Image Processing Apparatus Tone Restoration Region Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image processing using RAW data faces challenges with tone degradation due to saturated pixels, especially with the increasing luminance of display apparatuses, making it difficult to restore tone characteristics and grasp the extent of image correction, particularly in high-luminance environments.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that classifies image data into regions based on luminance values, allowing for the restoration of tone characteristics by converting luminance values between different ranges, and displays images in a manner that specifies regions where tone can be restored, using a combination of RAW data processing, RGB data generation, and retinex processing to maintain contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gain processing is applied to correct image data, then image quality is improved, but saturated pixels are generated causing tone degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies highlight restoration processing before final image output to prevent tone degradation. By identifying saturated pixels and restoring their tone characteristics in advance through gain adjustment and tone mapping, the system prevents the harmful effect of tone degradation while maintaining image quality improvement from gain processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful saturated pixels into beneficial information by using them as indicators for highlight restoration. The saturated pixel regions, which would normally cause tone degradation, are instead used to guide the restoration process, allowing the system to recover tone characteristics in these regions and improve overall image quality.
2Illumination intensity
If display luminance is increased to over 1,000 nits, then display quality is improved, but it becomes difficult to grasp the extent of image correction and tone restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes to convey information about tone restoration extent. By overlaying color-coded masks on the displayed image—where different colors represent different levels of tone restoration or saturation—the system provides visual feedback on the extent of image correction without reducing display luminance. This allows users to grasp processing extent even in high-luminance environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a color mask as an intermediary layer between the high-luminance display and the user's perception of tone restoration extent. This intermediary visual element carries information about processing extent separately from the luminance of the main image, allowing users to understand tone restoration levels without being overwhelmed by the high display luminance.
3Manufacturing precision
If classification of luminance ranges is performed to restore tone characteristics, then tone restoration accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the luminance range into multiple classification ranges (first luminance range, second luminance range, etc.) to restore tone characteristics with high accuracy. By dividing the luminance spectrum into distinct segments and applying appropriate restoration processing to each, the system achieves precise tone restoration while managing complexity through systematic classification rather than complex continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes luminance value parameters by converting between different luminance ranges (e.g., from first luminance range to second luminance range) to restore tone characteristics. This parameter transformation approach allows accurate tone restoration by mapping luminance values between ranges with different characteristics, while keeping the processing framework relatively simple through standardized conversion operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus including at least one processor coupled to a memory, serving as a first obtainment unit to obtain a luminance value of image data corresponding to a first luminance range, a second obtainment unit to obtain information for a second luminance range that is less than the first luminance range, a classification unit to classify, based on a correspondence relationship of luminance value conversion from the first luminance range to the second luminance range, the first luminance range of the image data into a plurality of regions, and a display unit to cause a display device to display an image based on the image data such that a pixel of the image having a luminance value belonging to a region, in which a tone characteristic in the image data can be restored when the luminance value conversion is performed, can be specified in the displayed image.