Image Processor Luminance Chroma Segmentation HDR

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques struggle to enhance image dynamic range while maintaining color space parameters and reality, often requiring new drawing processing from scratch.

Innovation Solution

An image processor that emphasizes contrast and chroma of luminance and color difference components separately, using pixel-by-pixel addition combining and adaptive emphasis amounts to generate HDR images without losing reality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If combining processing is used to increase dynamic range, then reproduction performance relating to shooting angle of view is improved, but color space parameters are adjusted excessively and reality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidcolor space parameters

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing into separate processing paths for luminance and chroma components. The luminance component undergoes combining processing from multiple exposure images to extend dynamic range, while the chroma component is processed separately through emphasis processing to maintain color accuracy. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between dynamic range enhancement and color space parameter precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different components of the image data. The luminance component receives combining processing with emphasis on dynamic range, while the chroma component receives emphasis processing with focus on color accuracy. This local quality differentiation ensures that each component is processed according to its specific requirements, preventing excessive adjustment of color space parameters while enhancing dynamic range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If new drawing processing is performed from scratch using shot image as base, then color space parameters are adjusted appropriately and reality is maintained, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor space parametersVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary separating processing to divide the input image data into luminance and chroma components before applying subsequent processing. This preliminary action enables the system to process each component efficiently with appropriate algorithms, reducing overall processing time and complexity while maintaining color space parameter accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete redrawing processing from scratch, the patent applies partial processing by separately processing luminance and chroma components. The luminance component benefits from combining multiple exposure images, while the chroma component uses emphasis processing. This partial action approach achieves appropriate color space parameter adjustment without the full processing burden of complete redrawing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Illumination intensity

If combining multiple images under different exposure conditions, then dynamic range is extended, but adverse effects like blackout and whiteout occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidblackout and whiteout

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates emphasis processing that acts as a feedback mechanism to correct adverse effects. After combining multiple exposure images, the system applies emphasis processing to the luminance and chroma components to adjust contrast and color, thereby compensating for blackout and whiteout effects. This feedback loop ensures that the final image maintains appropriate dynamic range without excessive harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes processing parameters dynamically by applying different emphasis amounts to different regions and components. The emphasis processing adjusts contrast and color parameters based on the specific characteristics of each region, allowing the system to extend dynamic range while controlling and minimizing blackout and whiteout effects through parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8472713B2Image processor, image processing method, and computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2013.06.25 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided an image processor for processing input image data having a luminance component and other components, which are defined in a prescribed color space. The image processor includes: a first emphasis processor configured to process first image data so as to emphasize the contrast of the first image data in accordance with a first emphasis amount, wherein the first image data correspond to the luminance component of the input image data; a second emphasis processor configured to process second image data so as to emphasize the chroma of the second image data in accordance with the first emphasis amount, wherein the second image data correspond to said other components of the input image data; and an image data generator configured to generate new image data by combining the contrast-emphasized first image data and the chroma-emphasized second image data.