JP2005182745A - Image processing method, device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance an effect of blurring correction by improving discriminating accuracy of blurring in a digital photographic image. <P>SOLUTION: A tag information reading means 110a of a condition setting means 100a reads tag information of the digital photographic image. A condition adjustment means 120a acquires easiness of blurring at the time of picking up an image D based on the tag information and adjusts default values of edge detecting conditions and discriminating conditions for discriminating the blurring in the digital photographic image stored in a default condition data base 150a according to the easiness of blurring. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus for performing blur discrimination and blur correction on a digital photographic image, particularly a digital photographic image acquired by a digital camera, and a program therefor.

  Digital photographic images obtained by photoelectrically reading photographic images recorded on photographic films such as negative films and color reversal films with a reading device such as a scanner, and digital photographic images obtained by taking images with a digital still camera (DSC) For example, printing with various image processing is performed. As one of these image processes, there is a blurred image restoration process that removes a blur from a blurred image (blurred image).

  Reasons for blurring a photographic image obtained by capturing an image of a subject include out-of-focus due to the focal length being out of focus, and out-of-focus blur due to camera shake (hereinafter referred to as blurring). . In the case of out-of-focus, the point image spreads two-dimensionally, that is, the spread on the photographic image exhibits non-directionality, whereas in the case of blur, a locus with a point image is drawn on the image one-dimensionally. Spreads, that is, has a direction with a spread on a photographic image.

  In the field of digital photographic images, various methods have been conventionally proposed for restoring blurred images. If you know information such as blur direction and blur width when capturing a photographic image, you can restore it by applying a restoration filter such as a Wiener filter or inverse filter to the photographic image. There is widely known a method of providing an apparatus (for example, an acceleration sensor) that can be acquired in an imaging apparatus, acquiring information such as a blur direction and a blur width together with imaging, and performing repair based on the acquired information (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  Further, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, a degradation function is set for a blurred image (an image with blur), and the blurred image is restored with a restoration filter corresponding to the set degradation function. A method is also known in which the image is evaluated, and the degradation function is reset based on the result of the evaluation, and the restoration is performed by repeating the restoration, evaluation, and resetting of the degradation function until the desired image quality is obtained. Yes.

  On the other hand, with the rapid spread of mobile phones, the functions of mobile phones have improved, and among them, the improvement of the functions of digital cameras attached to mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as mobile cameras) has been attracting attention. In recent years, the number of pixels of a portable camera has increased to one million, and the portable camera is used in the same way as a normal digital camera. Of course, commemorative photos when traveling with friends, as well as scenes of picking up favorite talents and athletes with a portable camera, are becoming commonplace. In such a background, a photographic image obtained by capturing with a mobile camera is not limited to being viewed on a monitor of a mobile phone, and for example, is often printed in the same manner as a photographic image acquired with a normal digital camera. It has become.

  On the other hand, since the main body (mobile phone) is not manufactured exclusively for imaging, the portable camera has a problem of poor holdability during imaging. Moreover, since a portable camera does not have a flash, the shutter speed is slower than that of a normal digital camera. For these reasons, camera shake is more likely to occur when shooting a subject with a portable camera than with a normal camera. Extreme camera shake can be confirmed on the monitor of the portable camera, but small camera shake cannot be confirmed on the monitor, and often you will notice image blur for the first time after printing. There is a high need to perform blur correction on the obtained photographic image.

  However, downsizing of mobile phones is one of the focus of competition among mobile phone manufacturers, along with their performance and cost, and a camera attached to a mobile phone is provided with a device that acquires the direction and width of blur. Since it is not realistic, the method proposed in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to a portable camera. Further, the method as proposed in Patent Document 2 needs to repeat the process of setting, repairing, evaluating the deterioration function, resetting the deterioration function, etc., so that it takes time and is not efficient. There's a problem.

Therefore, as a method capable of acquiring blur-related information from a digital photographic image without requiring a special device to be provided in the imaging device, and correcting the blur efficiently for the digital photographic image, there is a digital method. Edges are detected from a photographic image, the edge widths of these edges and edge feature values such as a histogram showing the distribution of edge widths are calculated, and the blur state (the presence or absence of blur) in the digital photographic image is calculated based on the edge feature values. It is conceivable to perform correction by discriminating the degree of blur when there is blur. Further, when detecting an edge for each of a plurality of different directions and calculating an edge feature amount for each direction, the direction of blur is determined based on the edge feature amount (directional direction). Correction can be performed by determining the degree of blur, the degree of camera shake, and the like. In this method, the blur causes the spread of the point image in the image, and an edge spread occurs in the image with the blur according to the spread of the point image. Therefore, the edge spread mode in the image is directly different from the blur in the image. It focuses on the relationship.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-112099 JP-A-7-121703

  However, when a digital photographic image is captured, the probability (blurring ease) that the image obtained by the imaging is likely to be blurred differs depending on imaging conditions such as whether the shutter speed is fast and slow or whether the strobe is ON or OFF. In the above method in which edges are detected in different directions with respect to a digital photographic image, and the state of blur is determined based on the detected feature amount of the edge, all the digital images are not taken into consideration in the field of view. Discriminating the same edge detection conditions (intensity of edge to be detected, direction and number of edges to be detected, etc.) for photographic images (existence of blur, direction of blur, degree of blur, degree of blur, etc.) If the edge detection or blur determination is performed using the (conditions for performing the above), there is a problem that accuracy is lacking.

  In addition, in the case of a digital camera attached to a mobile phone, the ease of camera shake (probability of camera shake during shooting) and the direction in which camera shakes easily (for example, vertical camera models are likely to shake up and down, and horizontal camera models are likely to shake diagonally) However, it is desired to enhance the effect of correcting digital photographic images using the characteristics of these models.

  In addition, an image with a shallow depth of field obtained by imaging a main subject such as a person is blurred in images of other portions except for the image of the main subject portion. When an edge is detected in such an image and the entire image is used when blur is determined based on the feature amount of the edge, it is highly possible that an image in which the main subject is not blurred is determined as a blurred image. As a result, there is a problem that a good correction result cannot be obtained.

  For example, when imaging using a digital camera, image data obtained by imaging a subject is compressed once before being output (recorded on a recording medium or transmitted via a network). Yes. If the same discrimination condition is applied regardless of the compression strength of a digital photographic image, blur correction based on the discrimination results will result in an image with a high compression strength compared to an image with a low compression strength. Since there is originally a lot of noise due to compression, there is a problem that noise becomes conspicuous in the corrected image.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention obtains edge feature amounts in a digital photographic image, can accurately determine blur based on the edge feature amounts, and can correct the determined blur. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and apparatus capable of obtaining the above and a program therefor.

The image processing method of the present invention detects an edge under a predetermined edge detection condition for a digital photographic image,
Obtain the feature amount of the detected edge,
In the image processing method for determining a blur state in the digital photographic image based on a predetermined determination condition using the edge feature amount,
Obtaining imaging condition information indicating imaging conditions of the digital photographic image;
The edge detection condition and / or the determination condition is set based on the imaging condition information.

  The detection is performed for each of a plurality of different directions, the feature amount of the edge is acquired for each of the directions, and the blur state includes at least the blur direction. It is preferable.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, a parameter for correcting the blur can be set based on the determination result, and the digital photographic image can be corrected using the parameter.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an edge detection unit that detects an edge under a predetermined edge detection condition;
Edge feature quantity acquisition means for acquiring a feature quantity of the detected edge;
An image processing apparatus having a blur determination unit that determines a blur state in the digital photographic image based on a predetermined determination condition using the edge feature amount.
Imaging condition information acquisition means for acquiring imaging condition information indicating an imaging condition of the digital photographic image;
And a condition setting means for setting the edge detection condition and / or the discrimination condition based on the imaging condition information.

The detection means performs the detection for each of a plurality of different directions.
The edge feature amount acquisition means acquires the edge feature amount for each of the directions,
The blur state preferably includes at least a blur direction.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a parameter setting unit that sets a parameter for correcting the blur based on a determination result by the blur determination unit, and a correction unit that corrects the digital photographic image using the parameter. May be further provided.

  Here, the “edge feature value” means a feature value related to an aspect of edge spread in a digital photographic image, and may include, for example, the edge sharpness and the edge sharpness distribution. .

  Here, as the “edge sharpness”, any parameter can be used as long as it can express the sharpness of the edge. For example, in the case of the edge shown by the edge profile in FIG. 3, the edge width is large. The edge width is used as the edge sharpness so that the edge sharpness is low, as well as the edge brightness change sharpness (the gradient of the profile curve in FIG. 3) is high so that the edge sharpness is high. The gradient of the edge profile curve may be used as the edge sharpness.

