US5978518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image enhancement in digital image processing
Assignee: Carestream Health Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-25
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2017-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for enhancing a digital image comprises the following steps. 1. Providing a digital image. 2. Decomposing the image into a multiresolution representation having low frequency images and high frequency images. 3. Performing dynamic range modification on the low frequency images. 4. Modifying the high frequency images with a method incorporating noise estimation, anatomical regions of importance, and edge estimation, such modification being a combination of attenuation and amplification. 5. Combining the processed resolution images to form a resulting image. 6. Shifting the pixel values of the resulting image to map the values into a desired range. 7. Applying a tonescale to the shifted image for display.
Inventors
- 👤 Olorunfunmi A. Oliyide
- 👤 Richard L. VanMetter
- 👤 Roger S. Gaborski
- 👤 Ben K. Jang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/40; G06T5/70; G06T5/90; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20016; G06T2207/20212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for enhancing a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a digital image; decomposing the image into a multiresolution representation having low frequency images and high frequency images; performing dynamic range expansion and/or compression on the low frequency images; modifying the high frequency images with a method incorporating noise estimation, anatomical regions of importance, and edge estimation which are carried out in parallel, such modification being a combination of attenuation and amplification; combining the processed resolution images to form a resulting image; shifting the pixel values of the resulting image to map said values into a desired range; and applying a tonescale to the shifted image for display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for enhancing a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a digital image; decomposing the image into a multiresolution representation having low frequency images and high frequency images; performing dynamic range expansion and/or compression on the low frequency images; modifying the high frequency images with a method incorporating noise estimation, anatomical regions of importance, and edge estimation which are carried out in parallel, such modification being a combination of attenuation and amplification; combining the processed resolution images to form a resulting image; shifting the pixel values of the resulting image to map said values into a desired range; and applying a tonescale to the shifted image for display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resolution images are the same size as the original.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resolution images vary in size from the original.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the decomposition is a function of estimated noise and edges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic range modification is dynamic range compression.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic range modification is dynamic range expansion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic range modification compresses the dynamic range at one end of the code value range and expands the dynamic range at the other end of the dynamic range, i.e., a combination of dynamic range compression and expansion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic range modification is a linear function of code value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic range modification is a nonlinear function of code value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high frequency images are modified by a method only involving noise estimation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the noise estimation is performed as a function of code value or of spatial location or both.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the noise estimation-based modification amplifies pixels of the high frequency images that contain little amounts of noise and attenuates pixels of the high frequency images that contain large amounts of noise.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the noise estimation based modification amplifies pixels of the high frequency images that contain little amounts of noise and performs a smaller amplification of pixels that contain a lot of noise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein pixels in high frequency images are amplified and attenuated based on their proximity to edges.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein pixels in high frequency images are amplified and attenuated based on their presence in regions of interest.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein pixels in the high frequency images are amplified and attenuated based on a combination of information derived from noise estimation, edge estimation, and anatomical information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the applied tonescale to the shifted processed image was computed based on the original input data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the applied tonescale is computed based on the processed data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |