Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and program

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing unit inputting images that have been picked up while exposure control that changes an exposure time is being carried out with a predetermined spatial period and a predetermined temporal period on pixels that compose an image sensor, and carrying out image processing,
• wherein the HDR processing unit:
• generates a first combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process using a plurality of images that have been picked up consecutively;
• generates a second combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process that uses a single picked-up image;
• and
• generates an HDR (high dynamic range) image by executing a pixel value blending process on the first combined image and the second combined image in accordance with a blending ratio calculated in accordance with movement detection information;
• and
• further comprising a tone conversion processing unit inputting the HDR image generated by the HDR processing unit and reducing the number of bits of pixel values in the HDR image.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor;
• a control unit carrying out exposure control that changes an exposure time with a predetermined spatial period and a predetermined temporal period on pixels that compose the image sensor;
• and
• an HDR (high dynamic range) processing unit inputting an image picked up by the image sensor and carrying out image processing,
• wherein the HDR processing unit:
• generates a first combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process that uses a plurality of images that have been picked up consecutively;
• generates a second combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process that uses a single picked-up image;
• and
• generates an HDR (high dynamic range) image by executing a pixel value blending process on the first combined image and the second combined image in accordance with a blending ratio calculated in accordance with movement detection information;
• and
• wherein the control unit carries out control over the exposure time in line units for the image sensor and carries out different exposure control in units of picked-up image frames.