Method for the image optimization of an x-ray image

• US 6,587,595 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Henkel, Rainer, Beneke, Knut
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/379,100
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 382/274, 382/254, 382/282, 382/132, 358/447, 358/461, 358/453, 358/464
• US Class Current: 382/274
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30112 Baggage; Luggage; Suitcase
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/40 using histogram techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/94 based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement

Abstract

A method of optimizing an X-ray image representing an article transilluminated by X-rays, includes the following steps: detecting the X-rays leaving the article after transillumination thereof by the X-rays; processing, in a computer, the detected X-rays as image dots to obtain an image; applying the image dots to an image memory; scanning the image dots according to gray scale values thereof; comparing the scanned gray scale values with a desired threshold gray scale value; upon finding an image dot which is other than the desired threshold gray scale value, counting subsequent image dots to obtain an image zone A; determining the gray scale values of the image dots of the image zone A; and expanding the gray scale values of the image dots of the image zone A to higher image dot values for effecting a local brightening of the X-ray image in the image zone A by the higher image dot values.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing an X-ray image representing an article transilluminated by X-rays, comprising the following steps:

(a) detecting the X-rays leaving the article after transillumination thereof by the X-rays;

(b) processing, in a computer, the detected X-rays as image dots to obtain an image;

(c) applying the image dots to an image memory;

(d) scanning the image dots according to gray scale values thereof;

(e) comparing the scanned gray scale values with a desired threshold gray scale value;

(f) upon finding, in performing step (e), an image dot which is other than said desired threshold gray scale value, counting subsequent image dots-to obtain an image zone A;

(g) determining the gray scale values of the image dots of said image zone A; and

(h) expanding the gray scale values of the image dots of said image zone A to higher image dot values for effecting a local brightening of the X-ray image in said image zone A by the higher image dot values.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of performing steps (g) and (h) only if, in performing step (f), a predetermined number of image dots in said image zone A was found to have a gray scale value other than said desired threshold gray scale value.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein step (f) comprises the step of determining the number of image dots by counting immediately adjoining image dots while determining whether said immediately adjoining image dots fall below or exceed said desired threshold gray scale value.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein step (f) comprises the step of determining the number of image dots by counting image dots located at a predetermined distance from one another while determining whether said image dots located at a predetermined distance from one another fall below or exceed said desired threshold gray scale value.

5. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein step (f) comprises the step of determining the number of image dots by counting individual image dots while determining whether said individual image dots fall below or exceed said desired threshold gray scale value and whether said individual image dots exceed a maximum distance from one another.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of using pre-stored material-characteristic data from the image dots for determining the image zone A to be brightened.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining optimizing functions for said image zone A and storing said optimizing functions in an image optimizing device.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of simultaneously detecting a plurality of image zones A determined in step (f);

optimizing said image zones A with unlike optimizing functions; and

representing said image zones A in a brightened manner.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of characterizing the selected image zones A by frames.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of characterizing the selected image zones A by blinking frames.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of characterizing the selected image zones A by blinking.