Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor is configured to:

acquire image data from an image sensor, the image sensor comprising a pixel of interest in which a color filter of a first color is disposed and one or more additional pixels on which color filters of the first color are disposed;

determine a spectral sensitivity characteristic in a first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest;

determine a spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of each of the one or more additional pixels;

determine a reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range based on the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the each of the one or more additional pixels;

determine a difference between the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the pixel of interest and the reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range; and

determine a correction factor for correcting a pixel value in the first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest based on the difference.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image sensor comprises the pixel of interest and the one or more additional pixels in which the color filters of the first color are disposed, and another pixel in which a color filter of a second color is disposed, and

wherein the processor is configured to determine the correction factor in the predetermined wavelength range including a wavelength range where the first color has a lower spectral transmittance than the second color.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image sensor comprises the pixel of interest and the one or more additional pixels in which the color filters of the first color are disposed, and another pixel in which a color filter of a second color is disposed, and

wherein the processor is configured to determine the correction factor in the predetermined wavelength range including a wavelength range where the first color has a higher spectral transmittance than the first color.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the reference spectral sensitivity based on one of:

the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest and the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the each of the one or more additional pixels; and

the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the each of the one or more additional pixels.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, as the reference spectral sensitivity, an average value of the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the one or more additional pixels; or

determine, as the reference spectral sensitivity, an average value of spectral sensitivity characteristics of pixels of the one or more additional pixels located around the pixel of interest.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the correction factor for each of light sources that emit light of different wavelength characteristics.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image sensor is configured to receive uniform light having a higher spectral radiance in the predetermined wavelength range than in other wavelength ranges to generate the image data.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to:

remove random noise from the image data; and

determine the correction factor for the image data after the random noise is removed.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image sensor comprises pixels including the pixel of interest and the one or more additional pixels, wherein each of the pixels has a color filter of one of a plurality of colors disposed thereon, and

wherein the plurality of colors includes red, green, and blue.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image sensor comprises pixels including the pixel of interest and the one or more additional pixels, wherein each of the pixels has a color filter of one of a plurality of colors disposed thereon, and

wherein the plurality of colors includes cyan, magenta, yellow, and green.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is configured to correct the image data based on the correction factor determined.

12. An image processing method executed by a computer, the image processing method comprising:

acquiring image data from an image sensor, the image sensor comprising a pixel of interest in which a color filter of a first color is disposed and one or more additional pixels on which color filters of the first color are disposed;

determining a spectral sensitivity characteristic in a first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest;

determining a spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of each of the one or more additional pixels;

determining a reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range based on the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the each of the one or more additional pixels;

determining a difference between the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the pixel of interest and the reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range; and

determining a correction factor for correcting a pixel value in the first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest based on the difference.

13. The image processing method according to claim 12 ,

wherein the image processing method comprises correcting the image data based on the correction factor determined.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program causing a computer to:

acquire image data from an image sensor, the image sensor comprising a pixel of interest in which a color filter of a first color is disposed and one or more additional pixels on which color filters of the first color are disposed;

determine a spectral sensitivity characteristic in a first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest;

determine a spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of each of the one or more additional pixels;

determine a reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range based on the spectral sensitivity characteristic in the first predetermined wavelength range of the each of the one or more additional pixels;

determine a difference between the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the pixel of interest and the reference spectral sensitivity in the first predetermined wavelength range; and

determine a correction factor for correcting a pixel value in the first predetermined wavelength range of the pixel of interest based on the difference.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 14 , wherein the program causes the computer to correct the image data based on the correction factor determined.