KR20100013702A - Digital image process apparatus and method for performing after-amendment automatic white balance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A digital image processing apparatus for performing after-amendment automatic white balance and an operating method thereof are provided to readjust white balance of the entire image using color information about a selected area, thereby performing after-amendment about a photographed image. CONSTITUTION: An area divider(39-1) divides a reproduction image to areas of a fixed number. An after-amendment AWB(Automatic White Balance) controller(39-2) calculates a white balance control coefficient from color information of a selected reproduction area. The after-amendment AWB controller applies the calculated white balance control coefficient to the entire reproduction images.

Description

Digital image processing apparatus and method for operating the candidate image processing {A digital image process apparatus and method for performing after-amendment automatic white balance}

The present invention relates to a digital image processing apparatus and a method of operating the same, and more particularly, to segmenting a playback image, and to photographing by re-adjusting the white balance of the entire image by using color information of an arbitrary segmentation region selected by a user. The present invention relates to a digital image processing apparatus capable of candidate-determining an image and a method of operating the same.

Photographs taken with digital cameras often include photographs that do not have the right color or feel.

Recently, there are candidate programs such as photo-shop that can photograph these pictures on the computer with the color or feel that the photographer wants, but the function is only to add contrast or color effect. In addition, even when directly photographing a photograph taken on a digital camera and directly selecting an image, its function is limited, and thus the user's various desires for candidate image determination are not satisfied.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is digital image processing capable of candidate image determination by re-adjusting the white balance of the entire image using the color information of any region selected by the user of the region-divided playback image An apparatus and a method thereof are provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a digital signal processing means for re-adjusting the white balance of the entire playback image based on the color information of the selected region when a region is selected from the playback images divided into a predetermined number of regions. It provides a digital image processing device comprising.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the digital signal processing means includes: a region dividing unit for dividing a reproduced video into a predetermined number of regions; And an automatic white balance (AWE) adjustment unit for calculating a white balance adjustment coefficient from the color information of the selected reproduction region and applying the same to the entire reproduction image after an arbitrary region is selected.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the digital image processing apparatus may include a predetermined number of buttons arranged on the horizontal and vertical axes of the display unit on which the reproduced image is displayed so as to define respective divided regions of the divided reproduced image. It may further include.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the divided region of the playback image includes a display area adjacent to the button disposed on the horizontal axis in a vertical direction and a display area adjacent to the button disposed on the vertical axis in a horizontal direction. Can be defined as

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the steps of (a) dividing a playback image into a predetermined number of regions, and receiving an arbitrary region selection signal; And (b) calculating a white balance adjustment coefficient from the color information of the selected reproduction region and applying the result to the entire reproduced image to determine the image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the step of dividing the playback image into a predetermined number of regions may include: a predetermined number of buttons arranged on horizontal and vertical axes of a display unit on which the playback image is displayed; This can be done by defining each partition of.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of dividing the playback image into a predetermined number of areas, the display area in the vertical direction adjacent to the button disposed on the horizontal axis, and the horizontally adjacent to the button disposed on the vertical axis This may be performed by defining regions where the display regions intersect each other as each divided region of the reproduced image.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a recording medium on which a program for executing the method according to any one of the above items is executed on a computer.

According to the present invention, while directly playing back the captured image in the digital image processing apparatus, the region to be the reference of the candidate AWB is selected from the displayed reproduction regions, and the white balance correction coefficient readjusted based on the region is used to determine the reproduction image. Since it is applied to the entire area, it is possible to conveniently perform the candidate definition work and to create various candidate images, thereby increasing the user's satisfaction.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a front surface and a top surface of a digital image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The shutter release button 11 is opened and closed to expose the CCD or film to light for a predetermined time, and records the image on the CCD by properly exposing the subject in conjunction with an aperture (not shown).

The shutter release button 11 generates the first and second image capturing signals by a photographer input. When the first shutter release button 11 as a half shutter signal is input, the digital image processing apparatus focuses and adjusts the amount of light, and when the focus is achieved, the green light is turned on in the display unit 25. . When focus is achieved by the input of the first shutter release button 11 and the amount of light is adjusted, the second shutter release button 11 as a full shutter signal is input to capture an image.

The power button 13 is input to supply power to and operate the digital image processing apparatus.

The flash 15 brightens the bright light instantly when shooting in a dark place. Flash modes include auto flash, forced flash, flash off, red-eye reduction, and slow synchro.