  In addition, “blurring” includes non-directional blurring or out-of-focus blur and directional blurring or blurring. In the case of blur, the blur direction corresponds to the blur direction. Becomes “no direction”. In the present invention, “no direction” is also defined as a blur direction.

  In addition, “a plurality of different directions” means directions for enabling specification of the direction of blur in a digital photographic image, and it is necessary to include directions close to the direction of blur, so the number is large. The greater the number, the higher the specific accuracy, but it is preferable to use an appropriate number according to the balance with the processing speed.

  The “edge detection condition” may be any condition that defines the edge to be detected as well as a plurality of directions in which the edge is detected.

  In order to correct blur in a digital photographic image, the direction of the blur is important information. For example, if the blur direction (no direction or blur direction) is known, when setting the parameters for correction, the isotropic correction parameter for isotropic correction in the case of blurring, Directionality correction parameters for directionality correction can be set. “Isotropic correction” means correction that works equally in each direction, and “directional correction” means correction that works only in a predetermined direction or correction that works differently depending on the direction. To do. On the other hand, since blur appears in the image as the spread of the edge, a conventionally known correction method for improving the sharpness of the image, for example, USM (Unsharpness Masking) is used as a method for correcting the blur. Can be used. When setting the correction parameters, the parameters are set according to the required correction method. For example, when USM is used as a correction method, an isotropic correction mask is set as an isotropic correction parameter, and a directionality correction mask that operates in the blur direction is set as a directionality correction parameter. That's fine.

  The “discrimination condition” in the present invention is a condition for determining at least the blur direction of the digital photographic image, and includes a condition for determining the degree of blur, the degree of blur, and the like. May be.

  In the present invention, the “imaging condition information” means information indicating conditions relating to the determination of the blur and the correction of the blur among the conditions when the digital photographic image is captured. When the digital photographic image is picked up, the digital photographic image includes the blurring property indicating the probability of causing blurring that causes directional blur and / or the blurring direction information indicating the direction in which the blurring easily occurs. In this case, the condition setting means sets the edge detection condition and / or the determination condition based on the ease of shaking and / or the direction information that easily shakes.

  Here, the imaging condition information acquisition unit may acquire the ease of blurring and / or the direction information easily blurring based on tag information attached to the digital photographic image.

  When tag information is attached to a digital photograph image, the tag information often includes information indicating an imaging condition for capturing the digital photograph image. Among these pieces of information, examples of imaging condition information in the present invention include shutter speed, strobe ON / OFF, ISO sensitivity, EV value indicating the brightness of the subject, and whether or not zoom imaging is performed.

  For example, camera shake is likely to occur when the shutter speed is slow, and thus the slowness of the shutter speed can be set as the ease of camera shake. That is, the slower the shutter speed, the greater the likelihood of blurring.

  In addition, since the shutter speed is slow when the strobe is on, the degree of blurring when the strobe is on is greater than when the strobe is off.

  Similarly, the ISO sensitivity and the brightness (EV value) of the subject are also related to the shutter speed, and the ease of blurring can be acquired based on these conditions. For example, when the ISO sensitivity is low, the shutter speed is slowed down. Therefore, the lower the ISO sensitivity, the higher the blur sensitivity can be acquired, and the brightness of the subject is low (the EV value is small). Since the shutter speed becomes slow, the ease of blur can be acquired so that the smaller the EV value, the greater the blur.

  In addition, in the case of zoom imaging and in the case of non-zoom imaging, even if the photographer shakes the same degree at the time of imaging, the degree of blurring is larger in the image obtained by zoom imaging. In other words, it is not so easy for the photographer to shake, but it is assumed that the ease of blurring in the image is the blur of the image, and that the zoomed image is larger than the image that is not zoomed. it can.

  In addition, in the case of a digital photographic image acquired by a digital camera attached to a mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as a mobile camera), the tag information is not attached or there is little information included in the tag information, so And / or when acquiring the direction information that is likely to be shaken, it may be acquired based on the model information of the mobile phone that has captured the digital photographic image.

  For example, a correspondence relationship between the model of a mobile phone and the blurring of a digital camera attached to the mobile phone of the model is set in advance in a database, and the mobile phone (to be exact, the mobile phone attached to the mobile phone) is acquired. Digital camera) model information (information indicating the model) may be acquired, and the ease of blurring of the digital photographic image may be acquired by referring to the database.

  In addition, the model information of the mobile phone may be manually input by an operator, but the photographic image captured by the mobile camera is almost directly transmitted from the mobile phone. In this case, model information may be acquired from the telephone number of the mobile phone.

  In addition to acquiring the ease of shaking from the model information of the mobile phone, it is also possible to acquire the direction information that indicates the direction in which the camera is likely to shake during imaging based on the model information of the mobile phone. For example, when taking a picture with a mobile phone model and using the mobile phone of that model (to be precise, using a digital camera attached to the mobile phone), the mobile phone is taken vertically (taken vertically) or horizontally. The correspondence relationship with the information on whether to shoot (horizontal shooting) is set in the database in advance, and the above-described vertical shooting or horizontal shooting is performed by referring to the database based on the model information of the mobile phone that picked up the digital photo image In the case of vertical shooting, and in the case of horizontal shooting, it is easy to cause blurring between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. What is necessary is just to acquire the direction information which is easy to shake.

  Further, an edge with low intensity is highly likely to be noise, and a human recognizes blur based on the state of the edge with high intensity. Preferably, the edge detection condition includes the predetermined threshold value. In this case, the condition setting means increases the degree of blurring and increases the predetermined value. The threshold value can be set small.

  Further, the edge detection condition includes a plurality of different directions for detecting an edge in the edge detection means, and a threshold value of a predetermined edge intensity corresponding to each of the directions. For each direction, only edges having an intensity equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold corresponding to the direction are detected, and the condition setting unit decreases the threshold corresponding to the direction as the direction is closer to the blurring direction. This is preferably set.

  Also, edges that are not related to acquisition of blur detection, edges that may make it difficult to acquire blur information, or may cause incorrect blur detection (for example, edges with complex shapes or edges that include a light source) In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the edge detection condition includes an invalid edge determination test for determining whether the edge is an invalid edge or not. The edge detection means comprises invalid edge removal means for removing, as the invalid edge, an edge that satisfies the invalid edge determination condition from the detected edge, and the condition setting means It is preferable that the invalid edge determination condition is strictly set.

  Further, the edge detection condition includes an invalid edge determination condition for determining whether the edge corresponding to each of the plurality of different directions and each direction in which the edge detection unit detects an edge is an invalid edge. And the edge detection means includes edge removal means for removing, as an invalid edge, an edge that satisfies the invalid edge determination condition corresponding to the direction from the edge detected in each direction. It is preferable that the condition setting means sets the invalid edge determination condition corresponding to the direction more strictly in the direction closer to the blurring direction.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said condition setting means increases the number of the said different directions which detect the said edge, so that the said ease of shaking is large.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said condition setting means increases the number of the said direction, so that it is near the said direction which is easy to shake, when setting the said several different direction.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the blur determination unit also determines a degree of blur indicating a certain degree of blur due to directional blur.
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
It is preferable that the condition setting means sets the blur degree determination condition to be relaxed as the degree of blur is large.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the blur determination unit also determines a degree of blur indicating the magnitude of the blur.
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
It is preferable that the condition setting unit sets the blur degree determination condition to be relaxed as the blur easily increases.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the parameter setting unit and the correction unit perform the setting of the parameter and the correction only for the digital photograph image in which the degree of blur is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
It is preferable that the condition setting means sets the predetermined threshold value smaller as the degree of blur is greater.

The imaging condition information in the present invention may include an F value of a lens of an imaging apparatus that has captured the digital photographic image. In this case, the edge detection condition is a region for detecting an edge in the digital photographic image. Including edge detection area information to indicate,
The edge detection means detects the edge only in the region;
It is preferable that the condition setting means sets the region in a central portion of the digital photographic image with respect to the digital photographic image in which the F value is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

  There are images with shallow depth of field, such as those obtained by taking a person up, among the digital photographic images. In such images with shallow depth of field, even if the main subject is not blurred, Since the part other than the subject is almost blurred, when the edge is detected in the entire image and the blur is determined, an image in which the main subject is not blurred is also erroneously determined as a blurred image. Therefore, in the case of an image with a shallow depth of field, it is preferable to use the main subject portion as a region for detecting the edge, and detect the edge from the image of this portion to determine blur. In a photographic image, since the main subject is often located in the central portion, an edge detection region can be set in the central portion of the image for an image having a shallow depth of field. In addition, since the F value of the imaging device that captured the digital photographic image can indicate the depth of field of the digital photographic image, the F value below a predetermined threshold (for example, 5.6) is used here. The digital photographic image may be determined as an image having a shallow depth of field.

