Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

An image processing method performed in an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• accumulating, with a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels to conduct long-time exposure and a plurality of pixels to conduct short-time exposure, charges in each of the pixels based on subject light,
• performing, with a pixel information combining unit that is part of an operating unit, a pixel value combining process on a long-time exposure pixel and a short-time exposure pixel,
• wherein the pixel value combining process includes processes of:
• calculating a plurality of blending ratios based on pixel values of a plurality of pixels of different periods of exposure time;
• determining an applied blending ratio, which is applied to a blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel, by combining at least two of the plurality of blending ratios;
• and
• determining pixel values of an output image or an intermediate image which is applied to the output image through the blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel to which the applied blending ratio is applied,
• wherein the operating unit outputs the output image to a signal processing unit.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute a program for causing a pixel information combining unit of an image processing apparatus to perform a pixel value combining process on a long-time exposure pixel and a short-time exposure pixel, the pixel value combining process including acts of:

• receiving image signal data from a pixel unit of that includes a plurality of pixels to conduct long-time exposure and a plurality of pixels to conduct short-time exposure
• calculating a plurality of blending ratios based on pixel values of a plurality of pixels of different periods of exposure time;
• determining an applied blending ratio, which is applied to a blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel, by combining at least two of the plurality of blending ratios;
• and
• determining pixel values of an output image or an intermediate image which is applied to the output image by the blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel to which the applied blending ratio is applied,
• outputting pixel values of the output image or the intermediate image to a signal processing unit.