18063020. IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM simplified abstract (CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA)

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IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Organization Name

CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor(s)

Hiroki Usami of Tokyo (JP)

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18063020 titled 'IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an imaging apparatus that combines multiple images with different focus positions to create a composite image with a greater depth of field. The apparatus includes a determination unit that analyzes the scene and a combination unit that automatically combines the images based on the scene determination.

  • The imaging apparatus performs scene determination to analyze the characteristics of the scene.
  • It combines multiple images with different focus positions along the optical axis.
  • The combination is automatically performed based on the result of the scene determination.
  • The resulting composite image has a greater depth of field compared to the individual images.

Potential Applications

This technology can have various applications in the field of imaging and photography, including:

  • Macro photography: Capturing detailed close-up images with a greater depth of field.
  • Landscape photography: Creating images with sharp focus from the foreground to the background.
  • Product photography: Capturing product images with enhanced clarity and focus.
  • Medical imaging: Improving the depth of field in medical imaging applications such as endoscopy or microscopy.

Problems Solved

The imaging apparatus addresses the following problems:

  • Limited depth of field: Traditional cameras have a limited depth of field, resulting in blurred or out-of-focus areas in the image.
  • Manual image stacking: Previous methods required manual selection and combination of images with different focus positions, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.
  • Inconsistent focus: When capturing scenes with varying depths, it is challenging to achieve consistent focus throughout the image.

Benefits

The use of this imaging apparatus offers several benefits:

  • Enhanced depth of field: The composite image generated by the apparatus has a greater depth of field, resulting in sharper and more focused images.
  • Automation: The combination unit automatically performs the image combination based on the scene determination, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
  • Time-saving: The automated process saves time compared to manual image stacking techniques.
  • Improved image quality: The apparatus ensures consistent focus throughout the image, resulting in improved overall image quality.


Original Abstract Submitted

Provided is an imaging apparatus including a determination unit configured to perform scene determination and a combination unit configured to combine a plurality of images different in focus position in an optical axis direction. The combination unit automatically performs the combination based on a result of the scene determination. A composite image to be generated in a case where the combination unit performs the combination is deeper in depth of field than the plurality of images.

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