  Similarly, from the viewpoint of the subject depth, the subject depth of the zoomed image is shallower than the subject depth of the image that is not zoomed. Thus, it is preferable to set the edge detection region at the center of the image.

In the present invention, “imaging” means that image data is output (recorded on a recording medium such as an internal memory or a memory card, or transmitted via a network by a communication means) after the shutter is pressed. The “imaging condition” includes the compression strength (compression strength) when a digital photographic image is output. For example, in the case of a digital camera, there are models in which “fine”, “normal”, and “economy” can be set as settings relating to the compression strength as the setting of the imaging conditions before imaging, and these settings each have a compression strength of “ It corresponds to “small”, “normal”, and “large”. Further, even in a model in which the compression strength cannot be set, the compression strength is uniquely set in the model. The image processing apparatus of the present invention acquires such compression strength as an imaging condition for a digital photographic image, and the blur determination unit also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of blur.
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
It is preferable that the condition setting unit sets the blur degree determination condition more severely as the compression strength increases.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a parameter setting unit that sets a parameter for correcting the blur based on a determination result by the blur determination unit;
Correction means for correcting the digital photographic image using the parameter,
The blur determining means also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of the blur;
The parameter setting unit and the correction unit perform the setting of the parameter and the correction only for the digital photograph image in which the degree of blur is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold,
The condition setting means may also set the predetermined threshold, and the predetermined threshold may be set larger as the compression strength increases.

  The image processing method of the present invention may be provided as a program that causes a computer to execute the image processing method.

  According to the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, when determining the blur state in the digital photographic image from the digital photographic image, the imaging condition information when the digital photographic image is captured is acquired, and the imaging condition information For detecting blur based on imaging condition information by reflecting the ease of blurring and the direction of blurring of digital images, and conditions for discriminating between normal and blurred images In addition, the accuracy of the discrimination can be improved by adjusting the conditions for discriminating the blur.

  Also, based on the depth of field of the image reflected by the imaging condition information, the central portion that is likely to be the main subject region is limited to the region where the edge is detected with respect to the image having a shallow depth of field. Thus, even in the case of an image with a shallow depth of field, it is possible to increase the accuracy of blur determination.

  Acquires the model information of the cellular phone acquired by the digital camera attached to the cellular phone, obtains the direction of image blurring and the direction in which blurring is likely to occur based on the model information, and the higher the blurring image, the more the edge By adjusting the edge detection condition by increasing the direction in which the image is detected, or increasing the direction in which the edge is detected as the direction is more likely to blur, the accuracy of blur determination can be increased.

  Therefore, when setting and correcting a parameter for correcting blur based on the determination result, the accuracy of blur determination is good, and a good correction effect can be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system A which is a first embodiment of an image processing method and apparatus and a program therefor according to the present invention. An image processing system A shown in FIG. 1 performs image processing by reading an image from a recording medium 1 on which a photographic image (hereinafter simply referred to as an image) acquired by a digital camera is recorded. An image group consisting of the images is recorded. Here, one image D of the image group will be described as an example.

  As shown in the figure, the image processing system A according to the present embodiment sets edge detection conditions and discrimination conditions for an image D read from the recording medium 1, and sets the edge detection means 12a and analysis means 20a to be described later. Condition setting means 100a for transmitting, reduction means 10a for performing reduction processing on image D to obtain reduced image D0 of image D, and edge set by condition setting means 100a using reduced image D0 and image D Edge detection means 12a for detecting an edge for each of a plurality of different directions included in the detection condition, edge feature quantity acquisition means 16a for obtaining the edge feature quantity S obtained by the edge detection means 12a, and edge feature quantity S The blur direction in the image D and the blur degree N of the image D are calculated to determine whether the image D is a blur image or a normal image. Information P indicating that the image D is a normal image is transmitted to the force unit 60a and the process is terminated. On the other hand, in the case of a blurred image, the blur degree K and the blurred width L of the image D are further calculated, An analysis unit 20a that transmits to the parameter setting unit 30a, which will be described later, as the blur information Q together with the degree N, and a plurality of parameters E (E0, E1, E2,...) The image D is corrected using the parameter setting means 30a to be set and the parameters E0, E1, E2,..., And the corrected image D′ 0 corresponding to each parameter is corrected. , D′ 1, D′ 2,..., And output means for determining the target image D ′ from the corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2,. Determination means 45a to output to 60a When the storage means 50a storing various databases for the analysis means 20a and the parameter setting means 30a and the information P indicating that the image D is a normal image are received from the analysis means 20a, the image D is output. On the other hand, when the target image D ′ is received from the determining unit 45a, an output unit 60a that outputs the target image D ′ is provided. The edge detection unit 12a includes an edge narrowing unit 14a that removes invalid edges.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the condition setting means 100a in the image processing system A of the embodiment shown in FIG. As illustrated, the condition setting unit 100a includes a default condition database DB 150a that stores a default condition of an edge detection condition for the edge detection unit 12a and a default condition of a determination condition for the analysis unit, and tag information attached to the image D. The edge detection condition and the discrimination condition are set by adjusting the default condition stored in the DB 150a based on the tag information reading means 110a that reads the image information and the imaging condition information in the tag information obtained by the tag information reading means 110a. Each has edge detection means 12a and condition setting means 120a for transmission to analysis means 20a. If there is no tag information in the image D, or imaging condition information for setting edge detection conditions and discrimination conditions is not included in the tag information of the image D, the condition adjustment unit 120a transmits a default condition. To do.

  Details of each component of the condition setting unit 100a will be described later. First, the condition setting unit 100a in the image processing system A will be described by taking default conditions (default edge detection conditions and default determination conditions) as an example. The details of the other configuration will be described.

  In this embodiment, the edge detection condition includes an edge detection area, an edge detection direction, an edge strength threshold value, and an invalid edge determination condition. The default edge detection condition corresponds to each of the above. Thus, the entire image, eight directions indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2, the threshold value T1, and the complexity threshold value (for example, 4) are obtained. The edge detection unit 12a first detects only edges having an intensity equal to or higher than the threshold T1 in each of the eight directions as indicated by the solid line in FIG. Next, the edge detection means 12a creates an edge profile as shown in FIG. 3 for these edges using the image D based on the detected coordinate position of each edge in each direction.

  The edge narrowing means 14a in the edge detection means 12a removes edges having a complex profile shape based on the edge profile acquired above and outputs the remaining edge profile to the edge feature quantity acquisition means 16a. To do. Specifically, in the detected edge profile, the number of positions exhibiting peaks is acquired (in the case of the example shown in FIG. 4, this number is six indicated by black circles), and the number of edges is one. In some cases, the complexity is 1, and when the number of edges is 2, the complexity is 2, and so on, and this number is regarded as complexity, and edges with complexity of 4 or more are removed as invalid edges. .

  The edge feature quantity acquisition means 16a obtains the edge width as shown in FIG. 3 for each edge based on the edge profile output from the edge narrowing means 14a, and obtains the edge width as shown in FIG. A histogram is created for each of the eight directions shown in FIG. 2, and is output to the analyzing means 20a as an edge feature amount S together with the edge width.

    The analysis means 20a mainly performs the following two processes.

  1. The blur direction in the image D and the blur degree N of the image D are obtained to determine whether the image D is a blur image or a normal image.

  2. When the image D is determined to be a blurred image, a blur width L and a blur degree K are calculated.

  Here, the first process will be described.

