Infrared Image Contrast Enhancement via Frequency Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional IR imaging systems face challenges in displaying scenes with high dynamic ranges without losing detail, as they often require dynamic range compression that results in noticeable loss of image detail.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a low-pass filter to separate frequency components in an IR image, applying dynamic range compression only to the low-pass image while preserving the high-pass image with finer details, and then combining them to create an output image that maintains detail while applying appropriate compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic range compression is applied to the entire image, then the display range is improved, but image detail is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay rangeVSAvoidimage detail

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into frequency components using a low-pass filter, separating the image into a low-pass image (containing coarse structures) and a high-pass image (containing fine details). This segmentation allows different processing to be applied to different parts of the image, preserving details while enabling display range adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality levels are applied to different frequency components. The low-pass image undergoes dynamic range compression to adapt to display limitations, while the high-pass image is preserved without compression to maintain fine detail quality. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between display adaptability and detail preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If the entire image is processed with high quality to preserve detail, then image detail is maintained, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage detailVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the image into frequency components, the processing complexity is distributed differently across components. The computationally intensive dynamic range compression is applied only to the low-pass image, while the high-pass image requires minimal processing, thus reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining detail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying full processing to the entire image, the solution applies processing selectively and partially - dynamic range compression is applied only to the low-pass component rather than the full image, reducing processing complexity while maintaining necessary detail preservation through the high-pass component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2740101B1Local area contrast enhancement

Publication Date: 2017.03.22 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

A method includes receiving image data, generating a low-pass image and a high-pass image from the image data, applying dynamic range compression to the low-pass image and not the high-pass image, and adding the high-pass image to the low-pass image after dynamic range compression to create an output image.