JP7224826B2 - Imaging control device, imaging control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique of synthesizing a plurality of images to obtain a synthetic image with a wide dynamic range.

In recent years, surveillance systems using network cameras have become widespread. Network cameras are used in a wide range of fields as surveillance cameras in large-scale public institutions and mass retailers. It is rare. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 discloses a technique (hereinafter referred to as WDR) that expands the dynamic range by synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposure conditions.
On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes a method of setting the exposure of a photographing means before synthesizing a plurality of images so that there is no saturated region in each image.

Patent No. 3546853 JP 2010-136239 A

However, when synthesizing images such as WDR shooting, especially when exposure settings and imaging parameters are set according to the user's area of interest, problems such as blown-out highlights, blocked-up shadows, and blown-out gradation may occur in other areas. There is In that case, it is difficult to achieve both expansion of the dynamic range and adjustment of the overall appropriate brightness.
An object of the present invention is to improve the above problems. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging control apparatus that can easily achieve expansion of the dynamic range and adjustment of appropriate brightness of the screen.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging control device according to the present invention includes:
an imaging means for imaging a plurality of images with different exposures;
a synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposures captured by the imaging means;
adjustment processing means for adjusting a dynamic range by controlling exposure in the imaging means and composition in the composition means;
detection means for detecting an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing means as a result of adjusting the dynamic range by the adjustment processing means;
and a notification means for notifying the detection result of the detection means,
It is characterized in that the adjustment operation in the adjustment processing means is executed in advance, and the adjustment range of the adjustment processing means is limited based on the results.

According to the present invention, even if there is an abnormal area in a composite image of multiple images with different exposures, it is possible to adjust the dynamic range while appropriately confirming it. can.

1 is a system configuration diagram according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a camera according to a first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the viewer client according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image processing unit of the camera server according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a user operation screen according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the histogram of FIG. 6 according to the first embodiment; 4 is a block diagram for explaining WDR combining according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a gamma curve according to the first example; The figure explaining the area|region division for abnormal region determination to 1st Example. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a user operation screen according to the first embodiment; FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing according to the second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining exposure and gradation steps according to the third embodiment; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining exposure and gradation steps according to the third embodiment; 14 is a flowchart of processing according to the fourth embodiment; 14 is a flowchart of processing according to the fifth embodiment;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First embodiment>
Description will be made below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an imaging control device such as a network camera will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the imaging control device is not limited to a network camera. Examples include digital single-lens reflex cameras, mirrorless single-lens cameras, compact digital cameras, and camcorders. Alternatively, it may be a tablet terminal with a camera, a PHS, a smart phone, a feature phone, a portable game machine, or another portable device having an imaging function.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a network camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the network camera 100 has a camera server 110, a viewer client 120 and a network . The camera server 110 and the viewer client 120 are separate devices and are connected via a network 130 as a communication channel.

The camera server 110 distributes, via the network 130, image data of images shot (captured) by network cameras.
The viewer client 120 accesses the camera server 110 to change camera settings, processes image data obtained as a result of imaging by the camera, or processes accumulated image data, etc., to produce an image after processing. It displays an image based on data.
The network 130 connects the camera server 110 and the viewer client 120 so that they can communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the network 130 may have any communication standard, size, or configuration as long as communication between the camera server 110 and the viewer client 120 can be performed without any trouble. Therefore, the network 130 can be applied from the Internet to a LAN.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera server 110 in this embodiment.
An imaging optical system 201 is composed of an objective lens, a zoom lens, a focus lens, an optical diaphragm, and the like, and collects optical information of a subject onto an imaging element section 202, which will be described later. The imaging element unit 202 is an element that converts light information condensed by the imaging optical system 201 into an electric signal, and is configured by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor or the like. By combining with , color information is obtained. In addition, the imaging sensor can set an arbitrary exposure time for all pixels. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 203 functions as a computer that controls all the processing of each component of the imaging control apparatus, and is stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 204 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 205 as storage media. It sequentially reads and interprets the given instructions (computer programs), and executes processing according to the results. In addition, the imaging system control unit 206 controls the imaging optical system 201 as directed by the CPU 203 such as driving the focus lens to adjust the focus and adjusting the aperture.

