Patent ID: 7817875
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: contrast detecting means for detecting a contrast intensity of a target pixel being considered in a first image, the contrast intensity indicating an intensity of contrast in a region including and neighboring the target pixel; flat-intensity detecting means for detecting a flat intensity of the target pixel on the basis of the contrast intensity, the flat intensity indicating a degree of smallness of change in pixel value relative to change in position in the region including and neighboring the target pixel; edge-intensity detecting means for detecting an edge intensity of the target pixel on the basis of the contrast intensity, the edge intensity indicating a degree of largeness of change in pixel value relative to change in position in the region including and neighboring the target pixel; flat-weight setting means for setting a flat weight for the target pixel, the flat weight being a weight that increases as flat intensities of pixels in the region including and neighboring the target pixel increase and that decreases as the flat intensities decrease; edge-weight setting means for setting an edge weight for the target pixel, the edge weight being a weight that increases as edge intensities of the pixels in the region including and neighboring the target pixel increase and that decreases as the edge intensities decrease; attenuating means for attenuating components in a predetermined frequency band of the first image to form a second image; first combining means for combining the first image and the second image to form a third image by adding together pixel values of pixels at corresponding positions of the first image and the second image, using weights that are based on the flat weight; edge enhancing means for enhancing edges in the third image to form a fourth image; and second combining means for combining the first image and the fourth image by adding together pixel values of pixels at corresponding positions of the first image and the fourth image, using weights that are based on the edge weight.