Method and apparatus for enhancing discrete pixel images by analyzing image structure
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing a discrete pixel image, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) smoothing image data representative of pixels of a reconstructed image;
(b) identifying structural features from the smoothed image data resulting from (a) and generating a mask representative based on the structural identification;
(c) orientation smoothing the structural features;
(d) homogenization smoothing non-structural regions;
(e) orientation sharpening the structural features;
(f) blending texture from non-structural regions of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing steps.
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Abstract
A technique for enhancing discrete pixel images includes blurring or smoothing image data, and identifying structural features based upon the blurred image data. Identification of structural pixels is based upon a scaling factor which may be adjusted by an operator, providing an image enhancement framework which may be easily adapted to various types of images and image acquisition systems. Orientation smoothing of the structure may include dominant orientation smoothing based upon both a dominant orientation for each structural pixel, as well as the orientation orthogonal to the dominant orientation. Orientation sharpening is performed based upon whether structural pixel values exceed a desired threshold. The resulting technique is versatile and provides improved robustness to noise, while offering excellent enhancement of structure of interest in the reconstructed image without loss of texture.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing a discrete pixel image, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) smoothing image data representative of pixels of a reconstructed image; (b) identifying structural features from the smoothed image data resulting from (a) and generating a mask representative based on the structural identification; (c) orientation smoothing the structural features; (d) homogenization smoothing non-structural regions; (e) orientation sharpening the structural features; (f) blending texture from non-structural regions of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for enhancing a discrete pixel images, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying structural features from discrete pixel image data based upon a user selected scaling factor applied to a predetermined threshold value and Generating a mask representative based on the structural identification; (b) orientation smoothing the structural features; (c) homogenization smoothing non-structural regions; (d) orientation sharpening the structural features; and (e) blending texture from non-structural regions of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing steps. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for enhancing a discrete pixel images, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying structural features from discrete pixel image data, the structural features including pixels having values above a first threshold and pixels having values below the first threshold value but above a second, lower threshold value and positioned adjacent to a first pixel, and generating a mask representative of the structural features based on the structural identification; (b) orientation smoothing the structural features; (c) homogenization smoothing non-structural regions; (d) orientation sharpening the structural features; and (e) blending texture from non-structural regions of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing steps. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for enhancing a discrete pixel image, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying structural features from discrete pixel image data and generating a mask representative based on the structural identification; (b) orientation smoothing the structural features based upon a dominant orientation for each pixel and an orientation orthogonal to the dominant orientation; (c) homogenization smoothing non-structural regions; (d) orientation sharpening the structural features; and (e) blending texture from non-structural regions of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing steps. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for enhancing a discrete pixel image, the system comprising:
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an output device for producing a reconstructed image based upon processed image data; and a signal processing circuit configured to provide processed image data by smoothing image data representative of pixels of the reconstructed image, identifying structural features from the smoothed image data and generating a mask representative based on the structural identification, orientation smoothing the structural features, homogenization smoothing non-structural regions;
orientation sharpening the structural features, and blending of texture from non-structural region of the image data into data processed in accordance with the foregoing processing. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification