PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve adjustment in intensity relative to an ultrasonic image in a depending manner on human optical properties.SOLUTION: When a reference region R is set in an ultrasonic waves image, a boundary D in an interesting part N is extracted in the reference region R and the interesting part N in the boundary D and a peripheral part B outside of the boundary D are specified. When the boundary D is extracted, an area S of the interesting part N is calculated, and, in addition, an average intensity Ln of the interesting part N and an average intensity Lb of the peripheral part B are calculated. Furthermore, difference in intensity between the interesting part N and the periphery part B is adjusted based on the area S of the interesting part N. For example, contrast enhancement is executed in a manner where the smaller area S of the interesting part N is adjusted so as to provide a larger difference in intensity between the interesting part N and the periphery part B.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】人間の視覚特性に応じた超音波画像に対する輝度調整を実現する。【解決手段】超音波画像内に参照領域Rが設定されると、参照領域R内において、注目部位Nの境界Dが抽出され、境界D内の注目部位Nと境界D外の周囲部位Bが識別される。境界Dが抽出されると、注目部位Nの面積Sが算出され、さらに、注目部位Nの平均輝度Lnと周囲部位Bの平均輝度Lbが算出される。そして、注目部位Nの面積Sに基づいて注目部位Nと周囲部分Bの輝度差が調整される。例えば、注目部位Nの面積Sが小さいほど注目部位Nと周囲部分Bの輝度差が大きくなるように調整されて、コントラスト強調が行われる。【選択図】図2