  In order to obtain the blur direction in the image D, the analysis unit 20a first sets two directions orthogonal to each other to a histogram of edge widths in eight directions indicated by solid lines in FIG. As the direction set, the correlation value of the histogram of each direction set (1-5, 2-6, 3-7, 4-8) is obtained. Note that there are various types of correlation values, depending on how they are obtained.If the correlation value is large, the correlation type is small, and if the correlation value is the same as the correlation level, that is, if the correlation value is small, the correlation type is small. It can be roughly divided into two types. In this embodiment, as an example, a correlation value of a type in which the magnitude of the correlation value matches the magnitude of the correlation is used. As shown in FIG. 6, when there is blur in the image, the correlation between the blur direction histogram and the histogram in the direction orthogonal to the blur direction is small (see FIG. 6A). The correlation of the histogram is large in the orthogonal direction set not related to or in the orthogonal direction set when there is no blur in the image (no blur or out of focus) (see FIG. 6B). The analysis unit 20a in the image processing system A of the present embodiment pays attention to such a tendency, obtains the correlation value of the histogram of each group for the four direction groups, and obtains the two directions of the direction group having the smallest correlation. Find out. If there is blurring in the image D, one of these two directions can be considered as the direction closest to the blurring direction among the eight directions indicated by the solid lines in FIG.

  FIG. 6C shows a histogram of edge widths in the direction of the blur obtained for each image obtained by imaging the same subject under imaging conditions without blurring, blurring, and blurring (blurring and blurring). Show. As can be seen from FIG. 6 (c), the normal image without blur has the smallest average edge width, that is, of the two directions found above, the one with the largest average edge width is the most blurred. The direction should be close to.

  In this way, the analysis unit 20a finds the direction set having the smallest correlation, and sets the direction with the larger average edge width among the two directions of the direction set as the blur direction.

  Next, the analysis unit 20a obtains the degree of blur N of the image D. The degree of blur of the image indicates the magnitude of the degree of blur in the image. For example, the average edge width in the direction most blurred in the image (here, the blur direction obtained above) may be used. However, here, the edge width of each edge in the blur direction is used to obtain more accurately using the database based on FIG. FIG. 7 is based on the normal image database for learning and the blurred (blurred and blurred) image database, and the direction in which the image is most blurred (in the case of a normal image, a direction corresponding to this direction is desirable, but arbitrary The edge width distribution histogram (which may be the direction of the image) is created, and the ratio between the frequency in the blurred image and the frequency in the normal image (the vertical axis in the drawing) is obtained for each edge width as an evaluation value (the score in the drawing). Is. Based on FIG. 7, a database (hereinafter referred to as score database) in which the edge width and the score are associated with each other is created and stored in the storage unit 50a.

  The analysis unit 20a refers to the score database created based on FIG. 7 and stored in the storage unit 50a, acquires a score from the edge width of each edge in the blur direction of the image D, and calculates the blur direction. The average value of the scores of all edges is obtained as the degree of blur N of the image D. If the obtained blur degree N of the image D is smaller than the threshold value T2 that is one of the default determination conditions in the DB 150a of the condition setting unit 100a, the analysis unit 20a determines the image D as a normal image and the image D When the information P indicating that the image is a normal image is output to the output means 60a, the processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the degree of blur N of the image D is greater than or equal to the threshold T2, the analysis unit 20a determines that the image D is a blurred image and enters the second process.

  As a second process, the analysis unit 20a first obtains the degree of blur K of the image D.

  The degree of blur K indicating the degree of blur in the blur image can be obtained based on the following factors.

1. Correlation value of the direction group with the smallest correlation (hereinafter referred to as the minimum correlation group): The smaller the correlation value, the greater the degree of blurring. The analysis means 20a pays attention to this point and based on the curve shown in FIG. The first blur degree K1 corresponding to the correlation value of the minimum correlation set is obtained. Note that the default values of the threshold values T3a and T3b in FIG. 8A are also stored in the DB 150a of the condition setting unit 100a as default determination conditions.

2. Of the two directions of the minimum correlation set, the average edge width in the direction where the average edge width is large: The larger the average edge width, the greater the degree of blurring. The analysis means 20a pays attention to this point, and FIG. The second blurring degree K2 corresponding to the average edge width in the direction in which the average edge width of the smallest correlation set is large is obtained based on the curve shown in FIG. Note that the default values of the threshold values T4a and T4b in FIG. 8B are also stored in the DB 150a of the condition setting unit 100a as default determination conditions. The difference between the average edge widths in the two directions of the minimum correlation set: the greater this difference, the greater the degree of blurring. The analysis means 20a pays attention to this point, based on the curve shown in FIG. A third blur degree K3 corresponding to the difference between the average edge widths in the two directions of the minimum correlation set is obtained. Note that the default values of the threshold values T5a and T5b in FIG. 8C are also stored in the DB 150a of the condition setting unit 100a as default determination conditions.

  In this way, the analyzing means 20a obtains the first blur degree K1, the second blur degree K2, and the third blur degree K3, and blurs using K1, K2, and K3 according to the following equation (1). The blurring degree K of the blurred image D to be an image is obtained.

K = K1 × K2 × K3 (1)
Where K: degree of blurring K1: first degree of blurring K2: second degree of blurring K3: third degree of blurring

Next, the analysis unit 20a obtains the blur width L of the image D that becomes a blurred image. Here, regardless of the blurring degree K, the average width of the edges in the blur direction may be obtained as the blur width L, or the average edge width of the edges in all eight directions indicated by the solid lines in FIG. The blur width is L.

  The analysis unit 20a outputs the blur degree K and the blur width L obtained for the image D, which is a blur image, to the parameter setting unit 30a as the blur information Q together with the blur direction and the blur degree N.

  The image processing system A according to the present embodiment performs correction on the image D by an unsharpness masking (USM) correction method, and the parameter setting unit 30a performs the blur width L according to the blur width L and the blur direction. A one-dimensional correction mask M1 for directivity correction that acts in the blur direction is set such that the larger the blur width L is, the larger the blur width L is. Is set so as to increase the isotropic correction mask M2. The two-dimensional correction mask corresponding to each blur width and the one-dimensional correction mask corresponding to each blur width and blur direction are stored in the storage unit 50a as a database (referred to as a mask database), and the parameter setting unit 30a includes: From the mask database stored in the storage means 50a, a one-dimensional correction mask M1 is obtained based on the blur width L and the blur direction, and a two-dimensional correction mask M2 is obtained based on the blur width L. According to the following equation (2), A one-dimensional correction parameter W1 for directionality correction and a two-dimensional correction parameter W2 for isotropic correction are set.

W1 = N × K × M1
W2 = N * (1-K) * M2 (2)
However, W1: One-dimensional correction parameter
W2: Two-dimensional correction parameter
N: Defocus degree
K: Degree of blur
M1: One-dimensional correction mask
M2: Two-dimensional correction mask In other words, the parameter setting means 30a increases the isotropic correction strength and the directionality correction strength as the degree of blur N increases, and the directionality correction weight increases as the blur degree K increases. Are set correction parameters W1 and W2 (collectively, parameter E0).

  Here, the parameter setting unit 30a further adjusts the degree of blur N, the degree of blur K, and the correction masks M1 and M2 with respect to the set parameter E0, and adjusts the degree of blur N, the degree of blur K, and the correction. A plurality of correction parameters E1, E2,... Different from the correction parameter E0 are obtained according to the equation (2) using the masks M1, M2.

  The parameter setting means 30a outputs the correction parameter E (E0, E1, E2,...) Thus obtained to the correction means 40a.

  The correction means 40a performs correction by applying the parameters E0, E1, E2,... To the image D, respectively, and corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2,.・ ・ Get.

  The determining unit 45a includes a display unit (not shown) for displaying each corrected image obtained by the correction unit 40a, and an input unit (not shown) for selecting a corrected image desired by the user from each displayed corrected image. The image selected by the user from the corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2,... Is determined as the target image D ′ and output to the output unit 60a.

  The output unit 60a outputs the image D when the information P indicating that the image D is a normal image is received from the analysis unit 20a, while the target image when the target image D ′ is received from the determination unit 45a. D 'is output. In the present embodiment, “output” by the output unit 60a is printing, and the output unit 60a prints the target image D ′ obtained by correcting the image D of the normal image and the image D of the blurred image to obtain a print. However, it may be stored in a recording medium, sent to an image storage server on the network, or an address on the network designated by the client who requested the image correction. .

