Image enhancement system
First Claim
1. A method for digital image enhancement using a processing system including means for receiving and displaying image comprised of decoded pixel digital data, the data defining edge and nonedge regions in the image, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a digital image;
(b) differentiating between edge pixel data and nonedge pixel data in said digital image;
(c) filtering each edge pixel by identifying a first edge image region, said first edge image region including said edge pixel, and determining a filtered edge pixel value based on pixel data in said first edge image region, such that the staircase effects appearing when said filtered edge pixels are displayed are decreased;
(d) filtering each nonedge pixel by identifying a first nonedge image region, said fist nonedge image region including said nonedge pixel, and determining a filtered nonedge pixel value based on pixel data in said first nonedge image region, such that the loss of detail and contouring effects appearing when said filtered nonedge pixels are displayed are decreased; and
(e) combining said filtered edge pixel data and said filtered nonedge pixel data to form an enhanced image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for enhancing the quality of an image that suffers from staircase effects, contouring effects, and granular noise, without affecting the existing method of creating the image is disclosed. The enhancement system identifies the edge and nonedge regions in the decoded image, and then filters those regions in order to reduce the specific type of quality degradation that generally occurs in the specific type of region. The system is integrated into a processing system including means for receiving and displaying digital image data. The system receives the digital image data, differentiates between edge data and the nonedge data within the digital image data, and filters the image data accordingly. The filtered edge data and the filtered nonedge data are combined to form an enhanced image. A multi-pass filtering system is also disclosed.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for digital image enhancement using a processing system including means for receiving and displaying image comprised of decoded pixel digital data, the data defining edge and nonedge regions in the image, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a digital image; (b) differentiating between edge pixel data and nonedge pixel data in said digital image; (c) filtering each edge pixel by identifying a first edge image region, said first edge image region including said edge pixel, and determining a filtered edge pixel value based on pixel data in said first edge image region, such that the staircase effects appearing when said filtered edge pixels are displayed are decreased; (d) filtering each nonedge pixel by identifying a first nonedge image region, said fist nonedge image region including said nonedge pixel, and determining a filtered nonedge pixel value based on pixel data in said first nonedge image region, such that the loss of detail and contouring effects appearing when said filtered nonedge pixels are displayed are decreased; and (e) combining said filtered edge pixel data and said filtered nonedge pixel data to form an enhanced image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for enhancing a digital image, said digital image comprised of decoded digital data, the decoded digital data defining edge and nonedge regions in the image, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a digital image; (b) edge detection means for differentiating between the edge pixel data and the nonedge pixel data in said digital image; (c) nonlinear edge filtering means for filtering each said edge pixel data by identifying a first edge image region including a plurality of pixels such that the staircase effects in said filtered edge pixel data are decreased; (d) nonlinear nonedge filtering means for filtering each said nonedge pixel data by identifying a first edge image region including a plurality of pixels such that the loss of detail and contouring effects in said filtered nonedge pixel data is decreased; and (e) combination means for combining said filtering edge pixel data and said filtered nonedge pixel data to produce an enhanced digital image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification