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US9727951B2 Active / In Force US ⏱️ 7.3 years remaining

Image processing apparatus and method for controlling the apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 2014-03-07
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Granted: 2017-08-08
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Expires: 2034-03-07
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Abstract

Abstract An image processing apparatus and a method thereof for correcting image data in accordance with a feature of the image data, calculates a brightness component of image data and a color difference component of image data, determines whether the image data is a nightscape image or an underexposed image using the calculated brightness component and color difference component, and corrects the image data which has been determined as a nightscape image or an underexposed image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroyuki Sakai
  • 👤 Kiyoshi Umeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 10:49
CPC Classifications
G06T5/001; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6072; G06K9/00664; G06T11/001; G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/10; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/10; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30168

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a determination unit configured to determine a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least underexposure, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct the image data in accordance with the scene determined by the determination unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a determination unit configured to determine a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least underexposure, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct the image data in accordance with the scene determined by the determination unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 77 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the scene of the image data is underexposure based on a relationship among the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels, the feature amount related to the variance of the color-difference values of the plurality of pixels obtained by the obtaining unit, and predetermined feature amounts related to respective brightness and a color-difference value indicating underexposure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 136 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit (i) calculates a distance between coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the color difference values obtained by the obtaining unit and coordinates of respective brightness and color-difference values indicating underexposure, in a feature amount space including at least the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the color-difference values, and (ii) determines that the scene of the image data is a scene that is set on coordinates in which the calculated distance is the shortest from the coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 39 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is luminance values of each pixel of at least a portion of pixels of a plurality of pixels in the image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is an average value of luminance values of each pixel of at least a portion of the pixels of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is any one of a Y component in a YCbCr color space, an L component in an Lab color system, an L component in an Luv system, and a V component in an HSV color space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the color-difference value is one of (i) a Cb component in a YCbCr color space and (ii) a Cr component in the YCbCr color space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 79 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is at least one of an average value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a median value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 118 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feature amount related to the variance of the plurality of color-difference values is at least one of a difference value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a color-difference value from a maximum value of a color-difference value of the plurality of color-difference values, a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 41 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if the determination unit determines that the scene of the image data is underexposure, the correction unit corrects the image data using a correction characteristic for making the image data lighter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; and determining a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least Underexposure, using at least the obtained feature amount related to the brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; and determining a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least Underexposure, using at least the obtained feature amount related to the brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 118 words
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a data accessing method, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; determining a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least underexposure, using at least the obtained feature amount related to the brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 118 words
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a data accessing method, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; determining a scene of the image data among a plurality of scenes including at least underexposure, using at least the obtained feature amount related to the brightness and a feature amount related to a variance of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 144 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a decision unit configured to decide information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a maximum value and a minimum value of the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct brightness of the image data using the information decided by the decision unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 144 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a decision unit configured to decide information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a maximum value and a minimum value of the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct brightness of the image data using the information decided by the decision unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 117 words
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a data processing method, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels included in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels and a maximum value and a minimum value of the obtained plurality of color difference values; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 117 words
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a data processing method, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels included in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels and a maximum value and a minimum value of the obtained plurality of color difference values; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels included in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels and a maximum value and a minimum value of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels included in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels and a maximum value and a minimum value of the obtained plurality of color-difference values; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 70 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the determining determines that the scene of the image data is underexposure based on a relationship among the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels, the feature amount related to the variance of the obtained color-difference values of the plurality of pixels, and predetermined feature amounts related to respective brightness and the variance of color-difference values indicating underexposure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 124 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the determining (i) calculates a distance between coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the obtained color-difference values and coordinates of respective brightness and a color-difference value indicating underexposure, in a feature amount space including at least the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the color difference, and (ii) determines that the scene of the image data is a scene that is set on coordinates in which the calculated distance is the shortest from the coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the variance of the color-difference values.