  Here, the description returns to the condition setting means 100a shown in FIG. As described above, in the image processing system A according to the present embodiment, the edge detection conditions for the edge detection unit 12a (including the edge narrowing unit 14a) include the edge detection region, the edge detection direction, and the edge strength. The threshold value T1 and the complexity threshold value that is an invalid edge determination condition. The determination condition for the analysis unit 20a is a threshold value T2 of the blur degree N of the image D for determining whether the image D is a blurred image or a normal image. , Threshold values T3a and T3b of the correlation value of the minimum correlation set, average edge width thresholds T4a and T4b in the direction in which the average edge width of the minimum correlation set is large, and Threshold values T5a and T5b of the difference between the average edge widths in the two directions are included. The default values of these edge detection conditions and determination conditions are stored in the DB 150a of the condition setting means 100a, and the condition adjustment means 120a has no tag information in the image D, or sets the edge detection conditions and determination conditions. When the imaging condition information is not included in the tag information of the image D, the default value of each condition is set, but the tag information is attached to the image D, and the edge detection condition and the discrimination condition are set in the tag information When the imaging condition information is included, the default values of the edge detection conditions and the discrimination conditions are adjusted based on the imaging condition information. Here, as tag information, an example is obtained in which the lens F value, shutter speed, information indicating strobe ON / OFF, ISO sensitivity, EV value, whether or not the image is a zoom image, and a compression rate are acquired. The operation of the adjusting unit 120a will be described.

  The condition setting unit 120a uses either the case where the F-number of the lens is a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5.6) or less and the case where zoom imaging is performed (in this case, the image D has a shallow depth of field). The edge detection region is adjusted from the entire image D to the center portion of the image D and 60% of the image D, while in other cases (not zoom imaging and In the case where the F value is greater than 5.6), the edge detection region is the entire default image D. The edge detection unit 12a detects an edge in the region set by the condition setting unit 120a.

  In addition, the condition setting unit 120a is configured such that when the shutter speed is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, when the strobe is ON, when the ISO sensitivity is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, when the EV value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, or when zoom imaging is performed. Based on the fact that camera shake is likely to occur when an image is captured (in the case of zoom imaging, blur is likely to appear in the image), in these cases, the edge detection means 12a detects the edge by increasing the ease of blurring of the image D. 16 directions obtained by increasing the direction indicated by the dotted line based on the eight directions indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 are output to the edge detecting means 12a. The edge detection unit 12a detects an edge for each direction from the condition setting unit 120a, and performs processing for acquiring subsequent edge feature amounts and processing by the analysis unit 20a for the edges in the 16 directions.

  Further, in these cases, in order to tighten the invalid edge determination condition, the condition setting unit 120a adjusts the complexity threshold value, which becomes the invalid edge determination condition, from the default 4 to 3, and outputs it to the edge detection unit 12a. . The edge narrowing means 14a provided in the edge detection means 12a removes an edge having a complexity of 3 or more as an invalid edge according to the invalid edge determination condition.

  As an adjustment of the determination condition for the analysis unit 20a, the condition setting unit 120a uses a threshold value T2 of the degree of blur N for determining whether the image D is determined to be largely blurred or not as a normal image or a blurred image. Is set to be smaller than the default value, and the threshold values T3a, T3b, T4a, T4b, T5a, and T5b for obtaining the blur degree K are set to be smaller than the respective default values. Furthermore, the condition setting unit 120a adjusts the threshold value of the blur degree N set according to the degree of blur so that the threshold value increases as the compression strength indicated by the compression rate of the image D increases.

  The edge detection conditions and determination conditions set in this way are output to the edge detection means 12a and the analysis means 20a, respectively. The edge detection means 12a and the analysis means 20a use the output edge detection conditions and determination conditions, respectively. Perform the process.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing system A of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, for the image D read from the recording medium 1, first, the edge detection condition and the discrimination condition are set by the condition setting unit 100a (S10), and the reduction process is performed by the reduction unit 10a. Thus, the reduced image D0 is obtained (S11). The edge detection unit 12a first detects only edges having an intensity equal to or higher than the threshold T1 for each of a plurality of different directions included in the edge detection condition set in step S10 for the reduced image D0. Get the coordinate position. Next, the edge detection means 12a creates an edge profile as shown in FIG. 3 for these edges using the image D based on the detected coordinate position of each edge in each direction (S12). ). The edge narrowing means 14a provided in the edge detecting means 12a removes invalid edges based on the threshold value of the edge complexity which is an invalid edge determination condition included in the edge detection condition set in step S10. The remaining edge profile is output to the edge feature quantity acquisition means (S14). The edge feature quantity acquisition unit 16a obtains the width of each edge based on the profile of each edge transmitted from the edge narrowing unit 14a, creates an edge width histogram for each direction, and creates the width of each edge. And the histogram of the edge width in each direction is output to the analyzing means 20a as the edge feature amount S of the image D (S16). The analysis unit 20a first calculates the blur direction and the blur degree N of the image D using the edge feature amount S, and discriminates whether the image is a normal image or a blur image included in the discrimination condition set in step S10. Based on the threshold value T2 of the blur degree N, it is determined whether the image D is a blurred image or a normal image (S20, S25). If the image D is a normal image (S25: Yes), the analysis unit 20a outputs information P indicating that the image D is a normal image to the output unit 60a (S30), and the output unit 60a outputs the information P. When received, the image D is printed to obtain a print (S35).

  On the other hand, when the image D is determined to be a blurred image in step S25 (S25: No), the analysis unit 20a includes the threshold values T3a and T3b of the correlation values of the minimum correlation set included in the determination condition set in step S10. The blurring degree K of the image D based on the thresholds T4a and T4b of the average edge width in the direction in which the average edge width of the minimum correlation set is large and the thresholds T5a and T5b of the difference between the average edge widths in the two directions of the minimum correlation set. Then, the blur width L is further calculated and output to the parameter setting unit 30a as blur information Q together with the blur degree N and the blur direction obtained in step S20 (S40, S45). The parameter setting unit 30a obtains the one-dimensional correction parameter W1 and the two-dimensional correction parameter W2 based on the blur information Q from the analysis unit 20a. The obtained pair of correction parameters W1 and W2 is set as a correction parameter E0, and a plurality of correction parameters E1, E2,... Are further adjusted by adjusting the degree of blur N, the blurring degree K, the mask size of the correction masks M1, M2, etc. Is output to the correction means 40a (S50).

  The correction means 40a performs correction by applying the correction parameters E0, E1, E2,... To the image D, respectively, and corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2, respectively corresponding to the correction parameters. Is obtained (S55).

  The determination unit 45a displays each corrected image obtained by the correction unit 40a on a display unit (not shown), and determines the corrected image selected by the user as the target image D ′ via the input unit (not shown). To the output means 60a (S60).

  The output unit 60a obtains a print by printing the target image D 'from the determination unit 45a (S70).

  As described above, according to the image processing system A of the present embodiment, in order to efficiently correct the blur of the digital photographic image, the blur is determined for the digital photographic image, the blur information is acquired, and the acquired blur information is acquired. When the correction parameters are set and corrected based on the image capturing condition information when the digital photographic image is captured, the image D reflected by the image capturing condition information is likely to be shaken (the image D is blurred). The edge detection condition for determining blur based on a certain degree of probability), the condition for determining whether the image is a normal image or a blur image, and the degree of blur indicating the degree of blurring By adjusting the conditions and the like, it is possible to improve the accuracy of discrimination, and as a result, the effect of correction can be improved.

  Also, based on the depth of field of the image reflected by the imaging condition information, the central portion that is likely to be the main subject region is limited to the region where the edge is detected with respect to the image having a shallow depth of field. Thus, even in the case of an image with a shallow depth of field, it is possible to increase the accuracy of blur determination.

