Camera having a light correction unit to correct the light quantity of abnormal pixels and an image processing method

An image processing method in a camera, the camera including:

• a light source that that applies a source light to an imaging object, the source light having a predetermined source light quantity;
• and
• an imaging sensor that acquires an image by imaging a reflected light that is formed by reflecting the source light from the light source by the imaging object, the reflected light having a reflected light quantity, the image processing method for causing a controller to execute a process, the method comprising on the controller the steps of:
• detecting an abnormal pixel in the image acquired by the imaging sensor based on a light quantity ratio of the reflected light quantity to the predetermined source light quantity, the abnormal pixel having the light quantity ratio of 1 or more;
• detecting a normal pixel in the image acquired by the imaging sensor based on the light quantity ratio, the normal pixels having the light quantity ratio of less than 1, the normal pixel being located within a predetermined distance from the abnormal pixel;
• and
• calculating a light quantity correction value based on the light quantity ratio of the normal pixel, and
• replacing the reflected light quantity of the abnormal pixel by a corrected light quantity corresponding to the light quantity correction value,
• wherein the light quantity correction value is calculated by polynomial approximation.

A camera comprising:

• a light source that irradiates a source light to an imaging object and a reference object;
• an imaging sensor that acquires an image based on a first reflected light that is formed by reflecting the source light from the light source by the imaging object and that acquires a second reflected light that is formed by reflecting the source light from the light source by the reference object, the first and second reflected lights having first and second reflected light quantities, respectively;
• a controller having a CPU and a memory, the controller being configured to:
• detect an abnormal pixel in the image acquired by the imaging sensor based on a light quantity ratio of the first reflected light quantity to the second reflected light quantity, the abnormal pixel having the light quantity ratio of 1 or more;
• detect a normal pixel in the image acquired by the imaging sensor based on the light quantity ratio, the normal pixels having the light quantity ratio of less than 1, the normal pixel being located within a predetermined distance from the abnormal pixel;
• and
• calculate a light quantity correction value based on the light quantity ratio of the normal pixel and replace the first reflected light quantity of the abnormal pixel to a corrected light quantity corresponding to the light quantity correction value, wherein
• the light quantity correction value is calculated by polynomial approximation.