Method for fusing images and apparatus therefor

A method for forming a composite image from N source images where N is greater than one comprising the steps of:

• (a) decomposing each source image into a plurality K of images I.sub.K of different resolution and then decomposing each of the images I.sub.K into a plurality L of sets of oriented component patterns P.sub.N (m, K, L), where m is the number of patterns in each of the L sets for the N.sup.th source image;
• (b) computing a saliency measure S.sub.N (m, K, L) for each component pattern P.sub.N (m, K, L) of each image N at each resolution level K;
• (c) selecting component patterns from the source image component pattern sets P.sub.N (m, K, L) using the saliency measures S.sub.N (m, K, L) for each component pattern to form a set of oriented component patterns P.sub.c (m, K, L) of the composite image;
• and
• (d) constructing the composite image from the set of oriented component patterns P.sub.c (m, K, L).

Apparatus for forming a composite image from a plurality of N source images, where N is greater than one, comprising:

• means for decomposing each source image I.sub.N into a plurality L of sets of oriented component patterns P.sub.N (m, L), where m is the number of patterns in each of the L sets for the N.sup.th source image;
• means for computing a saliency measure S.sub.N (m, L) for each component pattern P.sub.N (m, L) connected to the decomposing means;
• means for selecting component patterns from the component pattern sets P.sub.N (m, L) using the saliency measures S.sub.N (m, L) for each component pattern to form a set of oriented component patterns P.sub.c (m, L) of the composite image;
• and
• means for constructing the composite image from the set of oriented component patterns P.sub.c (m, L).