System and method for increasing the bit depth of images

An apparatus for processing an image having a first bit depth, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
• perform two or more iterations of a bit depth enhancement operation that increases the bit depth of the image to a second bit depth that is higher than the first bit depth, the bit depth enhancement operation including:
• dividing the image into a plurality of areas,
• performing an edge detection operation to identify one or more areas from the plurality of areas that do not contain edge features, and
• applying a blur to the one or more areas from the plurality of areas that do not contain edge features,
• wherein, in a first iteration of the of the bit depth enhancement operation, the plurality of areas includes a first number of areas, and the number of areas included in the plurality of areas decreases with each subsequent iteration of the bit depth enhancement operation.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage device including program instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for processing an image having a first bit depth, the operations comprising:

• performing two or more iterations of a bit depth enhancement operation that increases the bit depth of the image to a second bit depth that is higher than the first bit depth, the bit depth enhancement operation including:
• dividing the image into a plurality of areas,
• performing an edge detection operation to identify one or more areas from the plurality of areas that do not contain edge features, and
• applying a blur to the one or more areas from the plurality of areas that do not contain edge features,
• wherein, in a first iteration of the of the bit depth enhancement operation, the plurality of areas includes a first number of areas, and the number of areas included in the plurality of areas decreases with each subsequent iteration of the bit depth enhancement operation.