Back to results
US 8,559,746 B2Granted
System, method, and apparatus for smoothing of edges in images to remove irregularities
AssigneeSilicon Image, Inc.
InventorDale Richard Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System, method, and apparatus for smoothing of edges in images to remove irregularities are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of image processing includes, identifying an edge in an image having an associated set of edge characteristics, determining the associated set of edge characteristics, and applying a low pass filter to a pixel of the edge based on the associated set of edge characteristics to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the image is smoothed in the second image. The method further includes generating a third image which is a blend of the original image and the second (edge-smoothed) image based on the associated set of edge characteristics.
Claims22
A method of image processing, comprising:
- applying an initial low pass filter to a first image to reduce noise and high frequency variations prior to edge smoothing;
- identifying an edge in the first image, the edge having an associated set of edge characteristics, the associated set of edge characteristics comprising a gradient magnitude of the edge and an edge direction of the edge;
- determining the gradient magnitude;
- determining the edge direction;
- assigning a confidence level to each of a plurality of pixels located on the edge, the confidence level corresponding to accuracy of the edge direction that is detected;
- assigning a bin direction to the edge direction;
- applying a low pass filter directionally to a pixel of the edge in the assigned bin direction to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the first image is smoothed in the second image;
- and
- generating a third image based on the second image and the first image, wherein the third image is generated from blending a portion of the second image having the smoothed edge and a portion of the first image;
- wherein a multiplier for the blending of the second image and the first image is a product of a pixel confidence level regarding the edge direction and a comparison of a gradient magnitude of the edge to a threshold value.
7 more elements
A method of image processing, comprising:
- identifying an edge in a first image having an associated set of edge characteristics;
- determining the associated set of edge characteristics, including determining a direction of the edge;
- assigning a bin direction to the determined direction of the edge;
- and
- applying a low pass filter directionally to a pixel of the edge based on the associated set of edge characteristics to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the first image is smoothed in the second image, wherein the low pass filter is applied along the bin direction to smooth the edge;
- and
- generating a third image based on the second image and the first image, wherein the third image is generated by blending a portion of second image having the smoothed edge and a portion of the first image;
- wherein a multiplier for the blending of the second image and the first image is a product of confidence levels for pixels regarding the edge direction and a comparison of a gradient magnitude of the edge to a threshold value.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a memory controller coupled to a memory, wherein the memory controller controls access to the memory;
- and
- an image processor coupled to the memory, wherein the image processor executes an algorithm that:
- identifies an edge in an image;
- determines the gradient magnitude of the edge;
- determines the edge direction of the edge;
- assigns a confidence level to each of a plurality of pixels located on the edge, the confidence level corresponding to accuracy of the edge direction that is detected;
- assigns a bin direction to the edge direction determined for the edge;
- applies a low pass filter directionally to a pixel of the edge based on the edge direction to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the first image is smoothed in the second image;
- and
- generates a third image based on the second image and the first image, wherein the third image is generated from blending a portion of the second image having the smoothed edge and a portion of the first image;
- wherein a multiplier for the blending of the second image and the first image is a product of a pixel confidence levels regarding the edge direction and a comparison of a gradient magnitude of the edge to a threshold value.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- means for, applying an initial low pass filter to a first image to reduce noise and high frequency variations prior to edge smoothing;
- means for, identifying an edge in the first image, the edge having an associated set of edge characteristics, the associated set of edge characteristics comprising a gradient magnitude of the edge and an edge direction of the edge;
- means for, determining the gradient magnitude;
- means for, determining the edge direction;
- means for, assigning a confidence level to each of a plurality of pixels located on the edge, the confidence level corresponding to accuracy of the edge direction that is detected;
- means for, assigning a bin direction to the edge direction;
- means for, applying a low pass filter directionally to a pixel of the edge in the assigned bin direction to generate a second image based on the image, wherein the edge in the first image is smoothed in the second image;
- and
- means for, generating a third image based on the second image and the first image, wherein the third image is generated from blending a portion of the second image having the smoothed edge and a portion of the first image;
- wherein a multiplier for the blending of the second image and the first image is a product of a pixel confidence levels regarding the edge direction and a comparison of a gradient magnitude of the edge to a threshold value.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.