Noise filter for bayer pattern image data
First Claim
1. An image filter for filtering a Bayer pattern, comprising:
- an interpolation algorithm that joins together the digital information provided by differently colored adjacent pixels in a plurality of color channel Bayer patterns; and
the filter being adaptive and operable directly on the Bayer patterns for each color channel to remove noise while simultaneously preserving picture detail.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of filtering an image filter is disclosed. The filter is provided for a digital camera including image sensors sensitive to light, a color filter placed over sensitive elements of the sensors and patterned according to a Bayer mosaic pattern layout and an interpolation algorithm joining together the digital information provided by differently colored adjacent pixels in said Bayer pattern. The filter is adaptive and includes a noise level computation block for operating directly on a said Bayer pattern data set of for each color channel thus removing noise while simultaneously preserving picture detail.
65 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An image filter for filtering a Bayer pattern, comprising:
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an interpolation algorithm that joins together the digital information provided by differently colored adjacent pixels in a plurality of color channel Bayer patterns; and
the filter being adaptive and operable directly on the Bayer patterns for each color channel to remove noise while simultaneously preserving picture detail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A digital camera, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing an image and producing a first signal;
a Bayer pattern producer coupled to said sensor and structured to produce a Bayer pattern from said first signal;
a splitter structured to split said Bayer pattern into separate color channels; and
an image filter for processing each of the separate color channels of the Bayer pattern in a manner that removes noise while simultaneously preserving picture detail.
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8. A method for filtering noise in a digital image, comprising the steps of:
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interpolating the digital image to join together digital information provided by differently colored adjacent pixels and produce a plurality of color channel Bayer patterns;
scanning sequentially row by row through a selected Bayer pattern;
providing a processing window for each color channel of said Bayer pattern data set, the processing windows for the red and blue channels being identical, while the processing window for the green channel being different, and each processing window having a target pixel and a plurality of neighboring pixels;
selecting a filtering mask and a corresponding processing window in dependence on color of a current target pixel; and
filtering the target pixel by computing a noise level of the color channel and providing a filtered pattern format depending on said noise level. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An image filtering method for processing a color channel of Bayer pattern data, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a target pixel in the Bayer pattern data;
identifying, within the Bayer pattern data, a plurality of neighboring pixels to the target pixel having a common color;
comparing the common color target and neighboring pixels; and
determining a filtered value for the target pixel based on the common color target and neighboring pixels comparison by;
resisting change in the target pixel value when the comparison indicates dramatic difference between the target and neighboring pixels; and
encouraging change in the target pixel value when the comparison indicates minimal difference between the target and neighboring pixels. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image filter for processing a color channel of Bayer pattern data, comprising:
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a working window function that identifies a target pixel in the Bayer pattern data along with a plurality of neighboring pixels to the target pixel having a common color;
a comparator function that compares the common color target and neighboring pixels; and
a filtering function that determines a filtered value for the target pixel based on the common color target and neighboring pixels comparison by;
resisting change in the target pixel value when the comparison indicates dramatic difference between the target and neighboring pixels; and
encouraging change in the target pixel value when the comparison indicates minimal difference between the target and neighboring pixels. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An image filtering method for processing a color channel of Bayer pattern data, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a target pixel in the Bayer pattern data;
identifying, within the Bayer pattern data, a plurality of neighboring pixels to the target pixel having a common color;
comparing the common color target and neighboring pixels; and
determining a filtered value for the target pixel based on the common color target and neighboring pixels comparison that;
preserves image detail where the comparison indicates dramatic difference between the target and neighboring pixels; and
corrects noisy pixels where the comparison indicates minimal difference between the target and neighboring pixels. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An image filter for processing a color channel of Bayer pattern data, comprising:
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a working window function that identifies a target pixel in the Bayer pattern data along with a plurality of neighboring pixels to the target pixel having a common color;
a comparator function that compares the common color target and neighboring pixels; and
a filtering function that determines a filtered value for the target pixel based on the common color target and neighboring pixels comparison that;
preserves image detail where the comparison indicates dramatic difference between the target and neighboring pixels; and
corrects noisy pixels where the comparison indicates minimal difference between the target and neighboring pixels. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification