IP Library Granted Patent US 9,747,674
Granted Patent B2
US 9,747,674 · App. 14/415,600 · Granted Aug 29, 2017

Method and device for converting an image sequence whose luminance values belong to a high dynamic range

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,747,674
App. No.
14/415,600
Granted
Aug 29, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for converting an original image sequence (SIO) whose luminance values belong to a given dynamic range, said method comprising a step of image-by-image dynamic range conversion during which a dynamic range conversion operator (TMO) is applied to the luminance component (Lw(i)) of each image of the original image sequence (SIO) to obtain a modified luminance component whose values belong to a lower dynamic range than that of the original image sequence (SIO). The method is characterized in that it also comprises a step of correction of the dynamic range during which the dynamic range of the values of the luminance component thus modified is reduced by a value calculated from a global characteristic of the original image sequence.

Claims (144)

1. A method for converting an original image sequence whose luminance values belong to a given dynamic range, said method comprising:

converting, image-by-image, the dynamic range of the luminance component of each image of the original image sequence by applying a dynamic range conversion operator to the luminance component of each image of the original image sequence to obtain a modified luminance component whose values belong to a lower dynamic range than that of the original image sequence, wherein it also comprises:

correcting the dynamic range of the values of the luminance component thus modified by reducing it by a value calculated from a global characteristic of the original image sequence.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reduced dynamic range luminance component L′d is given by:

L′ d =R·L d   

where R is a real value.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reduced dynamic range luminance component L′d is given by:

L′ d =( x +(1− x ) ·R ) L d   

where R is a real value and x is an offset in the reduction value fixed for example by a user.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the original image sequence expresses a level of brightness of the original image sequence.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dynamic range of the values of the modified luminance component is reduced by a value also calculated using a characteristic of the image to be converted.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the characteristic of the image to be converted is the level of brightness of this image.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dynamic range conversion operator (TMO) is a Reinhard operator, the value R is given by:

R

=

k

p

k

p

+

k

v

where k p is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the pixels of an image and k v is a value, called a key, which is calculated from all the pixels of all the images of the original image sequence.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the value R is given by:

k

i

HDR

·

k

i

,

max

LDR

k

i

,

max

HDR

·

k

i

LDR

where k i HDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the luminance component of the image to be converted of the original image sequence, k i,max HDR is a maximum value chosen from among the keys of the luminance components of the original images of the original image sequence, k i LDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from modified luminance component of the image to be converted and k i,max LDR is a maximum value chosen from among the keys of the modified luminance components originating from the original image sequence.

9. The method according to one of claim 2 , wherein the value R is given by:

k

i

HDR

·

k

i

,

min

LDR

k

i

,

min

HDR

·

k

i

LDR

where k i HDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the luminance component of the image to be converted of the original image sequence, k i,min HDR is a minimum value chosen from among the keys of the luminance components of the original images of the original image sequence, k i LDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the modified luminance component of the image to be converted and k i,min LDR is a minimum value chosen from among the keys of the modified luminance components originating from the original image sequence.

10. A device for converting an original image sequence whose luminance values belong to a given dynamic range, said device comprising a processor configured to:

convert, image-by-image, the dynamic range of the luminance component of each image of the original image sequence by applying a dynamic range conversion operator to the luminance component of each image of the original image sequence to obtain a modified luminance component whose values belong to a lower dynamic range than that of the original image sequence, wherein the processor is further configured to:

correct the dynamic range of the values of the luminance component thus modified by reducing it by a value calculated from a global characteristic of the original image sequence.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the reduced dynamic range luminance component L′ d is given by:

L′ d =R·L d   

where R is a real value.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the reduced dynamic range luminance component L′ d is given by:

L′ d =( x +(1− x ) ·R ) L d   

where R is a real value and x is an offset in the reduction value fixed for example by a user.

13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the characteristic of the original image sequence expresses a level of brightness of the original image sequence.

14. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the dynamic range of the values of the modified luminance component is reduced by a value also calculated using a characteristic of the image to be converted.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of the image to be converted is the level of brightness of this image.

16. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the dynamic range conversion operator is a Reinhard operator, the value R is given by:

R

=

k

p

k

p

+

k

v

where k p is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the pixels of an image and k v is a value, called a key, which is calculated from all the pixels of all the images of the original image sequence.

17. The device according to one of claim 11 , wherein the value R is given by:

k

i

HDR

,

k

i

,

ma

x

LDR

k

i

,

ma

x

HDR

,

k

i

LDR

where k i HDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the luminance component of the image to be converted of the original image sequence, k i,min HDR is a maximum value chosen from among the keys of the luminance components of the original images of the original image sequence, k i LDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from modified luminance component of the image to be converted and k i,max LDR is a maximum value chosen from among the keys of the modified luminance components originating from the original image sequence.

18. The device according to one of claim 11 , wherein the value R is given by:

k

i

HDR

,

k

i

,

m

i

n

LDR

k

i

,

m

i

n

HDR

,

k

i

LDR

where k i HDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from the luminance component of the image to be converted of the original image sequence, k i,min HDR is a minimum value chosen from among the keys of the luminance components of the original images of the original image sequence, k i LDR is a value, called a key, which is calculated from modified luminance component of the image to be converted and k i,max LDR is a minimum value chosen from among the keys of the modified luminance components originating from the original image sequence.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: INTERDIGITAL VC HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047289/0698 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2017
From: BOITARD, RONAN; OLIVIER, YANNICK; THOREAU, DOMINIQUE
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 042781/0893 →