Abstract: The prevent invention can prevent roughness in an image and reduce contouring and coding distortion in the image. The image processing apparatus according to the present invention reduces distortion in an input image, and includes: a masking signal generating unit 101 that generates a masking signal for reducing the distortion; and a masking signal adding unit 102 that adds the masking signal to the input image, wherein the masking signal generating unit 101 includes: a level difference processing unit 105 that smoothes a level difference between pixel values of pixels in the input image; a difference calculating unit 106 that calculates a difference between the input image and an image which has been processed by the level difference processing unit 105; and a random number setting unit 108 that sets an amplitude, creates a is random number having the set amplitude, the amplitude decreasing, as the difference approaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an obtaining module, a coefficient filter, a large area filter, and a determination module. The obtaining module obtains a feature value indicating an image structure of a pixel block comprising a target pixel to be processed and a surrounding pixel neighboring the target pixel in an input image. The coefficient filter performs filtering on the pixel block using a filter coefficient corresponding to the feature value. The large area filter performs smoothing on a pixel block that are larger than blocks used with coefficient filter. The determination module determines to cause the large area filter to perform the smoothing when the image structure indicated by the feature value is smooth.

Abstract: A system for image enhancement and, more particularly, a system for enhancing the quality of a quantized image.

Abstract: A system and method of contrast enhancement is disclosed. A contrast enhancement unit processes an input pixel to generate a contrast-enhanced pixel, and a delta unit subtracts the input pixel from the contrast-enhanced pixel, thereby resulting in a difference value. Multiple delayed difference values generated by a delay unit are low-pass filtered to generate a refined difference value. An adding unit adds back the refined difference value to the input pixel, thereby resulting in an output pixel that is contrast-enhanced without noise boost.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for color denoising are described. There is provided an image processing method. The method comprises the steps of retrieving chrominance level for a plurality of pixels in a predetermined configuration; computing a weight for each pixel; applying the weight to the chrominance level for each the pixel; summing the weighted chrominance level to output a chrominance level for a center pixel at the center of said predetermined configuration; and repeating the above steps for every pixel per image. The color noise can be reduced while preserving the edge without any edge detection.

Abstract: It is possible to inhibit side effects even when an image that has sharp edge regions has been input, using a spatial processing portion (10) outputting surrounding image information US from an input image signal, a control signal generation portion (40) outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD according to a degree of flatness of an edge proximal region, and an effect adjustment portion (20) outputting a synthesized signal MUS that is synthesized by changing a ratio of the image signal IS and the surrounding image information US according to the effect adjustment signal MOD. Further, the side effects are inhibited using a visual processing portion (30) visually processing the image signal IS based on the synthesized signal MUS and the image signal IS.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reconstruction of image data of an examination object from measured data, wherein the measured data was captured during a relative rotational motion between a radiation source of a computed tomography system and the examination object. Image data of the examination object is determined from the measured data. In at least one embodiment, new image data is obtained by noise-reducing processing of the image data, in which weighted high-pass filtering of the image data is performed, the weighting taking account of differences between pixel values of different pixels such that increasing differences result in a weaker high-pass effect. A noise-reducing smoothing of the image data is performed using the weighted high-pass filtering.

Abstract: To determine if a pixel exhibits artifacts, statistics are generated for the pixel and its neighbors. These statistics are compared with thresholds. If the comparison of the statistics and the thresholds suggests that the pixel exhibits a pixel artifact, then recourse can be taken, either to adjust the pixel value in some way, or to reject the angle of interpolation used in computing the value for the target pixel.

Abstract: Outdoor imaging is plagued by poor visibility conditions due to atmospheric scattering, particularly in haze. A major problem is spatially-varying reduction of contrast by stray radiance (airlight), which is scattered by the haze particles towards the camera. The images can be compensated for haze by subtraction of the airlight and correcting for atmospheric attenuation. Airlight and attenuation parameters are computed by analyzing polarization-filtered images. These parameters were estimated in past studies by measuring pixels in sky areas. However, the sky is often unseen in the field of view. The invention provides methods for automatically estimating these parameters, when the sky is not in view.

