Abstract:
A method for enhancing local contrast of an image. The method comprises receiving a component of an image, computing a wavelets decomposition of the received component into wavelet coefficients, determining at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients based on a first threshold, a second threshold and computed wavelet coefficients, modifying the determined at least three subsets by applying at least a sharpening transformation on wavelet coefficients of at least one subset in said at least three subsets, recombining the at least three subsets into final wavelet coefficients, and reconstructing a new component based on the final wavelet coefficients.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the enhancement of the contrast of images and in particular of the local contrast. 
         [0002]    The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. Furthermore, all embodiments are not necessarily intended to solve all or even any of the problems brought forward in this section. 
         [0003]    Perceived sharpness in an image is one of the most important parameters that define quality of said image according to a subjective perception. 
         [0004]    Considering wide acceptance of large screen TVs with up to 1920×1080 native panel resolutions as well as the fact that source signal in many cases is up-scaled from lower resolution source and therefore lacks details, the sharpness enhancement of TV images is an important feature for the user experience. 
         [0005]    Some existing methods consist in normalizing the histogram of the image over a chosen dynamic. 
         [0006]    Such a method/implementation has drawbacks. 
         [0007]    This approach does not discriminate between low-contrast textures and high-contrast parts, but rather enhances or reduces contrast uniformly on all pixels lying in a given luminance range, which may not be offering the uncorrelated enhancing of local contrast to which the eye is particular sensitive to and global contrast which actually plays a minor part in our perception. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a need for preserving small details while enhancing local contrast of the images without flattening the whole image. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention relates to a method for enhancing local contrast of an image, wherein the method comprises:
       receiving a component of an image;   computing a wavelets decomposition of the received component into wavelet coefficients;   determining at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients based on a first threshold, a second threshold and computed wavelet coefficients;   modifying the determined at least three subsets by applying at least a sharpening transformation on wavelet coefficients of at least one subset in said at least three subsets;   recombining the at least three subsets into final wavelet coefficients;   reconstructing a new component based on the final wavelet coefficients.       
 
         [0016]    A component of an image may be, for instance:
       a red, green, or blue components for a RGB color model;   a cyan, magenta, yellow and black components for a CMYK color model;   etc.       
 
         [0020]    An image I[m,n] (with n and m the coordinate values in the image, e.g. the pixel coordinate values) may be transformed into a set of wavelets decomposition subbands d j   k [m,n], where j is a scale index, and k is an orientation index. 
         [0021]    For typical wavelet transforms used for images, (and in particular for those described in Stéphane Mallat, “ Une Exploration des Signaux en Ondelettes”,  Editions de l&#39;Ecole Polytechnique,  ISBN:  2-7302-0733-3 for 2D images), the orientation index k may range from 1 to 3 (e.g. vertical, horizontal and diagonal). 
         [0022]    Each subband may have a varying size depending on a scale index j that ranges from 1 to some maximum value D (integer). 
         [0023]    In addition to the wavelet coefficients, wavelet transforms may use low-pass coefficients denoted a j [m,n], where j can range from 1 to D. A classical reversible wavelet transform transforms an image I[m,n] into the following set of wavelet coefficients: 
         [0000]        d   j   k [m,n] for j=1 . . . D, and k=1 . . . 3. 
         [0000]      a D [m,n] 
         [0024]    Typically, the one subset of the three subsets of wavelets coefficients comprises part of the wavelets coefficients d j   k [m,n] for small values of the coefficients, an other one comprises part of the wavelets coefficients d j   k [m,n] for medium values of the coefficients, an other one comprises part of the wavelets coefficients d j   k [m,n] for important values of the coefficients. 
         [0025]    A sharpening transformation may be an increase of the value of the wavelets coefficients for a high frequency domain. 
         [0026]    Other transformation may be used for instance, an amplification transformation (i.e. an increase or a multiplication of all values of the wavelets coefficients) or an attenuation transformation (i.e. a decrease or a division of all values of the wavelets coefficients). 
         [0027]    In addition, the transformations may be a function of the scale j and/or of the orientation k of the wavelet coefficients. 
         [0028]    In addition, determining the at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients may be a function of the absolute value of computed wavelet coefficients. 
         [0029]    The received component may be a luminance component. 
