Granted Patent B2

US 7,236,190 · App. 10/284,661 · Granted Jun 26, 2007

Abstract

Claims (80)

1. A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of:

performing an automatic gain control on a photo-sensor output to generate a first image output;

performing an automatic white balance correction to said first image output to generate a second image output;

applying white balance to said second image output to generate a third image output;

performing a color interpolation to said third image output to generate a fourth image output, wherein said color interpolation comprises:

detecting a diagonal edge where there is a difference in color intensity in both a row and a column of a pixel array, and

calculating a median color value for a pixel at said diagonal edge;

performing a low-pass spatial filtration of said fourth image output to generate a fifth image output;

performing a gamma correction on said fifth image output to generate a sixth image output, wherein said gamma correction comprises using a luminance conversion factor measured from an RGB to adjust said RGB;

performing a color space conversion of said sixth image output to generate a seventh image output;

performing a YCC color correction on said seventh image output to generate an eighth image output; and

performing a progressive edge enhancement on said eighth image and storing said image to a storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said progressive edge enhancement comprises the steps of:

applying a high pass filter to said eighth image output;

utilizing a look-up table; and

modifying said eighth image output through said lookup table.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said automatic white balance is comprised of the steps of:

calculating a mean color value; and

applying a sector based weighting to an adjustment to a white balance coefficient.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of acquiring a Bayer pattern image with a photo-sensor array.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of regulating the operation of said photo-sensor array with an iterative automatic exposure control algorithm.

6. A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of:

providing a first image output from a photo-sensor array;

applying a white balance algorithm to said first image output of said photo-sensor array to form a second image output;

performing a color interpolation to said second image output to generate a third image output;

performing a low-pass spatial filtration of said third image output to generate a fourth image output;

performing a gamma correction on said fourth image output to generate a fifth image output, wherein performing said gamma correction comprises using a luminance conversion factor measured from an RGB to adjust said RGB;

performing a color space conversion of said sixth image output to generate a seventh image output;

performing a YCC color correction and progressive edge enhancement on said seventh image output to generate an eighth image output; and

generating an output file from said eighth image output.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said color interpolation comprises the steps of:

detecting a diagonal edge where there is a difference in color intensity in both a row and a column of a pixel array; and

calculating a median color value for a pixel at said diagonal edge.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

acquiring a Bayer pattern image with said photo-sensor array; and

regulating the operation of said photo-sensor array with an iterative automatic exposure control algorithm.

9. A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of:

providing a first image output from a photo-sensor array;

applying a white balance algorithm to said first image output of said photo-sensor array to form a second image output;

performing a color interpolation to said second image output to generate a third image output;

performing a low-pass spatial filtration of said third image output to generate a fourth image output;

performing a gamma correction on said fourth image output to generate a fifth image output;

performing a color space conversion of said sixth image output to generate a seventh image output;

performing a YCC color correction on said seventh image output to generate an eighth image output; and

generating an output file from said eighth image output, said method further comprising the step of providing a progressive edge enhancement.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said progressive edge enhancement comprises the steps of:

applying a high pass filter to said eighth image output;

utilizing a look-up table; and

modifying said eighth image output through said look-up table.

11. A method for processing a digital image, comprising the steps of:

providing a first image output from a photo-sensor array;

applying a white balance algorithm to said first image output of said photo-sensor array to form a second image output, wherein said white balance algorithm comprises:

calculating a median color value; and

applying a sector based weighting to an adjustment to a white balance coefficient;

performing a color interpolation to said second image output to generate a third image output;

performing a low-pass spatial filtration of said third image output to generate a fourth image output;

performing a gamma correction on said fourth image output to generate a fifth image output;

performing a color space conversion of said sixth image output to generate a seventh image output;

performing a YCC color correction on said seventh image output to generate an eighth image output; and

generating an output file from said eighth image output.

12. A digital image processing system comprised of:

a photo-sensor array;

an automatic gain control system to boost an output of said photo-sensor array;

an automatic white balance system coupled to said automatic gain control;

a color interpolation system to improve the resolution of said digital image coupled to said automatic white balance;

a low-pass spatial filter coupled to said color interpolation system;

a gamma correction system coupled to said low-pass filter, wherein said gamma correction system uses a luminance conversion factor measured from an RGB to adjust said RGB;

a color space conversion system coupled to said gamma correction system;

a YCC color correction system coupled to said space conversion system; and

a progressive edge enhancement system coupled to said YCC color correction system.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said color interpolation system is comprised of means to detect a diagonal edge where there is a difference in color intensity in both a row and a column of a pixel array; and

means to calculate a median color value for a pixel at said diagonal edge.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said progressive edge enhancement system is comprised of:

means to apply a high pass filter to an output of said YCC color correction system;

means to utilize a look-up table; and

means to modify said output of said YCC color correction system.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said automatic white balance system is comprised of:

means to calculate a mean color value; and

means to apply a sector based weighting to an adjustment to a white balance coefficient.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an automatic exposure control coupled to said photo-sensor array.

Assignments (25)