Imaging device, imaging device image output method, and computer for assigning a dynamic range

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject;
• a signal processing section for generating a composite image, the composite image having a relatively wider dynamic range than at least either a dynamic range of a long-time exposure image picked up with a relatively long exposure time by said image pickup device or a dynamic range of a short-time exposure image picked up with a relatively short exposure time by said image pickup device, by synthesizing said long-time exposure image and said short-time exposure image;
• and
• a control section for compressing said composite image and dynamically assigning the dynamic range of said composite image to the dynamic range of an output image to be outputted as a video signal,
• wherein the signal processing section determines a black level based on a periodicity of image signals that include alternatively disposed long-time exposure image signal and short-time exposure image signal, and
• wherein an exposure ratio of the relatively long exposure time to the relatively short exposure time is multiplied by the short-time exposure image so that an amount of input light of the long-time exposure image and the short-time exposure image is substantially the same.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject;
• a detection section for detecting an image signal of a long-time exposure image picked up with a relatively long exposure time by said image pickup device, and an image signal of a short-time exposure image picked up with a relatively short exposure time by said image pickup device;
• a synthesis section for generating a composite image from said long-time exposure image and said short-time exposure image on the basis of a switch luminance signal level determined from said image signals;
• a control section for compressing said composite image according to a luminance region which occupies said composite image, and dynamically assigning a dynamic range of an output image to be outputted as a video signal;
• and
• a compression section for compressing the dynamic range of said composite image on the basis of dynamic assignment of said dynamic range of said output image,
• wherein the detection section determines a black level based on a periodicity of image signals that include alternatively disposed long-time exposure image signal and short-time exposure image signal, and
• wherein an exposure ratio of the relatively long exposure time to the relatively short exposure time is multiplied by the short-time exposure image so that an amount of input light of the long-time exposure image and the short-time exposure image is substantially the same.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject;
• a detection section for detecting an image signal of a long-time exposure image picked up with a relatively long exposure time by said image pickup device, and an image signal of a short-time exposure image picked up with a relatively short exposure time by said image pickup device;
• a synthesis section for excluding said luminance signal level from a target to be synthesized, when at least said image signal corresponding to a luminance signal level of either said long-time exposure image or said short-time exposure image is absent, and synthesizing said long-time exposure image and said short-time exposure image on the basis of a switch luminance signal level;
• a control section which dynamically assigns a dynamic range of an output image to be outputted as a video signal in which a composite image is compressed, according to a luminance region which occupies said composite image in which said long-time exposure image and said short-time exposure image are synthesized;
• and
• a compression section for compressing the dynamic range of said composite image on the basis of dynamic assignment of said dynamic range of said output image,
• wherein the detection section determines a black level based on a periodicity of image signals that include alternatively disposed long-time exposure image signal and short-time exposure image signal, and
• wherein an exposure ratio of the relatively long exposure time to the relatively short exposure time is multiplied by the short-time exposure image so that an amount of input light of the long-time exposure image and the short-time exposure image is substantially the same.