WO2008056680A1 - Color image adjusting device and color image adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

A problem to be solved is to provide a color image adjusting device and a color image adjusting method in which color information included in a color image can be easily adjusted without calling for technical knowledge or experience. A color image adjusting device is comprised of a color correction selecting frame (20) for designating a region desired to adjust color information on a monitor (13) and, when it changes a color in the region designated by the color correction selecting frame (20), the color image adjusting device judges which region in a color matrix the color belongs to. When the color image adjusting device finds the region corresponding to the color, it adjusts a color matrix process and, after the adjustment of the process, synthesizes the color matrix processes, respectively. Thus, users can intuitively carry out the color adjustments without having technical knowledge.

Description

 Specification

 Color image adjusting apparatus and color image adjusting method

 Technical field

 [0001] The present invention relates to a camera having a function of displaying a color image obtained by imaging using an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) on a monitor screen, a computer (so-called personal computer), or the like. The present invention relates to a color image adjustment device and a power image adjustment method suitable for use in a monitor device used.

 Background art

 Conventionally, a color image adjustment method has been devised that selects a memory color that is most important in color reproducibility from among the memory colors included in the original image and performs color correction according to the selected memory color (for example, (See Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the user selects the memory color that the user desires the best color reproduction from among the “skin color”, “green”, “sky blue”, and “red” memory colors included in the original image. A technique is disclosed in which color correction is performed according to a selected memory color to form a color image composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow.

 Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-311353

 Disclosure of the invention

 Problems to be solved by the invention

 [0004] However, when adjusting the color information included in the image! /, Which is included in the image described above, if the user has no specialized knowledge of the color component, the desired information can be obtained. Getting color is difficult. In particular, adjustment of the color matrix is an adjustment that requires specialized knowledge and experience to understand the color space expressed by the color difference, where the target color is included, and which axis to change. If you do not have specialized knowledge and experience, you will spend a lot of time to get the color you want.

 [0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a color image capable of easily adjusting the color information included in the color image without requiring specialized knowledge or experience. An object is to provide an adjusting device and a color image adjusting method.

Means for solving the problem [0006] The above object is achieved by the following configurations and methods.

 The color image adjusting apparatus of the present invention includes an area designating unit for designating an area for adjusting color information of a color image displayed on a monitor screen, and a dominant color of the area designated by the area designating unit. Color adjustment means for adjusting the hue and saturation to values according to the amount of user operation, and the color adjustment means adjusts the hue and saturation of the dominant color in the area designated by the area designation means. In this case, it is determined which area of the color matrix the color is in, and when the corresponding area is found, the color matrix processing of that area is adjusted, and then the respective color matrix processes are synthesized.

 [0007] According to the above configuration, the user can specify a color to be adjusted while viewing a monitor screen displaying a color image, and can adjust the hue and saturation of the specified color. Color information can be adjusted intuitively even if the user has no knowledge or experience.

 [0008] Further, the color image adjustment apparatus of the present invention includes a communication unit that performs communication with a computer that has a CPU and operates the CPU according to a program, and the computer through the communication unit. Control means that enables selection of a color adjustment target area and capture of pixel information or color space determination information of the selected area and adjustment of hue and saturation of a dominant color of the area. .

 [0009] According to the configuration described above, it is possible to specify the color to be adjusted and adjust the hue and saturation of the specified color on the computer. In addition, instead of key operations for color adjustment with a single color image adjustment device, it is possible to perform color adjustment by interactively specifying the area using a mouse pointer or GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the computer. As a result, the degree of freedom in operability is improved as compared with the case of the color image adjusting device alone.

 [0010] The camera apparatus of the present invention includes an image sensor, and the camera apparatus having an image output function for displaying a color image of a subject imaged by the image sensor on the monitor screen. One of the image adjustment devices is provided.

 [0011] According to the above configuration, since any one of the color image adjustment devices of the present invention is provided, the color information adjustment is performed intuitively even if the user does not have specialized knowledge or experience. Can be realized.

[0012] The color image adjustment method of the present invention provides the color of the color image displayed on the monitor screen. An area designating process for designating an area for adjusting information, and in which area of the color matrix the color is included when adjusting the hue and saturation of the dominant color of the area specified in the area designating process. A color adjustment step of adjusting the color matrix processing of the corresponding area and then combining the color matrix processing.