Abstract: In order to inhibit artifacts (even when a special image has been input) a visual processing device is provided with a spatial processing portion extracting surrounding image information US from an input image signal IS, and a special image detection portion outputting a special image effect adjustment signal DS according to a degree of a statistical bias of the image signal IS. The visual processing device also includes a continuous changing portion outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD in which the special image effect adjustment signal DS is continuously changed between frames, an effect adjustment portion outputting a synthesized signal MUS in which the effect of the visual processing differs depending on the effect adjustment signal MOD, and a visual processing portion outputting a processed signal OS obtained by visually processing the image signal IS based on the image signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS.

Abstract: In a displaying method for use in an image display, an original gray scale is divided into a higher gray scale and a lower gray scale. Further, the color subpixels are divided into two groups corresponding to the higher and lower gray scales, respectively. The gray scale to be expressed by each subpixel is calibrated by weighing the original higher or lower gray scale for the pixel and the adjacent pixels and summing up the results. The color shift problem due to different visual angles can therefore be solved.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to determine frequency of occurrence information for a range of gray levels from luminance data of an input signal. The second circuit may be configured to selectively adjust enhancement for at least one portion of the range of grey levels based upon the frequency of occurrence information.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a high-resolution image by using multi-layer low-resolution images includes dividing a low-resolution image into a plurality of texture layer low-resolution images and a plurality of base layer low-resolution images; generating a texture layer high-resolution image by compositing the plurality of the texture layer low-resolution images and generating a base layer high-resolution image by compositing the plurality of the base layer low-resolution images; and outputting a high-resolution image by compositing the texture layer high-resolution image and the base layer high-resolution image.

Abstract: An image apparatus (10) for providing an adjusted image (242) of a scene (236) includes a capturing system (16) and a control system (24). The capturing system (16) captures an underexposed first frame (240) that is defined by a plurality of pixels (240A), including a first pixel and a second pixel. The first frame (240) includes at least one of a first texture region (240S) and a second texture region (240T). The control system (24) can analyze information from the pixels (240A) and determine if the first pixel has captured a portion of the first texture region (240S) or the second texture region (240T). Further, the control system (16) can analyze information from the pixels (240A) and to determine if the second pixel has captured a portion of the first texture region (240S) or the second texture region (240T). With this design, the control system (16) can reduce the noise in the first frame (240) to provide a well exposed adjusted image (242).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and image processing method generate a motion picture with smooth zooming changes when a user manually operates a zoom lens while the motion picture is being captured. The image capturing apparatus includes a recording unit in which a plurality of images that are captured while a zoom lens, which enlarges or reduces images of an object, is manually operated by a user, and in which focal lengths corresponding to the plurality of images are recorded; a focal length calculating unit that calculates smoothing focal lengths based on the recorded focal lengths for smooth chronological variations of focal lengths; and an image generating unit that generates smoothing images having a viewing angle corresponding to the smoothing focal length based on the smoothing focal length, the recorded focal lengths, and the recorded image data.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for compensating for perceived blur due to inter-frame motion in a sequence of digital video frames are disclosed. One example method includes blurring a current frame using first and second blurring filters to generate first and second blurred frames, respectively. A first weighted combination of the current frame, the first blurred frame, and the second blurred frame is then blurred with the first blurring filter to generate a third blurred frame. The current frame is combined with the third blurred frame in a second weighted combination to generate a blur-compensated frame.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for efficiently enlarging an image, where the outermost Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) components from a DC value are regarded as high frequency components in DCT components expressed in one two-dimensional coordinate system, the edge signals of an image are restored by means of only the high frequency components, and then a binary edge mask, which represents the distribution of high frequency components within the image, is generated from the restored edge signals. Accordingly, an interpolation order can be determined based on the binary edge mask and interpolation can be performed. A higher order low pass filter is applied to an area having many high frequency signal components, so that it is possible to output more precisely enlarged image signals. In this way, that it is possible to improve the overall picture quality of an enlarged image, and to properly adjust the amount of calculation and buffer capacity, which are used when interpolation is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed are an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium and a program, by which an image can be fetched in a size appropriate to a user. An image of a subject picked up by a camera is displayed in a predetermined first range corresponding to a size designated in advance within a predetermined display region of an LCD unit which corresponds to an image pickup range of the camera, but the image of the subject picked up by the camera is not displayed in a surrounding range of the predetermined display region around the first range. If a shutter button is depressed in this state, then the image displayed in the first range is stored in the designated size into a memory. The present invention can be applied typically to a PDA, a mobile terminal, a portable telephone set, a desk-top personal computer or the like which has a function as a digital camera.

