IMAGE PROCESSOR, ITS METHOD, AND ITS PROGRAM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate an image signal whose slanting line is smoothly reproduced when IP (interlace progressive) conversion is applied to it. SOLUTION: An input part 81 inputs an image, as an input image, whose noted line is thinned out. A class classification part 84 classifies each picture element that composes a noted line in an image, as an output image, where the thinning of a noted line is not made. An identical class determination part 86 computes intervals M and N showing a positional relationship between a set of picture element groups classified into a class identical with noted picture elements of a noted line and the noted picture elements. A class sorting part 87 sorts noted picture elements into classes based on the intervals M and N. A product-sum operation part 91 performs forecasting calculation on the noted picture elements using forecasting coefficients identified based on respective classes of noted picture elements classified by the class classification part 84 and class sorting part 87 and a forecasting tap in the input images having a predefined positional relationship with the noted picture elements, thus outputting an output image as a forecasting calculation result. The invention is applicable to image conversion equipment. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT