Image processing device, method, and program

Abstract

The present invention enables processing results which are more accurate and which have higher precision as to events of the real world to be obtained. (An inverse gamma correction unit 5001 applies inverse gamma correction to an input image wherein light signals of the actual world have been projected and a part of the continuity of the light signals of the actual world has been lost, and which has been subjected to gamma correction. A data continuity detecting unit 101 detects, in the input image subjected to inverse gamma correction, data continuity corresponding to the continuity of light signals of the real world. An actual world estimating unit 102 estimates the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the data continuity. An image generating unit 103 generates an output image from the estimated light signals. A presentation system property correcting unit 5002 applies correction corresponding to the properties of the presentation system to the output image that has been generated. The present invention can be applied to an image processing device for generating images with higher resolution.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . An image processing device comprising:
 inverse gamma correction means for applying inverse gamma correction to first image data subjected to gamma correction in which light signals of the real world having continuity of the light signals of the real world in that, at any arbitrary position in a length-wise direction of an object in distribution of intensity of light from the object, the cross-sectional shape as the change in level corresponding to the change in position in the direction orthogonal to the length-wise direction are projected so that a part of the continuity of the light signals of the real world is lost, and outputting the first image data subjected to inverse gamma correction;   image data continuity detecting means for detecting continuity of the image data in that a constant characteristic is obtained in a predetermined dimensional direction which is changed from the continuity of the light signals of the real world within the first image data output from the inverse gamma correction means;   actual world estimating means for estimating the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the continuity of the image data detected by the image data continuity detecting means;   image generating means for generating second image data from the estimated light signals; and   presentation system property correcting means for applying correction corresponding to the properties of a presentation system, to the second image data generated by the image generating means.   
   
   
       3 . The image processing device according to  claim 2 , the image data continuity detecting means including:
 discontinuous portion detecting means for detecting a discontinuous portion of a plurality of pixel values within the first image data;   peak detecting means for detecting the peak of change of the pixel values from the discontinuous portion;   monotonous increase/decrease region detecting means for detecting a monotonous increase/decrease region wherein the pixel values are increasing or decreasing monotonously from the peak; and   continuousness detecting means for detecting a monotonous increase/decrease region regarding which the monotonous increase/decrease region exists at an adjacent position as a continuity region having the continuity of the image data.   
   
   
       4 . An image processing method comprising:
 an inverse gamma correction step for applying inverse gamma correction to first image data subjected to gamma correction in which light signals of the real world having continuity of the light signals of the real world in that, at any arbitrary position in a length-wise direction of an object in distribution of intensity of light from the object, the cross-sectional shape as the change in level corresponding to the change in position in the direction orthogonal to the length-wise direction are projected so that a part of the continuity of the light signals of the real world is lost, and outputting the first image data subjected to inverse gamma correction;   an image data continuity detecting step for detecting continuity of the image data in that a constant characteristic is obtained in a predetermined dimensional direction which is changed from the continuity of the light signals of the real world within the first image data output in the inverse gamma correction step;   an actual world estimating step for estimating the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the continuity of the image data detected in the image data continuity detecting step;   an image generating step for generating second image data from the estimated light signals; and   a presentation system property correcting step for applying correction corresponding to the properties of a presentation system, to the second image data generated in the image generating step.   
   
   
       5 . A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer-readable program comprising:
 an inverse gamma correction step for applying inverse gamma correction to first image data subjected to gamma correction in which light signals of the real world having continuity of the light signals of the real world in that, at any arbitrary position in a length-wise direction of an object in distribution of intensity of light from the object, the cross-sectional shape as the change in level corresponding to the change in position in the direction orthogonal to the length-wise direction are projected so that a part of the continuity of the light signals of the real world is lost, and outputting the first image data subjected to inverse gamma correction;   an image data continuity detecting step for detecting continuity of the image data in that a constant characteristic is obtained in a predetermined dimensional direction which is changed from the continuity of the light signals of the real world within the first image data output in the inverse gamma correction step;   an actual world estimating step for estimating the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the continuity of the image data detected in the image data continuity detecting step;   an image generating step for generating second image data from the estimated light signals; and   a presentation system property correcting step for applying correction corresponding to the properties of a presentation system, to the second image data generated in the image generating step.   
   
   
       6 . A computer-readable program comprising:
 an inverse gamma correction step for applying inverse gamma correction to first image data subjected to gamma correction in which light signals of the real world having continuity of the light signals of the real world in that, at any arbitrary position in a length-wise direction of an object in distribution of intensity of light from the object, the cross-sectional shape as the change in level corresponding to the change in position in the direction orthogonal to the length-wise direction are projected so that a part of the continuity of the light signals of the real world is lost, and outputting the first image data subjected to inverse gamma correction;   an image data continuity detecting step for detecting continuity of the image data in that a constant characteristic is obtained in a predetermined dimensional direction which is changed from the continuity of the light signals of the real world within the first image data output in the inverse gamma correction step;   an actual world estimating step for estimating the light signals by estimating the continuity of the light signals of the real world, based on the continuity of the image data detected in the image data continuity detecting step;   an image generating step for generating second image data from the estimated light signals; and   a presentation system property correcting step for applying correction corresponding to the properties of a presentation system, to the second image data generated in the image generating step.