Method of and apparatus for extending signal ranges of digital images
US6909459B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/741
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus to extend the signal range of a digital image beyond the nominal sensor or data format range. The method and apparatus automatically acquires a scaled series of source data, applies noise reduction to the source data, and constructs a scaled composite with usable signal ranges greater than that of the individual data sources. Applied to digital images, the invention permits presentation and analysis of all signals from a subject in a single composite or an image resulting from the method and apparatus of the present invention. The present invention overcomes two defects in prior art systems: increased noise in the resultant composite image arising from rescaling of component images and dependence on evaluating image content to determine image scaling. Because this invention can be automated, it can be applied in numerous fields requiring high throughput.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.