US4661986A
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Depth-of-focus imaging process method
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1984-05-18
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2004-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved-focus 2-D image is derived from an assemblage of M separately focused 2-D images of the same 3-D scene by (1) employing the Burt Pyramid image analyzing technique to separately analyze each of the M separately focused images into N similar sets of pixel samples, (2) selecting, on a pixel-by-pixel basis from each group of M corresponding sets of the assemblage, the best focused pixel, to derive a single analyzed image of N sets of improved-focus pixels, and (3) employing the Burt Pyramid image synthesizing technique to synthesize the improved-focus 2-D image from the single analyzed image of N sets.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward H. Adelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:26
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/24; G02B21/241; G02B21/244; G01; G01R; G01R23/00; G01R23/16; G01R23/165; G01R23/167; G02B21/36; G02B21/365; G02B21/367; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; G06F17/10; H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/60; H04N19/63
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for processing M (where M is a first plural integer) two-dimensional images of a given three-dimensional spatial scene, which images are separately focused in the depth dimension, to derive therefrom a single improved-focus two-dimensional image of said given three-dimensional scene, each of said M images being defined by a spatial-frequency spectrum corresponding thereto; said method comprising the steps of: (a) dividing the respective spatial-frequency spectra of said M two-dimensional images into M substantially similar assemblages of N separate sets of pixel samples having sample levels that vary in height and defining N specified spatial frequency bands (where N is a second plural integer), each of said N separate sets occurring at a sample density that corresponds therewith and the respective sample densities of each individual group of sets that define corresponding ones of said specified bands of said M assmblages being substantially the same as one another; (b) selecting, as a given function of the relative levels of a sub-group of corresponding samples of each of said individual group of sets, a single one of the corresponding samples of that sub-group to derive thereby respective single sets of improved-focus pixel samples for each of said N bands; and (c) combining corresponding pixel samples of said respective single sets to derive thereby said improved-focus two-dimensional image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for processing M (where M is a first plural integer) two-dimensional images of a given three-dimensional spatial scene, which images are separately focused in the depth dimension, to derive therefrom a single improved-focus two-dimensional image of said given three-dimensional scene, each of said M images being defined by a spatial-frequency spectrum corresponding thereto; said method comprising the steps of: (a) dividing the respective spatial-frequency spectra of said M two-dimensional images into M substantially similar assemblages of N separate sets of pixel samples having sample levels that vary in height and defining N specified spatial frequency bands (where N is a second plural integer), each of said N separate sets occurring at a sample density that corresponds therewith and the respective sample densities of each individual group of sets that define corresponding ones of said specified bands of said M assmblages being substantially the same as one another; (b) selecting, as a given function of the relative levels of a sub-group of corresponding samples of each of said individual group of sets, a single one of the corresponding samples of that sub-group to derive thereby respective single sets of improved-focus pixel samples for each of said N bands; and (c) combining corresponding pixel samples of said respective single sets to derive thereby said improved-focus two-dimensional image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises: selecting that single one of corresponding samples of each of said sub-groups that has the highest absolute-value level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein each of said M separately focused two-dimensional images is focused at a different focus-distance in the depth dimension of said given three dimensional scene, and step (b) comprises: selecting as a given function of both the relative levels of each sub-group of corresponding samples of each of said individual groups of sets and the relative focus-distance in the depth dimension of said given three-dimensional scene represented by the corresponding samples of that sub-group, a single one of the corresponding samples of that sub-group to derive thereby respective single sets of improved-focus pixel samples for each of said N bands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method defined in claim 3, wherein step (b) comprises: selecting that single one of the corresponding samples of each of said sub-group that has a level that (1) exceeds by at least a certain threshold value the level of any of the corresponding samples representing a focus-distance in the depth dimension of said three-dimensional scene which is less than the focus-distance represented by said single one of said corresponding samples, but (2) is not exceeded by more than a certain threshold value by the level of any of the corresponding samples representing a focus-distance in the depth dimension which is more than the focus-distance represented by said single one of the corresponding samples.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein each of the respective spectra that correspond to said M two-dimensional images has an uppermost spatial frequency and is divided into (N-1) separate spatial frequency pass bands including a highest spatial frequency pass band having a peak center frequency substantially equal to 3/4 of its spectrum's uppermost spatial frequency, each of which pass bands has a peak center frequency that is separated in frequency from the peak center frequency of any pass band adjacent thereto by substantially one octave, and a single remnant band which includes all those spatial frequencies of that respective spectrum which are lower than the spatial frequencies of the lowest peak-center-frequency pass band of said (N-1) separate pass bands.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises: selecting that single one of corresponding samples of each of said sub-groups that has the highest level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method defined in claim 5, wherein each of said M separately focused two-dimensional images is focused at a different focus-distance in the depth dimension of said given three dimensional scene, and step (b) comprises: selecting as a given function of both the relative levels of each sub-group of corresponding samples of each of said individual groups of sets and the relative focus-distance in the depth dimension of said given three-dimensional scene represented by the corresponding samples of that sub-group, a single one of the corresponding samples of that sub-group to derive thereby respective single sets of improved-focus pixel samples for each of said N bands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method defined in claim 7, wherein step (b) comprises: selecting that single one of the corresponding samples of each of said sub-group that has a level that (1) exceeds by at least a certain threshold value the level of any of the corresponding samples representing a focus-distance in the depth dimension of said three-dimensional which is less than the focus-distance represented by said single one of said corresponding samples, but (2) is not exceeded by more than a certain threshold value by the level of any of the corresponding samples representing a focus-distance in the depth dimension which is more than the distance represented by said single one of the corresponding samples.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |