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Showing papers by "Tomoo Mitsunaga published in 2012"


Patent
27 Apr 2012
TL;DR: In this article, an image processing apparatus including an HDR processing unit inputting images picked up while exposure control that changes an exposure time is being carried out with a predetermined spatial period and a predetermined temporal period on pixels that compose an image sensor, and carrying out image processing.
Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including an HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing unit inputting images picked up while exposure control that changes an exposure time is being carried out with a predetermined spatial period and a predetermined temporal period on pixels that compose an image sensor, and carrying out image processing. The HDR processing unit generates a first combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process using a plurality of consecutively picked-up images, generates a second combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process that uses a single picked-up image, and generates an HDR image by executing a pixel value blending process on the first combined image and the second combined image in accordance with a blending ratio calculated in accordance with movement detection information.

127 citations


Patent
17 Feb 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an image processing apparatus includes an intermediate image generating unit configured to input an image which has been shot with differing exposure times set by region, generates a plurality of exposure pattern images corresponding to different exposure times based on the input image, and generates a multiplicity of timing images which are difference images of the plurality of image pattern images.
Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an intermediate image generating unit configured to input an image which has been shot with differing exposure times set by region, generates a plurality of exposure pattern images corresponding to differing exposure times based on the input image, and generates a plurality of timing images which are difference images of the plurality of exposure pattern images; and a distortion correction processing unit configured to generate a corrected image equivalent to an exposure processing image at a predetermined exposure time by synthesizing processing of the plurality of timing images.

110 citations


Patent
26 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an image sensor inputs the exposure time control data in the region units from the control unit and successively and sequentially uses the inputted exposure-time control data to carry out the image acquisition based on the exposuretime control in the pixel region units.
Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus including: a control unit generating exposure time control data in which an exposure time of an image sensor is set in pixel region units; and an image sensor inputting the exposure time control data and carrying out image acquisition based on exposure time control in the pixel region units. The control unit successively and sequentially generates the exposure time control data in region units based on luminance information in the pixel region units that form part of a preceding picked-up image and outputs the exposure time control data to the image sensor. The image sensor inputs the exposure time control data in the region units from the control unit and successively and sequentially uses the inputted exposure time control data to carry out the image acquisition based on the exposure time control in the pixel region units.

45 citations


Patent
29 Jun 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an apparatus and a method for generating a wide dynamic range image by executing a pixel value combination process of a plurality of different exposure time setting pixels.
Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for generating a wide dynamic range image by executing a pixel value combination process of a plurality of different exposure time setting pixels. Control of a different exposure time is performed for each of a plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring a pixel block and an addition pixel value obtained by adding outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block is generated. The generation of the addition pixel value is executed in an operation unit having an adding unit that that adds the outputs of the plurality of pixels of the same colors of the pixel block. Or, the generation of the addition pixel value is executed by a floating diffusion (FD) set in a pixel block unit and a charge output from each of the plurality of pixels of the same colors configuring the pixel block is accumulated and output in the floating diffusion (FD).

25 citations


Patent
26 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, an apparatus and a method for image pickup processing in which setting of an exposure time is performed in units of regions in an image pickup apparatus is presented, where an electronic shutter control unit calculates the exposure start time in units and an operation time of the mechanical shutter in units.
Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided, which realize image pickup processing in which setting of an exposure time is performed in units of regions in an image pickup apparatus. An electronic shutter control unit that controls an exposure start time of an image pickup device by an electronic shutter operation and a mechanical shutter control unit that controls an exposure end time of the image pickup device by a mechanical shutter operation. The electronic shutter control unit calculates the exposure start time in units of image regions based on an exposure time individually set in units of image regions, and an operation time of the mechanical shutter in units of image regions, and controls the electronic shutter to operate at the calculated exposure start time in units of image regions. For example, the exposure time control in units of regions is executed by subtracting a mechanical shutter an exposure time from a mechanical shutter operation time in units of row blocks, for example, and calculating a reset time serving as an exposure start time as an electronic shutter operation time.

