Imaging apparatus for imaging an image and image processor and method for performing color correction utilizing a number of linear matrix operations

An image processor for performing color correction processing upon an input image signal, comprising:

• first linear matrix operation means for performing matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of improving color reproducibility;
• second linear matrix operation means for performing matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of achieving noise component reduction;
• signal combining means for combining image signals output from a plurality of signal processing systems each of which includes one of the first linear matrix operation means or the second linear matrix operation means;
• and
• combination ratio setting means for setting a combination ratio to be used by the signal combining means so that, when an image based on the input image signal is bright, the image signals output from the signal processing system that includes the first linear matrix operation means can be combined in an amount larger than the image signals output from the other signal processing systems.

A method of performing color correction processing upon an input image signal, the method comprising:

• performing a first matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of improving color reproducibility;
• performing a second matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of achieving noise component reduction;
• combining image signals output from the first matrix conversion and from the second matrix conversion;
• and
• setting a combination ratio to be used in the combining step so that, when an image based on the input image signal is bright, the image signal output from the first matrix conversion can be combined in an amount larger than the image signals output from the second matrix conversion.

A computer-readable medium encoded with an image processing program for causing a computer to perform a process of color correction upon an input image signal, the process comprising:

• performing a first matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of improving color reproducibility;
• performing a second matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of achieving noise component reduction;
• combining image signals output from the first matrix conversion and from the second matrix conversion;
• and
• setting a combination ratio to be used in the combining step so that, when an image based on the input image signal is bright, the image signal output from the first matrix conversion can be combined in an amount larger than the image signals output from the second matrix conversion.

An imaging apparatus for imaging an image using a solid-state image pickup device, comprising:

• a first linear matrix operation unit configured to perform matrix conversion upon a color component of an image signal obtained by imaging using coefficients capable of improving color reproducibility;
• a second linear matrix operation unit configured to perform matrix conversion upon the color component of the image signal using coefficients capable of achieving noise component reduction;
• a signal combining unit configured to combine image signals output from a plurality of signal processing systems each of which includes one of the first linear matrix operation unit or the second linear matrix operation unit;
• and
• a combination ratio setting unit configured to set a combination ratio to be used by the signal combining unit so that, when a subject is bright, the image signals output from the signal processing system that includes the first linear matrix operation unit can be combined in an amount larger than the image signals output from the other signal processing systems.

An image processor for performing color correction processing upon an input image signal, comprising:

• a first linear matrix operation circuit to perform matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of improving color reproducibility;
• a second linear matrix operation circuit to perform matrix conversion upon a color component of the input image signal using coefficients capable of achieving noise component reduction;
• a signal combining circuit to combine image signals output from a plurality of signal processing systems each of which includes one of the first linear matrix operation circuit or the second linear matrix operation circuit;
• and
• a combination ratio setting circuit to set a combination ratio to be used by the signal combining circuit so that, when an image based on the input image signal is bright, the image signals output from the signal processing system that includes the first linear matrix operation circuit can be combined in an amount larger than the image signals output from the other signal processing systems.