Two stage multi-scale processing of image data

A method comprising:

• generating an unscaled single color version of a received image comprising a plurality of color components;
• generating an unscaled single color high frequency component, based in part on the unscaled single color version;
• generating a first downscaled version of the received image, the first downscaled version comprising the plurality of color components and having a first pixel resolution lower than a pixel resolution of the received image;
• processing the first downscaled version of the received image;
• generating a plurality of sequentially downscaled images based on the first downscaled version, each of the sequentially downscaled images comprising the plurality of color components;
• processing the plurality of sequentially downscaled images to generate processed versions of sequentially downscaled images;
• and
• generating a processed version of the first downscaled version of the received image using the processed first downscaled version and the processed versions of sequentially downscaled images, the processed version of the first downscaled version merged with the unscaled single color high frequency component.

A system, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to obtain an image having a plurality of color components;
• an image signal processor coupled to the image sensor, the image signal processor configured to perform raw processing of the image to obtain a raw processed version of the image having the plurality of color components, the image signal processor including:
• first stage processing circuitry configured to:
• generate an unscaled single color version of the raw processed version of the image, and
• generate an unscaled single color high frequency component, based in part on the unscaled single color version;
• a scaler circuit configured to generate a first downscaled version of the image, the first downscaled version comprising the plurality of color components and having a first pixel resolution lower than a pixel resolution of the image;
• and
• second stage processing circuitry configured to:
• process the first downscaled version of the image,
• generate a plurality of sequentially downscaled images based on the first downscaled version, each of the sequentially downscaled images comprising the plurality of color components,
• process the plurality of sequentially downscaled images to generate processed versions of sequentially downscaled images, and
• generate a processed version of the first downscaled version using the processed first downscaled version and the processed versions of sequentially downscaled images, the processed version of the first downscaled version merged with the unscaled single color high frequency component.