SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCTION OF SPECKLE NOISE IN AN IMAGE
First Claim
1. A method of segmenting an image comprising:
- (a) receiving an image comprising a plurality of pixels;
(b) establishing a coherence parameter and a number of classes;
(c) for each of the plurality of pixels, comparing an intensity of each pixel to an intensity of one or more neighboring pixels;
(d) classifying each pixel into a class in response to a maximum value of a conditional probability function in response to the intensity of each pixel; and
(e) providing a segmented image in response to the classification of each of the plurality of pixels.
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Abstract
The present invention includes methods for the reduction of speckle noise in an image and methods for segmenting an image. Each of the methods disclosed herein includes steps for analyzing the uniformity of a pixel within a plurality of pixels forming a portion of the image and, based on the uniformity of the intensity of the plurality of pixels, adjusting and/or replacing the pixel in order to produce a speckle-noise reduced image, a segmented image, or a segmented and speckle-noise reduced image. The methods of the present invention can employ for example conditional probability density functions, nonlinear estimator functions, convex energy functions and simulated annealing algorithms in the performance of their respective steps.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of segmenting an image comprising:
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(a) receiving an image comprising a plurality of pixels; (b) establishing a coherence parameter and a number of classes; (c) for each of the plurality of pixels, comparing an intensity of each pixel to an intensity of one or more neighboring pixels; (d) classifying each pixel into a class in response to a maximum value of a conditional probability function in response to the intensity of each pixel; and (e) providing a segmented image in response to the classification of each of the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable medium comprising; code to cause at least an image processor to receive an image comprising a plurality of pixels; code to cause at least an image processor to establish a coherence parameter and a number of classes; code to cause at least an image processor to compare an intensity of each pixel to the intensity of one or more of a neighboring pixel, for each of the plurality of pixels; code to cause at least an image processor to classify each pixel into a class in response to a maximum value of a conditional probability function in response to the intensity of each pixel; and code to cause at least an image processor to provide a segmented Image in response to the classification of each of the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification