Image processing device, endoscope apparatus, image processing method, and program

Abstract

An image processing device includes a memory configured to store a plurality of captured images; and a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor is configured to implement: an image selection unit configured to: select a reference image from among the plurality of captured images stored in the memory; and select images to be combined with the reference image from: a first group of images among the plurality of captured images, the first group of images being captured earlier than the reference image; and a second group of images among the plurality of captured images, the second group of images being captured later than the reference image; and a composition processing unit configured to compose the images to be combined selected by the image selection unit with the reference image selected by the image selection unit to generate a composite image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing device comprising:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of captured images; and   a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor is configured to implement:
 an image selection unit configured to:
 select a reference image from among the plurality of captured images stored in the memory; and 
 select images to be combined with the reference image from:
 a first group of images among the plurality of captured images, the first group of images being captured earlier than the reference image; and 
 a second group of images among the plurality of captured images, the second group of images being captured later than the reference image; and 
 
 
 a composition processing unit configured to compose the images to be combined selected by the image selection unit with the reference image selected by the image selection unit to generate a composite image. 
   
     
     
         2 . An endoscope apparatus comprising:
 an insertion unit;   an imaging unit disposed at a tip of the insertion unit;   an image processing device, wherein the image processing device includes:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of captured images which are captured by the imaging portion, 
 a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor is configured to implement:
 an image selection unit configured to:
 select a reference image from among the plurality of captured images stored in the memory; and 
 select images to be combined with the reference image from: 
  a first group of images among the plurality of captured images, the first group of images being captured earlier than the reference image; and 
  a second group of images among the plurality of captured images, the second group of images being captured later than the reference image; and 
 
 a composition processing unit configured to compose the images to be combined selected by the image selection unit with the reference image selected by the image selection unit to generate a composite image, and 
 
   an image display unit configured to display the composite image.   
     
     
         3 . An image processing method comprising:
 selecting a reference image from among the plurality of captured images stored in the memory;   selecting images to be combined with the reference image from:
 a first group of images among the plurality of captured images, the first group of images being captured earlier than the reference image; and 
 a second group of images among the plurality of captured images, the second group of images being captured later than the reference image; and 
   
       among the plurality of images; and
 composing the images to be combined with the selected reference image to generate a composite image. 
 
     
     
         4 . A computer-readable device storing a program causing a computer to perform steps of:
 selecting a reference image from among the plurality of captured images stored in the memory;   selecting images to be combined with the reference image from:
 a first group of images among the plurality of captured images, the first group of images being captured earlier than the reference image; and 
 a second group of images among the plurality of captured images, the second group of images being captured later than the reference image; and 
 among the plurality of images; and 
   composing the images to be combined with the selected reference image to generate a composite image.