Method and apparatus for flicker removal from an image sequence

A computer-implemented method for removing flicker in a sequence of images, the method comprising:

• reading a sequence of images including a source image and a target image, wherein each image in the sequence of images includes a plurality of pixels and flicker exists in the sequence of images;
• subdividing the source image into a plurality of regions of interest;
• subdividing the target image into a plurality of regions of interest having the same shape and location in the target image as the plurality of regions of interest in the source image;
• measuring an image quality for all of the pixels included in one of the regions of interest in the source image;
• measuring an image quality for all of the pixels included in a spatially counterpart region of interest in the target image;
• generating a corrected source image based on the measured image quality of the source image and the measured image quality of the target image;
• and
• storing the corrected source image for output in a corrected sequence of images wherein the flicker existing in the sequence of images is removed.

An apparatus for removing flicker in a sequence of images, wherein each image in the sequence of images includes a plurality of pixels, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer including a data processor and a computer-readable medium holding encoded instructions for:
• reading a sequence of images including a source image and a target image, wherein each image in the sequence of images includes a plurality of pixels and flicker exists in the sequence of images;
• subdividing the source image into a plurality of regions of interest;
• subdividing the target image into a plurality of regions of interest having the same shape and location in the target image as the plurality of regions of interest in the source image;
• measuring an image quality for all of the pixels included in one of the regions of interest in the source image;
• measuring an image quality for all of the pixels included in a spatially counterpart region of interest in the target image;
• generating a corrected source image based on the measured image quality of the source image and the measured image quality of the target image;
• and
• storing the corrected source image for output in a corrected sequence of images wherein the flicker existing in the sequence of images is removed.