Patent ID: 7372487
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pick-up device for producing a synthesized image signal having a wide dynamic range by partially combining a plurality of images picked-up with different exposure amounts, said pick-up device comprising: an image picking-up means including a solid state image sensing element and picking-up an object by a plurality of times with different exposure amounts to derive a plurality of image signals, a memory means for storing at least a part of said plurality of image signals derived successively from said image picking-up means; an image synthesizing means for synthesizing said plurality of image signals at least a part of which is read out of said memory means to derive a synthesized image signal; a detecting means for detecting a synthetic unsuitable portion in said plurality of image signals which is not suitable for synthesizing in accordance with a comparison of the plurality of image signals; a correcting means for correcting a pixel signal of said synthetic unsuitable portion detected by said detecting means to derived a corrected pixel signal; a combining means for combining said corrected pixel signal from said correcting means with said synthesized image signal from said synthesizing means to derive a corrected synthesized image signal; and an image compression processing circuit for compressing said corrected synthesized image signal to derive a compressed synthesized image signal having a proper exposure level.