More specifically, aperture drive control changes according to program AE (Automatic Exposure), shutter speed priority AE, aperture priority AE, and the like. That is, it is performed based on the exposure value calculated according to the shooting mode set by the user. The CPU 203 also performs AF (Auto Focus) control in conjunction with AE control. An active method, a phase difference detection method, a contrast detection method, etc. are applied to the AF control. Since the configuration and control of this type of AE and AF are well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.
An electric signal obtained by photoelectric conversion in the image sensor unit 202 is input to the image processing unit 207 . The image processing unit 207 performs image processing, which will be described later, to generate a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr.
The encoder unit 208 converts the image data processed by the image processing unit 207 into JPEG or H.264 format. 264 or other predetermined compression format.
The communication unit 209 processes communication with the network 130 . Specifically, the captured image data is distributed to the viewer client 120 via the network 130 .
It also receives a camera operation command from the viewer client 120 and a selection result of the gamma characteristics of the specified area, and transmits and receives a response thereto and necessary data other than image data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the viewer client 120 in this embodiment.
A CPU 301 is a computer that controls the operation of the viewer client 120 . A ROM 302 is a non-volatile memory that stores control computer programs and the like necessary for the CPU 301 to execute processing. A RAM 303 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 301 . That is, the CPU 301 loads necessary programs and the like from the ROM 302 to the RAM 303 when executing processing, and executes various functional operations by executing the programs and the like.

A HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304 stores, for example, various data and various information necessary when the CPU 301 performs processing using a program. The HDD 304 also stores various data, information, and the like obtained by the CPU 301 performing processing using programs and the like, for example.
An operation input unit 305 is an input unit from an operation device such as a power button, keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and functions as a user interface. The communication unit 306 processes communication with the network 130 . Specifically, for example, captured image data is received from the camera server 110 via the network 130 . Also, it transmits a camera operation command to the camera server 110, and receives a response to the command and necessary data other than image data.
A display unit 307 includes a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for inputting various control parameters of the camera server 110, and the like. Some or all of the functions of each element of the viewer client 120 can be implemented by the CPU 301 executing a program. However, at least some of the elements of the viewer client 120 may be configured as dedicated hardware. In this case, the dedicated hardware operates under the control of the CPU 301 .

FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of the image processing unit 207 of this embodiment. The image processing unit 207 is divided into two blocks, a development processing unit 400 and a dynamic range extension processing unit 410 . The development processing unit 400 includes an optical correction unit 401 that performs distortion correction of an optical system such as a lens, and a sensor correction unit 402 that performs sensor shading correction and the like on image data input from the image sensor unit 202 . Further, it includes a gain adjustment unit 403 that performs gain adjustment, an NR processing unit 404 that performs noise reduction processing, and a WB adjustment unit 405 that performs WB (White Balance) adjustment. It also includes a gamma correction unit 406 that performs gamma correction, a sharpness processing unit 407 that performs sharpness processing, a color processing unit 408 that performs color processing, a histogram analysis processing unit 409, and the like. The output of development processing section 400 is stored in memory 420 . A dynamic range extension processing unit 410 includes a gamma adjustment unit 411, a WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) composition processing unit 412, and the like, and composites a plurality of developed images stored in a memory 420 to expand the dynamic range. wide image can be generated.

Next, the operation flow of the viewer client 120 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S<b>501 , the camera server 110 captures images for WDR, and the viewer client 120 displays a composite image that has undergone WDR composition processing. A WDR shooting method will be described later. After this step, the viewer client 120 issues an adjustment instruction to the camera server 110 as a command. When the camera server 110 receives the issued adjustment instruction command, the image adjustment flow is started. On the other hand, the image distribution of the camera server 110 continues without being limited to the start of the flow in FIG.
First, in S<b>502 , the user designates WDR adjustment while viewing an image displayed on the display unit 307 using the viewer client 120 . For WDR adjustment, for example, gamma tables for performing gamma conversion with a plurality of different curves may be stored and a gamma table selected from among them to designate WDR intensity according to luminance. Alternatively, other camera parameters such as gain level may be changed at the same time. FIG. 6 shows a UI displaying an example of a shooting scene, and a shaded window 601 displays an image in which a range including the outside and a room 602 is shot.

