Apparatus and method for image noise reduction based on weighted pixel difference

A device for removing noise in an image comprising:

• a signal delay part outputting arrangement of image delay signals generated by delaying input image signals in a predetermined time period;
• a pixel difference calculating part calculating pixel difference between the input image signal and the image delay signal and calculating a weighing factor applied to the pixel difference based on the calculated pixel difference by a non-linear function;
• a signal to noise ratio (SNR) measuring part converting the input image signals into frequency signals and calculating a weighing factor for each of the converted frequency signals to output a parameter of signal to noise ratio, the output parameter of the signal to noise ratio comprises an input value of the signal to noise ratio and a weighing factor of the signal to noise ratio applied to the input value by a non-linear function;
• and
• a pixel difference weighing factor generating part generating a weighing factor applied to a final pixel difference to remove noise by limiting a maximum value of the weighing factors calculated by the pixel difference calculating part to the weighing factor of the signal to noise ratio output by the SNR measuring part.