Patent ID: 8035728

Claim:
A method for using an image processor, comprising: with an image processing chain in the image processor, receiving image signals representing an image; with the image processing chain, collecting automatic exposure data for a scene; with the image processing chain, setting a luminance target level to an initial value; with the image processing chain, determining a maximum value for the luminance target level, wherein determining the maximum value includes calculating the maximum value based on an average scene luminance multiplied by a predetermined constant and calculating the maximum value if the luminance target level clips highlights of the scene; with the image processing chain, adjusting the luminance target level from its initial value to the maximum value; with the image processing chain, adjusting tonal correction parameters; with the image processing chain, adjusting S-curve parameters; and with the image processing chain, adjusting image parameters for the scene and providing the image parameters to an image processing circuit for processing the scene.