Patent ID: 7664316

Claim:
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a data interpolation section for generating a color signal for each pixel using data interpolation processing of color signals for a target pixel and at least one pixel within a vicinity of the target pixel, based on color signals output from a solid state image pickup device, the solid state image pickup device including a plurality of pixel sections on which a plurality types of color filters are separately arranged, wherein the data interpolation section includes: a direction data calculation means for calculating a plurality of direction data, each of the plurality of direction data indicating a directional amount along a corresponding one of a plurality of directions including a diagonal direction within the vicinity of the target pixel; a direction detection means for detecting at least one direction of an edge within the vicinity of the target pixel, by using the plurality of direction data calculated by the direction data calculation means; a direction color signal calculation means for calculating at least one color signal corresponding to the at least one direction of the edge detected by the direction detection means; a target pixel color signal calculation means for calculating a color signal for the target pixel, by using the at least one color signal calculated by the direction color signal calculation means; and wherein the direction color signal calculation means includes: a color ratio calculation means for calculating a ratio between color signals for two different colors in view of the at least one direction of the edge at an arbitrary position in the vicinity of the target pixel; and a color signal calculation means for calculating the at least one color signal, by using a correlation of the ratio between the color signals calculated by the color ratio calculation means.