Image Processing Apparatus Edge-Enhanced Contrast Superposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques for HDR imaging suffer from image quality degradation and difficulty in in-focus confirmation, particularly in low-luminance regions, due to noise amplification and reduced contrast.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that extracts contrast and edge components from an input image, multiplies the contrast image by a coefficient based on the edge image signal value, and superimposes the resulting edge-enhanced contrast image on an amplified image to improve in-focus confirmation and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If contrast component extraction and superposition is applied to improve reproducibility of high-luminance image region, then reproducibility of high-luminance image region is improved, but noise amplification occurs in low-luminance regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strengths to different luminance regions. For high-luminance regions, contrast component extraction and superposition are applied to improve reproducibility. For low-luminance regions, the processing is suppressed or reduced to prevent noise amplification. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making the processing intensity dependent on the local luminance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts processing parameters based on luminance levels. The contrast extraction unit and superposition unit operate with different parameters or activation states depending on whether the region is high-luminance or low-luminance. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize for reproducibility in bright regions while avoiding noise amplification in dark regions.
2Illumination intensity
If signal amplification is applied to improve visibility of low-luminance image region, then visibility of low-luminance image region is improved, but noise is amplified making in-focus confirmation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies selective amplification based on local characteristics. In low-luminance regions, signal amplification is applied to improve visibility. However, the system simultaneously identifies edge components and suppresses noise amplification by using edge information to guide the amplification process, thereby maintaining in-focus confirmation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces edge component extraction as an intermediary step. The edge extraction unit processes the image to identify true edges, and this edge information serves as a mediator to guide the subsequent amplification and contrast enhancement processes. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to amplify useful signal while suppressing noise through edge-guided processing.
3Ease of operation
If edge component extraction and superposition is applied to improve in-focus confirmation, then in-focus confirmation is improved, but image quality degradation occurs due to noise amplification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies edge component extraction and superposition selectively based on local luminance and edge characteristics. In regions with strong edge signals, the processing is enhanced to improve in-focus confirmation. In regions with weak signals or high noise, the processing is suppressed to maintain image quality. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between in-focus confirmation and image quality preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the edge extraction unit continuously monitors the processed image and adjusts the contrast component superposition accordingly. The feedback from edge detection results is used to modulate the processing strength, allowing the system to enhance in-focus confirmation where edges are clear while avoiding noise amplification where edges are ambiguous or absent.
Data Source
AI summary
To improve image quality of an image obtained by capturing a dark portion while improving ease of in-focus confirmation. An image processing apparatus according to the present technology including: a contrast extraction unit that obtains a contrast image by extracting a contrast component from an input image based on a captured image; an edge extraction unit that obtains an edge image by extracting an edge component from the input image; an edge-enhancement processing unit that obtains an edge-enhanced contrast image by performing processing of multiplying the contrast image by a coefficient determined according to a signal value of the edge image; an image amplification unit that obtains an amplified image by amplifying the input image; and a superimposed image generation unit that obtains a superimposed image obtained by superimposing the edge-enhanced contrast image on the amplified image.