System and method for unwrapping phase difference images
US6703835B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/56563
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for processing digital images includes acquiring a phase difference image which includes one or more phase wraps, creating a modulated phase difference image from the phase difference image, comparing the modulated phase difference image to the phase difference image to locate areas in the phase difference image to be unwrapped, and unwrapping the phase difference image based on the areas located in the comparing step. The unwrapping step is performed by replacing wrapped pixels in the phase difference image with pixels in the modulated phase difference image plus an integer multiple of &pgr;. The integer multiplier is computed by comparing overlapping pixels in the image segments. This has a smoothing effect causing the wrapped pixels in the phase difference image to become unwrapped. As a result of this pixel replacement process, an image of improved quality and information content is produced compared with conventional methods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.