Method and apparatus for enhancing the contrast and clarity of an image captured by a remote viewing device

1 . A method for enhancing the clarity of at least a portion of an image captured by a remote viewing device, comprising the steps of:

capturing a first original image via a remote viewing device, said first original image represented by a first plurality of pixels, each of said first plurality of pixels having a original luminance component;

selecting at least a second plurality of pixels, said second plurality of pixels constituting a second original image and including at least a subset of said first plurality of pixels of said first original image;

quantifying each said original luminance component as a original luminance value for each of said second plurality of pixels to collectively form a second plurality of original luminance values that are represented within a second original distribution of said original luminance values, said second original distribution of said original luminance values representing a second original image;

transforming said second original distribution by mapping each said original luminance value represented within said second original distribution of luminance values to an associated transformed luminance value represented within a second transformed distribution of luminance values;

constructing a second transformed image from said second transformed distribution of luminance values;

displaying said second transformed image.

2 . The method of claim 1 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance inversion function.

3 . The method of claim 1 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance expansion function.

4 . The method of claim 1 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance shifting function.

5 . The method of claim 1 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance dividing and shifting function that divides said second original distribution into multiple portions that include at least a first and a second portion.

6 . The method of claim 5 , where said first and/or said second portions of said second original distribution are each shifted in a direction towards the other said portion.

7 . The method of claim 5 , where said first and/or said second portions of said second original distribution are each shifted in a direction away from the other said portion.

8 . The method of claim 1 , where at least a portion of said first original image and at least a portion of said second transformed image are displayed simultaneously.

9 . The method of claim 1 , where said second transformed image is magnified with respect to said second original image.

10 . The method of claim 1 , where said quantifying, mapping and displaying steps are performed on the entirety of said first original image to generate a first transformed image.

11 . The method of claim 10 , where said first transformed image and second transformed image are displayed simultaneously.

12 . The method of claim 11 , where separate and different mapping steps are performed to generate said first transformed image and said second transformed image and where at least a portion of both said first transformed image and said second transformed image are displayed simultaneously.

13 . The method of claim 11 , where the same mapping steps are performed to generate said first transformed image and said second transformed image and where at least a portion of both said first transformed image and said second transformed image are displayed simultaneously.

14 . The method of claim 1 , where said second original image and said second transformed image each include all of said plurality of pixels constituting said first original image.

15 . The method of claim 2 , where said second original image is represented by an RGB color space model that is translated into a different color space model prior to said transforming step.

16 . The method of claim 3 , where said second original image is represented by an RGB color space model that is translated into a different color space model prior to said transforming step.

17 . The method of claim 4 , where said second original image is represented by an RGB color space model that is translated into a different color space model prior to said transforming step.

18 . The method of claim 2 where said transforming step is performed using a quasi-luminance transformation function.

19 . The method of claim 3 where said transforming step is performed using a quasi-luminance transformation function.

20 . The method of claim 4 where said transforming step is performed using a quasi-luminance transformation function.

21 . An apparatus for enhancing the clarity of at least a portion of an image captured by a remote viewing device, comprising:

a luminance isolator that is configured for

processing a first original image captured by a remote viewing device, said first original image represented by a plurality of pixels and where each of said plurality of pixels has an original luminance component; and configured for

selecting a second plurality of pixels, said second plurality of pixels constituting a second original image and including at least a subset of said plurality of pixels of said first original image; and configured for

quantifying each said original luminance component as an original luminance value for each of said second plurality of pixels to collectively form a second plurality of original luminance values that are represented within a second original distribution of said original luminance values, said second original distribution of said original luminance values representing a second original image; and

a luminance transformer that is configured for mapping each said original luminance value represented within said second original distribution of luminance values to an associated transformed luminance value represented within a second transformed distribution of luminance values, said second transformed distribution of luminance values representing a second transformed image.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance inversion function.

23 . The apparatus of claim 21 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance expansion function.

24 . The apparatus of claim 21 , where said second transformed distribution is transformed from said second original distribution via a luminance shifting function.

25 . A method for enhancing the clarity of at least a portion of a captured image, comprising the steps of:

capturing a first original image, said first original image represented by a plurality of pixels, each of said plurality of pixels having an original luminance component;

selecting at least a second plurality of pixels, said second plurality of pixels including at least a subset of said first plurality of pixels of said first original image and constituting a second original image;

quantifying each said original luminance component as a original luminance value for each of said second plurality of pixels to collectively form a second plurality of original luminance values that are represented within a second original distribution of said original luminance values, said second original distribution of said original luminance values representing a second original image;

transforming said second original distribution by mapping each said original luminance value represented within said second original distribution of luminance values to an associated transformed luminance value represented within a second transformed distribution of luminance values;

constructing a second transformed image from said second transformed distribution of luminance values;

magnifying said second transformed image; and

displaying said second transformed image in accordance with said second transformed distribution of luminance values.

26 . A remote viewing device, comprising:

an insertion tube;

a viewing head assembly disposed at a distal end of said insertion tube that is configured for capturing an image;

a luminance isolator that is configured for processing a first original image captured by said viewing head, said first original image represented by a plurality of pixels and where each of said plurality of pixels has an original luminance component; and selecting a second plurality of pixels, said second plurality of pixels constituting a second original image and including at least a subset of said plurality of pixels of said first original image; and quantifying each said original luminance component as a original luminance value for each of said second plurality of pixels, to collectively form a second plurality of original luminance values that are represented within a second original distribution of said original luminance values; and

a luminance transformer that is configured for mapping each said original luminance value represented within said second original distribution of luminance values to an associated transformed luminance value represented within a second transformed distribution of luminance values, said second transformed distribution of luminance values representing a second transformed image.