[0013] According to the above method, the user can specify a color to be adjusted while viewing a monitor screen displaying a color image, and can adjust the hue and saturation of the specified color. Color information can be adjusted intuitively even if the user has no knowledge or experience. The invention's effect

 [0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust color information included in a captured color image without requiring specialized knowledge or experience.

 Brief Description of Drawings

 FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera control device of the camera device according to the embodiment.

 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an upper layer setting change menu display by the camera control device of the camera device according to the embodiment.

 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a lower layer setting change menu display by the camera control device of the camera device according to the embodiment.

 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a color correction selection frame by the camera control device of the camera device according to the embodiment.

 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a 12-axis color difference matrix used for color correction by the camera control device of the camera device according to the above embodiment.

 Explanation of symbols

[0016] 10 camera device

 11 Camera

 12 Camera control device

 13 Monitor

20 Color correction selection frame 30 areas

 100 subjects

 111 Camera head

 112 lenses

 121 Pre-processing section

 122 YC separation processing · RGB converter

 123 RGB color matrix processor

 124 Gain 'phase setting section

 125 area generator

 126 Area display signal replacement mixed selection unit

 127 Area detection processor

 128 Color difference detection data addition · Average · Storage

 129 Menu character generator

 130 External switch

 131 Camera sync signal generator

 132 External communication section

 133 Control unit

 140 Camera setting change button

 141 Left / Right Up / Down Button

 142 Confirm button

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a camera device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a camera 11, a camera control device 12, and a monitor 13. The camera 11 has a camera head 111 and a lens 112, and converts an image incident from the subject 100 into an electrical signal. The camera head 111 has a built-in CCD and a drive circuit for driving the CCD. The lens 112 is in front of the image sensor of the camera head 111. Placed in. Note that, in addition to the CCD, a CMO S force S is used as an image sensor incorporated in the camera head 111. In this embodiment, a CCD is used.

 The camera control device 12 also functions as a color image adjustment device. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the pre-processing unit 121, the YC separation process' RGB conversion unit 122, RGB color matrix processing unit 123, gain / phase setting unit 124, area generation unit 125, signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126 for area display, area detection processing unit 127, and color difference detection data addition • average / storage unit 128, a menu character generation unit 129, an external switch 130, a camera synchronization signal generation unit 131, an external communication unit 132, and a control unit 133.

 The pre-processing unit 121 performs processing such as noise removal on the CCD signal input from the camera 11. YC separation processing 'RGB conversion unit 122 performs signal processing related to photoelectric conversion such as gamma correction and knee correction processing on the CCD signal that has been subjected to processing such as noise removal by the pre-processing unit 121 to obtain a luminance signal ( Separate Y signal) and color signal (C signal). Then, the separated Y signal is input to the signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126 for area display. The color signal is converted to RGB and the RGB signal is input to the RGB color matrix processing unit 123.

 [0021] The RGB color matrix processing unit 123 generates a color difference signal (R—Y and B—Y) from the R GB signal input from the YC separation processing 'RGB conversion unit 122 and inputs it to an image encoder unit (not shown). To do. The gain / phase setting unit 124 sets PHASE (phase shift amount) and GAIN (saturation coefficient) in accordance with the set value from the control unit 133 to the RGB color matrix processing unit 123. In this case, the setting value from which PHASE and GAIN are adjusted is determined by the amount of operation of the camera setting change button 140 (see Fig. 1) in the PHASE and GAIN adjustment menu. For example, of the left / right up / down buttons 141 of the camera setting change button 140, pressing the right button updates the setting value in the direction of increasing GAIN, and pressing the left button sets the setting value in the direction of decreasing GAIN. Is updated. Pressing the up button updates the set value in the direction of increasing PHASE, and pressing the down button updates the set value in the direction of decreasing PHASE. Saturation is also called saturation.

Returning to FIG. 2, the area generation unit 125 generates a display area frame signal based on the area designation coordinates input from the control unit 133 and converts it into an area display signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126 and Color difference detection data addition · average · storage unit 128 input. The display area frame signal is This is a signal for displaying the color correction selection frame 20 on the monitor 13 shown in FIG. As will be described later, the size of the color correction selection frame 20 can be set freely.