Abstract: It is possible to inhibit side effects, even when an image that has sharp edge regions has been input, using a spatial processing portion (10) outputting surrounding image information US from an input image signal, a control signal generation portion (40) outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD according to a degree of flatness of an edge proximal region, and an effect adjustment portion (20) outputting a synthesized signal MUS that is synthesized by changing a ratio of the image signal IS and the surrounding image information US according to the effect adjustment signal MOD. Further, the side effects are inhibited using a visual processing portion (30) visually processing the image signal IS based on the synthesized signal MUS and the image signal IS.

Abstract: An anti-flicker filter is described, including determining a video sequence based on designated portion of a video, selecting a plurality of video elements from the video sequence, calculating an individualized filter for each video element of the plurality of video elements based on motion in each video element, and applying the individualized filter to each video element of the plurality of video elements.

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: A high-frequency integrating circuit 32 detects characteristics of horizontal high-frequency components and vertical high-frequency components of the image formed by a processing-target image signal. Based on the detection result, a CPU 61 obtains the number of bits of the after-compression-coding data of the image signal, and calculates the compression rate dependent upon the number of bits. The CPU 61 controls an image codec 36 so that the processing-target image signal is compression-coded through only one time of compression coding processing by use of the calculated compression rate. This configuration allows the image compression processing (compression coding) to be rapidly executed with high accuracy.

Abstract: A visual processing device, display device, visual processing method, program, and integrated circuit that change a strength of visual processing of an image in real-time. A spatial processing portion (2) creates an unsharp signal US from an input signal IS. A target level setting portion (4) sets a predetermined target level value L for setting a range according to which the strength of the visual processing is adjusted. An effect adjustment portion (5) creates a synthesized signal MUS by synthesizing the predetermined target level value L and the unsharp signal US in accordance with an effect adjustment signal MOD that has been set externally. A visual processing portion (3) outputs an output signal OS in accordance with the input signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS, making it possible to change the strength of the visual processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing method. In one embodiment, the method provides discontinuity-preserving image smoothing and segmentation, noise reduction, reduction of image variations particularly those variations caused by illumination conditions, exposure compensation, and dynamic range compression. The present invention also provides an electronic image sensor that is able to detect high dynamic range optical images and produce electronic images with reduced dynamic range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for aligning raster and vector data. In an embodiment, a raster/vector aligner receives raster data and an approximate vector of a feature within the raster data. The raster/vector aligner generates an edge signal by edge filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector and a smoothness signal by smoothness filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector. The raster/vector aligner combines the edge signal and the smoothness signal into a combined signal which is used to generate a translation vector or a signal weight for the feature within the raster data.

Abstract: An FFT analysis is performed to the image data of one frame which has been decoded, and a cutoff frequency on the assumption that the original signal has first-order attenuation characteristics is obtained each in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. A sampled-data H? filter (digital filter) which has been previously designed in such a manner as to have different parameters corresponding to different cutoff frequencies is selected. By using this filter, a filtering process is performed to the image data which has been decoded both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. Since the variety of the analog frequency characteristics of the original image is taken into account for every frame of image, the information that seems to be a noise yet actually exists in the original image is less likely to be removed, and a mosquito noise and block noise associated with a coding/decoding process can be efficiently removed.

