Abstract: A method of processing and device configure to process digital images to enhance image quality and correct motion blur. A number N of images of a scene are captured with an exposure time T. An order of sharpness of the images is determined and the sharpest image is used as a reference image for generating an output image.

Abstract: A digital image processing system and method for removing motion effects from images of a video sequence, and generating corresponding motion compensated images.

Abstract: Digital video signals, such as the signals generated by an image sensor in a Bayer format, are converted into an encoded format. In the Bayer format, the pixels of each line are alternately coded with two colors, and then converted into the encoded format. In the encoded format, the pixels of the digital video signals are reordered into sets of adjacent pixels, such that the sets group pixels coded with the same color. The encoded signal data results in a reduced switching activity when transmitted over a bus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light sensor includes four cell arrays, one for each color of the Bayer pattern, and four lenses each focusing the light coming from the scene to be captured on a respective cell array. The lenses are oriented such that at least a second green image, commonly provided by the fourth cell array, is both horizontally and vertically shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from a first (reference) green image. In a second embodiment, the four lenses are oriented such that the red and blue images are respectively shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the first or reference green image, one horizontally and the other vertically, and the second green image is shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the reference green image both horizontally and vertically.

Abstract: In the method, the membership image is produced through a multi-stage process that contemplates a first punctual classification stage generating a rough membership image, followed by a low-pass filtering of regionalization of the image through a down-sampling of the image followed by an up-sampling of the image, and in a further step of merging the regions that overcomes the superposition effects induced by the low-pass filtering operation. The so generated membership image contains semantic information of the input image that may be used for effectively implementing an adaptive correction/improvement of the color of the input image. For an adaptive correction/improvement of the color, the encoded data of the generated membership image is fed in parallel to the data of the real image to an adaptive modification block of the color of the image pixels.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining an image with a large dynamic range. An image is acquired such that each image pixel is represented by a plurality of values obtained at the same time but for different integration levels (effective exposures). For each pixel, a representative value is selected among those available, such that it is neither saturated nor blackened.

Abstract: A method of processing digital images to reduce the effects of color bleeding. Chrominance components for pixels in a working window are determined and weights are assigned to the pixels in the working window. A chrominance correction for a center pixel in the working window is generated based on the chrominance components and the assigned weights. Fuzzy variables and thresholds may be applied to generate the assigned weights and the chrominance correction.

Abstract: A color image processing pipeline performs an interpolation on color data to generate triplets located at distinct pixel locations. The pipeline includes defect correction and image enhancement blocks having a first color interpolation block for generating RGB information for each pixel of an input image pixel pattern, and a second color interpolation block for receiving the RGB information to provide enhanced RGB pattern pixels. Dedicated line memories and delay circuits associated with the defect correction and image enhancement blocks permit real-time processing of pixel data. First and second read/write buffers store a subset or pixel block of the image data, and invert a scanning mode of pixel data being fed to the dedicated line memories and delay circuits associated to at least the first color interpolation block, from row-wise to column-wise, for each subset of data to be stored therein.

Abstract: A luminance intensity of pixels of an input digital image is corrected for generating a corrected digital image. A luminance of each pixel is calculated as a function of the luminance of a corresponding pixel in an original image according to a parametric function. A mask of the input digital image to be corrected is generated according to a bilateral filtering technique. For each pixel of the input digital image, a respective value of at least one parameter of the parametric function is established based upon the luminance of a corresponding pixel of the mask.

Abstract: An image generating pipeline (IGP) includes a digital signal processor for implementing processing blocks connected in cascade for processing an input image that includes an array of raw pixel values to generated a color image that includes an array of reconstructed pixel values. A memory is coupled to the digital signal processor for storing the raw pixel values and the array of reconstructed pixel values. The digital signal processor includes a data cache, and the raw pixel values of the input image are processed through the processing blocks in sub-arrays having fractional dimensions of the pixel-dimensions of the whole image array. The sub-arrays include an input sub-array of pixel values being loaded from the memory for defining a working window.

Abstract: In the method, the membership image is produced through a multi-stage process that contemplates a first punctual classification stage generating a rough membership image, followed by a low-pass filtering of regionalization of the image through a down-sampling of the image followed by an up-sampling of the image, and in a further step of merging the regions that overcomes the superposition effects induced by the low-pass filtering operation. The so generated membership image contains semantic information of the input image that may be used for effectively implementing an adaptive correction/improvement of the color of the input image. For an adaptive correction/improvement of the color, the encoded data of the generated membership image is fed in parallel to the data of the real image to an adaptive modification block of the color of the image pixels.

Abstract: A color image processing pipeline performs an interpolation on color data to generate triplets located at distinct pixel locations. The pipeline includes defect correction and image enhancement blocks having a first color interpolation block for generating RGB information for each pixel of an input image pixel pattern, and a second color interpolation block for receiving the RGB information to provide enhanced RGB pattern pixels. Dedicated line memories and delay circuits associated with the defect correction and image enhancement blocks permit real-time processing of pixel data. First and second read/write buffers store a subset or pixel block of the image data, and invert a scanning mode of pixel data being fed to the dedicated line memories and delay circuits associated to at least the first color interpolation block, from row-wise to column-wise, for each subset of data to be stored therein.

Abstract: Digital video signals, such as the signals generated by an image sensor in a Bayer format, are converted into an encoded format. In the Bayer format, the pixels of each line are alternately coded with two colors, and then converted into the encoded format. In the encoded format, the pixels of the digital video signals are reordered into sets of adjacent pixels, such that the sets group pixels coded with the same color. The encoded signal data results in a reduced switching activity when transmitted over a bus.