[0023] The area display signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126 receives the display area frame signal from the area generation unit 125, mixes the signal with the Y signal from the YC separation processing 'RGB conversion unit 122, Input to an image encoder (not shown). In addition, by inputting the area display switching designated coordinates from the control unit 133, the position of the color correction selection frame 20 is determined according to the coordinate information. The area display switching designated coordinates are determined by the operation amount of the camera setting change button 140 (see FIG. 1) in the menu for moving the color correction selection frame 20. The color correction selection frame 20 moves to the right by pressing the right button of the left and right up / down buttons 141 of the camera setting change button 140, for example, and moves to the left by pressing the left button. Also, it moves upward when the upper button is pressed, and moves downward when the lower button is pressed.

 The area detection processing unit 127 detects the display area of the complementary color selection frame 20 from the color difference signal from the RGB color matrix processing unit 123 and inputs the result to the color difference detection data addition / average / storage unit 128. The color difference detection data addition / average / storage unit 128 adds the color difference detection data for the area detected by the area detection processing unit 127 based on the display area frame signal input from the area generation unit 125 and calculates the average. And save the result. Menu character generation unit 129 generates character data for menu display in accordance with a character display designation input from control unit 133. The external switch 130 has the camera setting change button 140 described above, and performs operations such as moving the color correction selection frame 20 up and down, left and right, and adjusting PHASE and GAIN.

Five.

[0025] The camera synchronization signal generation unit 131 generates a CCD drive signal for driving the CCD of the camera 11, and generates a synchronization signal for signal processing and a vertical synchronization signal used in the operation of each unit of the apparatus. The external communication unit 132 communicates with an external device (for example, a computer) (not shown), and enables selection of a display area by the external device and capturing of pixel information or color space information of the selected display area. That is, the external device can select the display area and capture the pixel information or color space information of the selected display area. [0026] Further, the display area to be selected is not limited to a single display area, and a plurality of display areas can be selected simultaneously. By providing this external communication unit 132, it is possible to perform key operations on the external device side in addition to key operations performed by the camera device 10 alone, increasing the degree of freedom of operation, and interactively using a mouse pointer or GUI. The display area can be selected to correct the color, and the settings of the camera device 10 can be changed and saved. Note that a camera image may be displayed on a computer monitor screen, and the setting change value may be transferred to the camera device 10 after pre-processing on the computer side to cope with the color space. For the color space, it is possible to provide means for selecting the RGB system, color difference system, etc. according to the user's preference.

 [0027] The control unit 133 controls each unit of the apparatus, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a program memory in which a control program for operating the CPU is stored, and a RAM ( Random Access Memory) and peripheral ΐ / θ (Ι ut / Output) for connection to each peripheral part. The control unit 133 designates character display for the menu character generation unit 129 and gives area display switching designation coordinates to the area display signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126. Further, the area designation coordinate is given to the area generation unit 125, and the operation amount is set to the gain / phase setting unit 124 by the camera setting change button 140 of the external switch 130. Also, color difference detection data addition 'average-storage unit 128 reads color space components and luminance levels stored therein. In addition, communication with the above-described computer is performed via the external communication unit 132, and the camera device 10 can be controlled by the computer.