  Further, the larger the compression strength indicated by the compression rate of the image, the larger the threshold value for discriminating whether this image is a normal image or a blurred image, thereby correcting the image having a high compression strength. It is possible to prevent the noise from becoming conspicuous later.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the image processing system B of the present embodiment, the image D is obtained by taking an image with a digital camera attached to the mobile phone. As shown in the figure, the image processing system B of the present embodiment sets condition detection means 100b for setting an edge detection condition for an image D read from the recording medium 1, and transmits the condition to the edge detection means 12b described later; A reduction unit 10b that performs reduction processing on the image D to obtain a reduced image D0 of the image D, and a plurality of different edge detection conditions set by the condition setting unit 100b using the reduced image D0 and the image D An edge detection unit 12b that detects an edge for each direction, an edge feature amount acquisition unit 16b that acquires an edge feature amount S obtained by the edge detection unit 12b, and a blur direction in the image D using the edge feature amount S And the blur degree N of the image D is calculated to determine whether the image D is a blurred image or a normal image. If the image D is a normal image, the image D is output to the output means 60b described later. In the case of a blurred image, the blur degree K and the blur width L of the image D are further calculated, and the blur information Q along with the blur direction and the blur degree N are transmitted. And a plurality of parameters E (E0, E1, E2,...) For correcting the image D that becomes a blurred image based on the blur information Q from the analyzing unit 20b. ..) The image D is corrected using the parameter setting means 30b to be set and the parameters E0, E1, E2,..., And corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D corresponding to the respective parameters are corrected. .., And a determination unit that determines the target image D ′ from the corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2,... And outputs the target image D ′ to the output unit 60b. 45b and analysis means 20b When the storage means 50b storing various databases for the parameter setting means 30b and the information P indicating that the image D is a normal image are received from the analysis means 20b, the image D is output while the determination means When the target image D ′ is received from 45b, output means 60b for outputting the target image D ′ is provided. The edge detection means 12b is provided with edge narrowing means 14b for removing invalid edges.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the condition setting unit 100b in the image processing system B of the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the condition setting unit 100b stores a model DB 160b that stores information indicating the correspondence relationship between the model of each mobile phone and the likelihood of shaking, and default conditions for edge detection conditions for the edge detection unit 12b. The default condition database DB 150b, the model information acquisition unit 110b that acquires information indicating the model of the mobile phone that captured the image D, and the mobile phone that captured the image D with reference to the model DB based on the model information of the image D Condition setting means for acquiring a direction that is likely to shake as direction information that is likely to be shaken, and setting an edge detection condition by adjusting a default condition stored in the DB 150b based on the direction information that is likely to be shaken and transmitting the condition to the edge detection means 12b 120b. When the model information of the mobile phone that has captured the image D cannot be acquired, the condition adjustment unit 120b sets a default edge detection condition.

  Details of each configuration of the condition setting unit 100b will be described later. Here, first, details of other configurations excluding the condition setting unit 100b in the image processing system B are described by taking a default edge detection condition as an example. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the edge detection condition includes a direction in which an edge is detected, an edge strength threshold value corresponding to each direction, and an invalid edge determination condition corresponding to each direction. As a default edge detection condition, Corresponding to each of the above, the threshold value t1 is the same for the eight directions and the eight directions indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 13, and the threshold value is the same for the eight directions (for example, 4). The edge detection means 12b first detects only edges having an intensity equal to or higher than the threshold value t1 for each of the eight directions as indicated by the solid line in FIG. Next, the edge detection means 12b creates an edge profile as shown in FIG. 3 for these edges using the image D based on the detected coordinate position of each edge in each direction.

  The edge narrowing means 14b in the edge detection means 12b removes edges having a complex profile shape based on the edge profile acquired above and outputs the remaining edge profile to the edge feature quantity acquisition means 16b. To do. Specifically, in the detected edge profile, the number of positions exhibiting peaks is acquired (in the case of the example shown in FIG. 4, this number is seven indicated by black circles), and the number of edges is one. In some cases, the complexity is 1, and when the number of edges is 2, the complexity is 2, and so on, and this number is regarded as complexity, and edges with complexity of 4 or more are removed as invalid edges. .

  The edge feature quantity acquisition means 16b obtains the edge width as shown in FIG. 3 for each edge based on the edge profile output from the edge narrowing means 14b, and obtains the edge width as shown in FIG. A histogram is created for each of the eight directions of the solid line shown in FIG. 13, and is output to the analyzing means 20b as an edge feature amount S together with the edge width.

  The basic operation of the analyzing means 20b is the same as that of the analyzing means 20a in the image processing system shown in FIG. 1, but in order to obtain the threshold value T2 of the blur degree N for determining whether the image is a normal image or a blurred image, and the blurring degree K. The threshold values (threshold values T3a, T3b, T4a, T4b, T5a, and T5b shown in FIG. 8) are not set by the condition setting unit 100b, but use fixed values stored in the storage unit 50b.

  The parameter setting unit 30b, the correction unit 40b, the determination unit 45b, and the output unit 60b have the same operation as the corresponding configuration of the image processing system A according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here. To do.

  Returning to the description of the condition setting means 100b shown in FIG. As described above, in the image processing system B of the present embodiment, the edge detection condition for the edge detection unit 12b (including the edge narrowing unit 14b) includes the edge detection direction and the edge strength threshold corresponding to each direction. t1 and a threshold value of complexity as an invalid edge determination condition, default values of these edge detection conditions are stored in the DB 150b of the condition setting unit 100b, and the condition adjustment unit 120b If the model information cannot be acquired, the default values of the respective conditions are set. However, if the model information can be acquired, the blurring direction indicating the blurring direction of the image D from the model DB 160b based on the model information. Information is acquired, and the default value of each edge detection condition is adjusted based on the direction information that tends to fluctuate.

  In the present embodiment, in the model DB 160b, as direction information that is likely to shake, the vertical direction model (direction 1 shown in FIG. 13) is used for vertical shooting models, and the diagonal direction (direction 7 shown in FIG. 13) is used for horizontal shooting models. ) Is stored corresponding to the model of the mobile phone.

  The model information acquisition unit 110b may acquire the model information of the mobile phone that has captured the image D from the attached information of the image D or the like, or may be an input unit that allows the user to input manually.

  The condition setting unit 120b is based on the model of the mobile phone that has captured the image D acquired by the model information acquisition unit 110. In the image D, the direction in which the blur is likely to occur is the above-described vertical direction or the diagonal direction. Information is acquired, and the edge detection direction is set so as to increase the edge detection direction as it is closer to the blurring direction. Specifically, for example, in the case where the direction in which the blur is likely to occur in the image D is the oblique direction 7, two directions sandwiching the direction 7 other than the eight directions indicated by the solid lines in FIG. One direction (directions 7a and 7b indicated by dotted lines) is increased between each direction (direction 6 and direction 8). Also. In order to determine the subsequent blur, a direction orthogonal to the increased direction (direction 3a with respect to direction 7a and direction 3b with respect to direction 7b) is also added.

  In addition to the edge detection direction, as edge detection conditions, an edge strength threshold t1 corresponding to each direction and a complexity threshold serving as an invalid edge determination condition are also adjusted. Specifically, the edge strength threshold t1 is lowered with respect to the direction close to the direction in which the image is likely to shake (when the direction in which the image is likely to shake is the direction 7, the directions 6, 7a, 7b, and 8 shown in FIG. 13) The threshold of complexity in the direction is also lowered.

  The edge detection conditions set in this way are output to the edge detection means 12b, and the edge detection means 12b performs edge detection using the output edge detection conditions.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing system B of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, for the image D acquired by the digital camera attached to the cellular phone, first, the edge detection condition is set by the condition setting means 100b (S110), and the reduction process is performed by the reduction means 10b. The reduced image D0 is obtained (S111). First, the edge detection unit 12b detects an edge having an intensity equal to or higher than the threshold t1 for each of a plurality of different directions included in the edge detection condition set in step S110 for the reduced image D0. Next, the edge detection means 12b creates an edge profile as shown in FIG. 3 for these edges using the image D based on the detected coordinate position of each edge in each direction (S112). ). The edge edge narrowing means 14b provided in the edge detecting means 12b removes invalid edges based on the edge complexity threshold value which is an invalid edge determination condition included in the edge detection condition set in step S110. The remaining edge profile is output to the edge feature quantity acquisition means (S114). The edge feature quantity acquisition unit 16b obtains the width of each edge based on the profile of each edge transmitted from the edge narrowing unit 14b, and creates a histogram of the edge width for each direction to obtain the width of each edge. And the histogram of the edge width in each direction is output to the analyzing means 20b as the edge feature amount S of the image D (S116). The analysis unit 20b first calculates the blur direction and blur degree N of the image D using the edge feature quantity S, and determines whether the image D is a blur image or a normal image (S120, S125). If the image D is a normal image (S125: Yes), the analysis unit 20b outputs information P indicating that the image D is a normal image to the output unit 60b (S130), and the output unit 60b When received, the image D is printed to obtain a print (S135).

  On the other hand, when the image D is determined to be a blurred image in step S125 (S125: No), the analysis unit 20b further calculates the blur degree K and the blur width L of the image D, and the degree of blur obtained in step S120. N and the blur direction are output to the parameter setting unit 30b as blur information Q (S140, S145). The parameter setting unit 30b obtains the one-dimensional correction parameter W1 and the two-dimensional correction parameter W2 based on the blur information Q from the analysis unit 20b. The obtained pair of correction parameters W1, W2 is set as a correction parameter E0, and a plurality of correction parameters E1, E2,... Are further adjusted by adjusting the degree of blur N, the degree of blur K, the mask size of the correction masks M, M2, etc. Is output to the correction means 40b (S150).