Abstract: When printing by generating a composite low-frequency image based on an input image, performing dodging processing, and changing a size of the input image to an output image size, if the output image size is much smaller than the input image size, wastefulness occurs in the composite processing of the low-frequency image, and the overall performance of the printing process deteriorates. To solve these problems, a plurality of blurry images having a different blurriness level from an input image are generated, print setting information to be used in printing of the input image is input, a size of a composite low-frequency image is calculated based on the print setting information, a composite low-frequency image is generated in the calculated size from the plurality of blurry images, and dodging processing is performed on the input image using the generated composite low-frequency image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved blur computation algorithm. The proposed algorithm accomplishes a blur of an image using fragment programs on a GPU. Alternatively, the blur may be computed on a CPU through emulation or directly programmed. Modifications of the program are possible that accomplish motion blur, zoom blur, radial blur, and various other forms of blur that vary across an image computed for the purpose of simulating depth-of-field.

Abstract: The invention is a visual processing device having a hardware configuration that does not depend on achieving visual processing, wherein the visual processing device includes a spatial processing portion and a visual processing portion. The spatial processing portion performs predetermined processing with respect to an input signal IS that has been received as input, and outputs the result as an unsharp signal US. The visual processing portion outputs an output signal OS, which is the input signal IS after the visual processing, based on a two-dimensional LUT that lists a relationship between the input signal IS, which that has been received as an input, the unsharp signal US, and the output signal OS.

Abstract: A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present.

Abstract: The pattern (pattern characteristic quantity) extracted from the pattern image carried by original printing paper is stored on the original printing paper and the validity of the original printing paper is verified according to the pattern stored on code-added printing paper at the time of copying the printed contents of the code-added printing paper so as to determine if the code-added printing paper is truly original or not by means of the pattern carried by the printing paper itself. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized copying with ease without using any special paper and hence appropriately protect the printed contents.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) image generation apparatus and method using a region extension of an object in a depth map is provided. The 3D image generation apparatus may include a discontinuity preservation smoothing filtering unit to apply a discontinuity preservation smoothing filter preserving discontinuity of a boundary or a shape of a depth image, a boundary preservation filtering unit to apply a max filter to a depth image for increasing a depth value of an object, and a rendering unit to render a two-dimensional (2D) color image and the filtered depth image and to generate a 3D image.

Abstract: A horizontal direction component pixel extractor extracts a pixel of interest and a horizontal direction component pixel thereof from an input video signal. A vertical direction component pixel extractor extracts the pixel of interest and a vertical direction component pixel thereof from the input video signal. A threshold setter sets a threshold value from the pixel of interest and the vertical processing direction component pixel thereof. A non-linear smoother non-linearly smoothes the pixel of interest using a horizontal processing direction component pixel in accordance with the set threshold value, thereby generating a video signal. A flat rate calculator calculates a flat rate in a vertical direction of the pixel of interest using a vertical processing direction component pixel. A mixer mixes the input video signal and the generated video signal using the flat rate, thereby outputting a horizontal direction smoothed video signal.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a reflection LED for emitting light to a surface of a recording medium on which an image is not yet fixed; a transmission LED for emitting light to the back face of the surface of a recording medium on which an image is not yet fixed; a CMOS area sensor for reading, as image, a light irradiation region of the recording medium by the reflection LED or the transmission LED to output the image; and a condition setting mechanism for providing a control by which, in accordance with an output value from the CMOS sensor, a fixing processing condition of a fixing apparatus is set. The image forming apparatus transforms a waveform of the output from the CMOS area sensor to a frequency component to determine, based on the feature quantity of the frequency component, the type of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, program and recording medium for achieving grayscale compression capable of suppressing image quality degradation using a simple configuration. A detection section 63 performs a detection process of a signal Y? that has been subjected to the processes of a luminance signal generating section 61 and perception equalization section 62, thus finding average intensities of lighting in bright and dark areas of an input image. A control MPU 64 finds adaptation gains kAr and kBr based on the average intensities. Processing the signal Y? with an edge-preserving LPF 65 provides a lighting component signal Y?lp. A detail extraction section 66 computes the difference between the signal Y? and lighting component signal Y?lp, thus extracting a detail component signal Y?de of the image of the signal Y?.