[0028] The area generation unit 125, the area display signal replacement mixing / selection unit 126, the menu character generation unit 129, and the control unit 133 position-selection display composition on the camera screen for the color of the substance that can be confirmed on the monitor 13 screen The means to do is comprised. In addition, the control unit 133 reads out the color space component and the luminance level of the corresponding area from the color difference detection data addition “average” storage unit 128, and performs a luminance level within a certain range, a screen area of a certain level or more, and statistical processing. Corresponds to the means for color determination. In addition, the RGB color matrix processing unit 123 and the gain / phase setting unit 124 constitute variable means that can directly adjust PHASE and GAIN. The menu character generation unit 129 and the control unit 133 constitute means for displaying a list of correction amounts in the respective color correction spaces for each camera device as numerical values. Next, color adjustment processing in the camera control device 12 will be described. The user of the camera device 10 uses the camera control device 12 to correct the dominant color in the area 30 (see FIG. 1) designated by the color correction selection frame 20 of the subject 100 displayed on the screen of the monitor 13. Perform operations to change various settings. The control unit 133 designates character display in the menu character generation unit 129 in accordance with a user operation, and displays a setting change menu on the monitor 13. Fig. 3 shows an example of a setting change menu created on a character basis. This is an example of the “SET 11?” Screen, and it also has various powers such as “CAMERA ID”, “ELC”, “SHUTTER”, “GAIN”, “MATRI X”, “END”. The star mark in the figure indicates that there is a lower layer below the setting item with it. The operation of the confirm button 142 (see Fig. 1) for moving to a lower hierarchy is accepted for each item. When the confirm button 142 is accepted in the END item, the setting change menu is turned off.

 [0030] The user confirms the setting change menu displayed on the screen of the monitor 13 and checks the camera device.

 Change 10 settings. To perform color correction, select “MATRIX” from the setting change menu. As a result, the control unit 133 displays the “MATRIX PHASE” screen on the monitor 13. Fig. 4 shows an example of the "MATRIX PHASE" screen. This “MATRIX PH ASE” screen is the first lower layer of the setting change menu shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, PHASE (phase shift amount), GAIN (saturation coefficient), AREA (area specification) ) Each item. This “MATRIX PHASE” screen displays the color parameters to be adjusted according to the circuit.

[0031] When adjusting color information, it is necessary to first specify the area to be color corrected, so press the confirm button 142 at the star mark position in the "AREA" line on the "M ATRIX PHASE" screen. . By this operation, the control unit 133 displays the color correction selection frame 20 on the monitor 13 as shown in FIG. The size of the color correction selection frame 20 can be selected by pressing the left / right / up / down button 141, the position on the screen, or pressing the confirmation button 142 for a short time / time. For example, when the confirm button 142 is pressed for 1 second or longer, the upper screen is displayed and the color correction selection frame 20 can be selected. In the “MATRIX PHASE” screen (upper layer), the color correction selection frame 20 continues to be displayed, and the size of the color correction selection frame 20 can be corrected any number of times. The dominant target color is determined in the color correction selection frame 20. In this case, the selected area of the image is 1 In the case of a point (small area) and excluding data in the surrounding area other than the divided range of the same color space, it has a statistic for selecting a correction color or color space area. Determine the dominant color in the area of the screen area. This determination makes it possible to perform color determination while preventing errors in color selection with respect to singular color, noise, and pseudo coloring.

In order to move the color correction selection frame 20 displayed on the monitor 13 to a desired region, the user operates the left / right up / down button 141 of the camera setting change button 140 to move the color correction selection frame 20. Then, when the color correction selection frame 20 is moved to a desired area, pressing the release button 142 of the camera setting change button 140 for a short time and releasing it corrects the partial area of the color difference vector space. It becomes possible to do. That is, pressing the “right button” of the left / right up / down button 141 increases the color saturation, pressing the “left button” decreases the color saturation, and pressing the “up button”. The color phase increases, and the color phase decreases when the “down button” is pressed. In order to distinguish between normal decision and cancel in the operation of confirm button 142, press and hold for a long time to select “OK”, and press and release for a short time.

[0033] By operating the confirmation button 142 of the camera setting change button 140, the control unit 133 causes the color components (color difference R—Y, color difference ——Υ) of the dominant pixel in the display area specified in the color correction selection frame 20 to be displayed. (Or UV component or RGB component)) from the color difference detection data addition / average / storage unit 128. Then, a predetermined calculation is performed based on the acquired color component, and the color is obtained as a saturation and phase component. In addition, according to this, whether the color difference detection data addition / average / storage unit 128 corresponds to the color difference vector space of the divided region and the divided control target gain and phase register of the RGB color matrix processing unit 123 is determined. Determine and change the value according to the above operation in a specific combination. Further, the change value (or correction value) corresponding to the operation is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) as color information after adjustment. By storing in the non-volatile memory, the color information is retained even when the camera device 10 is turned off.