The auxiliary light 17 supplies light to the subject so that the digital image processing apparatus automatically focuses quickly and accurately when the amount of light is insufficient or at night.

The lens unit 19 receives light from an external light source and processes an image.

FIG. 2 is a rear view schematically illustrating a rear surface of the digital image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and includes a wide-angle zoom button 21w, a telephoto-zoom button 21t, a display unit 23, and a touch sensor or contact type. Input buttons B1 to B14 (hereinafter referred to as buttons B1 to B14) provided with a switch are provided.

The wide-angle zoom button 21w or the tele-zoom button 21t increases the angle of view or narrows the angle of view depending on the input, particularly when the size of the selected exposure area is to be changed. When the wide-zoom button 21w is input, the size of the selected exposure area is reduced, and when the tele-zoom button 21t is input, the size of the selected exposure area is increased.

The buttons B1 to B14 are provided in the horizontal column and the vertical column of the display unit 23. The buttons B1 to B14 provided in the horizontal and vertical columns of the display unit 23 are provided with a touch sensor (not shown) or a contact switch (not shown).

The buttons B1 to B14 are provided with a touch sensor or a contact switch so that the buttons B1 to B7 in the horizontal row or the buttons B8 to B14 in the vertical row are touched or pressed in the up / down / left / right directions. The user may move to select any value (eg, color or brightness) of the main menu items, or activate a submenu icon included in the main menu icon.

In addition, the buttons B1 to B14 according to the present invention are buttons arranged in a horizontal column of the display unit 23 when a candidate automatic white balance (AWB) menu, which will be described later, is activated. -B7 and the display area of the reproduced image displayed on the display unit 23 are divided into a predetermined number of regions using the arrangement state of the buttons (B8 to B13) arranged in the vertical column of the display unit 23. This will be described later.

 3 is a schematic block diagram of a digital image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit 23, a user input unit 31, an imaging unit 33, an image processing unit 35, a storage unit 37, and a digital signal processing unit 39. ).

The user input unit 31 has a shutter release button 11 that opens and closes to expose the CCD or film to light for a predetermined time, a power button 13 that inputs to supply power, and widens the angle of view according to the input, A wide-angle zoom button 21w and a tele-zoom button 21t for narrowing the space between the display unit 23 and the horizontal and vertical columns around the display unit 23 for selection of a divided playback area, character input or menu selection and execution. There are buttons B1 to B14 with touch sensors or contact switches.

The imaging unit 33 includes a shutter, a lens unit, an aperture, a charge coupled device (CCD), and an ADC, which are not shown in the figure. The shutter is a mechanism for adjusting the amount of light exposed together with the aperture. The lens unit receives light from an external light source and processes an image. At this time, the iris adjusts the amount of light incident (light quantity) according to the degree of opening and closing. The opening and closing degree of the iris is controlled by the digital signal processing unit 39.

The CCD accumulates the amount of light input through the lens unit and outputs an image captured by the lens unit in accordance with the accumulated light amount in accordance with the vertical synchronization signal. Image acquisition of the digital image processing apparatus is performed by a CCD that converts light reflected from a subject into an electrical signal. In order to obtain a color image using a CCD, a color filter is required, and most of them employ a filter (not shown) called a color filter array (CFA). CFA has a structure arranged regularly by passing only one color light per pixel, and has various shapes according to the arrangement structure. The ADC converts an analog video signal output from the CCD into a digital signal.

The image processor 35 performs signal processing to display the digitally converted RAW data. The image processor 35 removes the black level caused by the dark current generated by the CCD and the CFA filter that are sensitive to the temperature change. The image processor 35 performs gamma adjustment to encode information according to nonlinearity of human vision. The image processor 35 performs CFA interpolation to interpolate the Bayer pattern implemented by the RGRG line and the GBGB line of the gamma-adjusted predetermined data into the RGB line. The image processing unit 35 converts the interpolated RGB signal into a YUV signal and filters the Y signal by a high band filter to clearly process the image, and uses the standard color coordinate system to adjust the color values of the U and V signals. Perform color correction to correct and remove their noise. In this way, the image processing unit 35 compresses and signals the Y, U, and V signals from which the noise is removed to generate a JPEG file, and the generated JPEG file is displayed on the display unit 23 and the storage unit 37. Stored. All of the operations of the image processor 35 operate under the control of the digital signal processor 39.

Image files stored in the storage unit 37 are selected by the user's selection in the reproduction mode and reproduced on the display unit 23. In this case, the reproduced images may include images in which the color or feeling desired by the photographer is not alive.

