White balance control device and white balance control method

摘要

First white balance correction values are computed based on pixels of an image having color values included in a preset white color detection region. A face region is detected (S202) from the image. If it is determined (S204) that skin color average values of pixels in the face region, corrected based on the first white balance correction values, are within a second color signal region surrounding a first color region, second white balance correction values are computed (S205), adapted to correct skin color average values in the face region so that these skin color average values are within the first color signal region. Ultimate white balance correction values are calculated (S208) based on the first white balance correction values and the second white balance correction values. If it is determined (S204) that the skin color average values of pixels in the face region corrected based on the first white balance correction values are within the second color signal region, white balance correction of the image is carried out using the ultimate white balance correction values. If it is determined (S204) that the skin color average values are not within the second color signal region, white balance correction of the image is carried out using the first white balance correction values.