The outdoor image shown inside the frame of the window 601 and the indoor images 602 and 603 shown outside the frame of the window 601 are affected by different light sources. Assume that there is a large luminance difference between the image area and the image areas of the rooms 602 and 603 . 603 is a dark environment in which the external light of 601 is less affected than 602 . Also, in this step S502, the user selects a WDR adjustment level using a GUI as shown in FIG. 6(A) or (B). Here, as for the method of selection, as shown in FIG. 6A, the WDR ON/OFF switch may be turned ON so that the level of adjustment can be set with a slide bar for WDR level adjustment. Alternatively, WDR may be turned ON or OFF by selecting a menu as shown in FIG. 6B, or one of several level settings may be selected using a pull-down menu or the like while WDR is ON. are not limited to these methods. Also, the selected adjustment level is transmitted from the communication unit to the camera server 110 side as a command.
Here, the WDR synthesis processing and WDR adjustment will be described in this embodiment with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, but the present invention is not limited to this.
In this embodiment, three images are taken with three types of exposure: an underexposed image (underexposed image), a properly exposed image (appropriately exposed image), and an overexposed image (overexposed image). are synthesizing these. Each exposure time can be changed according to the intensity of WDR adjustment.

FIG. 7 shows histograms for each image in the scene of FIG. 701 shows the histogram of the underexposed image, 702 shows the histogram of the properly exposed image, and 703 shows the histogram of the overexposed image. Appropriate exposure is proper exposure for room light that occupies a wide range on the image. Also, overexposure is exposure outside the window indicated by hatching in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the synthesizing process. As described above, the three images with different exposures are temporarily stored in the memory 420 shown in FIG. 4 after being subjected to gamma correction as will be described later with reference to FIG. The WDR synthesis processing unit 412 described above performs offset addition of a predetermined value or gradation expansion processing as gradation correction on the held image. Each image is then added and combined. After being synthesized, gamma adjustment is performed in the gamma adjustment unit 411 described above and output as an output image.

FIG. 9A shows gamma curves applied by the gamma correction unit 406 to three types of images with different exposures. The gamma curves show the input/output characteristics of the output luminance signal with respect to the input luminance. showing. The input on the horizontal axis is a value that considers the exposure difference of each image. The vertical axis is an 8-bit output value. The upper limit of the output value is not limited to this. First, FIG. 9B shows the synthesis result when WDR adjustment is not performed. With respect to the gamma curve shown in FIG. 9(A), the proper exposure gamma curve is offset by 256 offset additions, and the overexposure gamma curve is offset by 512 offset additions and added, resulting in FIG. 9(B) shows the characteristics shown in 910. With this characteristic, an overexposed image is output in an output luminance range of 512-767. In the reproduction area of the synthesized image shown in FIG. 9B, the continuity of the output gradation with respect to the input gradation is maintained. be.

Next, in the WDR adjustment of this embodiment, FIG. 9(C) shows the composition result when adjusting the overexposed image. Of course, the predetermined adjustment table to be prepared is not limited to this, and a table for underexposed images, a table for all exposed images, gain adjustment, etc., may be added to create a table. With respect to the gamma curve shown in FIG. 9A, 256 offsets are added to the gamma curve for proper exposure by offset addition (curve 920). On the other hand, for the overexposed image, the characteristics shown in 921a to 921d can be selected by gamma expansion processing instead of offset addition. As a result, the brightness difference of the overexposed image is increased, and the visibility can be expanded by the gamma characteristic selected by the user even on a display device with a narrow dynamic range.
In this embodiment, the entire photographing area is combined, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least a part of the photographed image area may of course be used. Regarding the composition method, multiple images with different exposures are classified according to a predetermined degree of exposure. The gradations may be added together.