In order to candidate images taken differently from the photographer's intention as described above, the digital signal processor 39 calculates a white balance adjustment coefficient from color information of an arbitrary divided region selected from the reproduced images divided into a predetermined number of regions, thereby reproducing the entire reproduced image. Applies to

To this end, the digital signal processor 39 includes an area divider 39-1, a candidate crystal AWB adjuster 39-2, and a controller 39-3.

The region dividing unit 39-1 divides the reproduced image displayed on the display unit 23 into a predetermined number of regions. In this case, the total segmentation area of the playback image is defined by buttons B1 to B13 arranged along the horizontal and vertical columns of the display unit 23.

Preferably, the total segmented area of the playback image includes display areas vertically adjacent to the buttons B1 to B7 arranged in the horizontal column of the display unit 23 and buttons arranged in the vertical column of the display unit 23. The display areas adjacent to the fields B8 to B13 in the horizontal direction may be defined as areas crossing each other.

4A schematically illustrates a state in which a reproduced image is displayed on a display unit of a digital image processing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the display area adjacent to the seven buttons B1 to B7 arranged in the horizontal column of the display unit 23 in the vertical direction, and the six buttons B8 arranged in the vertical column of the display unit 23. The reproduction area is divided into a 7 × 6 area by areas in which the display areas adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction intersect each other.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of the above-described divided regions, and various modifications are possible according to the number and arrangement of buttons arranged in horizontal and vertical columns.

The controller 39-3 receives an arbitrary area selection signal to be a reference for the candidate crystal AWB among the areas divided by the user, calculates color information from the video data of the corresponding reproduction area, and temporarily stores it.

The area is selected using the buttons B1 to B7 and B8 to B13 arranged in the horizontal and vertical columns of the display unit 23 described above. For example, by selecting the button B7 arranged in the horizontal column and the button B8 arranged in the vertical column in FIG. 4A, the area A17 at the position of the matrix 1 × 7 is selected. Selected as reference area. On the other hand, the R, G, and B data calculated from the selected playback area A17 schematically shown in FIG. 4B are temporarily stored in the controller 39-3.

After region selection, the candidate crystal AWB adjustment unit 39-2 calculates the white balance adjustment coefficient from the color information of the selected reproduction region stored temporarily in the control unit 39-3 and applies it to the entire captured image.

The candidate AWB adjustment unit 39-2 compares the R, G, and B values of the pixels displayed in white with the reference white R, G, and B values from the color information of the selected playback area A17, and adjusts the white balance therefrom. The coefficient is calculated and applied to the entire image.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state in which candidate candidate AWB is performed to display a candidate playback image. FIG. 5B schematically illustrates white R, G, and B values of a reference region among candidate candidate playback regions.

Referring to the drawings, in the region A17 selected as the reference region of the candidate crystal AWB of the reproduced video, the candidate crystal AWB adjustment unit 39-2 serves as a reference region among the candidate reproduction regions as shown in FIG. 5B (A17). The predetermined white balance correction coefficient is calculated on the values of R, G and B of the selected reproduction area A17 so that the ratio of white R, G, and B of ') is approximately 1: 1.

In the present embodiment, when the R, G, and B distributions of the selected area A17 of the reproduced image are performed to perform the candidate definition WAB, the B value is relatively larger than the R value. When the color information of this area A17 is applied with a correction factor such that the ratio of R, G, and B is 1: 1 as shown in 5b above, the value of R increases relatively and the value of B Relatively decrease to create a new image.

The correction coefficient is also applied to the color information included in the image information of the entire divided regions A11, .., A67 of the reproduced image except for the region A17, which is a reference, and therefore, reproduction except for the region A17, which is the reference. R, G, and B of the entire divided areas A11, .., A67 of the image are automatically converted to perform an automatic white balance operation.

FIG. 6 shows R, G, and C before and after candidate definition AWB of color information included in one area A23 is performed among the entire divided areas A11, .., A67 of the reproduced video except for the area A17. The change in the value of B is shown schematically.

Referring to the figure, before and after candidate correction, it can be seen that the R value of the playback image included in the area A23 is relatively increased and the B value is relatively decreased. This change is performed in all the divided regions including the reproduced image. As a result, the image of the reproduced image is reduced in overall blue feeling by decreasing the B value, and the corrected image in which the overall redness is increased by increasing the R value. Will generate

According to the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention as described above, while reproducing the captured image directly in the digital image processing apparatus, select the region to be the reference of the candidate crystal AWB from the displayed reproduction region, and readjusted based on the region By applying the adjusted white balance correction coefficient to the entire area of the reproduced image, it is convenient for the user and can perform various candidate operations.

