# US 2018/0324344 A1 · Image processor, image processing method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324344 A1 - Document ID: US20180324344A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/773,664 - Filed: 2016-09-08 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-24 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: MASAYA KINOSHITA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324344A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/741: by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors - H04N 23/10: for generating image signals from different wavelengths - H04N 23/745: Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination - H04N 23/76: by influencing the image signals - H04N 25/531: by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS - H04N 7/0132: {the field or frame frequency of the incoming video signal being multiplied by a positive integer, e.g. for flicker reduction} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image processor of the disclosure includes a detector that detects a flicker component in first image data on the basis of a plurality of pieces of first image data in a stream. The stream includes, at least, the plurality of pieces of first image data having first exposure time and a plurality of pieces of second image data having second exposure time. The stream is provided with a temporally-alternate arrangement of the first image data and the second image data. The second exposure time is different from the first exposure time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processor comprising a detector that detects a flicker component in first image data on a basis of a plurality of pieces of first image data in a stream, the stream including, at least, the plurality of pieces of first image data having first exposure time and a plurality of pieces of second image data having second exposure time, the stream being provided with a temporally-alternate arrangement of the first image data and the second image data, the second exposure time being different from the first exposure time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the first exposure time is shorter than the second exposure time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the stream further includes a plurality of pieces of third image data having third exposure time, the third exposure time being different from both the first exposure time and the second exposure time, and the first image data, the second image data, and the third image data are provided in a temporally-alternate arrangement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the first image data is image data that has shortest exposure time in pieces of image data included in the stream. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising an estimating unit that estimates a flicker component in the second image data on a basis of a result of the detection performed by the detector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a first computing unit that performs, on the first image data, a process that reduces the flicker component, on a basis of a result of the detection performed by the detector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image processor according to claim 5, further comprising a second computing unit that performs, on the second image data, a process that reduces the flicker component, on a basis of a result of the estimation performed by the estimating unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The image processor according to claim 5, wherein the estimating unit estimates an amplitude of the flicker component in the second image data, on a basis of a difference in exposure time between the first image data and the second image data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The image processor according to claim 5, wherein the estimating unit estimates an initial phase of the flicker component in the second image data, on a basis of a difference in exposure start timing between the first image data and the second image data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The image processor according to claim 6, further comprising a first determiner that determines, on the basis of the result of the detection performed by the detector, whether or not to perform, on the first image data, the process that reduces the flicker component, wherein the first computing unit performs, in accordance with a result of the determination performed by the first determiner, the process that reduces the flicker component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The image processor according to claim 7, further comprising a second determiner that determines, on the basis of the result of the estimation performed by the estimating unit, whether or not to perform, on the second image data, the process that reduces the flicker component, wherein the second computing unit performs, in accordance with a result of the determination performed by the second determiner, the process that reduces the flicker component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The image processor according to claim 5, further comprising: a first computing unit that performs, on the first image data, a process that reduces the flicker component, on the basis of the result of the detection performed by the detector; a second computing unit that performs, on the second image data, a process that reduces the flicker component, on a basis of a result of the estimation performed by the estimating unit; and an image synthesizing unit that performs synthesis of the first image data on which the process that reduces the flicker component has been performed by the first computing unit and the second image data on which the process that reduces the flicker component has been performed by the second computing unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image processor according to claim 12, wherein the image synthesizing unit performs an image synthesis process that increases a dynamic range. ### Claim 14 An image processing method comprising detecting a flicker component in first image data on a basis of a plurality of pieces of first image data in a stream, the stream including, at least, the plurality of pieces of first image data having first exposure time and a plurality of pieces of second image data having second exposure time, the stream being provided with a temporally-alternate arrangement of the first image data and the second image data, the second exposure time being different from the first exposure time. ### Claim 15 A program that causes a computer to function as a detector that detects a flicker component in first image data on a basis of a plurality of pieces of first image data in a stream, the stream including, at least, the plurality of pieces of first image data having first exposure time and a plurality of pieces of second image data having second exposure time, the stream being provided with a temporally-alternate arrangement of the first image data and the second image data, the second exposure time being different from the first exposure time.