Image Processing Apparatus for Focus Assist Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing techniques for focus assist functions in image capture apparatuses face challenges in distinguishing in-focus areas, especially in low-luminance regions where emphasis effects are weak and difficult to recognize, and in high-luminance areas where the emphasis effect can lead to over-saturation, making it hard to perceive the original color and focusing state.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that extracts a predetermined frequency component from an image signal and generates a signal to apply an emphasis effect to process target pixels based on the magnitude of the frequency component, with the signal value decreasing continuously or stepwise with increasing pixel value, allowing for adjusted luminance and saturation to prevent over-saturation and enhance visibility of in-focus areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional emphasis effect processing is applied to low-luminance areas, then the emphasis strength is insufficient, but applying stronger emphasis causes over-saturation in high-luminance areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different emphasis signal values to different luminance regions. Specifically, it generates larger emphasis signals for low-luminance pixels and smaller emphasis signals for high-luminance pixels, creating localized quality adjustment that matches the visual needs of different brightness areas while preventing over-saturation in already bright regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the emphasis signal parameter based on the luminance value of each pixel. The generation unit adjusts the emphasis signal magnitude according to the input pixel's luminance level, transforming a fixed-parameter approach into a variable-parameter approach that adapts to local image conditions
2Measurement precision
If a specific color is added to emphasis portions, then the emphasis is more visible, but the entire screen becomes colored and the original color perception is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies luminance adjustment and saturation reduction only to specific regions (non-emphasis areas or out-of-focus areas) rather than the entire image. This localized processing maintains original color information in emphasis portions while adjusting only the necessary regions to enhance contrast and visibility of in-focus areas
Data Source
AI summary
In an image processing apparatus that can provide, to an image, an emphasis effect that serves as a focusing degree indicator, provision of an emphasis effect that is easily distinguished is realized. A signal generation circuit generates signals having values that correspond to the values of process target pixels of image signals. For example, based on the magnitude of a frequency component extracted from the image signals by an extraction circuit, a signal modification circuit applies signals to the process target pixels and outputs the process target pixels. The signal generation circuit generates signals so as to have values that decrease continuously or in a stepwise manner in accordance with increase in the values of the process target pixels.