Method of smoothing image data

Claim 1

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a series of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting an to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +), and (a" n+1 -) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); and (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value A n as smoothed data.

Claim 2

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a series of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting an to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +), and (a" n+1 -) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); and (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value A n as smoothed data.

Claim 3

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant; (ii) converting an to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a M with respect to a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant β; (vi) converting a m to a' m which is the median value of a m , (a' m-1 +β), and (a' m-1 -β) (where a' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m-1 to a median value); (vii) converting a m to a" m which is the median value of a m , (a" m+1 +β), and (a" m+1 -β) (where a" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m+1 to a median value); (viii) determining the mean value B m of the converted data items a' m and a" m with respect to the same pixel; and (ix) determining the mean value C of the mean values A, B with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 4

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant; (ii) converting an to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a M with respect to a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant β; (vi) converting a m to a' m which is the median value of a m , (a' m-1 +β), and (a' m-1 -β) (where a' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m-1 to a median value); (vii) converting a m to a" m which is the median value of a m , (a" m+1 +β), and (a" m+1 -β) (where a" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m+1 to a median value); (viii) determining the mean value B m of the converted data items a' m and a" m with respect to the same pixel; and (ix) determining the mean value C of the mean values A, B with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 5

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) converting an to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) arranging determined mean values A 1 , A 2 , . . . A M in a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant γ; (vi) converting A m to A' m which is the median value of A m , (A' m-1 +γ), and (A' m-1 -γ) (where A' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m-1 to a median value); (vii) converting A m to A" m which is the median value of A m , (A" m+1 +γ), and (A" m+1 -γ) (where A" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m+1 to a median value); and (viii) determining the mean value D m of the converted data items A' m and A" m with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 6

A method of smoothing image data, comprising the steps of: (i) providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) converting an to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) arranging determined mean values A 1 , A 2 , . . . A M in a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant γ; (vi) converting A m to A' m which is the median value of A m , (A' m-1 +γ), and (A' m-1 -γ) (where A' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m-1 to a median value); (vii) converting A m to A" m which is the median value of A m , (A" m+1 +γ), and (A" m+1 -γ) (where A" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m+1 to a median value); and (viii) determining the mean value D m of the converted data items A' m and A" m with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 7

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a series of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n- α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original data item a n+1 to a median value; and (iv) smoothing means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value A n as smoothed data.

Claim 8

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a series of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n- α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original data item a n+1 to a median value; and (iv) smoothing means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value A n as smoothed data.

Claim 9

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) row image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first row converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second row converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+ 'α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) row determination means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) column image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a M with respect to a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant β; (vi) first column converting means for converting a m to a' m which is the median value of a m , (a' m-1 +β), and (a' m-1 -β) (where a' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m-1 to a median value); (vii) second column converting means for converting a m to a" m which is the median value of a m , (a" m+1 +β), and (a" m+1 -β) (where a" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m+1 to a median value); (viii) column determination means for determining the mean value B m of the converted data items a' m and a" m with respect to the same pixel; and (ix) smoothing means for determining the mean value C of the mean values A, B with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 10

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) row image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first row converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second row converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+ 'α), and (a" n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) row determination means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) column image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a M with respect to a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant β; (vi) first column converting means for converting a m to a' m which is the median value of a m , (a' m-1 +β), and (a' m-1 -β) (where a' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m-1 to a median value); (vii) second column converting means for converting a m to a" m which is the median value of a m , (a" m+1 +β), and (a" m+1 -β) (where a" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a m+1 to a median value); (viii) column determination means for determining the mean value B m of the converted data items a' m and a" m with respect to the same pixel; and (ix) smoothing means for determining the mean value C of the mean values A, B with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 11

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) row image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a' n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) row determination means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) column image data means for arranging determined mean values A 1 , A 2 , . . . A M in a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant γ; (vi) first column converting means for converting A m to A' m which is the median value of A m , (A' m-1 +γ), and (A" m-1 -γ) (where A' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m-1 to a median value); (vii) second column converting means for converting A m to A" m which is the median value of A m , (A" m+1 +γ), and (A" m+1 -γ) (where A" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original data item A m+1 to a median value); and (viii) smoothing means for determining the mean value D m of the converted data items A' m and A" m with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.

Claim 12

An apparatus for smoothing image data comprising: (i) row image data means for providing original image data items a 1 , a 2 , . . . a N with respect to a horizontal row of pixels in a two-dimensional image, and a constant α; (ii) first converting means for converting a n to a' n which is the median value of a n , (a' n-1 +α), and (a' n-1 -α) (where a' n-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n-1 to a median value); (iii) second converting means for converting a n to a" n which is the median value of a n , (a" n+1 +α), and (a' n+1 -α) (where a" n+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item a n+1 to a median value); (iv) row determination means for determining the mean value A n of the converted data items a' n and a" n with respect to the same pixel; (v) column image data means for arranging determined mean values A 1 , A 2 , . . . A M in a vertical column of pixels which extends transversely to said horizontal row, and a constant γ; (vi) first column converting means for converting A m to A' m which is the median value of A m , (A' m-1 +γ), and (A" m-1 -γ) (where A' m-1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original image data item A m-1 to a median value); (vii) second column converting means for converting A m to A" m which is the median value of A m , (A" m+1 +γ), and (A" m+1 -γ) (where A" m+1 is a converted data item which is produced by converting the original data item A m+1 to a median value); and (viii) smoothing means for determining the mean value D m of the converted data items A' m and A" m with respect to the same pixel and employing the determined mean value as smoothed data.