Image filtering apparatus and method
AssigneeNational Research Development Corporation
InventorJeffrey C. Bamber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an image processing system for elimination of speckle a signal derived from a scan is passed to a statistical processor (21). An output characteristic of a statistical parameter of the local value of this image signal is passed to a comparator (4) and compared with a reference characteristic of speckle to derive a control signal for a variable bandwidth filter (6) used to enhance the image.
Claims8
A method of filtering an image from an imaging system which is prone to speckle generation comprising the steps of identifying one or more properties of an image region which is a measure of speckle characteristic of the apparatus for that image region, determining the extent to which corresponding regions of a particular image requiring filtering resembles speckle normally generated by the imaging system in that part of the image and filtering the image in accordance with the extent to which said image resembles speckle.
Apparatus for filtering an image from an imaging system comprising statistical processor means to derive a signal dependent on a statistical characteristic of this image information relevant to the identification of speckle and comparator means to compare said signal with a predetermined reference signal to produce a control signal to vary the characteristics of a variable bandwidth filter for processing a signal derived from said images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.