Digital image enhancing system

1. Digital image enhancing system for processing pixel contour data, comprising a contour filter, means for edge processing and for local noise reduction to reduce the amount of noise in a pixel luminance or color signal (Sin), means to apply a control signal (Ghpf) indicating the gain of a contour signal, and means to apply a control signal (Gcntr) indicating the gain of the contour as a function of local noise in a picture, characterized in that the means for edge processing and local noise reduction are arranged such that an output signal (Sout) is supplied in response to said input signal (Sin), to a low pass filtered input signal (Slpf) derived therefrom, and to the contour filter output signal (contour) and the above control signals according to the relation:

S out= G cntr* Ghpf ( S in− Slpf )+ Slpf if G cntr* Ghpf< 1, and

S out= S in+( Ghpf*G cntr−1)*contour else.

2. Digital image enhancing system according to claim 1 , characterized in that, in order to obtain noise reduction in combination with edge preservation, the contour filter is abandoned.

3. Digital image enhancing system for processing pixel data, comprising means for edge processing and for local noise reduction to reduce the amount of noise in a pixel luminance signal (Sin), means to apply a control signal (Ghpf) indicating the gain of a contour signal, and means to apply a control signal (Gcntr) indicating the fade position between the luminance signal and a low pass luminance signal as a function of local noise in a picture, characterized in that the means for edge processing and local noise reduction are arranged such that an outputsignal (Sout) is supplied in response to said input signal (Sin), to a low pass filtered input signal (Slpf) derived therefrom and to the above control signals according to the relation:

S out= G cntr* Ghpf ( S in− Slpf )+ Slpf if G cntr* Ghpf< 1, and

S out= S in else.

4. Digital image enhancing system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the minimum value Gcntr(min) of Gcntr is chosen such that Gcntr(min).*Ghpf=1 and that the means for edge processing and local noise reduction are arranged such that an outputsignal (Shpf) is supplied in response to said input signal (Sin), to a low pass filtered input signal (Slpf) derived therefrom, and to the contour filter output signal (contour) and the above control signals according to the relation:

Shpf =( Ghpf*G cntr−1)*contour if G cntr* Ghpf≧ 1 and

Shpf= 0 else.

5. Digital image enhancement system according to claim 1 , characterized in that moans are provided for measuring the standard deviation in the input signals, which input signals are formed by white compensated luminance signals Yn, or present qreen signals G, or a combination of green and sigma green signals G-ΣG, and are obtained via a 6×6, 4×4, 5×5 or 5×3 reconstruction array of pixels.

6. Digital image enhancing system according to claim 5 , characterized by a low pass filter via which the input signals are obtained from said reconstruction arrays of pixels, said low pass filter being constituted by adding 2×2 unity low pass filters within the area of said reconstruction array of pixels, starting in the middle.

7. Digital camera comprising a digital image enhancing system according to claim 1 .