An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an arbitrary object and output a plurality of image signals with different exposures and a focus detection signal, and a composition unit configured to compose the plurality of image signals with different exposures output from the imaging unit and output the composed image signal. In a case of time-sequentially capturing images in succession, the imaging unit outputs the focus detection signal instead of the plurality of image signals at a predetermined timing. The composition unit composes image signals by using image signals in a time-sequentially adjacent different timing instead of image signals missing at the predetermined timing.

An image processing apparatus which is capable of properly performing tone correction without damaging the atmosphere of an image in shooting. Based on a luminance histogram for photographed data, an input lower limit and an input upper limit of luminance values for use in developing the photographed data are determined. Based on at least one of the input lower limit and the input upper limit, a reference level of a gamma curve for use in carrying out gamma correction on the photographed data is calculated. Gamma correction on the photographed data is performed using the input lower limit and the input upper limit and the gamma curve corresponding to the reference level.

An image processing apparatus which is capable of properly performing tone correction without damaging the atmosphere of an image in shooting. Based on a luminance histogram for photographed data, an input lower limit and an input upper limit of luminance values for use in developing the photographed data are determined. Based on at least one of the input lower limit and the input upper limit, a reference level of a gamma curve for use in carrying out gamma correction on the photographed data is calculated. Gamma correction on the photographed data is performed using the input lower limit and the input upper limit and the gamma curve corresponding to the reference level.

A color gamma processing unit subjects an input image to gamma correction for color on a pixel by pixel basis. A GSDF processing unit subjects the input image to gamma correction for monochrome on a pixel by pixel basis. A mixer mixes a gamma corrected value for color provided by the color gamma processing unit with a gamma corrected value for monochrome provided by the GSDF processing unit at a mixing ratio based on a pixel-by-pixel saturation value of the input image, and outputs a gamma corrected value of a pixel in the input image.

To reduce complication of a configuration of a vehicle while suppressing an increase in weight of the vehicle, a camera system mounted on a vehicle includes an imaging unit to capture multiple frame images of an outside of the vehicle per cycle and an image processor to obtain the multiple frame images from the imaging unit and separate the multiple frame images into a first given number of frame images as a recognition target and a second given number of frame images as a storage target to be stored in an image recorder. The image processor separately outputs the first and second given numbers of frame images to be recognized and stored, respectively.

To reduce complication of a configuration of a vehicle while suppressing an increase in weight of the vehicle, a camera system mounted on a vehicle includes an imaging unit to capture multiple frame images of an outside of the vehicle per cycle and an image processor to obtain the multiple frame images from the imaging unit and separate the multiple frame images into a first given number of frame images as a recognition target and a second given number of frame images as a storage target to be stored in an image recorder. The image processor separately outputs the first and second given numbers of frame images to be recognized and stored, respectively.

An apparatus includes an input circuit configured to receive a sequence of pictures and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be configured to (i) determine respective picture brightness values for each of a reference picture and a target picture selected from the sequence of pictures, (ii) remap image data of at least one of the reference picture and the target picture based upon the respective picture brightness values, and (iii) perform motion detection between the reference picture and the target picture utilizing the remapped image data.

An apparatus includes an input circuit configured to receive a sequence of pictures and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be configured to (i) determine respective picture brightness values for each of a reference picture and a target picture selected from the sequence of pictures, (ii) remap image data of at least one of the reference picture and the target picture based upon the respective picture brightness values, and (iii) perform motion detection between the reference picture and the target picture utilizing the remapped image data.

An image capture apparatus has an A/D converter that compares a pixel signal read out from a pixel having a photoelectric conversion element with a reference signal whose voltage changes over time, and obtains, as an A/D conversion result of the pixel signal, a digital value corresponding to a time required for a magnitude relationship between the pixel signal and the reference signal to change. The A/D converter determines a level of the pixel signal using a threshold value, makes a change rate of the voltage of the reference signal different depending on a determination result, and changes the threshold value according to a signal expansion amount of the pixel signal after A/D conversion.

An image capture apparatus has an A/D converter that compares a pixel signal read out from a pixel having a photoelectric conversion element with a reference signal whose voltage changes over time, and obtains, as an A/D conversion result of the pixel signal, a digital value corresponding to a time required for a magnitude relationship between the pixel signal and the reference signal to change. The A/D converter determines a level of the pixel signal using a threshold value, makes a change rate of the voltage of the reference signal different depending on a determination result, and changes the threshold value according to a signal expansion amount of the pixel signal after A/D conversion.