Patent ID: 8854421

Claim:
An image processing apparatus that processes image data obtained by an imaging device, the image processing apparatus comprising: a line buffer that temporarily and sequentially stores therein the image data; a finite impulse response (FIR) filter that performs shaping of spatial frequency characteristics of the image data by using the line buffer; an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter that uses the same line buffer that is used by the FIR filter as a line buffer for use in feedback of processed image data; a noise-level detecting device that detects a noise level of the image data; a switching-signal generating device that generates a switching signal based on the noise level detected at the noise-level detecting device; at least one switching device configured to enable and disable the FIR filter and the IIR filter independently according to the switching signal generated at the switching-signal generating device, and wherein when a noise level is low, the switching device switches the IIR filter OFF so that an input signal is directly sent to the line buffer, while the switching device switches the FIR filter ON so that a signal sent from the FIR filter is sent to an output terminal, and when a noise level is high, the switching device switches the IIR filter ON so that a signal sent from the IIR filter is sent to the line buffer, while the switching device switches the FIR filter OFF so that a signal sent from the line buffer is directly sent to the output terminal.