Furthermore, the viewer client 120 may instruct the camera server 110 to perform image processing other than gamma adjustment. For example, white balance adjustment, noise reduction processing, sharpness processing, contrast adjustment, and saturation adjustment may be changed for each exposed image.
Also, in this embodiment, the viewer client 120 selects a table corresponding to the WDR adjustment level by issuing an instruction to the camera server 110 . That is, one gamma table is selected from a plurality of predetermined gamma tables in order to change the gamma level in the gamma adjusting section 411 as shown in FIGS. It should be noted that a plurality of tables may be prepared for performing tone decompression processing on an image before synthesis, and selection may be made.
Next, returning to FIG. 5, it is determined whether there is an abnormal area in S503. Therefore, the viewer client 120 instructs the histogram analysis processing unit 409 to perform histogram analysis on the combined image. In this step, as shown in FIG. 10, a histogram of each block divided into blocks is created for the synthesized image. In this embodiment, the resolution is 1920.times.1080 and is divided into 64.times.36 blocks, but the size of each block may be smaller or larger than this size. An abnormal area is determined from the histogram result of this divided block. Here, the abnormal region means a region in which each pixel or divided block of the synthesized image contains abnormal information as the image. For example, a pixel with extremely high luminance such as overexposed highlights or a pixel with extremely low luminance such as underexposed black is abnormal. On the other hand, pixels or divided blocks having luminance within a predetermined proper range between extremely high luminance and extremely low luminance are determined to be valid (non-abnormal) pixels or blocks. If no abnormal area is detected, the process proceeds to S506.

Subsequently, in S504, when it is determined in S503 that there is an abnormal area, the viewer client 120 emphasizes and visually displays the abnormal area and notifies the user. FIG. 11 shows a display example of the UI. The range of the block determined to be the abnormal area in the aforementioned S503 is superimposed on the image of the display screen by hatching or oblique lines. Alternatively, the superimposed image and the non-superimposed image may be displayed by switching between the superimposed image and the non-superimposed image by blinking, or the abnormal region may be surrounded by a frame such as a dotted line, red, or thick frame. You may notify by a character or a message on the setting screen. Furthermore, the viewer client 120 may issue a warning sound.
In S505, when an abnormal area is displayed and notified in S504, the state of the displayed image is determined to determine whether the user accepts or rejects the image. If NG, the process returns to S502 to change the setting of the WDR adjustment level. If an abnormal area exists but the area of interest is displayed in a desired proper state, it is determined that it is OK, and the process proceeds to S506 to perform image display without changing the setting of the WDR adjustment level.
Accordingly, the user can obtain a desired image without an abnormal area by enabling the user to grasp the abnormal area and appropriately set the WDR adjustment level. Alternatively, an image with a desired dynamic range can be obtained even if there is an abnormal area in part. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately express the luminance region required by the user, and to provide an image suitable for monitoring.

<Second embodiment>
A second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the same steps as in FIG. 5 perform the same operations.
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which one table is selected from a plurality of predetermined tables according to the WDR adjustment level. However, in this embodiment, a luminance area is displayed, an area for WDR adjustment is designated from the luminance area, and the WDR adjustment level is set so that the gradation of the designated area is preferentially widened.

In S5010, based on the histogram results shown in FIG. 7 obtained during WDR synthesis, a divided luminance area map for synthesizing images shot with multiple exposures is superimposed on the image. Specifically, for example, luminance areas 601, 602, and 603 in FIG. 6, which are divided according to the luminance level, are displayed. In this state, in S5011, the user sets a region for WDR adjustment by one point or a rectangular area in the area to be adjusted. When the rectangular area for WDR adjustment set by the user extends over a plurality of areas while the luminance areas are displayed as described above, the user is notified that the area extends over a plurality of luminance areas. Furthermore, it may be possible to prompt the user to redo the selection of the area. The notification can be a message, or a highlight that causes both straddling areas to flash or change color. Further, it may be configured such that, among the rectangles specified by the user, a rectangle having the maximum area without spanning a plurality of areas is automatically set.
Here, the image displayed in S5010 may be an image after synthesis as shown in FIG. 6, or may be an image before synthesis. Note that, in this embodiment, after photographing under three types of exposure conditions, that is, an underexposed image, a properly exposed image, and an overexposed image, the three images are synthesized.