15 citations


Patent
16 Apr 2012
TL;DR: A moving subject detection map is generated by performing moving subject region determination based on input image information from an image capture portion, and is used to set an exposure pattern for a moving subject detected pixel region as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A moving subject detection map is generated by performing moving subject region determination based on input image information from an image capture portion, and is used to set an exposure pattern for a moving subject detected pixel region. The exposure pattern is cyclically arranged with multiple different exposure times. The exposure time for a stationary subject region is set according to the brightness of the subject. Regarding an image captured based on the exposure time control, an output image is generated by computing pixel values for a moving subject region, using pixel value combination processing that utilizes the pixel values of pixels with a plurality of different exposure times being set, and by computing pixel values for the stationary subject region by multiplying a gain according to the exposure time. This achieves the acquisition of a dynamic range image while keeping deterioration of the resolution to a minimum.

13 citations


Patent
27 Jul 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an imaging device including an image sensor for outputting a high sensitivity pixel signal from a long-time exposure pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel signal of a short time exposure pixel; and a blooming correction processing unit for receiving the output pixel signals from the image sensor and executing blooming correction for the pixel signal.
Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including an image sensor for outputting a high-sensitivity pixel signal from a long-time exposure pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel signal from a short-time exposure pixel; and a blooming correction processing unit for receiving the output pixel signal from the image sensor and executing blooming correction for the pixel signal. The blooming correction processing unit executes pixel value correction of the input pixel from the image sensor according to a difference between or a ratio of an input pixel value from the image sensor and an ideal pixel value not affected by blooming.

7 citations


Patent
27 Feb 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a system for reconstructing a space-time volume from a coded image is described. But it is not shown how to reconstruct the volume from the coded image.
Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for reconstructing a space-time volume from a coded image are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for reconstructing a space-time volume from a coded image are provided, the systems comprising: an image sensor that outputs image data; and at least one processor that: causes a projection of the space-time volume to be captured in a single image of the image data in accordance with a coded shutter function; receives the image data; and performs a reconstruction process on the image data to provide a space-time volume corresponding to the image data.

6 citations


Patent
20 Sep 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a method for generating wide dynamic range images of high quality on a moving subject region and a still subject region depending on one photographed image, where the moving subject detection map is generated based on input image information from an imaging section.
Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for generating wide dynamic range images of high quality on a moving subject region and a still subject region depending on one photographed image.SOLUTION: The moving subject region is discriminated based on input image information from an imaging section and a moving subject detection map is generated. An exposure pattern consisting of a pattern where a plurality of different exposure times are periodically arranged is set for a moving subject detection pixel region by using the generated moving subject detection map. The exposure time corresponding to subject luminance is set for the still subject region. A pixel value is calculated by a pixel value synthesis processing using a pixel value of a pixel for setting the plurality of different exposure times on the moving subject region and a pixel value is calculated by multiplying a gain corresponding to the exposure time on the still subject region so as to generate an output image to an image photographed based on such exposure time control. The wide dynamic range image can be obtained for the whole regions while resolution deterioration is suppressed to be the minimum by the processing.

5 citations


Patent
16 Apr 2012
TL;DR: A moving subject detection map is generated by performing moving subject region determination based on input image information from an image capture portion, and is used to set an exposure pattern for a moving subject detected pixel region.
Abstract: A moving subject detection map is generated by performing moving subject region determination based on input image information from an image capture portion, and is used to set an exposure pattern for a moving subject detected pixel region. The exposure pattern is cyclically arranged with multiple different exposure times. The exposure time for a stationary subject region is set according to the brightness of the subject. Regarding an image captured based on the exposure time control, an output image is generated by computing pixel values for a moving subject region, using pixel value combination processing that utilizes the pixel values of pixels with a plurality of different exposure times being set, and by computing pixel values for the stationary subject region by multiplying a gain according to the exposure time. This achieves the acquisition of a dynamic range image while keeping deterioration of the resolution to a minimum.

1 citations