What is claimed is:
1. An image processing apparatus for performing gradation conversion processing for an object image, said apparatus comprising:
determination means for determining variables for specifying a gradation conversion function, from a relationship between the variables and a processed image obtained by performing gradation conversion processing for the object image with the gradation conversion function; and
gradation conversion means for performing gradation conversion processing for the object image with the gradation conversion function specified by the variables determined by said determination means.
2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines the variables so that flatness of a histogram of the processed image is maximized.
3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines the variables so that a mean square error between pixel values of the processed image and a flat pixel-value histogram of the processed image is minimized.
4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
histogram forming means for forming a histogram of the processed image obtained by performing the gradation conversion processing of the object image with the gradation conversion function specified by the variables;
index calculation means for calculating an index from the histogram obtained by said histogram forming means and an average number of pixels of the object image; and
analysis means for analyzing a relationship between the index obtained by said index calculation means and the variables, and determining the variables for specifying the gradation conversion function for performing gradation conversion of the object image from a result of the analysis.
5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variables for identifying the gradation conversion function are restricted so that characteristics of the gradation conversion function vary only within a range equivalent to a characteristic curve of a film.
6. An image processing method for performing gradation conversion processing for an object image, said method comprising:
a determination step, of determining variables for specifying a gradation conversion function, from a relationship between the variables and a processed image obtained by performing gradation conversion processing for the object image with the gradation conversion function; and
a gradation conversion step, of performing gradation conversion processing for the object image with the gradation conversion function specified by the variables determined in said determination step.
7. An image processing method according to claim 6, wherein in said determination step, the variables are determined so that flatness of a histogram of the processed image is maximized.
8. An image processing method according to claim 6, wherein in said determination step, the variables are determined so that a mean square error between pixel values of the processed image and a flat pixel-value histogram of the processed image is minimized.
9. An image processing method according to claim 6, further comprising:
a histogram forming step, of forming a histogram of the processed image obtained by the variables for specifying the gradation conversion function and by performing the gradation conversion processing of the object image with the gradation conversion function;
an index calculation step, of calculating an index from the histogram obtained in said histogram forming step and an average number of pixels of the object image; and
an analysis step, of analyzing a relationship between the index obtained in said index calculation step and the variables, and determining the variables for specifying the gradation conversion function for performing gradation conversion of the object image from a result of the analysis.
10. An image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the variables for identifying the gradation conversion function are restricted so as to vary only within a range equivalent to a characteristic curve of a film.
11. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5.
12. A program for causing a computer to execute the steps of an image processing method according to any one of claims 6-10.
13. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of an image processing method according to any one of claims 6-10.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An internal optical disk drive, comprising:
A panel;
At least one memory card slot equipped on the panel, used for electrical connection to a memory card;
At least one digital data extension port equipped on the panel, used for electrical connection to an electronic device.
2. The internal optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the digital data extension port is selected from the group of an USB socket, IEEE1394 socket.
3. The internal optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the memory card slot is selected from the group of a CF memory card slot, MS memory card slot, MS Pro memory card slot, SM memory card slot, SD memory card slot, MMC memory card slot, XD memory card slot.
4. The internal optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the internal optical disk drive is an internal optical disk writer.
5. The internal optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the internal optical disk drive is an internal half-height optical disk drive.
6. The internal optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an USB flash drive.
7. An optical disk drive with digital data extension port, comprising:
A panel;
At least one memory card slot equipped on the panel, used for electrical connection to a memory card;
At least one digital data extension port equipped on the panel, used for electrical connection to an electronic device.
8. The optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the digital data extension port is selected from the group of an USB socket, IEEE1394 socket.
9. The optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the memory card slot is selected from the group of a CF memory card slot, MS memory card slot, MS Pro memory card slot, SM memory card slot, SD memory card slot, MMC memory card slot, XD memory card slots.
10. The optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the optical disk drive is an optical disk writer.
11. The optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the optical disk drive is a half-height optical disk drive.
12. The optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the electronic device is an USB flash drive.