Patent ID: 6208766
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
Process for modifying the quality of images furnished by an electronic imaging system in the form of a set of image point signals representing gray-scale values, said images, in each case, being composed of a set of image points which are areally distributed in an orderly manner, said process comprising:defining image segments surrounding individual image points;determining a characteristic brightness value representing local brightness, and a characteristic contrast value representing local contrast, for each image segment, based on the image point signals of image points situated within such image segment; andmodifying a background brightness and contrast component for each of the image point signals based on said characteristic values;wherein said step of defining image segments surrounding individual image points comprises:selecting a subset comprising a limited number of supporting points S.sub.pq from among said set of image points; anddefining image segments surrounding each supporting point such that said image segments cover completely at least a selected area of said image; andwherein said characteristic brightness and contrast values H.sub.pq, K.sub.pq are determined based on previously modified image point signals of a preceding image.