         [0030]    The first threshold may be a function of a noise threshold or a noise level of the image representing the amount of noise in the image. 
         [0031]    In addition, the second threshold may be a function of a boundary between medium contrast and high contrast differences. 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment, the computed wavelet coefficients may be noted d j   k [m,n] and a D [m,n], j being an integer ranging from 1 to an integer D, k being an orientation index, and n and m being coordinates in the image. The first threshold may be noted T n . 
         [0033]    One subset of the at least three subsets may comprise wavelets coefficients 
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         [0000]    D 1 (.) may be a distortion function. This distortion function may be in accordance with a previous distortion of the received luminance component in order to render such threshold consistent with the received component. The distortion may also be an identity transformation. 
         [0034]    In addition, the computed wavelet coefficients may be noted d j   k [m,n] and a D [m,n], j being an integer ranging from 1 to an integer D, k being an orientation index, and n and m being coordinates in the image. The first threshold may be noted T n . 
         [0035]    The second threshold may be noted T h , 
         [0036]    One subset of the at least three subsets may comprise wavelets coefficients 
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         [0037]    D 2 (.) may be a distortion function. D 1  may be equal to D 2 . This distortion function may be in accordance with a previous distortion of the received luminance component in order to render such threshold consistent with the received component. The distortion may also be an identity transformation. 
         [0038]    Slope λ may be a real number and may be adaptable. 
         [0039]    c j   k [m,n] may be a coefficient between 0 and d j   k [m,n] (included). 
         [0040]    In another embodiment, c j   k [m,n] may be a function of d j   k [m,n]−low j   k [m,n]. In one case, c j   k [m,n]=d j   k [m,n]−low j   k [m,n]. 
         [0041]    In addition, the at least three subsets may comprise wavelets coefficients low j   k [m,n], med j   k [m,n], and high j   k [m,n], with d j   k [m,n] is equal to low j   k [m,n]+med j   k [m,n]+high j   k [m,n]. 
         [0042]    Recombining may comprise adding wavelet coefficients of the at least three subsets for same coordinates in the image. 
         [0043]    Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a device for enhancing local contrast of an image, wherein the device comprises:
       an interface for receiving a component of an image;   a circuit for computing a wavelets decomposition of the received component into wavelet coefficients;   a circuit for determining at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients based on a first threshold, a second threshold and computed wavelet coefficients;   a circuit for modifying the determined at least three subsets by applying at least a sharpening transformation on wavelet coefficients of at least one subset in said at least three subsets;   a circuit for recombining the at least three subsets into final wavelet coefficients (d j   k [m,n], a D [m,n]);   a circuit for reconstructing a new component based on the final wavelet coefficients.       
 
         [0050]    A third aspect relates to a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is loadable into a data-processing unit and adapted to cause the data-processing unit to carry out the method described above when the computer program is run by the data-processing unit. 
         [0051]    Other features and advantages of the method and apparatus disclosed herein will become apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0052]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0053]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for transforming color components of an image into wavelet coefficients; 
           [0054]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for modifying wavelet coefficients according to the present invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 3  is a graph representing a thresholding method for wavelet coefficients; 
           [0056]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for transforming wavelet coefficients into color components of an image; and 
           [0057]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a device that may be used to implement embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0058]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for transforming color components of an image into wavelet coefficients. 
         [0059]    When receiving an image  100  comprising for instance three color components (i.e. R for red, G for green and B for blue), the color are “corrected” according a gamma correction (step  101 ). 
         [0060]    Three new color components R c , G c , B c  are obtained after the gamma correction: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
               
             
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                         R 
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         [0061]    These components are then converted (step  102 ) to the tri-stimulus space XYZ (e.g. CIE 1931 color space) described in Charles Poynton,            Digital Video and HDTV. Algorithms and Interfaces.           , Morgan Kaufmann Publishers and  IEC  61966-2-4:2066,  Multimedia systems and equipment—Colour measurement and management—Part  2-4:  Colour management—Extended - gamut YCC colour space for video applications—xvYCC  which are thereby included by reference. 
         [0062]    Tristimulus system is a standard chromaticity diagram for visually matching a color under standardized conditions against the three primary colors (i.e. red, green, and blue). 
         [0063]    These three components are expressed as X, Y, and Z, respectively, and are called tristimulus values. In this model, Y represents the luminance and Z is quasi-equal to blue stimulation, or the S cone response, while X is a mix (a linear combination) of cone response curves chosen to be nonnegative. 
         [0064]    The XYZ color components are then transformed (step  103 ) to a new space color xyL described in Charles Poynton,            Digital Video and HDTV. Algorithms and Interfaces.           , Morgan Kaufmann Publishers. 
         [0065]    The components x and y are computed according the following formula: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
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         [0000]    It is noted also that 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
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         [0066]    It is then possible to define a new color space xyY. This is a actual complete color space as the previous components X, Y and Z may be derived from x, y, and Y. Indeed, 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
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         [0067]    It is also possible to define a new color space xyL with L a weighted combination of X, Y and Z (i.e. a slight twist of Y). In one case, L may simply be equal to Y. 
         [0068]    Any other space color transformation is also possible if the luminance of the image is essentially represented by the L component (e.g. color space YC b C r  with L=Y). 
         [0069]    Then, L is transformed (step  104 ) using a distortion function f: L(p) value of each pixel p is replaced with f(L(p)). 
         [0070]    This distortion may be a logarithm distortion. Indeed, it may be more natural, when handling contrast, to work in the logarithmic space rather then the linear space as the contrast of two pixels p1 and p2 is defined by its ratio p1/p2. 
         [0071]    Therefore, after a future wavelet transformation, subbands d j   k [m,n] may represent local differences in the image, for scale j=1, d j   k [m,n] may be log(p1)−log(p2) which is equal to log(p1/p2), hence expressing contrast directly. 
         [0072]    Moreover, the distorted luminance f(L) is not clipped and have an infinite support ]−∞;+∞[. In practice the function may not map to an infinite range, but may offer to some extent the benefits of this particular distortion function. 
         [0073]    The distorted component f(L) goes through a wavelet transform WT (step  105 ) to compute low-pass coefficients  107  a D [m,n] and high-pass coefficients  106  d jk [m,n] for k=1 . . . 3 and j=1 . . . D with the notation mentioned above. 
         [0074]    The components  108   x  and  109   y  may be retrieved from step  103 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for modifying wavelet coefficients according to the present invention. 
         [0076]    Upon receiving an image  100 , it is possible to compute (step  201 ) a noise threshold T n : this noise threshold T n  may represent the amount of noise present in the image. A plurality of techniques may be used to compute such threshold. 
         [0077]    A second threshold T h  may be computed (step  202 ) in order to represent the boundary between “medium” contrast differences and “high” contrast differences. These differences are computed on wavelets coefficients (based on the distorted luminance values, see  FIG. 1 ). High contrast differences are often so large that the eye response for them is saturated, and there is no need enhance them. Medium contrast differences may be more significant than noise, and the eye is sufficiently sensitive to these contrasts that it may be valuable to enhance them. 
         [0078]    Both thresholds T n  and T h  may be meaningful for handling differences on R, G or B values. In order to turn them into meaningful threshold for distorted luminance values, they may be amplified depending on the underlying image brightness. The thresholds is said to be locally “distorted” (step  203 ) in accordance with the distortion of the luminance values. The result is then T hn [m,n] and T hh [m,n] (defined as functions of the image position n and m). 
         [0079]    The noise threshold T n [m,n] is originally a single value estimated for the whole image in the perceptually-uniform domain following, for instance, the classic median wavelet estimation and is then distorted for each pixel depending on the mean value a D [m,n]. But after gamma and distortion, T n [m,n] is transformed into T hn [m,n] to become a function of the original pixel value. 
         [0080]    Likewise, the threshold T hh [m,n] may be a distortion of the global parameter T h [m,n] suited to the logarithmic space. 
         [0081]    Once the wavelets coefficient d j   k [m,n] computed, it may be possible to separate (step  204 ) these coefficients d j   k [m,n] into noise coefficients low j   k [m,n], medium coefficients med j   k [m,n] and big coefficients high j   k [m,n] so that d j   k [m,n]=low j   k [m,n]+med j   k [m,n]+high j   k [m,n]. 
         [0082]    The meaning of these new coefficients is:
       low is for noise coefficients which are representing variations that are unwise to amplify;   med is for low-contrast textures;   high is for high-contrast textures.       
