Method and apparatus for correcting large defects in digital images

• US 6,683,995 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Ford, Gordon D., Lester, Leland A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/735,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 382/275,260,261,262,264,199,112 356/237.1,239.1,239.7,239.8,237.2,237.3
• US Class Current: 382/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30176 Document
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/77 Retouching; Inpainting; Scratch removal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4097 Removing errors due external factors, e.g. dust, scratches

Abstract

An image processing system includes a defect correction system that identifies defective regions of a digital image using a defect map. The defect map is automatically created from an input image device. The defect correction system corrects the defective regions of the digital image using the non-defective regions of the digital image in accordance with various correction routines.

Claims

1. An image correction system comprising:

an image input device operable to produce a digital image and a defect map, wherein the defect map allows the identification of defective and non-defective regions of the digital image; and

a defect correction program having at least one correction routine operable to substantially correct the defective regions of the digital image using the non-defective regions of the digital image to produce an improved digital image, wherein the at least one correction routine comprises a reference line correction routine operable to define boundaries between defective and non-defective regions as a function of an orientation of the defective region.

2. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a feature line.

3. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a centerline.

4. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a contour line.

5. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a user defined reference line.

6. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one defect correction program includes a fill correction routine.

7. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one defect correction program includes an average correction routine.

8. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one defect correction program is incorporated into a user interface of the image input device.

9. The image correction system of claim 1, further comprising an output device operable to receive the improved digital image.

10. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the image input device comprises a film scanner.

11. The image correction system of claim 1, wherein the image input device comprises a flatbed scanner.

12. A defect correction program operable to:

receive a digital image and a corresponding defect map, wherein the defect map identifies at least one defective region of the digital image and a non-defective region of the digital image; and

correct the at least one defective region using at least one correction routine, wherein the correction routine comprises a reference line correction routine operable to define boundaries between defective and non-defective regions as a function of an orientation of the defective region.

13. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a feature line.

14. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a centerline.

15. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a contour line.

16. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the reference line correction routine includes a user defined reference line.

17. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the at least one defect correction program includes a fill correction routine.

18. The defect correction program of claim 12, wherein the at least one defect correction program includes an average correction routine.

19. A method for correcting an image, comprising:

determining at least one defective region and an associated non-defective region using a defect map;

parsing the at least one defective region into sub-regions using at least one reference line operable to define boundaries between the at least one defective region and the non-defective region as a function of an orientation of the at least one defective region; and

filling the sub-regions using data calculated from the non-defective regions associated with the sub-regions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one reference line comprises a feature line.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one reference line comprises a contour line.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one reference line comprises a user defined reference line.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein filling the sub-regions using data calculated from the non-defective regions comprises filling the sub-regions using data calculated by interpolation from the non-defective regions associated with the sub-regions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the interpolation comprises a straight-line interpolation.