Spatially-selective edge enhancement for discrete pixel images
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing an image defined by a matrix of discrete pixels, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating data representative of the pixels defining the image;
at least partially decomposing the image into a plurality of spatial frequency images including at least a first frequency image and a second frequency image, the first frequency image having a spatial frequency greater than the second frequency image and including data representative of the second frequency image;
generating gain data for the first frequency image based upon the second frequency image;
generating an enhanced first frequency image by applying the gain data to the first frequency image; and
reconstructing an enhanced image based upon the enhanced first frequency image and the second frequency image.
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Abstract
A discrete pixel image is enhanced to bring out particular features of interest such as edges. The enhancement includes decomposition of the original processed image data, enhancement by application of gain images to the decomposed images, and reconstruction of the enhanced image. The decomposition proceeds through a series of low-pass filters to arrive at decomposed images of progressively lower spatial frequencies. These decomposed images are then multiplied by gain images during the enhancement phase. Gain images for at least the higher spatial frequency level images are derived from lower spatial frequency level images. These spatial frequency-based gain images may be based upon operator inputs, including a spatial sensitivity function and an edge enhancement value. Lower spatial frequency level images may be processed by application of predetermined gain values. The reconstruction sequence recombines the decomposed images after application of the gains to arrive at an enhanced image of the same dimensions as the original image.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing an image defined by a matrix of discrete pixels, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating data representative of the pixels defining the image;
at least partially decomposing the image into a plurality of spatial frequency images including at least a first frequency image and a second frequency image, the first frequency image having a spatial frequency greater than the second frequency image and including data representative of the second frequency image;
generating gain data for the first frequency image based upon the second frequency image;
generating an enhanced first frequency image by applying the gain data to the first frequency image; and
reconstructing an enhanced image based upon the enhanced first frequency image and the second frequency image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for enhancement of edges in a discrete pixel image, the method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a set of pixel data representative of the image;
filtering the pixel data into a series of spatial frequency level images, the series including at least one higher frequency level image and one lower frequency level image, the first frequency image having a spatial frequency greater than the second frequency image and including data representative of the second frequency image;
deriving a gain image from the lower frequency level image;
combining the gain image and the higher frequency level image to obtain an enhanced higher frequency level image; and
reconstructing an edge enhanced image based upon the enhanced higher frequency level image and the lower frequency level image. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A discrete pixel imaging system comprising:
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a data acquisition unit configured to generate pixel values representative of pixels in a discrete pixel image; and
a signal processing circuit configured to receive the pixel values, to decompose the image into a series of spatial frequency images each frequency image having a spatial frequency greater than a next succeeding frequency image and including data representative of the succeeding frequency image, to derive a gain image for a first of the spatial frequency images from a second of the spatial frequency images, to apply the gain image to the first frequency image to obtain an edge enhanced image, and to reconstruct a filtered image based upon the edge enhanced image and the second frequency image. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification