IP Library Granted Patent US 9,046,696
Granted Patent B2
US 9,046,696 · App. 13/693,616 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Image processing apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,046,696
App. No.
13/693,616
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Optimal shading correction is achieved even when exposure times are different. An apparatus includes a section that stores a γ property of an image pickup device, a section that stores a shading pattern acquired by the image pickup device, and a first exposure time, a section that stores image data acquired by the image pickup device and a second exposure time, a section that calculates a pre-correction pattern, based on the stored shading pattern and the stored γ property, a section that calculates a revised pattern by performing γ correction for the calculated pre-correction pattern after multiplying the calculated pre-correction pattern by a ratio of the second exposure time to the first exposure time, and a section that performs shading correction for the stored image data by using the calculated revised pattern.

Claims (32)

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a γ property storing section that stores a γ property of image pickup device;

a shading data storing section that stores a shading pattern acquired by the image pickup device, and a first exposure time at a time of acquiring the shading pattern;

an image information storing section that stores image data acquired by the image pickup device, and a second exposure time at a time of acquiring the image data;

a pre-correction pattern calculating section that calculates a pre-correction pattern which is a shading pattern before γ correction, based on the shading pattern stored in the shading data storing section and the γ property stored in the γ property storing section;

a revised pattern calculating section that calculates a revised pattern by performing γ correction for the pre-correction pattern calculated by the pre-correction pattern calculating section after multiplying the pre-correction pattern calculated by the pre-correction pattern calculating section by a ratio of the second exposure time to the first exposure time; and

a shading correcting section that performs shading correction for the image data stored in the image information storing section by using the revised pattern calculated by the revised pattern calculating section.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a γ property acquiring section that acquires the γ property of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property acquired by the γ property acquiring section.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a γ property selecting section that allows an operator to select the γ property of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property selected by the γ property selecting section.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a γ property estimating section that estimates the γ property of the image pickup device from a relation of an exposure time and a luminance value based on luminance values of a plurality of images obtained by switching the exposure time of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property estimated by the γ property estimating section.

5. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a γ property storing section that stores a γ property of image pickup device;

a pre-correction pattern calculating section that calculates a pre-correction pattern which is a shading pattern before γ correction, based on a shading pattern acquired by the image pickup device and the γ property stored in the γ property storing section;

a shading data storing section that stores the pre-correction pattern calculated by the pre-correction pattern calculating section, and a first exposure time at a time of acquiring the shading pattern;

an image information storing section that stores image data acquired by the image pickup device, and a second exposure time at a time of acquiring the image data;

a revised pattern calculating section that calculates a revised pattern by performing γ correction for the pre-correction pattern stored in the shading data storing section after multiplying the pre-correction pattern stored in the shading data storing section by a ratio of the second exposure time to the first exposure time; and

a shading correcting section that performs shading correction for the image data stored in the image information storing section by using the revised pattern calculated by the revised pattern calculating section.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a γ property acquiring section that acquires the γ property of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property acquired by the γ property acquiring section.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a γ property selecting section that allows an operator to select the γ property of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property selected by the γ property selecting section.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a γ property estimating section that estimates the γ property of the image pickup device from a relation of an exposure time and a luminance value based on luminance values of a plurality of images obtained by switching the exposure time of the image pickup device,

wherein the γ property storing section stores the γ property estimated by the γ property estimating section.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062492/0267 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2012
From: OKABE, MASASHI
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029402/0363 →