Image processing apparatus and image processing method, and program

An image processing method in an image processing apparatus which converts a frame rate by dividing an input frame into subframes and outputting the subframes, comprising:

• a preprocessing step of preprocessing an input frame by copying the input frame to an intermediate frame, setting a block having a predetermined size for a pixel of interest in the intermediate frame, and replacing one pixel value of the pixel of interest in the intermediate frame with a minimum pixel value of neighboring pixels of the pixel of interest in the block within the intermediate frame;
• a low-pass filter processing step of generating a first subframe of the input frame by performing a low-pass filtering process on the intermediate frame which has the pixel value of the pixel of interest already replaced in the pre-processing in said pre-processing step;
• a generating step of generating a second subframe of the input frame from the first subframe and the input frame;
• and
• a switching step of alternately outputting the first subframe and the second subframe at predetermined times.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method in an image processing apparatus which converts a frame rate by dividing an input frame into subframes and outputting the subframes, said method comprising:

• a preprocessing step of preprocessing an input frame by copying the input frame to an intermediate frame, setting a block having a predetermined size for a pixel of interest in the intermediate frame, and replacing one pixel value of the pixel of interest in the intermediate frame with a minimum pixel value of neighboring pixels of the pixel of interest in the block within the intermediate frame;
• a low-pass filter processing step of generating a first subframe of the input frame by performing a low-pass filtering process on the intermediate frame which has the pixel value of the pixel of interest already replaced in the pre-processing in said pre-processing step;
• a generating step of generating a second subframe of the input frame from the first subframe and the input frame;
• and
• a switching step of alternately outputting the first subframe and the second subframe at predetermined times.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• at least a processor and memory, cooperating to perform:
• an input step of inputting a plurality of frames;
• a replacing step of replacing one pixel value of a pixel of interest in one of the plurality of frames with a pixel value, smaller than that of the pixel of interest, of pixel values of all pixels in a block within the one frame including the pixel of interest, and saving the result into an intermediate frame keeping the one frame intact;
• a generating step of generating a high-frequency enhanced image and a low-frequency enhanced image from the one frame and the intermediate frame, in which intermediate frame the pixel value of a pixel has been replaced in said replacing step;
• and
• an output step of alternately outputting the high-frequency enhanced image and the low-frequency enhanced image.

An image processing method for an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• an input step of inputting a plurality of frames;
• a replacing step of replacing one pixel value of a pixel of interest in one of the plurality of frames with a pixel value, smaller than that of the pixel of interest, of pixel values of all pixels in a block within the one frame including the pixel of interest, and saving the result into an intermediate frame keeping the one frame intact;
• a generating step of generating a high-frequency enhanced image and a low-frequency enhanced image from the one frame and the intermediate frame, in which intermediate frame the pixel value of a pixel has been replaced in said replacing step;
• and
• an output step of alternately outputting the high-frequency enhanced image and the low-frequency enhanced image.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for an image processing apparatus, said method comprising:

• an input step of inputting a plurality of frames;
• a replacing step of replacing one pixel value of a pixel of interest in one of the plurality of frames with a pixel value, smaller than that of the pixel of interest, of pixel values of all pixels in a block within the one frame including the pixel of interest, and saving the result into an intermediate frame keeping the one frame intact;
• a generating step of generating a high-frequency enhanced image and a low-frequency enhanced image from the one frame and the intermediate frame, in which intermediate frame the pixel value of a pixel has been replaced in said replacing step;
• and
• an output step of alternately outputting the high-frequency enhanced image and the low-frequency enhanced image.