Method for high dynamic range image construction based on multiple images with multiple illumination intensities

A method for generating an image having an expanded illumination range of an observed scene, comprising:

• obtaining a first image of said observed scene at a first illumination level, said first image composed of a set of pixels;
• obtaining one or more additional images of said observed scene, each of which is taken at a unique illumination level scaled to said first illumination level and composed of sets of associated pixels;
• registering said set of pixels comprising said first image with corresponding sets of associated pixels comprising said one or more additional images;
• identifying at least one of either a dark pixel or a saturated pixel in said set of pixels comprising said first image;
• for each identified dark pixel, replacing said identified dark pixel with a corresponding illuminated pixel from a set of associated pixels comprising said one or more additional images;
• for each identified saturated pixel, replacing said identified saturated pixel with a corresponding illuminated pixel from a set of associated pixels comprising said one or more additional images;
• and
• applying an associated illumination scale factor to each replaced pixel in said set of pixels comprising said first image.

A method for generating an image of an observed scene composed of a set of pixels having an expanded illumination range, comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of images of said observed scene, each of said plurality of images obtained at a different illumination level;
• registering each of said plurality of images;
• and
• generating a composite image of said observed scene from said plurality of images, wherein each pixel within a set of pixels comprising said composite image is an illuminated pixel.

A method for generating an image of an observed scene, comprising:

• obtaining a first image of said observed scene, said first image having an observed illumination level;
• altering, at least once, one or more parameters affecting said imaged illumination level of said observed scene;
• obtaining, for each alteration of said one or more parameters, an additional image of said observed scene at an associated observed illumination level;
• registering said first image and said one or more additional images;
• identifying at least one of either a dark region or a saturated region in said first image;
• replacing each said identified dark region in said first image with information extracted from a corresponding illuminated region in said one or more additional images;
• and
• replacing each said identified saturated region in said first image with information extracted from a corresponding illuminated region in said one or more additional images.