Here, with reference to FIG. 6, an example of division and detection result axes when a color difference matrix with 12 axes is configured will be described. Figure 6 is a graph of the color signal of the specified detection area plotted on the orthogonal axes of R—Y and B—Y, where the angle is the hue and the vector length is the saturation (saturation). Color difference detection data addition · Average · Storage unit When obtaining the color difference level R—Y, Β—Υ of the display area specified in the color correction selection frame 20 acquired from 128, to which area in FIG. The angle α is calculated to determine which axis is between which axes. In other words, it is determined which axis of the detected color AXd (color to be changed) is between. In the example shown in Fig. 6, it can be seen that it only needs to act on the controlled gain and phase registers of axis 3 and axis 2. However, axis 3 may not coincide with the R—Y axis. Axis 2 does not have to match the B—Y axis.

 As described above, according to the camera device 10 of the present embodiment, the color correction selection frame 20 is provided on the screen of the monitor 13 for designating a region where color information adjustment is desired, and this color correction selection frame. When changing the color in the area specified in 20, determine which area of the color matrix the color is in, adjust the color matrix process when the corresponding area is found, and adjust the process Subsequently, since the respective color matrix processes are synthesized, the user can perform color adjustment intuitively without having specialized knowledge.

 In addition, since the external communication unit 132 that performs communication with an external device such as a computer is provided, and the control unit 133 enables area designation and color adjustment by the external device, a color image adjustment device The degree of freedom of operability can be improved as compared with the case of a single unit. In other words, a mouse pointer or GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be used on a computer, and these can be used to interactively specify areas and make color adjustments.

 In addition, since the adjusted color information is held in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, it can be given to another camera device or computer by the external communication unit 132. In addition, by writing the adjusted color information to the non-volatile memory, the settings can be reproduced even when the power is turned off.

 [0038] Note that the following means may be added to the above embodiment.

 (1) A correction amount list means for displaying a list of correction amounts in each color correction space for each camera device as a list is provided so as to be compatible with a plurality of camera devices. By providing this correction amount list means, two or more different camera devices can be set to the same color even when the camera image is dark and hardly inputted.

[0039] (2) Capture the image of the camera device 10 on the monitor screen of the computer, The setting change may be transferred to the camera device 10 for adjustment after the correspondence is pre-processed on the computer side. The color space may be provided with means for selecting the RGB method, the color difference method, etc. according to the user's preference.

[0040] (3) Display the color information after adjustment and the color information before adjustment on the screen of the monitor 13 at the same time.

V, good even if you can select either one or the other.

[0041] Although the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is.

 [0042] This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on November 7, 2006 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-301328), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 Industrial applicability

[0043] The present invention has an effect that adjustment of color information included in a color image being picked up can be easily performed without requiring specialized knowledge and experience. The present invention can be applied to a camera having a function of displaying a color image obtained by imaging using an image element on a monitor, or a monitor device used in a computer or the like.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] An area designating means for designating an area for adjusting color information of a color image displayed on the monitor screen! /,  Color adjusting means for adjusting the hue and saturation of the dominant color in the area specified by the area specifying means to a value corresponding to the user operation amount;  With  The color adjusting means determines which area of the color matrix the color is in when adjusting the hue and saturation of the dominant color of the area specified by the area specifying means, and the corresponding area A color image adjustment device that adjusts the color matrix processing of the area when it is found, and then combines the respective color matrix processing. [2] A communication means for communicating with a computer equipped with a CPU and operating the CPU according to a program,  It is possible to select a color adjustment target area by the computer and to import pixel information or color space determination information of the selected area via the communication means, and to adjust the hue and saturation of the dominant color of the area. Control means to enable;  The color image adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: [3] In a camera device having an image sensor and having an image output function for displaying a color image of a subject imaged by the image sensor on the monitor screen,  A camera device comprising the color image adjusting device according to claim 1. [4] An area designating process for designating an area for adjusting color information of a color image displayed on the monitor screen! /,  When adjusting the hue and saturation of the dominant color of the area specified in the area specifying step, it is determined which area of the color matrix the color is in and the corresponding area is found. A color adjustment process for adjusting the color matrix processing of the area, and then combining the respective color matrix processing;  A color image adjustment method comprising: