JP2009164838A5

JP2009164838A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2009164838A5
Application number: JP2007341125A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2007-12-28
Publication date: 2011-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-28

Claims

An image processing apparatus that processes an image signal of an image obtained by imaging,
Wherein for each of the plurality of divided regions obtained by dividing an image, it said among the image signals of the image, by extracting a white pixel having a white detection range near Ru images signal set as a range of the image signals representing white, Acquisition means for integrating the image signals of the white pixels and outputting white data integrated for each of the divided regions;
For each of the plurality of divided regions, feature amount detection means for detecting a feature amount of an image;
Setting means for setting a weight value for each of the plurality of divided regions according to the detected feature amount;
Calculating means for calculating white data of the image by performing weighted averaging of the white data of each of the plurality of divided regions with a weight value set by the setting means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: white balance correction means for performing white balance correction on the image signal based on white data of the image calculated by the calculation means.

The feature amount detecting means detects a face area from the image, and the setting means makes a weight value of a divided area including the face area lower than a weight value of other divided areas. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

A face area detecting means for detecting a face area from the image;
The feature amount detecting unit detects a feature amount for each divided region excluding the divided region including the face region, and the calculating unit performs weighted average of white data of the divided regions excluding the divided region including the face region. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

The feature amount detection means detects at least one of the number of white pixels, the spatial frequency, and the degree of focus for each of the divided regions as a feature amount, and the setting means increases the number of white pixels, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weight value is increased as the frequency is lower and the degree of focus is higher.

The acquisition means further counts the number of white pixels in the entire image,
The image processing apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines whether the counted number of white pixels is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value,
The calculation means calculates white data of the image when the number of white pixels is equal to or larger than the threshold value, and does not calculate white data of the image when the number is less than the threshold value. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.

Counting means for counting the number of white pixels for each of the divided regions,
A determination means for determining whether the counted number of white pixels is equal to or greater than a preset threshold;
5. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit uses white data included in a divided region in which the number of white pixels is equal to or greater than the threshold value for the calculation of the weighted average. apparatus.

Amplifying means for amplifying the image signal of the image;
A threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value used in the determination means based on a gain value of the amplification means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the threshold value setting unit sets a higher threshold value as the gain value increases.

The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a threshold setting unit configured to set a threshold used by the determination unit based on a feature amount detected by the feature amount detection unit.

The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the feature amount is a spatial frequency, and the threshold setting unit sets a higher threshold as the spatial frequency increases.

Before xylo detection range is set in two steps with the first and second thresholds, the white detection range set by the second threshold value is set by the range of the first threshold value the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that not narrower than the white detection range that.

Before xylo detection range is set in two steps with the first and second thresholds, the timing to extract the white pixels using the second threshold value, using the first threshold value The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is set to be the same as or more densely with the timing of extracting the white pixels .

Was extracted white pixels using the first threshold value by the hardware, the image processing apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the extraction of the white pixels using the second threshold value in the software .

An imaging apparatus comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

An image processing method for processing an image signal of an image obtained by imaging,
For each of a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the image , the acquisition unit extracts and integrates image signals within a white detection range set as a range of an image signal representing white among the image signals of the image , An acquisition step of outputting white data integrated for each of the divided regions;
A feature amount detecting means for detecting a feature amount of an image for each of the plurality of divided regions;
Setting means comprises a setting step in response to said detected feature quantity, it sets the weight value of each of the plurality of divided areas,
Calculating means, the white data of each of the plurality of divided areas, by weighted average by weighting value set by the setting unit, a calculation step of calculating the white data of the image,
An image processing method white balance correction means, based on the white color data of the image calculated in the calculating step, and having a white balance correction step of performing white balance correction on the image signal.

A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the image processing method according to claim 14.

A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 15.