Patent ID: 8369613

Claim:
An image processing circuit comprising: a memory configured to store an image retrieved from an image pick-up element, wherein the image is written on a plurality of rows of a two dimensional storage area of the memory; and a filtering circuit configured to perform a filtering process with respect to each pixel data on a row when the image is written on the plurality of rows of the two-dimensional storage area of the memory, wherein the pixel data on the row is pixel data on a row of the two-dimensional storage area, wherein the filtering circuit further comprises; a comparison unit configured to compare pixel data of a target pixel included in the pixel data on the row to each of pixel data of a plurality of peripheral pixels, which neighbors the target pixel, and outputs post-comparison pixel data, the comparison unit further comprises: a difference unit configured to obtain a difference value between the pixel data of the target pixel and the pixel data of the plurality of peripheral pixels; a judgment unit configured to compare the difference value to a predetermined value; and a selection unit configured to select the pixel data of the plurality of peripheral pixels when the difference value is less than the predetermined value and select the pixel data of the target when the difference value is greater than the predetermined value; and a calculation circuit configured to obtain post-process target pixel data from at least a portion of a plurality of the post-comparison pixel data.