Image Processing Apparatus and Image Processing Methods

An image system comprising:

• an imaging device that is configured to capture an image of an object through a lens, and to generate an image signal of the captured image;
• an image processing apparatus that is configured to receive the image signal from the imaging device and to process the image signal;
• and
• a display unit that is configured to display the processed image signal,
• wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:
• a point spread function (PSF) pattern generation unit that is configured to generate a PSF pattern in which a plurality of PSFs are located in a plurality of lines of the PSF pattern;
• a PSF estimation unit that is configured to estimate PSFs of an out-of-focus input image from step responses of the plurality of lines of the PSF pattern with respect to an edge of the out-of-focus input image;
• and
• an image restoration unit that is configured to restore the out-of-focus input image to a focused restored image using the estimated PSF.

An image processing method performed in an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• generating a point spread function (PSF) pattern that includes a plurality of PSFs that correspond to intersections of a plurality of vertical lines and a plurality of horizontal lines;
• estimating a plurality of step responses that correspond to the plurality of vertical lines of the PSF pattern with respect to a vertically oriented edge of an out of focus image;
• estimating the intensities of the center point and the plurality of center circles of the PSF pattern from the plurality of step responses;
• and
• calculating a PSF estimate value of the out-of-focus input image from the plurality of step responses of the plurality of vertical lines of the PSF pattern with respect to an edge of the out-of-focus input image,
• wherein the generating, estimating and/or calculating operations are performed using at least one data processor.