Image processing method and system using gain controllable clipped histogram equalization

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining an original brightness histogram of an input image;
• determining a clipping rate and a clipping threshold with respect to the obtained original brightness histogram;
• obtaining a clipped brightness histogram by clipping frequencies exceeding the determined clipping threshold in the obtained original brightness histogram;
• determining a global gain and a local gain based on the determined clipping rate;
• obtaining a corrected brightness histogram by correcting the clipped brightness histogram using the determined global gain and the local gain;
• and
• correcting the input image based on the obtained corrected brightness histogram.

An imaging system comprising:

• an input image receiver;
• and
• a processor correcting the input image and outputting a corrected image,
• wherein the processor obtains an original brightness histogram of the input image, determines a clipping rate and a clipping threshold with respect to the original brightness histogram, obtains a clipped brightness histogram by clipping frequencies exceeding the clipping threshold in the obtained original brightness histograms determines a global gain and a local gain based on the determined clipping rate, obtains a corrected brightness histogram by correcting the obtained clipped brightness histogram using the determined global gain and the determined local gain, and corrects the input image based on the obtained corrected brightness histogram.