High dynamic range image generating apparatus and method

A method of generating a high range dynamic image, the method comprising:

• setting a first exposure time, a second exposure time, a third exposure time, and a fourth exposure time, the second exposure time being longer than the first exposure time, the third exposure time being shorter than the first exposure time, the fourth exposure time being between the first and the third exposure times;
• obtaining:
• a first image based on the second exposure time;
• and
• a second image based on the fourth exposure time;
• and
• adjusting a dynamic range of the second image based on an exposure time ratio between the third exposure time and the fourth exposure time.

An image generating apparatus, comprising:

• an exposure time setting unit configured to generate at least two different exposure times based on a photographing environment;
• an image obtaining unit configured to obtain images with the different exposure times;
• and
• a dynamic range adjusting unit configured to adjust a dynamic range of one of the images based on the exposure time ratio between two of the different exposure times, wherein:
• the dynamic range adjusting unit is further configured to adjust the dynamic range of a first one of the images to be substantially identical with a dynamic range of a second one of the images based on an exposure time different from the exposure times used to obtain the images, and
• the dynamic range adjusting unit is further configured to adjust the dynamic range of the first one of the images based on an exposure time ratio between the exposure time different from the exposure times used to obtain the images and an exposure time used to obtain the first one of the images.

A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for implementing a method of generating a high range dynamic image, the storage medium comprising:

• setting a first exposure time, a second exposure time, a third exposure time, and a fourth exposure time, the second exposure time being longer than the first exposure time, the third exposure time being shorter than the first exposure time, the fourth exposure time being between the first and the third exposure times;
• obtaining:
• a first image based on the second exposure time;
• and
• a second image based on the fourth exposure time;
• and
• adjusting a dynamic range of the second image based on an exposure time ratio between the third exposure time and the fourth exposure time.