Abstract: Video sequence processing is described with various filtering rules applied to extract dominant features for content based video sequence identification. Active regions are determined in video frames of a video sequence. Video frames are selected in response to temporal statistical characteristics of the determined active regions. A two pass analysis is used to detect a set of initial interest points and interest regions in the selected video frames to reduce the effective area of images that are refined by complex filters that provide accurate region characterizations resistant to image distortion for identification of the video frames in the video sequence. Extracted features and descriptors are robust with respect to image scaling, aspect ratio change, rotation, camera viewpoint change, illumination and contrast change, video compression/decompression artifacts and noise.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a characteristic value calculator configured to calculate characteristic values of input pixels based on an input pixel signal and a tone controller configured to perform a tone control independently by each of the input pixels using control parameters corresponding to brightness of a peripheral pixel in vicinity of the corresponding input pixel based on each of the characteristic values calculated by the characteristic value calculator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a plurality of pixels, in a video system, are disclosed. Aspects of the method may comprise acquiring scaling factors associated with a plurality of output pixels and generating filter coefficients during the generation of the output pixels. The filter coefficients may be utilized to filter a plurality of pixels to produce the plurality of output pixels. The filter coefficient may be generated on the fly utilizing a windowed sinc function corresponding to the scaling factors. The sine function may be sampled according to the needed number of filter taps to determine the filter coefficients.

Abstract: A system for displaying a digital video sequence includes a graphics processing unit (GPU) and a display device. The GPU receives and modifies the digital video sequence to compensate for perceived blur based on motion between frames of the digital video sequence. The display device displays the modified digital video sequence. A method and computer readable medium having computer readable code is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system determines a pose of an object by comparing an input range image acquired of a scene including the input object to each of a set of reference range image of a reference object, such that each reference range images has an associated different pose, and the reference object is similar to the input object. Then, the pose associated with the reference range image which best matches the input range image is selected as the pose of the input object.

Abstract: For each combination of color material signals corresponding to an input image signal, a total color material use amount is calculated. On the other hand, on the basis of a predetermined target color, total color material use amounts are set which vary smoothly in accordance with a variation in the target color. Then, a determination is made as to which one of all the combinations of color material signals determined as described above corresponds to one of the set total color material use amounts which is the same as the total color material use amount corresponding to the input image signal. This combination is outputted to a printer as the optimum combination of color material signals corresponding to the input image signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing image noise is provided. In the method, during the process of reducing image noise by a bilateral filter, the image noise filtering intensity of a domain filter in the bilateral filter is adjusted according to whether a regional area of the image has a frame boundary, and the image noise filtering intensity of a range filter in the bilateral filter is adjusted through the intensity of a regional area, so as to improve the image noise reduction effect of the bilateral filter.

