METHOD FOR IMPROVING IMAGES CAPTURED UNDERWATER

• US 20140133750A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fmv Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fmv Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., Rogers, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,087,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/40 using histogram techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/92 based on global image properties

Abstract

A method for image processing, the method executed at least in part by a computer system, acquires a digital image as a collection of image pixels and calculates from a plurality of the image pixels, at least one statistical measurement. The at least one calculated statistical measurement is associated with a predetermined modification function setting according to a best-fit function that has been calculated from a database of sample images. A processed image is formed by adjusting the acquired collection of image pixels according to the associated predetermined modification function setting and the processed image is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for image processing, the method executed at least in part by a computer system and comprising:

a) acquiring a digital image as a collection of image pixels;

b) calculating, from a plurality of the image pixels, at least one statistical measurement;

c) associating the at least one calculated statistical measurement with a predetermined modification function setting according to a best-fit function that has been calculated from a database of sample images;

d) forming a processed image by adjusting the acquired collection of image pixels according to the associated predetermined modification function setting;

and

e) displaying the processed image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that the image was captured underwater.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising scaling the image to form a reduced size collection of image pixels.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the statistical measurement is taken from the group consisting of a mean, a median, a mode, and a standard deviation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one calculated statistical measurement is obtained from a single color channel and wherein forming the processed image adjusts pixels in two or more color channels.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the statistical measurement is representative of image brightness.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the statistical measurement is representative of image brightness in a single color channel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the statistical measurement is representative of image contrast.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the statistical measurement is representative of color balance.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the acquired collection of image pixels applies a non-linear mapping to the collection of image pixels.

11. A method for image processing, the method executed at least in part by a computer system and comprising:

a) acquiring a digital image as a collection of image pixels;

b) determining that the image was captured underwater;

c) calculating, from a plurality of the image pixels, a statistical measurement;

d) associating the calculated statistical measurement with a predetermined modification function setting according to a best-fit function that has been calculated from a database of sample images;

e) forming a processed image by adjusting the acquired collection of image pixels according to the associated predetermined modification function setting;

and

f) displaying the processed image.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined modification function is a non-linear mapping.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined modification function is derived from a plurality of images captured underwater.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming and displaying a plurality of processed images according to additional modification function settings.

15. A method for image processing, the method executed at least in part by a computer system and comprising:

a) acquiring a digital image as a collection of image pixels, wherein the digital image has at least a first, a second, and a third color channel;

b) determining that the image was captured underwater;

c) calculating, from a plurality of the image pixels in at least the first color channel, a statistical measurement;

d) associating the calculated statistical measurement with a predetermined modification function setting according to a best-fit function that has been calculated from a database of sample images;

e) forming a processed image by adjusting the acquired collection of image pixels according to the associated predetermined modification function setting, wherein the adjustment changes pixel values in each of the first, second, and third color channels;

and

f) displaying the processed image.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first color channel is a green color channel and wherein the second color channel is a red color channel.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the statistical measurement is a statistical mean.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein determining that the image was captured underwater comprises calculating color balance according to two or more of the color channels.