As for the WDR adjustment level method that gives priority to the WDR adjustment area designated in S5011, processing is performed in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment. In addition, the gamma table and other camera parameter settings are adjusted to preferentially widen the gradation of areas specified by the user.
As a result, the user can preferentially assign a wide dynamic range to a desired luminance region, and adjust the image. Moreover, it is possible to confirm whether or not an abnormal region is generated while adjusting the WDR.

<Third embodiment>
In the first and second embodiments, the adjustment of the gamma table has been mainly described, but the exposure conditions of a plurality of frames that are the basis of WDR synthesis may also be adjusted.
That is, when there is a change in the intensity of WDR adjustment in the viewer client 120, the exposure conditions (for example, exposure time, aperture, sensitivity, etc.) of each image when capturing a plurality of images under a plurality of types of exposure conditions in the camera server 110 are changed. change. Alternatively, it is possible to change the combination of a plurality of exposure conditions, or to change the overlapping amount of steps of the plurality of types of exposure. Also, the gradation of the area for WDR adjustment is preferentially widened, and the gamma curve is changed accordingly. It should be noted that the number of different exposures may be changed to four instead of three as described above, or conversely to two, in accordance with the change in intensity of WDR adjustment.
For example, FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams explaining gaps in input gradation. FIGS. 13 and 14 show an example in which the image a for a long time and the image a' for a short time are overlapped by 4 bits. Further, the image b in the long-exposure period and the image b' in the short-exposure period overlap by 2 bits. On the other hand, an example is shown in which the image c at the long exposure time and the image c' at the short exposure time do not overlap and a gap is generated. The WDR intensity increases in the order of FIG. 14(A), FIG. 14(B), and FIG. 14(C). When the WDR adjustment intensity change range is expanded by making it possible to change even the exposure conditions at the time of imaging as described above, a gap occurs in the input gradation as shown in FIG. 14(C). Therefore, if an abnormal area occurs along with this, the abnormal area is highlighted by a frame, blinking, or the like on the viewer client 120 side or the like.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining the fourth embodiment, and steps with the same numbers as in FIG. 12 perform the same operations. In FIG. 15, after the abnormal area is detected in the abnormal area determination S503 and the abnormal area is displayed in S504, if the user determination is not OK in S505, the WDR adjustment designation is temporarily set in S5051 before returning to S502. return to the previous state. That is, the WDR adjustment specification is temporarily returned to the state in which there was no abnormal area.
<Fifth embodiment>
FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining the fifth embodiment, and steps with the same numbers as in FIG. 15 perform the same operations. In FIG. 16, S5012 automatically pre-scans the WDR adjustable range from end to end while changing parameters. In S5013, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormal area in the same manner as in S503. If there is no abnormal area, the process advances to S5014 to display the WDR adjustable range in full range and accept input for WDR adjustment. On the other hand, if it is determined in S5013 that there is an abnormal area, the process advances to S5015 to limit the display to only the WDR adjustable range in which no abnormal area occurs, and accepts only WDR adjustment input within that range.
As a result, setting parameters that do not cause an abnormal region can be displayed to the user, and the user can change the setting parameters in S502 with peace of mind.
After the WDR is adjusted in S502, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormal area again in S503, and the same control as in the fourth embodiment is performed thereafter. It is a flow with.

In the above-described embodiments and the like, a composite image is displayed on the user side, WDR is adjusted based on the displayed content, and designation of exposure conditions, gamma, etc. is notified from the viewer client 120 to the camera server 110 by means of commands. rice field. As a result, a composite image after WDR adjustment reflecting the content of the command is distributed from the camera server 110 to the viewer client 120 and displayed on the viewer client 120 . That is, the synthesizing processing unit is arranged in the device of the camera server 110 . However, the camera server 110 may deliver an image before composition to the viewer client 120, display the image on the viewer client 120, and then perform composition processing on the viewer client 120. FIG. Alternatively, the viewer client 120 may display the images after combining them. That is, the synthesizing unit may be arranged in the viewer client 120 device. In this case, since the trouble of command communication can be saved, the user's selection result can be confirmed in a short time.

