# US 2017/0287121 A1 · Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0287121 A1 - Document ID: US20170287121A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/467,965 - Filed: 2017-03-23 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nagashima; Kenichi Morikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287121A1 ## CPC - G06T 5/90: Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof - H04N 1/4092: {Edge or detail enhancement} - H04N 5/77: between a recording apparatus and a television camera - H04N 9/79: Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording - G06T 2207/20192: Edge enhancement; Edge preservation - G06T 2207/20208: High dynamic range [HDR] image processing - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit and a conversion unit. The setting unit sets a gradation threshold. The conversion unit converts a gradation value greater than the gradation threshold in an input image into a predetermined gradation value, converts a gradation value equal to or less than the gradation threshold in the input image into a gradation value equal to or less than the predetermined gradation value, and generates an output image. In a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance a predetermined area, the setting unit sets the gradation threshold such that a surrounding area of the predetermined area of the input image becomes equal to or less than the gradation threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set a gradation threshold; and a conversion unit configured to convert a gradation value greater than the gradation threshold in an input image into a predetermined gradation value, convert a gradation value equal to or less than the gradation threshold in the input image into a gradation value equal to or less than the predetermined gradation value, and generate an output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance a predetermined area, the setting unit sets the gradation threshold such that a surrounding area of the predetermined area of the input image becomes equal to or less than the gradation threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an edge area in the input image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined gradation value is a maximum possible gradation value of the output image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance the predetermined area, the setting unit sets, as the gradation threshold, a value equal to or greater than a maximum gradation value of the surrounding area of the predetermined area of the input image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, upon the input image being an image processed in such a manner as to enhance the predetermined area, the setting unit sets, as the gradation threshold, a maximum gradation value of gradation values of the input image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gradation value of the input image is associated with information indicating brightness, and wherein the setting unit sets the gradation threshold in accordance with a specified display range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the case where the input image is the image processed in such a manner as to enhance the predetermined area, the setting unit sets, as the gradation threshold, a gradation value corresponding to a brightness equal to or greater than a maximum brightness value of the surrounding area of the predetermined area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the case where the input image is the image processed in such a manner as to enhance the predetermined area, the setting unit sets, as the gradation threshold, a gradation value corresponding to a maximum brightness value of the input image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance the predetermined area, the conversion unit does not execute process to convert a gradation value greater than the gradation threshold in the input image into the predetermined gradation value, and processing to convert a gradation value equal to or less than the gradation threshold in the input image into a gradation value equal to or less than the predetermined gradation value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image; and an enhancement processing unit configured to execute a process of enhancing the predetermined area of the image, wherein the predetermined area satisfies a predetermined condition, and to generate the input image. ### Claim 11 An image processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit configured to perform a clipping process in such a manner as to display a range brighter than a predetermined brightness within a dynamic range of an input image at a predetermined luminance, and to generate an output image; and an output unit configured to output the output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image where an edge area has been enhanced, the processing unit generates the output image without executing the clipping process on the input image, and in a case where the input image is not the enhanced image, the processing unit generates the output image with executing the clipping process on the input image. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method comprising: setting a gradation threshold; and converting a gradation value greater than the gradation threshold in an input image into a predetermined gradation value, converting a gradation value equal to or less than the gradation threshold in the input image into a gradation value equal to or less than the predetermined gradation value, and generating an output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance a predetermined area, setting includes setting the gradation threshold such that a surrounding area of the predetermined area of the input image becomes equal to or less than the gradation threshold. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method comprising: performing a clipping process in such a manner as to display a range brighter than a predetermined brightness within a dynamic range of an input image at a predetermined luminance, and generating an output image; and outputting the output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image where an edge area has been enhanced, generating includes generating the output image without executing the clipping process on the input image, and in a case where the input image is not the enhanced image, generating includes generating the output image with executing the clipping process on the input image. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause an image processing apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising: setting a gradation threshold; and converting a gradation value greater than the gradation threshold in an input image into a predetermined gradation value, converting a gradation value equal to or less than the gradation threshold in the input image into a gradation value equal to or less than the predetermined gradation threshold, and generating an output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image processed in such a manner as to enhance a predetermined area, setting includes setting the gradation threshold such that a surrounding area of the predetermined area of the input image becomes equal to or less than the gradation value. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause an image processing apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising: performing a clipping process in such a manner as to display a range brighter than a predetermined brightness within a dynamic range of an input image at a predetermined luminance, and generating an output image; and outputting the output image, wherein, in a case where the input image is an image where an edge area has been enhanced, generating includes generating the output image without executing the clipping process on the input image, and in a case where the input image is not the enhanced image, generating includes generating the output image with executing the clipping process on the input image.