Patent ID: 7746387
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus adapted to produce a single image from a plurality of images acquired by sensing an object under different exposure conditions, comprising: means for sensing the object under different exposure conditions to acquire the plurality of images; means for calculating a pixel value for each of the plurality of images; means for multiplying the pixel value by a factor set based on the respective exposure condition for the image to calculate a positive value compensation amount; means for synthesizing the plurality of compensated images to produce a single synthetic image having a wide dynamic range; means for compressing the dynamic range of the synthesized image to an extent depending upon the performance of an output destination of the image pickup apparatus to produce a compressed image; first means for compensating the level of the plurality of images on the basis of the respective exposure conditions under which the plurality of images have been sensed by subtracting a positive compensation value from each of the plurality of images, to produce a plurality of compensated images; means for calculating the positive compensation value by multiplying a level average of each of the plurality of images by a respective coefficient for the image; and means for selecting the coefficient for each of the plurality of images based on the respective exposure condition of that image.