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is an average value of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 77 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is at least one of an average value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a median value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 135 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the feature amount related to the variance of the color-difference values of the plurality of pixels is at least one of a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a difference value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a color-difference value from a maximum value of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 164 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a feature amount related to a color difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a determination unit configured to determine a scene of the image data; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct the image data in accordance with the scene determined by the determination unit, wherein a determination by the determination unit includes discriminating at least one of an underexposure scene and a nightscape scene, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and the feature amount related to a plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 164 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; and (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a feature amount related to a color difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a determination unit configured to determine a scene of the image data; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct the image data in accordance with the scene determined by the determination unit, wherein a determination by the determination unit includes discriminating at least one of an underexposure scene and a nightscape scene, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and the feature amount related to a plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a feature amount related to a color-difference value of each pixel of least a part a plurality of pixels in the image data; determining a scene of the image data; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene, wherein a determination in the determining includes discriminating at least one of an underexposure scene and a nightscape scene, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and the obtained feature amount related to the obtained plurality of color-difference values.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining a feature amount related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a feature amount related to a color-difference value of each pixel of least a part a plurality of pixels in the image data; determining a scene of the image data; and correcting the image data in accordance with the determined scene, wherein a determination in the determining includes discriminating at least one of an underexposure scene and a nightscape scene, using at least the feature amount related to brightness and the obtained feature amount related to the obtained plurality of color-difference values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 66 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the determining determines that the scene of the image data is underexposure based on a relationship among the feature amount related to the brightness of the plurality of pixels, the feature amount related to the obtained color-difference values of the plurality of pixels, and predetermined feature amounts related to respective brightness and a color-difference value indicating being underexposure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 117 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the determining (i) calculates a distance between coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the obtained color-difference values and coordinates of respective brightness and color-difference values indicating nightscape and underexposure, in a feature amount space including at least the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the color-difference values, and (ii) determines that the scene of the image data is a scene that is set on coordinates in which the calculated distance is the shortest from the coordinates of the feature amount related to the brightness and the feature amount related to the obtained color-difference values.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is an average value of luminance values of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 77 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the feature amount related to the brightness is at least one of an average value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a median value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 132 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the feature amount related to the color-difference values of the plurality of pixels is at least one of a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a difference value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a color-difference value from a maximum value of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels of the image data, a variance of color difference of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a maximum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data, and a variance of color-difference values of the plurality of pixels in the neighborhood of a pixel having a minimum value of luminance of the plurality of pixels of the image data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 57 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein the correcting corrects the image data using a correction characteristic being different from a correction characteristic used in a case that the determining determines that the scene of the image data is underexposure, when it is determined in the determining that the scene of the image data is nightscape.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines the scene of the image data among the plurality of scenes including at least underexposure and nightscape.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 62 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the correction unit is configured to correct the image data using a correction characteristic being different from a correction characteristic used in a case of the determination unit determining that the scene of the image data is underexposure, when the determination unit determines that the scene of the image data is nightscape.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 86 words
The data processing apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein, if the determination unit determines that the scene of the image data is (i) nightscape, the correction unit makes a correction in a way that dark pixels of the image data are made darker and light pixels of the image data are made lighter, and (ii) underexposure, the correction unit makes a correction in a way that dark pixels of the image data are made lighter and light pixels of the image data are made darker.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein, in the determining, the scene of the image data is determined among the plurality of scenes including at least underexposure and nightscape.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the decision unit decides the information for correcting brightness of the image data using a difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 141 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a decision unit configured to decide information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct brightness of the image data using the information decided by the decision unit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 141 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: (a) a memory storing instructions; (b) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause the data processing apparatus to function as: (i) an obtaining unit configured to obtain feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; (ii) a decision unit configured to decide information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the plurality of color-difference values obtained by the obtaining unit; and (iii) a correction unit configured to correct brightness of the image data using the information decided by the decision unit.
Claim 44
Independent Claim 97 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the obtained plurality of pixels; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 45
Independent Claim 97 words
A method of controlling a data processing apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data, using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the obtained plurality of pixels; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 107 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a processor to execute a data processing method, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the obtained plurality of pixels; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 107 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a processor to execute a data processing method, the method comprising: obtaining feature amounts related to brightness of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in image data and a color-difference value of each pixel of at least a part of a plurality of pixels in the image data; deciding information for correcting brightness of the image data using at least the feature amount related to the brightness and a difference of two color-difference values among the obtained plurality of pixels; and correcting brightness of the image data using the decided information.

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