefficient calculation step producing the discrimination results or the correction coefficients such that the resolution of the correction coefficients may be switched in response the pixel values of the image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.