Structure characterization of images

1. A method of calculating an output pixel by characterizing structures in a plurality of pixels; the method comprising:

generating a smoothed pixel using a current pixel and the plurality of pixels;

generating a plurality of structure checksum bit groups by comparing a pixel value of each pixel in the plurality of pixels with the smoothed pixel;

combining the structure checksum bit groups to form the structure checksum;

indexing a table of structure characteristics with the structure checksum to select a structure characteristic corresponding to the structure checksum; and

setting the output pixel equal to the current pixel when the structure characteristic is a first value; and

setting the output pixel equal to the smoothed pixel when the structure characteristic is a second value, wherein the second value is different from the first value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a checksum bit group corresponding to each pixel to indicate when the pixel value is greater than the smoothed pixel.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the generating a plurality of structure checksum bit groups further comprises setting the checksum bit group corresponding to each pixel to indicate when the pixel value is less than or equal to the smoothed pixel.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pixels surround a current pixel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each structure checksum bit group is a single bit.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining a predefined set of checksum values, wherein each member of the predefined set of checksum values correspond to a member of a predefined set of structures; and

loading the table of structure characteristics at each index value corresponding to a member of the set of checksum values with a first characteristic value.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising loading the table of structure characteristics at each index value not corresponding to a member of the set of checksum values with a second characteristic value.

8. A system for calculating an output pixel by characterizing structures in a plurality of pixels; the system comprising:

means for generating a smoothed pixel using a current pixel and the plurality of pixels;

means for generating a plurality of structure checksum bit groups using means for comparing a pixel value of each pixel in the plurality of pixels with the smoothed pixel;

means for combining the structure checksum bit groups to form the structure checksum;

means for indexing a table of structure characteristics with the structure checksum to select a structure characteristic corresponding to the structure checksum; and

means for setting the output pixel equal to the current pixel when the structure characteristic is a first value; and

means for setting the output pixel equal to the smoothed pixel when the structure characteristic is a second value, wherein the second value is different from the first value.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

means for setting a checksum bit group corresponding to each pixel to indicate when the pixel value is greater than the smoothed pixel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the means for generating a plurality of structure checksum bit groups further comprises means for setting the checksum bit group corresponding to each pixel to indicate when the pixel value is less than or equal to the smoothed pixel.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pixels surround a current pixel.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein each structure checksum bit group is a single bit.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

means for defining a predefined set of checksum values, wherein each member of the predefined set of checksum values correspond to a member of a predefined set of structures; and

means for loading the table of structure characteristics at each index value corresponding to a member of the set of checksum values with a first characteristic value.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising means for loading the table of structure characteristics at each index value not corresponding to a member of the set of checksum values with a second characteristic value.

15. An image smoother with a structure characteristic unit for providing a structure characteristic of a plurality of pixels comprising:

a smoothed pixel calculation unit to calculate a smoothed pixel from a current pixel and the plurality of pixels;

a pixel comparison unit configured to generate a plurality of structure checksum bit groups by comparing the smoothed pixel with pixel data about the plurality of pixels, wherein the structure checksum bit groups form a structure checksum; and

a structure lookup table indexed by the structure checksum from the pixel comparison unit to provide the structure characteristic; and

an output pixel selection unit configured to set an output pixel equal to the smoothed pixel when the structure characteristic is a first value and to set the output pixel equal to the current pixel when the structure characteristic is a second value, wherein the second value is different from the first value.

16. The image smoother of claim 15 , further comprising a structure checksum register coupled to receive the structure checksum bit groups from the pixel comparison unit and to provide the structure checksum to the structure look-up table.

17. The image smoother of claim 15 , wherein each structure checksum bit group has a size of one bit.

18. The image smoother of claim 15 , wherein the pixel comparison unit further comprises a plurality of comparators, each having a first input port coupled to receive a smoothed pixel value, a second input port coupled to receive pixel data from a pixel of the plurality of pixels, and an output port providing a structure checksum bit group.

19. The image smoother of claim 15 , wherein the pixel comparison unit is configured to receive one or more comparison parameters.

20. The image smoother of claim 15 , wherein the structure look-up table is configured to have a first characteristic value at each index value corresponding to a member of a set of checksum values.

21. The image smoother of claim 20 , wherein the structure look-up table is configured to have a second characteristic value at each index value not corresponding to a member of a the set of checksum values.