Hereinafter, an operation method of the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.

The method for performing candidate crystal AWB in the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention may be performed in the digital image processing apparatus as shown in FIG. 3. According to an embodiment, the main algorithm of the operation method may include peripheral components in a device. It may be performed inside the digital signal processing unit 39 with the help of these.

Referring to the drawing, first, a playback image is displayed on the display unit 23 (step 710), and if a candidate AWB adjustment menu is selected by the user (step 720), the digital signal processor 39 displays an area of the playback image. Split (step 730).

As described above, when a signal for selecting a segmentation region of the playback image to be the reference of the candidate AWB is input using the buttons B1 to B7 and B8 to B13 arranged in the horizontal and vertical columns of the display unit 23. The digital signal processor 39 may easily recognize the divided region to be a reference in the divided playback image (step 740).

When the selection area input signal is received (step 740), the digital signal processing unit 39 calculates and temporarily stores color information from the image data of the selected reproduction area, and calculates a white balance adjustment coefficient from the stored color information of the selected area. (Step 750). The digital signal processor 39 compares the R, G, B values of the pixels displayed in white with the reference white R, G, B values from the color information of the selected area, and calculates a white balance adjustment coefficient therefrom.

Thereafter, the digital signal processor 39 applies the calculated white balance adjustment coefficient to the entire photographed reproduction image (step 760), and displays or stores the white balance adjusted image (step 770).

On the other hand, the present invention can be implemented in a computer-readable code is a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored.

Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and the like, which are also implemented in the form of carrier waves (for example, transmission over the Internet). It includes. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. And functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

So far I looked at the present invention mainly on the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the above embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of the digital image processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be applied to various image processing apparatuses including a digital camera, a cam code, a mobile phone equipped with a camera module, a PDA, and the like. In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to the compact digital camera shown in the drawings of the digital camera but also to a single lens reflex (SLR) camera.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a front surface and a top surface of a digital image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view schematically illustrating a rear surface of the digital image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a digital image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are diagrams schematically illustrating a state in which a reproduced image is displayed on a display unit of a digital image processing apparatus and color information of a selected reproduction region which is a reference for a candidate crystal AWB.

5A and 5B are diagrams schematically illustrating a state in which a reproduced image after performing candidate refinement AWB is displayed on a display unit of a digital image processing apparatus, and color information after candidate refinement of a selected reproduction region which is a reference for candidate refinement AWB.

6A and 6B schematically illustrate color information of a predetermined area before and after performing candidate crystal AWB.

7 is a diagram illustrating a method of operating a digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

Claims (9)

And digital signal processing means for re-adjusting the white balance of the entire reproduced image based on the color information of the selected region when a predetermined region is selected from the reproduced images divided into a predetermined number of regions. The method of claim 1, The digital signal processing means, An area dividing unit dividing the reproduced video into a predetermined number of areas; And And a candidate automatic white balance (AWE) adjustment unit for calculating a white balance adjustment coefficient from the color information of the selected reproduction area and applying it to the entire reproduction image after an arbitrary region is selected. Processing unit. The method of claim 1, The digital image processing device, And a predetermined number of buttons arranged on the horizontal and vertical axes of the display unit on which the reproduced image is displayed, so as to define each divided area of the divided reproduced image. The method of claim 3, wherein The divided area of the playback image may be defined as a display area adjacent to a button disposed on a horizontal axis in a vertical direction, and a display area adjacent to a button disposed on a vertical axis in a horizontal direction. Digital video processing device. The method of claim 3, wherein The button further comprises a touch sensor. (a) dividing a playback video into a predetermined number of regions and receiving an arbitrary region selection signal; and (b) calculating a white balance adjustment coefficient from the color information of the selected reproduction region and applying the result to the entire reproduction image to determine the image. The method of claim 6, Dividing the playback video into a predetermined number of regions, And a predetermined number of buttons arranged on horizontal and vertical axes of the display unit on which the reproduced image is displayed are defined by defining respective divided regions of the divided reproduced image. The method of claim 7, wherein Dividing the playback video into a predetermined number of regions, And a display area vertically adjacent to the button arranged on the horizontal axis and a display area adjacent to the horizontal area adjacent to the button arranged on the vertical axis. A method of operating a digital image processing device. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 on a computer.

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