Abstract: A method for adjusting predetermined ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by a digital camera includes measuring the exposure deviation in exposure units from an optimal exposure as determined by the camera during an image capture process, deriving an estimated camera sensitivity from the exposure deviation, and adjusting the ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by the camera as a function of the derived estimated camera sensitivity.

Abstract: A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of pixel sensors having a first gain and a plurality of pixel sensors having a second gain less than the first gain.

Abstract: A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of pixel sensors having a first gain and a plurality of pixel sensors having a second gain less than the first gain.

Abstract: A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.

Abstract: A method for performing fast detail-preserving filtering of an input digital image includes, for each pixel in the image, calculating the difference between the selected pixel and each of its four neighboring pixels located above, left, right, and below the selected pixel, calculating a scaled weighted sum of differences between the actual pixel and its four neighbors, where for each neighboring pixel the weight is an edge-sensing function having a data-adaptive scaling parameter function, and adding the weighted sum of differences to the value of the selected pixel.

Abstract: A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.

Abstract: A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.

Abstract: A method for sharpening an original digital image includes generating a smoothed image from the original image. A residual image is generated from the smoothed image and the original image. A sharpened smoothed image is generated. The residual image and the sharpened smoothed image are combined to produce a sharpened version of the original image.

Abstract: A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the brightness of a captured image from a digital camera includes calculating a reference exposure value using the capture parameters and calculating an actual exposure value as a function of ambient illumination parameters. The reference exposure and actual exposure values are compared to determine an actual image saturation value. The actual image saturation value is compared with the saturation value of the image sensor to determine a brightness adjustment factor, and the captured image is adjusted to compensate for overexposure or underexposure in response to the brightness adjustment factor. The image is scaled up or down using the brightness adjustment factor if the actual image saturation value is less than or more than the saturation value of the image sensor used to capture the image.

Abstract: A method for performing fast detail-preserving filtering of an input digital image includes, for each pixel in the image, calculating the difference between the selected pixel and each of its four neighboring pixels located above, left, right, and below the selected pixel, calculating a scaled weighted sum of differences between the actual pixel and its four neighbors, where for each neighboring pixel the weight is an edge-sensing function having a data-adaptive scaling parameter function, and adding the weighted sum of differences to the value of the selected pixel.

Abstract: A method for performing column/row pattern suppression in a digital input image includes creating a smoothed version of the input image by averaging a set of columns/rows neighboring around the column/row being corrected. A difference image is constructed by subtracting the smoothed image from the input image. New column/row intensities are computed from the difference image. An output image is constructed with suppressed column/row patterns by subtracting the new column/row intensities from the input image.

Abstract: A method for suppressing structured noise in a digital image includes creating a smoothed version of the original image. Monotonic and slowly-varying image regions are detected by analyzing a residual image which is the function of the original image and its smoothed version. A local window is defined in each pixel location identified in the thresholding process as the location with structured noise and samples inside the window are randomly permuted to randomize the noise structures. A noise-filtered version of the original residual image is generated. The noise-filtered residual and the smoothed version of the original image are combined to produce a final image.

Abstract: A method for adjusting predetermined ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by a digital camera includes measuring the exposure deviation in exposure units from an optimal exposure as determined by the camera during an image capture process, deriving an estimated camera sensitivity from the exposure deviation, and adjusting the ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by the camera as a function of the derived estimated camera sensitivity.

Abstract: A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of pixel sensors having a first gain and a plurality of pixel sensors having a second gain less than the first gain.

Abstract: A method for replacing defective pixels in a digital color image includes determining whether each pixel has defective data in a selected color channel; for the pixel, determining whether a first reference color channel exists and, if so, correcting the defective data by defining a group of neighboring pixels; for each of m neighboring pixels having non-defective data in the selected color channel and the reference color channel, computing a sum of the differences between the non-defective data in the selected color channel and the non-defective data in the first reference color channel; adding the sum of the differences divided by m to the non-defective data value from the first reference color channel to obtain a result; dividing the result by two to obtain a substitution data value; and substituting the substitution data value for the defective data.

Abstract: A method for creating gamma correction and tone mapping effects in a digital image includes obtaining rendering parameters, generating the rendering curve using the rendering parameters or their subset, and applying the generated rendering curve to the input image.

Abstract: A method for sharpening an original digital image includes generating a smoothed image from the original image. A residual image is generated from the smoothed image and the original image. A sharpened smoothed image is generated. The residual image and the sharpened smoothed image are combined to produce a sharpened version of the original image.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the brightness of a captured image from a digital camera includes calculating a reference exposure value using the capture parameters and calculating an actual exposure value as a function of ambient illumination parameters. The reference exposure and actual exposure values are compared to determine an actual image saturation value. The actual image saturation value is compared with the saturation value of the image sensor to determine a brightness adjustment factor, and the captured image is adjusted to compensate for overexposure or underexposure in response to the brightness adjustment factor. The image is scaled up or down using the brightness adjustment factor if the actual image saturation value is less than or more than the saturation value of the image sensor used to capture the image.

Abstract: A method for performing column/row pattern suppression in a digital input image includes creating a smoothed version of the input image by averaging a set of columns/rows neighboring around the column/row being corrected. A difference image is constructed by subtracting the smoothed image from the input image. New column/row intensities are computed from the difference image. An output image is constructed with suppressed column/row patterns by subtracting the new column/row intensities from the input image.