Abstract: An image sharpening apparatus for sharpening an original image is disclosed. The image sharpening apparatus includes a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, an edge detector, a sharpening parameter generating unit and an operating unit. The low-pass filter, the high-pass filter and the edge detector receive the original image and respectively output a low frequency image, a high frequency image and several edge detecting values. The sharpening parameter generating unit receives the edge detecting values and outputs corresponding sharpening parameters, respectively. The operating unit adjusts the high frequency image according to these sharpening parameters, outputs an adjusted high frequency image, and combines the adjusted high frequency image with the low frequency image to obtain an edge-sharpened output image.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and an image processing method thereof are disclosed. A difference value adaptor of the image processing circuit produces a weighing value and a flag value corresponding to the pixel according to the pixel difference value of each pixel of an input video signal. The image processing circuit judges which area among a first area, a second area and a third area the pixel difference value of each pixel falls in according to the flag value. The image processing circuit performs a low-pass filtering processing on the pixel having the pixel difference value falling in the first area, performs a high-pass filtering processing on the pixel having the pixel difference value falling in the second area and performs a luminance transient improvement processing (LTI processing) on the pixel having the pixel difference value falling in the third area.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions to cause a processor to smooth a current image of a scene to produce a smoothed image and subtract pixel values of a background image of the scene from corresponding pixel values of the smoothed image to produce an altitude difference image. Pixel values of the altitude difference image are weighted to produce a weighted difference image. The weighted difference image is convolved to produce a convoluted difference image. A threshold is applied to each pixel of the convoluted difference image to produce a thresholded difference image. Pixels having a value less than the threshold are removed from the thresholded difference image and classified as background pixels. Foreground pixels are determined based on the thresholded difference image.

Abstract: Near infra-red images of natural scenes usually have better contrast and contain rich texture details that may not be perceived in visible light photographs. The contrast and rich texture details form a NIR image corresponding to a visible light image are useful for enhancing the visual quality of the visible light image. To enhance the visual quality of a visible light image using its corresponding near infra-red image, a computer-implemented method computes a weight region mask from the visible light image, transfers contrast data and texture data from the near infra-red image to the visible light image guided by the weighted region mask. The contrast data is computed from the low frequency subbands of the visible light image and corresponding infra-red image after a wavelet transform by matching the histogram of gradient magnitude. The texture data is computed from the high frequency subbands of both images after wavelet transform.

Abstract: To compress a dynamic range of an input image based on a relative value indicating a difference between a luminance value indicating a level value of a correction target pixel in the input image and a luminance value indicating a level value of a smoothed pixel obtained by smoothing a neighboring pixel of the correction target pixel, an image processing apparatus generates a reduced image by reducing the input image, generates a smoothed image from the generated reduced image by smoothing the reduced image while keeping an edge portion thereof, generates an enlarged image by enlarging the generated smoothed image to the size of the original input image, and generates an output image by compressing the dynamic range of the input image, based on relative values between the generated enlarged image and the input image.

Abstract: An image enhancement technique includes a filter that receives an input image and provides a low-pass filtered image that maintains a substantial number of edges therein. The low pass filtered image is provided a likelihood of being a sky color for each pixel of the low pass filtered image. The low-pass filtered image is filtered based upon a user selection to selectively enhance the sky color. The low-pass filtered image and the filtered low-pass filtered image are blended based upon the user selection based upon the likelihood. The blended image is combined with a high pass filtered input image to provide an enhanced image.

Abstract: A system and method perform structure-preserving smoothing (SPS) using a data adaptive method for smoothing 3D post-stacked seismic attributes which reduces random noise while preserving the structure without prior computation of its orientation. The data is smoothed within a neighborhood sub-window along a set of predefined orientations, and the best smoothing result is then selected for output. The orientation corresponding to the best result often approximates the true structure orientation embedded in the data, so that the embedded structure is thus preserved. The SPS method can also be combined with median, alpha-trim, symmetric near neighbor, or edge-preserving filters. The SPS method is an effective way to reduce random noise and eliminate noise footprints, and to enhance coherence and curvature attributes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interpolation method for enlarging a digital image or predicting a moving vector of a compressed image system as a sub-pixel unit when the image digitized through a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera ect. has a low resolution in a video phone or video conference or general digital video system, particularly the present invention can be adapted to a post processor of a compressed digital image in order to improve the image quality, and can be used for finding a moving vector of a moving picture compressed type, accordingly the present invention is capable of improving the image quality.