Method and system for altering defects in digital image

• US 6,711,302 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Lee, Raymond S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Amir
• Application Number:
  US09/675,416
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/165, 382/167, 382/141, 382/254, 382/260, 382/274, 382/275, 358/505, 358/515, 358/518, 358/530, 358/532, 358/537
• US Class Current: 382/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10008 from scanner, fax or copier
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/20 using local operators
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/77 Retouching; Inpainting; Scratch removal
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/30 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4097 Removing errors due external factors, e.g. dust, scratches

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method for correcting a digital image representative of a tangible image. A first corrected intensity value for a first pixel of a first channel of the digital image is calculated using electronic circuitry in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel in a defect channel associated with the digital image. The original intensity value of the pixel is replaced with the first corrected intensity value. The intensity of the defect pixel is replaced with an intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable. A second corrected intensity value is then calculated for a second pixel of the first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first pixel after replacement and the intensity of the first defect pixel after replacement.

Claims

1. A method for correcting a digital image representative of a tangible image, comprising:

calculating using electronic circuitry a first corrected intensity value for a first pixel of a first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel in a defect channel associated with the digital image, the first pixel having a first original intensity value;

replacing the first original intensity value with the first corrected intensity value;

replacing the intensity of the first defect pixel with an intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable; and

calculating using electronic circuitry a second corrected intensity value for a second pixel of the first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first pixel after replacement and the intensity of the first defect pixel after replacement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable comprises a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel; and

wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a red leakage value, the red leakage value comprising a measure of the amount of information from the red channel present in the defect channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is further responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

calculating using electronic circuitry a third corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the red channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first defect pixel, the first pixel of the red channel having a third original intensity value;

calculating using electronic circuitry a fourth corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the green channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel, the first pixel of the green channel having a fourth original intensity value;

replacing the third original intensity value with the third corrected intensity value;

replacing the fourth original intensity value with the fourth corrected intensity value;

wherein the first channel comprises the blue channel of the digital image; and

wherein the replacement of the third original intensity value, fourth original intensity value, and first original intensity value occur before the replacement of the intensity of the first defect pixel.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a red leakage value, the red leakage value comprising a measure of the amount of information from the red channel present in the defect channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is further responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

10. A digital image scanning system, comprising:

scanning hardware operable to scan an image and convert the image into a digital image having at least one channel and to produce a defect channel responsive to defects in the image; and

computer software associated with the scanning hardware and operable to

calculate using electronic circuitry a first corrected intensity value for a first pixel of a first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel in a defect channel associated with the digital image, the first pixel having a first original intensity value,

replace the first original intensity value with the first corrected intensity value,

replace the intensity of the first defect pixel with an intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable,

calculate using electronic circuitry a second corrected intensity value for a second pixel of the first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first pixel after replacement and the intensity of the first defect pixel after replacement.

11. The digital image scanning system of claim 10, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

12. The digital image scanning system of claim 10, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable comprises a predetermined value.

13. The digital image scanning system of claim 10,

wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel; and

wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a red leakage value, the red leakage value comprising a measure of the amount of information from the red channel present in the defect channel.

14. The digital image scanning system of claim 13, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is further responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

15. The digital image scanning system of claim 10, wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel.

16. The digital image scanning system of claim 15, wherein the computer software is further operable to:

calculate using electronic circuitry a third corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the red channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first defect pixel, the first pixel of the red channel having a third original intensity value;

calculate using electronic circuitry a fourth corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the green channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel, the first pixel of the green channel having a fourth original intensity value;

replace the third original intensity value with the third corrected intensity value;

replace the fourth original intensity value with the fourth corrected intensity value;

wherein the first channel comprises the blue channel of the digital image; and

wherein the replacement of the third original intensity value, fourth original intensity value, and first original intensity value occur before the replacement of the intensity of the first defect pixel.

17. A digital image processing system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

computer software stored on the computer readable storage medium and operable to

calculate using electronic circuitry a first corrected intensity value for a first pixel of a first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel in a defect channel associated with the digital image, the first pixel having a first original intensity value,

replace the first original intensity value with the first corrected intensity value,

replace the intensity of the first defect pixel with an intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable,

calculate using electronic circuitry a second corrected intensity value for a second pixel of the first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first pixel after replacement and the intensity of the first defect pixel after replacement.

18. The digital image processing system of claim 17, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

19. The digital image processing system of claim 17, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable comprises a predetermined value.

20. The digital image processing system of claim 17,

wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel; and

wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a red leakage value, the red leakage value comprising a measure of the amount of information from the red channel present in the defect channel.

21. The digital image processing system of claim 20, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is further responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

22. The digital image processing system of claim 17, wherein the digital image comprises a red channel, a blue channel, and a green channel.

23. The digital image processing system of claim 22, wherein the computer software is further operable to:

calculate using electronic circuitry a third corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the red channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first defect pixel, the first pixel of the red channel having a third original intensity value;

calculate using electronic circuitry a fourth corrected intensity value for a first pixel of the green channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel, the first pixel of the green channel having a fourth original intensity value;

replace the third original intensity value with the third corrected intensity value;

replace the fourth original intensity value with the fourth corrected intensity value;

wherein the first channel comprises the blue channel of the digital image; and

wherein the replacement of the third original intensity value, fourth original intensity value, and first original intensity value occur before the replacement of the intensity of the first defect pixel.

24. The digital image processing system of claim 23,

wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is responsive to a red leakage value, the red leakage value comprising a measure of the amount of information from the red channel present in the defect channel.

25. The digital image processing system of claim 24, wherein the intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable is further responsive to a clear film intensity value, the clear film intensity value comprising the intensity of a pixel of the defect channel that results when light from a light source used to create the defect channel is passed through clear film of the type on which the tangible image is stored.

26. An altered digital image derived from a digital image having at least one channel, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

an altered digital image stored on the computer readable storage medium wherein the altered digital image was created by

calculating using electronic circuitry a first corrected intensity value for a first pixel of a first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of a first defect pixel in a defect channel associated with the digital image, the first pixel having a first original intensity value;

replacing the first original intensity value with the first corrected intensity value;

replacing the intensity of the first defect pixel with an intensity value signifying that the first pixel is reliable; and

calculating using electronic circuitry a second corrected intensity value for a second pixel of the first channel of the digital image in response to the intensity of the first pixel after replacement and the intensity of the first defect pixel after replacement.