US6049623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Directional adaptive noise reduction
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: 2000-04-11
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract An image is processed taking into account the direction of a predominant structure of the image. Said predominant direction is derived from image information in the image. In particular, the covariance matrix having matrix elements depending on products of differences between pixel-values in separate directions is calculated. The eigenvectors of the covariance matrix correspond with the predominant direction of the image structure and the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix represent the strength of the structure in the image. The covariance matrix is computed locally, i.e. for separate regions in the images so as to take variations of the direction of predominant structures into account.
Inventors
- 👤 Miha Fuderer
- 👤 Til Aach
- 👤 Dietmar W. Kunz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/5608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image and independently of information outside the image; and (b) providing processed pixel values throughout the medical image, wherein the processed pixel values are determined from the derived plurality of dominant directions by taking into account amounts of directionality of the dominant directions so that weak direction structures in the image are substantially discarded and strong directional structures in the image are substantially preserved, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image and independently of information outside the image; and (b) providing processed pixel values throughout the medical image, wherein the processed pixel values are determined from the derived plurality of dominant directions by taking into account amounts of directionality of the dominant directions so that weak direction structures in the image are substantially discarded and strong directional structures in the image are substantially preserved, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each local dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image and independently of information outside the image; (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values are determined from the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values; and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each local dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image and independently of information outside the image; (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values are determined from the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values; and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method of processing an image as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of deriving the plurality of dominant directions of image structure further comprises computing gradients of pixel-values of the image, a plurality of covariance matrices from sums throughout each of the plurality of small regions of products of said gradients, and one or several local eigenvectors and associated eigenvalues of the plurality of covariance matrices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for processing an image as claimed in claim 3, wherein said processed differences between pixel-values are derived from pixel-values of the image and from the one or several eigenvalues of the plurality of covariance matrices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for processing an image as claimed in claim 4, wherein said processed differences between pixel values are weighted averages of differences between pixel-values of the image, the weighted average involving weights depending on the one or several eigenvalues of the plurality of local covariance matrices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for processing an image as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of deriving processed pixel-values further comprises integrating the processed differences between pixel-values and suitably combining the integrated values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for processing an image as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of deriving processed pixel-values further comprises computing deconvolutions of divergences of the processed differences between pixel-values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the small regions are between 7×7 and 9×9 pixels in size.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived locally from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image by computing (i) gradients of pixel-values of the image, (ii) a plurality of covariance matrices from sums throughout each of the plurality of small regions of products of said local gradients, and (iii) one or several eigenvectors and associated eigenvalues of the plurality of covariance matrices, (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values depend on the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values, and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived locally from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image by computing (i) gradients of pixel-values of the image, (ii) a plurality of covariance matrices from sums throughout each of the plurality of small regions of products of said local gradients, and (iii) one or several eigenvectors and associated eigenvalues of the plurality of covariance matrices, (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values depend on the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values, and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said processed differences between pixel-values are derived from pixel-values of the image and the one or several eigenvalues of the plurality of covariance matrices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said processed differences between pixel values are weighted averages of differences between pixel-values of the image, the weighted averages involving weights depending on the one or several eigenvalues of the Plurality of covariance matrices.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image; (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values depend on the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values; and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image by computing deconvolutions of divergences of the processed differences between pixel-values, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of processing a medical image, the medical image comprising a plurality of pixel values, the method comprising: (a) deriving a plurality of dominant directions of image structure from the medical image, wherein each dominant direction is derived from differences between pixel-values in one of a plurality of small regions throughout the medical image; (b) providing processed differences between pixel-values in the medical image, wherein the processed differences between pixel-values depend on the plurality of dominant directions and differences between pixel values; and (c) deriving processed pixel values from said processed differences between pixel-values throughout the medical image by computing deconvolutions of divergences of the processed differences between pixel-values, whereby a processed medical image is provided.
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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) | 2003-04-11 | 2003-10-11 | 2004-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-10-11 | 2008-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-11 | 2011-10-11 | 2012-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |