Apparatus and method for reducing image noise with edge tracking and computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method

An apparatus for reducing image noise with edge tracking, comprising:

• a first input unit for receiving an object image data for conversion, from an image sensor, wherein the image sensor includes a CMOS sensor and a CCD sensor;
• an edge map output unit for calculating a statistical difference value between each pixel of the image data and a pixel adjacent to the pixel in a predetermined direction, and outputting edge map data obtained from the calculation in each predetermined direction;
• a second input unit for receiving a size data of a matrix where the matrix refers to a conversion area of the image data;
• and
• a converting unit for converting an object pixel of the image data using calculation pixels, where the calculation pixels are pixels located in the matrix of the image data,
• wherein the converting unit selects main calculation pixels among the calculation pixels where, based on the edge map data, the statistical difference value between a main calculation pixel and the object pixel is below a predetermined level, and converts the object pixel using a statistical calculation value computed from the main calculation pixels, wherein the converting unit includes a search unit for setting the object pixel as a first pixel, outputting and storing a second pixel, namely, a calculation pixel having a largest value among calculation pixels having a value smaller than an edge standard value, namely, a standard for edge judgment in the calculation pixels adjacent to the first pixel based on the edge map data outputted in each predetermined direction, setting the output second pixel as a first pixel, and repeating (1) the outputting and storing step and (2) the setting the output second pixel step to search the matrix;
• and
• a path control unit for storing values of the second pixels outputted in the search unit and a search path to prevent a repetition of the same second pixel;
• wherein each of the units is configured to include software and hardware.