 
         [0086]    This separation process (step  204 ) may be useful for either amplify the low-contrast part while leaving the high contrast part untouched for local contrast enhancement or conversely attenuate the high contrast part while preserving small details in not touching the low-contrast part for high-dynamic reduction for example. Other combinations are of course possible, as well as the attenuation of the low coefficients which is virtually free noise reduction at this point. 
         [0087]    The low coefficients may be separated using a hard thresholding method. For instance: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
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         [0088]    The remaining coefficients c j   k [m,n]=d j   k [m,n]−low j   k [m,n] are then split using a thresholding scheme which is an intermediate between soft and hard thresholding, which can be described as follow: 
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         [0089]    Slope λ is adjustable. 
         [0090]    Such thresholding for the big coefficients may be represented by the graph on  FIG. 3 , element  301 . 
         [0091]    Coefficients med j   k [m,n] are then the subtracted residue. Such thresholding for the median coefficients may be represented by the graph on  FIG. 3 , element  302 . 
         [0092]    It may be possible to attenuate small coefficients (step  206 ), although they can be left untouched (this attenuation can differ for every scale). 
         [0093]    It is also possible to add some sharpening (step  207 ) on medium coefficients (i.e. amplification of the medium coefficients of fine scale) 
         [0094]    Medium coefficients can be amplified (step  208 ) or left untouched, with an amplification factor depending on the scale. 
         [0095]    Likewise, big coefficients can be amplified (step  205 ) or attenuated on a scale-by-scale basis. 
         [0096]    Finally, the modified (sharpened, attenuated, amplified, etc.) coefficients may be reassembled into a new set of coefficients  210  d j   k ′[m,n]. 
         [0097]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart describing a possible embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a sequence of processing steps for transforming wavelet coefficients into color components of an image. 
         [0098]    Indeed, upon the reception of wavelets components  210  and  107  (i.e. d j   k ′[m,n] and a D [m,n]) it is possible to reconstruct a distorted luminance component an image through an inverse wavelet transform (step  401 ). This step is an inverse wavelets transformation, i.e. the inverse of step  105 . 
         [0099]    It is then possible to inverse the distortion performed in step  104  to compute a new luminance component L′ (step  402 ). 
         [0100]    With the component  108   x,  the component  109   y  and the new component L′, it is possible to compute new components X′, Y′ and Z′ as described in relation with  FIG. 1 . This operation is the inverse of step  102 . 
         [0101]    Then, three color components R c ′, G c ′, B c ′ (red, green and blue components) may be derived from these X′, Y′ and Z′ components (step  404 ). This step is the inverse of step  102 . 
         [0102]    These color components are gamma corrected and thus, it is possible to remove this correction in order to retrieve the actual RGB components (step  405 ). This step is the inverse of step  101 . 
         [0103]    As a result, a new image  406  may be outputted with new color components and a better local contrast while preserving small details. 
         [0104]    Part of the flow chart of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  can represent steps of an example of a computer program which may be executed by the an electronic device, a circuit or a computer device. 
         [0105]      FIG. 5  is a possible embodiment for a device that enables the present invention. 
         [0106]    In this embodiment, the device  500  comprise a computer, this computer comprising a memory  505  to store program instructions loadable into a circuit and adapted to cause circuit  504  to carry out the steps of the present invention when the program instructions are run by the circuit  504 . 
         [0107]    The memory  505  may also store data and useful information for carrying the steps of the present invention as described above. 
         [0108]    The circuit  504  may be for instance:
       a processor or a processing unit adapted to interpret instructions in a computer language, the processor or the processing unit may comprise, may be associated with or be attached to a memory comprising the instructions, or   the association of a processor/processing unit and a memory, the processor or the processing unit adapted to interpret instructions in a computer language, the memory comprising said instructions, or   an electronic card wherein the steps of the invention are described within silicon, or   a programmable electronic chip such as a FPGA chip (for          Field-Programmable Gate Array         ).       
 
         [0113]    This computer comprises an input interface  503  for the reception of images and an output interface  506  for providing modified image. 
         [0114]    To ease the interaction with the computer, a screen  501  and a keyboard  502  may be provided and connected to the computer circuit  604 . 
         [0115]    A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0116]    For instance, the description indicates that the image are coded according an RGB color model but any other coding may be used such as YC r C b , or any other color model.