Patent ID: 7415170

Claim:
A data processing apparatus for processing an image signal obtained from a solid-state image pickup device, in which a plurality of types of color filters are discretely provided on pixels, and a pixel to be interpolated and surrounding pixels thereof have image signals, the apparatus comprising: an interpolation section for generating a missing color signal in the image signal of each pixel by interpolation using at least the image signals of the surrounding pixels among the image signals of the pixel to be interpolated and the surrounding pixels thereof, wherein the interpolation section is arranged so as to select at least one interpolation pattern and to perform interpolation based on the selected at least one interpolation pattern, the selected at least one interpolation pattern being similar to a pattern of data values of the pixel to be interpolated and the surrounding pixels thereof corresponding to the image signal, the selection being based on uniformity and gradient of the image signals of the pixel to be interpolated and the surrounding pixels thereof, and wherein the interpolation section calculates directional data indicating a similarity between each of the at least one interpolation pattern, and the pattern of data values of the pixel to be interpolated and the surrounding pixels thereof, and selects an interpolation pattern where the directional data is the smallest if, (a) the pixel to be interpolated is a pixel mainly contributing to luminance, or (b) the pixel to be interpolated is a pixel not mainly contributing to luminance and the interpolation patterns of surrounding pixels mainly contributing to luminance are not the same.