Gaussian blur approximation suitable for GPU
US7397964B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T5/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Gaussian blur approximation is applied to an image by repeated down-sampling operations followed by an up-sample operation. By using a truncated Gaussian filter as the down-sample filter, the frequency spectrum removed during down-sampling operations closely approximates the frequency spectrum lost during a true Gaussian blur operation. While any “good” up-sample filter may be used, up-sampling via linear interpolation may be especially beneficial in systems having a dedicated graphics processing unit. One benefit of the described technique is that it is computationally less costly to implement than a Gaussian blur. Another benefit is that this computational benefit increases as the size of the blur increases—becoming significant even for small blurs. Yet another benefit of the invention is that a judicious selection of pixel address to convolve with the filter leads to substantially reduced number of texture lookups required to effect a convolution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.