Method of and system for image processing and recording medium for carrying out the method

• US 7,221,806 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bali; Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US10/653,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382130-132, 382/240, 382260-261, 382263-265, 382270-274, 378/62
• US Class Current: 382/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20016 Hierarchical, coarse-to-fine, multiscale or multiresolution image processing; Pyramid transform
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/75 Unsharp masking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/90 Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof

Abstract

In an image processing method for obtaining a processed image signal from an original image signal representing an original image having a certain picture element density, a plurality of intermediate image signals which are different in frequency band are made on the basis of the original image signal. A plurality of transformed image signals are obtained by carrying out a transformation processing on the respective intermediate image signals on the basis of respective transformation functions, and a processed image signal is obtained from the transformed image signals. The transformation functions are defined by determining transformation function defining parameters for the transformation functions on the basis of the picture element density of the original image.

Claims

1. An image processing method for obtaining a processed image signal from an original image signal representing an original image having a certain resolution, in which a plurality of intermediate image signals which are different in frequency band are made on the basis of the original image signal, a plurality of transformed image signals are obtained by carrying out a transformation processing on the respective intermediate image signals on the basis of transformation functions which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals, and a processed image signal is obtained from the transformed image signals, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of

preparing reference transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from a reference original image signal representing a reference original image having a reference resolution which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals, and, when an object original image signal to be processed represents an original image having a resolution lower than the reference resolution, setting the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal to be equal to the respective reference transformation functions for the intermediate image signals in the frequency bands not higher than the frequency band corresponding to the resolution of the original image represented by the object original image signal.

2. An image processing method as defined in claim 1 in which said plurality of intermediate image signals are band-limited signals which are made by making, on the basis of the original image signal, a plurality of unsharp image signals which are different in frequency response characteristic, and making a plurality of band-limited signals representing the signals in the respective frequency bands of the original image signal on the basis of the unsharp image signals and the original image signal.

3. An image processing method as defined in claim 1 in which information on the resolution of the object original image signal is obtained and the step of setting the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal is executed on the basis of the information on the resolution of the object original image signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transformation processing on the respective intermediate image signals are different between frequency bands based on the applied reference transformation function in each frequency band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an original image signal has a resolution n, and the object original image comprises a resolution reducing n by ½

or more, and a number of wavebands corresponding to resolution n is N, and wherein a number of transformed wavebands of the intermediate signals aggregated to obtain the object image is less than N, such that N is reduced by 1 for each ½

level of resolution reduction of the original image signal.

6. An image processing system for obtaining a processed image signal from an original image signal representing an original image having a certain resolution comprising an intermediate signal making means which makes a plurality of intermediate image signals which are different in frequency band on the basis of the original image signal, and a transformation processing means which makes a plurality of transformed image signals by carrying out a transformation processing on the respective intermediate image signals on the basis of transformation functions which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals and obtains a processed image signal from the transformed image signals, wherein the improvement comprises that

the transformation processing means prepares reference transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from a reference original image signal representing a reference original image having a reference resolution which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals, and, when the object original image signal to be processed represents an original image having a resolution lower than the reference resolution, sets the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal to be equal to the respective reference transformation functions for the intermediate image signals in the frequency bands not higher than the frequency band corresponding to the resolution of the original image represented by the object original image signal.

7. An image processing system as defined in claim 6 in which the intermediate image signal making means comprises an unsharp image signal making means which makes a plurality of unsharp image signals which are different in frequency response characteristic on the basis of the original image, and a band-limited signal making means which makes, as the intermediates image signals, a plurality of band-limited signals representing the signals in the respective frequency bands of the original image signal on the basis of the unsharp image signals and the original image signal.

8. An image processing system as defined in claim 6 in which a resolution information obtaining means for obtaining information on the resolution of the original image represented by the object original image signal is provided and the transformation processing means sets the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal on the basis of the information on the resolution of the original image.

9. A computer-readable recording medium loaded with program for causing a computer to perform an image processing method for obtaining a processed image signal from an original image signal representing an original image having a certain resolution, in which a plurality of intermediate image signals which are different in frequency band are made on the basis of the original image signal, a plurality of transformed image signals are obtained by carrying out a transformation processing on the respective intermediate image signals on the basis of transformation functions which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals, and a processed image signal is obtained from the transformed image signals, wherein the improvement comprises that

the program includes the steps of preparing reference transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from a reference original image signal representing a reference original image having a reference resolution which are set according to the frequency bands of the respective intermediate image signals, and, when the object original image signal to be processed represents an original image having a resolution lower than the reference resolution, setting the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal to be equal to the respective reference transformation functions for the intermediate image signals in the frequency bands not higher than the frequency band corresponding to the resolution of the original image represented by the object original image signal.

10. A computer-readable recording medium as defined in claim 9 in which said plurality of intermediate image signals are band-limited signals which are made by making, on the basis of the original image signal, a plurality of unsharp image signals which are different in frequency response characteristic, and making a plurality of band-limited signals representing the signals in the respective frequency bands of the original image signal on the basis of the unsharp image signals and the original image signal.

11. A computer-readable recording medium as defined in claim 9 in which information on the resolution of the object original image signal is obtained and the step of setting the transformation functions for transforming the intermediate image signals obtained from the object original image signal is executed on the basis of the information on the resolution of the object original image.