Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Junko Makita

Hiroaki Sugiura

Tetsuya Kuno

Narihiro Matoba

Masashi Tamura

Koichi Yamashita

Takashi Itow

Shoutarou Moriya

A regression analysis is carried out () using pixel signals having a K-th spectral characteristic as the explanatory variable and pixel signals having an L-th spectral characteristic as the purpose variable in a plurality of pixel positions in an area neighboring a pixel of interest to obtain a pixel signal having the L-th spectral characteristic (). Pixel signals obtained by low-pass filtering (-) of the output signals of an imaging device may be used as the explanatory variable and the purpose variable. The occurrence of false colors is thereby reduced when, in a group of pixel signals from pixels arrayed on a two-dimensional plane, each pixel having one of a plurality of spectral characteristics, the missing colors at each pixel position are obtained by interpolation.

Pixel signal processing apparatus and pixel signal processing method

The difference between the output of a k-signal nonlinear low-pass filter () and the output of an h-signal nonlinear low-pass filter () is added () to the value of the h-th pixel signal (h(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest to obtain the k-th pixel signal (k(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest. Accurate pixel interpolation can be performed with good noise immunity, even at locations where the color signals are uncorrelated.

A pixel signal having a k-th spectral characteristic at a pixel interpolation position occupied by a pixel signal having an h-th spectral characteristic is generated from a set of pixel signals arrayed in a two-dimensional plane, each having one of a plurality of spectral characteristics, by calculating a difference between low-frequency components, corresponding to a degree of correlation between pixel signals having the k-th and h-th spectral characteristics in a neighborhood of the pixel interpolation position (), calculating a non-correlation value corresponding to a degree of non-correlation between the pixel signals having the k-th and h-th spectral characteristics in the neighborhood of the pixel interpolation position (), and obtaining the pixel signal having the k-th spectral characteristic at the pixel interpolation position by using the calculated difference and the non-correlation value (). Accurate interpolation can be performed despite various different correlation relationships between color component values.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Junko Makita