In the above-described embodiment, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, an example in which maps are created for three luminance regions has been mainly described, but it is needless to say that the number of luminance regions is not limited to three.
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, the software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program. This is the process to be executed.

110 camera server 120 viewer client 201 imaging optical system 202 image sensor unit 207 image processing unit 400 development processing unit 410 dynamic range expansion processing unit 411 gamma adjustment unit 412 WDR synthesis processing unit

Claims (18)

an imaging means for imaging a plurality of images with different exposures;
a synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposures captured by the imaging means;
adjustment processing means for adjusting a dynamic range by controlling exposure in the imaging means and composition in the composition means;
detection means for detecting an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing means as a result of adjusting the dynamic range by the adjustment processing means;
and a notification means for notifying the detection result of the detection means,
An imaging control apparatus, wherein an adjustment operation in said adjustment processing means is executed in advance, and based on the result thereof, an adjustment range of said adjustment processing means is limited. an imaging means for imaging a plurality of images with different exposures;
a synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposures captured by the imaging means;
adjustment processing means for adjusting a dynamic range by controlling exposure in the imaging means and composition in the composition means;
detection means for detecting an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing means as a result of adjusting the dynamic range by the adjustment processing means;
and a notification means for notifying the detection result of the detection means,
The adjustment processing means reproduces the dynamic range adjusted by the adjustment processing means when the detection means detects an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing means as a result of adjusting the dynamic range. An imaging control device characterized by returning to and. 3. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for distinguishing and displaying a region corresponding to a brightness level in said image obtained by said synthesizing means . An area setting means is provided for setting a predetermined area in the image displayed on the display means, and the adjustment processing is performed so as to widen the dynamic range in the area set by the area setting means. 4. The imaging control device according to claim 3, characterized by: 5. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said area setting means includes a user interface. 6. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gamma correction means for applying different gamma corrections to the plurality of images having different exposures. 7. The imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising receiving means for receiving setting of an image processing parameter for each area corresponding to a luminance level of said image obtained by said synthesizing means. . 8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least said imaging means and said adjustment processing means are arranged in separate devices, and both devices are connected to each other via a communication path. imaging control device. 3. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an adjustment operation in said adjustment processing means is performed in advance, and the adjustment range of said adjustment processing means is limited based on the result. 9. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said imaging means and said synthesizing means are arranged in the same device. 9. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said adjustment processing means and said synthesizing means are arranged in the same device. 9. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said communication path includes a network. 13. The imaging according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said adjustment processing means is capable of changing exposure conditions of a plurality of images captured by said imaging means in accordance with adjustment of said dynamic range. Control device. The adjustment processing means reproduces the dynamic range adjusted by the adjustment processing means when the detection means detects an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing means as a result of adjusting the dynamic range. 2. The image pickup control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup control apparatus returns to . A computer program for causing a computer to execute each means of the imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14. 16. A computer readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 15. an image capturing step of capturing a plurality of images with different exposures;
a synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposures captured in the imaging step;
an adjustment processing step of adjusting a dynamic range by controlling exposure in the imaging step and composition in the composition step;
a detection step of detecting an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesis step as a result of adjusting the dynamic range by the adjustment processing step;
a notification step of notifying the detection result of the detection step;
An imaging control method, characterized in that an adjustment operation in the adjustment processing step is performed in advance, and based on the results, an adjustment range of the adjustment processing step is restricted. an image capturing step of capturing a plurality of images with different exposures;
a synthesizing step of synthesizing a plurality of images with different exposures captured in the imaging step;
an adjustment processing step of adjusting a dynamic range by controlling exposure in the imaging step and composition in the composition step;
a detection step of detecting an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesis step as a result of adjusting the dynamic range by the adjustment processing step;
a notification step of notifying the detection result of the detection step;
In the adjustment processing step, when the detecting step detects an area including an abnormality related to gradation in the image obtained by the synthesizing step as a result of adjusting the dynamic range, the dynamic range adjusted by the adjustment processing step is added. An imaging control method characterized by returning to and.

Images