Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a motion prediction processor configured to detect a motion vector that indicates inter-image motion between a current image and a reference image;

a motion compensation processor configured to perform a motion compensation process for the reference image by using the motion vector and generate a motion compensated image;

an addition processor configured to generate a noise reduced image in which noise of the current image is reduced by performing a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image;

an addition determination unit configured to compute an addition weight in units of pixels of the motion compensated image that is used for a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image, the addition process being performed by the addition processor;

a down-sampling processor configured to perform a process for reducing the current image and the motion compensated image that are input to the addition determination unit; and

an up-sampling processor configured to perform a process for expanding an addition coefficient map that is an output of the addition determination unit.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, by using reduced images of the current image and the motion compensated image generated by the down-sampling processor, the addition determination unit computes an addition weight corresponding to constituent pixels of the reduced image.

3. An image processing method for use with an image processing apparatus configured to generate a noise reduced image, the image processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting, by using a motion prediction processor, a motion vector that indicates inter-image motion between a current image and a reference image;

performing, by using a motion compensation processor, a motion compensation process for the reference image by using the motion vector and generating a motion compensated image;

generating, by using an addition processor, a noise reduced image in which noise of the current image is reduced by performing a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image;

computing, by using an addition determination unit, an addition weight in units of pixels of the motion compensated image that is used for a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image, the addition process being performed by the addition processor;

performing, by using a down-sampling processor, a process for reducing the current image and the motion compensated image that are input to the addition determination unit; and

performing, by using an up-sampling processor, a process for expanding an addition coefficient map that is an output of the addition determination unit.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a program for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing comprising the steps of:

causing a motion prediction processor to detect a motion vector that indicates inter-image motion between a current image and a reference image;

causing a motion compensation processor to perform a motion compensation process for the reference image by using the motion vector and generate a motion compensated image;

causing an addition processor to generate a noise reduced image in which noise of the current image is reduced by performing a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image;

causing an addition determination unit to compute an addition weight in units of pixels of the motion compensated image that is used for a process for adding the current image and the motion compensated image, the addition process being performed by the addition processor;

causing a down-sampling processor to perform a process for reducing the current image and the motion compensated image that are input to the addition determination unit; and

causing an up-sampling processor to perform a process for expanding an addition coefficient map that is an output of the addition determination unit.