Image Correction Apparatus for Contrast Enhancement and Noise Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image correction technologies struggle to enhance contrast while minimizing noise and luminance emphasis in background regions, leading to over-brightening of background areas when applying contrast improvement processes.
Innovation Solution
An image correction apparatus that calculates a synthesis ratio for each pixel based on luminance value, edge strength, and color components to synthesize an original image with an emphasized contrast image, setting a higher ratio for background region characteristics to suppress noise and luminance emphasis in the background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a contrast improvement process based on Retinex theory is applied to an original image, then the contrast of the image pickup object is improved, but the luminance of background region becomes relatively high and noise components are emphasized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the image. Background regions with low luminance values are identified and processed differently from foreground regions. For background regions, the system suppresses the contrast improvement effect to prevent noise emphasis, while for foreground regions containing image pickup objects, the full contrast improvement process is applied. This regional differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing contrast enhancement where needed while avoiding it where it would emphasize noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the synthesis ratio parameter based on local image characteristics. By calculating the synthesis ratio from frequency distributions of luminance values, edge strengths, and color components, the system adapts the degree of contrast improvement applied to each region. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain contrast improvement benefits while suppressing noise emphasis in background regions through selective parameter modification.
2Manufacturing precision
If a contrast improvement process is applied to an original image, then the luminance difference between illuminated and shadowed portions is reduced, but spatial fluctuation in luminance value caused by noise in background region is emphasized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements region-specific processing where background regions are identified through frequency distribution analysis and processed with different parameters than foreground regions. In background regions, the synthesis ratio is adjusted to suppress luminance fluctuations caused by noise, while in foreground regions, the full luminance correction is applied to achieve uniform luminance distribution. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between luminance uniformity and luminance accuracy.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If smoothened images are used to reduce noise, then noise components are reduced, but the contrast improvement effect is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into distinct stages: first generating multiple smoothened images at different levels, then using frequency distribution analysis to identify background regions, and finally synthesizing appropriate results for different regions. This segmentation allows noise reduction through smoothening in background regions while preserving contrast improvement effects in foreground regions through selective synthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite processing approach by combining multiple smoothened images with different degrees of smoothing and synthesizing them with the original image using calculated synthesis ratios. This composite method allows the system to leverage the noise reduction benefits of smoothening while maintaining contrast improvement through intelligent combination, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and contrast enhancement.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for image correction is configured to execute a second image generation process that includes execution of a process for emphasizing a contrast for a first image to generate a second image, execute a ratio calculation process that includes calculation, based on a relation between a frequency distribution of at least one of a luminance value, an edge strength and a color component in the first image or the second image and a value of the at least one for each pixel, of a synthesis ratio of the first image to the second image for the pixel, and execute a synthesis process that includes synthesis of the first image and the second image based on the synthesis ratio for each pixel.