  The correction unit 40b performs correction by applying the correction parameters E0, E1, E2,... To the image D, respectively, and corrected images D′ 0, D′ 1, D′ 2, respectively corresponding to the correction parameters. Are obtained (S155).

  The determination unit 45b displays each corrected image obtained by the correction unit 40b on a display unit (not shown), and determines the corrected image selected by the user as the target image D ′ via the input unit (not shown). To the output means 60b (S160).

  The output unit 60b obtains a print by printing the target image D 'from the determination unit 45b (S170).

  As described above, according to the image processing system B of the present embodiment, in order to efficiently correct the blur of the digital photo image acquired by the digital camera attached to the mobile phone, the blur is discriminated from the digital photo image. When acquiring blur information and setting and correcting a correction parameter based on the acquired blur information, model information of the mobile phone that has captured the digital photo image is acquired, and blurring in the image is performed based on the model information. By adjusting the edge detection condition by increasing the direction of edge detection as it is closer to the blurring direction, the blur detection accuracy can be increased and the correction effect can be enhanced. .

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention and the program therefor are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various increases and decreases may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. , Can make changes.

  For example, in the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, an edge is detected for each of a plurality of different directions with respect to a digital photographic image, and edge feature amounts in each direction are acquired. However, the image processing method of the present invention does not necessarily need to detect the edge for each of a plurality of different directions to determine the blur direction. For example, an edge having a strength equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is detected for a digital photograph image regardless of the direction, and an average value of edge widths of detected edges is used as an edge feature amount. The blur state (blur information) of the digital photographic image may be determined by determining the degree of blur. In this case, an edge detection condition such as a threshold value of the edge intensity to be detected, a condition for determining the state of blur, and the like are set based on the shooting condition information, so that the digital photo image can be accurately detected. The blur information can be acquired. If correction parameters such as the size of a correction filter corresponding to the degree of blur are set later when blurring is corrected, a good correction effect can be obtained.

  Also, for example, in the image processing system B shown in FIG. 2, the condition setting unit 100b adjusts only the edge detection condition, but also acquires the likelihood of blurring based on the model information of the mobile phone that captured the image. Based on the ease of shaking, not only the edge detection conditions but also the determination conditions for the analysis means 20b may be adjusted.

  In the image processing system according to the above-described embodiment, the parameter setting unit sets a plurality of correction parameters, and the correction unit performs correction using the plurality of correction parameters to obtain a plurality of corrected images, and determines The means determines a corrected image selected from a plurality of corrected images by the user as a target image, but includes a correction control means and a confirmation means, and the parameter setting means first sets only one correction parameter. The correction means also obtains only one corrected image at a time, the belief means allows the user to confirm the corrected image, and the correction control means determines that the result of confirmation by the user is the corrected image as the target image. The process of resetting the correction parameter by the parameter setting unit until it is necessary to use the correction parameter reset by the correction unit Processing to obtain a corrected image by performing the correction may be determined object image so as to repeat the confirmation by confirming means. Further, the corrected image may be confirmed by the user, and if the user does not like the correction, the correction may be canceled, that is, not corrected.

  In the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, the direction with the larger average edge width is set as the blur direction among the two directions of the minimum correlation set. For example, the minimum correlation set (the direction set with the smallest correlation value) is used. ) And the direction set with the second smallest correlation value, the degree of blurring is calculated for each direction set, and the direction with the larger average edge width of the two directions in the direction set is set as the blurred direction. Candidate directions are acquired, and the obtained blur candidate directions are weighted according to the two calculated blur degrees, the greater the blur group, the greater the weight of the blur candidate directions included in the direction group. The blur direction may be obtained by weighting as described above. In this case, the blur width is also weighted so that the average edge width in each of the two blur candidate directions has a greater weight for the blur candidate direction included in the direction set in a direction set with a higher degree of blurring. The bokeh width can be obtained.

  In the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, the direction with the largest average edge width is set as the blur direction among the two directions of the minimum correlation set regardless of the presence / absence of blur in the image, and further blur is performed based on the blur direction. While calculating the degree, the normal image and the blurred image are discriminated based on the degree of blur, and the correction parameter is set so as to further obtain the degree of blur for the image discriminated as the blur image. For example, if the correlation value of the minimum correlation set is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value Ta, the blur in the image is “no direction” (that is, the image is a normal image or a defocused image), and the blur direction is “no direction”. An image with a degree of blur smaller than a predetermined threshold value Tb is determined as a normal image and is not corrected. On the other hand, an image with a degree of blur equal to or greater than the threshold value Tb is determined as a defocused image. Thus, only the parameters for isotropic correction are obtained and corrected, and an image having a correlation value of the smallest correlation set smaller than Ta is set as a blurred image, and a direction in which the average edge width of the smallest correlation set is large is set as the blur width. It may be. In addition, when setting the correction parameter for the blurred image, only the directionality correction parameter acting in the blur direction may be set as the correction parameter, or the degree of blur is further obtained, according to the degree of blur, etc. The correction parameter may be set by weighting and adding the directionality correction parameter and the directionality correction parameter.

  In addition, the image processing system of the present embodiment described above determines whether a digital photo image is a normal image or a blurred image in order to improve processing efficiency, and the degree of blurring only with respect to an image determined as a blurred image, The blur width is calculated and the parameters are set and corrected, but the normal image and the blurred image are not distinguished, and the blur degree, blur width, and blur degree are set for all the processing target images. The correction may be performed by calculating as blur information and setting a parameter based on the blur information. Since the normal image has a low degree of blurring, the normal image correction parameters set according to the degree of blurring are correction parameters that perform fine correction or parameters that are not corrected, and the blurring degree of the out-of-focus image is small. When the isotropic correction parameter and the directionality parameter are weighted and summed to obtain a correction parameter, the weight of the directionality correction parameter is small or zero.

  In the above-described embodiment, the analysis unit obtains the degree of shake based on the above-described three elements based on FIG. 8, but the element for obtaining the degree of shake may be increased or decreased. For example, only two of the three elements described above may be used, and the number of elements is increased, for example, the largest correlation between the minimum correlation group and the minimum correlation group (in the case of the direction group indicated by the solid line in FIG. The degree of blur may be obtained by taking into account the difference in correlation value with the direction set (shifted by 45 degrees).

  Furthermore, the condition setting means does not adjust the threshold values shown in FIG. 8. For example, an image having a higher degree of blurring reduces the number of elements for obtaining the degree of blurring (that is, the number of elements for obtaining the degree of blurring is reduced). Adjustment). Taking FIG. 8 as an example, for example, when determining the degree of blurring of an image with a high degree of blurring, the degree of blurring may be calculated using only FIGS. 8A and 8B. Also good.

  Further, when removing invalid edges, the edges including the light source may be invalid edges. The edge including the light source can be, for example, an edge whose brightness is a predetermined threshold value or more. In this case, when setting the edge detection condition, for images with a greater degree of blurring, the threshold for detecting the edge is lowered to increase the number of edges to be detected, and the brightness threshold is lowered to determine the invalid edge. The conditions should be set strictly.

  In the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, the analysis unit 20 does not distinguish whether the blur is out of focus with respect to the image D that is a blur image, and is an image determined as a blur image. The degree of blur is determined and a weighting coefficient corresponding to the degree of blur (in the image processing system of this embodiment, the blur degree itself is used as a weighting coefficient) is corrected by weighted addition of the isotropic correction parameter and the directionality correction parameter. For example, a blur image whose blurring degree is smaller than a predetermined threshold is set as a blur image, and only the isotropic correction parameter is set for the blur image to perform correction. May be.

  In addition, the image processing system of the above-described embodiment assumes that it is not known whether the digital photographic image to be processed is a blurred image or a normal image. However, in a processing system that targets only a blurred image, for example, a processing system that corrects an image designated as a blurred image by a customer or an operator, a normal image and a blurred image are used. It is not always necessary to make this determination.

  In the image processing system of the above-described embodiment, processing from image reduction to output of a target image is performed in one apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect. The image processing system is divided into an analysis device and a processing device, and the analysis device performs processing up to the setting of the correction parameter and records the set correction parameter on the recording medium as an attached information of the image. Then, the processing apparatus may read out the image from the recording medium and perform correction using the correction parameter that is the information attached to the image.

  Further, in such an aspect, the analysis apparatus performs only the processing until obtaining the blur information, attaches the blur information to the image as the auxiliary information of the image, and records the blur information on the recording medium. The image may be read out, and correction may be performed by setting a correction parameter based on blur information that is attached information of the image.

