Patent ID: 8085316
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image-processing unit, the image-processing unit generating rendered image data on the basis of first image data, the rendered image data comprising pixel data whose value may range to m 2 , m 2 being a positive integer, the first image data comprising pixel data whose value may range to m 1 , m 1 being a positive integer, the image-processing unit comprising: a gradation extension circuit that converts the first image data into third image data if m an original image setting circuit that sets original image data to the third image data if m an exposure conversion circuit that generates first and second exposure level image data on the basis of the original image data, the first exposure level image data being generated by converting the values of the pixel data in the original image data, less than s a standard image-setting circuit that sets standard image data to image data comprising pixel data whose value may range to m a tentative setting circuit that sets a first tentative threshold within the range between a lowest value and m a classification circuit that classifies pixels corresponding to the pixel data which the standard image data comprises to either first or second classified pixel, the pixel corresponding to the pixel data whose value is less than or greater than the first tentative threshold being classified to the first or second classified pixel, respectively; a contour extraction circuit that extracts standard and first comparison contours and detects locations of the standard and first comparison contours, the standard contour being a contour of subject in an image corresponding to the standard image data, the first comparison contour being a dividing line between the first and second classified neighboring pixels; a contour comparison circuit that detects a first accordance indicator to indicate how much the locations of the standard and first comparison contours accord to each other; a final setting circuit that orders the tentative setting circuit, the classification circuit, the contour extraction circuit, and the contour comparison circuit to repeatedly carry out the change of the first tentative threshold, the classification to the first and second classified pixels, the detection of the locations of the standard and first comparison contours, and the detection of the first accordance indicator, respectively, at least until maximum of the first accordance indicator is detected, the final setting circuit setting a first conclusive threshold to the first tentative threshold whose the first accordance indicator is the highest among detected ones; and an image synthesis circuit that generates the rendered image data by replacing the pixel data in the standard image data whose value is less than the first conclusive threshold with the pixel data in the first exposure level image data and replacing the pixel data in the standard image data whose value is less than the first conclusive threshold with the pixel data in the second exposure level image data.