IP Library Granted Patent US 12,651,321
Granted Patent B2
US 12,651,321 · App. 18/359,067 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Image processing method and apparatus with image deblurring

Inventors: Insoo Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Geonseok Seo (Suwon-si, KR); Jae Seok Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Hyong Euk Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G06T5/73G06T5/20G06T5/50G06T2207/20056G06T2207/20081G06T2207/20084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,651,321
App. No.
18/359,067
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing method includes computing a blur kernel of an input image using a kernel estimation model, performing kernel-based deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel to obtain a deconvolved image, and generating an output image by performing kernel-free deblurring based on the deconvolved image.

Claims (80)

1 . An image processing method, comprising:

obtaining an input image;

deblurring the input image to obtain a temporary sharp image;

generating first image data and second image data based on the input image and the temporary sharp image, respectively;

computing a blur kernel for the input image based on the first image data and the second image data using a kernel estimation model by transforming the input image, transforming the temporary sharp image, and combining the transformed input image with the transformed temporary sharp image;

performing a primary deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel to obtain a deconvolved image; and

generating an output image by performing a secondary deblurring based on the deconvolved image.

2 . The image processing method of claim 1 , wherein

the secondary deblurring comprises image processing using a deep learning model without genera-tion of kernels by the deep learning model.

3 . The image processing method of claim 1 , wherein

computing the blur kernel comprises:

transforming the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain through a logarithmic Fourier transform;

transforming the temporary sharp image into a second frequency image in the frequency domain; and

generating first input data for computing the blur kernel by combining the first frequency image and the second frequency image.

4 . The image processing method of claim 3 , wherein:

the blur kernel represents a blur characteristic of the input image in the frequency domain, and

the performing the primary deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel to obtain the deconvolved image comprises:

generating a third frequency image by subtracting the blur kernel from the first frequency image; and

transforming the third frequency image into the deconvolved image in a spatial domain.

5 . The image processing method of claim 1 , wherein:

the computing the blur kernel comprises:

transforming the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain through a logarithmic Fourier transform; and

computing the blur kernel based on the first frequency image using the kernel estimation model.

6 . The image processing method of claim 5 , wherein:

the blur kernel represents a blur characteristic of the input image in the frequency domain, and

the performing the primary deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel to obtain the deconvolved image comprises:

generating a third frequency image by subtracting the blur kernel from the first frequency image; and

transforming the third frequency image into the deconvolved image in a spatial domain.

7 . The image processing method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the output image comprises:

computing a compensation image based on the input image and the deconvolved image using a deblurring model; and

generating the output image by adding the compensation image to the deconvolved image.

8 . The image processing method of claim 7 , wherein:

the compensation image compensating for at least one of a first error and a second error, wherein the first error is based on the computing the blur kernel and the second error is based on using a non-uniform blur in the input image as a uniform blur.

9 . The image processing method of claim 1 , wherein:

the kernel estimation model is a neural network model.

10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

compute a blur kernel of an input image using a kernel estimation model;

transform the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain;

generate a second frequency image by subtracting the blur kernel from the first frequency image;

perform a primary deblurring based on the second frequency image to obtain a deconvolved image; and

generate an output image by performing a secondary deblurring based on the deconvolved image using a neural network.

11 . An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor, wherein, in response to the instructions being executed by the processor, the processor performs operations including:

obtaining an input image;

performing an initial deblurring on the input image to obtain a temporary sharp image;

generating first image data and second image data based on the input image and the temporary sharp image, respectively;

computing a blur kernel for the input image using a kernel estimation model based on the first image data and the second image data,

performing a primary deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel to obtain a deconvolved image,

and generating an output image by performing a secondary deblurring based on the deconvolved image.

12 . The image processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the initial deblurring is performed using a neural network.

13 . The image processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor further performs operations including:

transforming the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain through a logarithmic Fourier transform,

transforming the temporary sharp image into a second frequency image in the frequency domain, and

generating first input data by combining the first frequency image and the second frequency image.

14 . The image processing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the blur kernel represents a blur characteristic of the input image in the frequency domain, and

wherein the processor further performs operations including:

generating a third frequency image by subtracting the blur kernel from the first frequency image, and

transforming the third frequency image into the deconvolved image in a spatial domain.

15 . The image processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor further performs operations including:

transforming the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain through a logarithmic Fourier transform, and

computing the blur kernel based on the first frequency image using the kernel estimation model.

16 . The image processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor further performs operations including:

computing a compensation image based on the input image and the deconvolved image using a deblurring model, and

generating the output image by adding the compensation image to the deconvolved image.

17 . The image processing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:

the compensation image compensating for at least one of a first error and a second error, wherein the first error is based on computing the blur kernel and the second error is based on using a non-uniform blur in the input image as a uniform blur.

18 . An electronic device, comprising:

a camera configured to generate an input image; and

a processor configured to:

generate a temporary sharp image by performing a temporary deblurring on the input image;

generate first input data based on the input image and the temporary sharp image;

compute a blur kernel of the input image based on the first input data using a kernel estimation model;

generate a deconvolved image by performing a primary deblurring on the input image using the blur kernel; and

generate an output image by performing a secondary deblurring based on the deconvolved image.

19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transform the input image into a first frequency image in a frequency domain through a logarithmic Fourier transform;

transform the temporary sharp image into a second frequency image in the frequency domain; and

generate the first input data by combining the first frequency image and the second frequency image.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2023
From: KIM, INSOO; SEO, GEONSEOK; CHOI, JAE SEOK; LEE, HYONG EUK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064385/0317 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0147226 · Nov 7, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240153045A1 · May 9, 2024
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