Patent ID: 8223226
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus that performs noise reduction processing to image signals taken in from an imaging system in time sequence, comprising: a separation and extraction unit that separates a present image signal into a luminance signal and a color signal and extracts regions having a predetermined size sequentially; a representative luminance calculation unit that calculates a representative luminance value of the region based upon the luminance signal of the region extracted by the separation and extraction unit; a representative hue calculation unit that calculates a representative hue value of the region based upon the color signal of the regions; a color noise estimation unit that estimates a color noise amount based upon the representative luminance value calculated by the representative luminance calculation unit and the representative hue value calculated by the representative hue calculation unit; a differential color signal calculation unit that calculates a differential color signal from the color signal of the region and a color signal of a past region which has been subjected to noise reduction processing and corresponds to the region; and a color noise reduction unit that performs color noise reduction processing to the color signal of the region based upon the color noise amount estimated by the color noise estimation unit and the differential color signal calculated by the differential color signal calculation unit.