  Furthermore, a correction execution instruction unit is provided to perform processing up to acquisition of blur information or correction parameter setting, but without performing correction until the correction execution instruction unit instructs to execute correction, the correction is executed. Correction may be executed after an instruction to do so.

  The image processing system of the above-described embodiment corrects an image read from a recording medium. However, the present invention can be applied to a system that inputs an image in any form such as transmission via a network. can do.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing the direction used when detecting edges Diagram showing edge profile Diagram showing examples of invalid edges Diagram showing edge width histogram The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the analysis means 20a Diagram for explaining the calculation of the degree of blur Diagram for explaining the calculation of blurring degree The block diagram which shows the structure of the condition setting means 100a in the image processing system A The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image processing system A of embodiment shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing system B used as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Illustration for explaining the direction of edge detection The block diagram which shows the structure of the condition setting means 100b in the image processing system B Flow chart showing operation of image processing system B

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium 10a, 10b Reduction means 12a, 12b Edge detection means 14a, 14b Edge narrowing means 16a, 16b Edge feature-value acquisition means 20a, 20b Analysis means 30a, 30b Parameter setting means 40a, 40b Correction means 45a, 45b Determination means 50a, 50b Storage means 60a, 60b Output means 100a, 100b Condition setting means 110a Tag information reading means 110b Model information acquisition means 120a, 120b Condition adjustment means 150a, 150b Default condition database 160b Model database D Digital photograph image D0 Reduced image D ' Target image E Correction parameter K Blur degree L Blur width M1 One-dimensional correction mask M2 Two-dimensional correction mask N Blur degree Q Blur information S Edge feature

Claims (26)

For digital photographic images, detect edges with predetermined edge detection conditions,
Obtain the feature amount of the detected edge,
In the image processing method for determining a blur state in the digital photographic image based on a predetermined determination condition using the edge feature amount,
Obtaining imaging condition information indicating imaging conditions of the digital photographic image;
An image processing method, wherein the edge detection condition and / or the discrimination condition is set based on the imaging condition information. The detection is performed in a plurality of different directions;
The feature quantity of the edge is acquired for each of the directions;
The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the blur state includes at least a blur direction. Set a parameter for correcting the blur based on the determination result,
3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the digital photographic image is corrected using the parameter. Edge detection means for detecting an edge under a predetermined edge detection condition for a digital photographic image;
Edge feature quantity acquisition means for acquiring a feature quantity of the detected edge;
An image processing apparatus having a blur determination unit that determines a blur state in the digital photographic image based on a predetermined determination condition using the edge feature amount.
Imaging condition information acquisition means for acquiring imaging condition information indicating an imaging condition of the digital photographic image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: condition setting means for setting the edge detection condition and / or the determination condition based on the imaging condition information. The detection means performs the detection for each of a plurality of different directions;
The edge feature quantity acquisition means acquires the edge feature quantity for each of the directions;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the blur state includes at least a blur direction.   6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the edge feature amount includes a sharpness of the edge and a distribution of the sharpness of the edge. The imaging condition information indicates the ease of blurring and / or the direction in which the blurring is likely to occur, indicating the magnitude of the probability of causing blurring that causes directional blur to the digital photographic image when the digital photographic image is captured. It contains direction information that tends to shake,
The said condition setting means sets the said edge detection condition and / or the said discrimination | determination condition based on the said ease of shaking and / or the direction information which is easy to shake, The any one of Claim 4 to 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   8. The image according to claim 7, wherein the imaging condition information acquisition means acquires the ease of blurring and / or the direction information of the blur easily based on tag information attached to the digital photographic image. Processing equipment. The digital photograph image is obtained by a digital camera attached to a mobile phone,
8. The image capturing condition acquisition unit is configured to acquire the ease of blurring and / or the direction information that is likely to blur based on model information of the mobile phone that has captured the digital photographic image. 8. The image processing apparatus according to 8. The edge detection condition includes a threshold of a predetermined edge strength;
The edge detection means detects only edges having an intensity equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold;
10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the condition setting unit sets the predetermined threshold value smaller as the degree of blurring increases. The edge detection condition includes a plurality of different directions for detecting an edge in the edge detection means and a threshold value of a predetermined edge corresponding to each of the directions,
The edge detection means detects only edges having an intensity equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold corresponding to the direction for each direction;
11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the condition setting unit sets the threshold corresponding to the direction to be smaller as the direction is closer to the direction in which the blur easily occurs. The edge detection condition includes an invalid edge determination condition for determining whether or not the edge is an invalid edge;
The edge detection means includes invalid edge removal means for removing, as an invalid edge, an edge that satisfies the invalid edge determination condition from the detected edge,
12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the condition setting means sets the invalid edge determination condition more severely as the degree of blur is greater. The edge detection condition includes an invalid edge determination condition for determining whether the edge corresponding to each of the plurality of different directions and the respective directions in which the edge detection means detects an edge is an invalid edge. Yes,
The edge detection means comprises edge removal means for removing, as an invalid edge, an edge that satisfies the invalid edge determination condition corresponding to the direction from the edge detected for each of the directions,
The image according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the condition setting means sets the invalid edge determination condition corresponding to the direction more strictly in the direction closer to the blurring direction. Processing equipment. The edge detection condition includes the plurality of different directions for detecting an edge in the edge detection means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the condition setting unit increases the number of the directions as the blur easily increases. The edge detection condition includes the plurality of different directions for detecting an edge in the edge detection means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the condition setting unit increases the number of directions as the direction is more likely to be shaken. The blur determination means also determines a degree of blur that indicates a certain degree of blur due to directional blur;
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the condition setting unit sets the blur degree determination condition to be relaxed as the blur easily increases. The blur determining means also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of the blur;
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the condition setting unit sets the blur degree determination condition to be relaxed as the blur easily increases. Parameter setting means for setting parameters for correcting the blur based on the result of determination by the blur determination means;
18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a correcting unit that corrects the digital photographic image using the parameter. The blur determining means also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of the blur, and the parameter setting means and the correction means are only for the digital photographic image with the blur degree equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The setting of the parameter and the correction are performed,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the condition setting unit also sets the predetermined threshold value, and sets the predetermined threshold value smaller as the degree of blurring increases. The imaging condition information includes an F value of a lens of an imaging device that has captured the digital photographic image,
The edge detection condition includes edge detection area information indicating an area for detecting an edge in the digital photo image;
The edge detection means detects the edge only in the region;
20. The condition setting means is for setting the region in a central portion of the digital photographic image with respect to the digital photographic image having the F value equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The imaging condition information includes information indicating whether the digital photographic image is obtained by zoom imaging;
The edge detection condition includes edge detection area information indicating an area for detecting an edge in the digital photo image;
The edge detection means detects the edge only in the region;
20. The method according to claim 8, wherein the condition setting unit is configured to set the region in a central portion of the digital photographic image with respect to the digital photographic image obtained by zoom imaging. The image processing apparatus according to item. The imaging condition information includes information indicating the compression strength of the digital photographic image,
The blur determining means also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of the blur;
The determination condition includes a blur degree determination condition for determining the blur degree,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 21, wherein the condition setting unit sets the blur degree determination condition more severely as the compression strength increases. Parameter setting means for setting parameters for correcting the blur based on the result of determination by the blur determination means;
Correction means for correcting the digital photographic image using the parameter,
The blur determining means also determines a degree of blur indicating the degree of the blur;
The parameter setting unit and the correction unit perform the setting of the parameter and the correction only for the digital photograph image in which the degree of blur is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold,
The image processing according to any one of claims 8 to 21, wherein the condition setting means also sets the predetermined threshold value, and sets the predetermined threshold value larger as the compression strength increases. apparatus. A process for detecting an edge under a predetermined edge detection condition for a digital photo image;
Processing for acquiring the feature amount of the detected edge;
A program for causing a computer to execute image processing including processing for determining a blurring state in the digital photographic image based on a predetermined determination condition using the edge feature amount,
The image processing is processing for acquiring imaging condition information indicating imaging conditions of the digital photographic image;
The program further comprising: processing for setting the edge detection condition and / or the determination condition based on the imaging condition information. The detection is performed in a plurality of different directions;
The feature quantity of the edge is acquired for each of the directions;
25. The program according to claim 24, wherein the blur state includes at least a blur direction. A process of setting a parameter for correcting the blur based on the result of the determination;
26. The program according to claim 24, further comprising a process of correcting the digital photographic image using the parameter.

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