Image processing for wide dynamic range (WDR) sensor data

A signal processing chain for wide dynamic range (WDR) multi-frame processing, comprising:

• a statistics generation block;
• a WDR merge block having a WDR merge algorithm, both said statistics generation block and said WDR merge block are coupled for receiving raw image signals from a WDR sensor comprising a plurality of frames that each include a plurality of pixels, said plurality of frames including a first frame having first exposure time pixel data (first pixel data) and at least a second frame having second exposure time pixel data (second pixel data), said first and said second pixel data having an intensity value;
• said statistics generation block for generating statistics for camera control including first statistics for said first pixel data and second statistics for said second pixel data;
• said WDR merge block for merging said first pixel data and said second pixel data using said WDR merge algorithm which utilizes said first statistics and said second statistics to generate a raw higher bit width single frame image;
• a post-processing block for post-processing said raw higher bit width single frame image using at least a defect pixel correction algorithm, and
• a tone mapping block for performing at least a portion of tone mapping performed by said signal processing chain to provide an output tone mapped image.