Patent ID: 6664973
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
An image processing apparatus for processing images, comprising:a color space transforming part transforming an input color space of an input image to a process color space of a processing image having pixels having a luminance value; a HL/SD values detecting part detecting a HL value that shows a brightest luminance value of the pixels of the processing image and an SD value that shows a darkest luminance value of the pixels of the processing image; a white balance correcting part correcting an improper white balance of the processing image; a gradation correcting part correcting a luminance gradation of the processing image based on a gradation correction line; a leveling part leveling a luminance distribution of the processing image based on variances and leveling rates of the processing image; and a &ggr;-converting part converting a luminance average of the processing image to a &ggr;-value and correcting the luminance of the processing image based on the &ggr;-value, thereby image noises are eliminated, wherein said HL/SD values detecting part comprises: an extracting part extracting HL potential pixels having a potential HL value and SD potential pixels having a potential SD value from the pixels of the processing image; an averaging part calculating an average of each HL potential pixel and pixels in a specific vicinity of the HL potential pixel and calculating an average of each SD potential pixel and pixels in a specific vicinity of the SD potential pixel; and a determining part specifying a maximum average of all averages for the HL potential pixels and determining the minimum average as the HL value, and specifying a maximum average of all averages for the SD potential pixels and determining the maximum average as the SD value.