Method for minimizing scintillation in dynamic images

Abstract

A method for reducing scintillation in an image of a scene includes receiving an input sequence of images of the scene and grouping a first plurality of images of the sequence of images into a first subset of images comprising a first number of images that occur in sequence within the input sequence of images of the scene. The method also includes grouping a second plurality of images of the sequence of images into a second subset of images comprising a second number of images that occur in sequence within the input sequence of images of the scene. The method further includes generating a set of averaged images comprising an averaged image for the first subset of images and an averaged image for the second subset of image and outputting a composite image based at least the set of averaged images.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for processing a picture, the method comprising:
 providing a first image;   tiling the first image, whereby the first image is divided into a plurality of tiles enabling independent processing of the plurality of tiles;   applying an enhancement to a first tile of the plurality of a tiles; and   reassembling the plurality of tiles to form a second image.   
     
     
         3 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the enhancement applied to the first tile is a local histogram process to redistribute a dynamic range of the first tile. 
     
     
         4 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising applying the enhancement each of the plurality of tiles. 
     
     
         5 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising sharpening the first image before tiling the first image. 
     
     
         6 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , the method further comprising averaging ten or more images to generate the first image. 
     
     
         7 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , the method further comprising replacing a region of a third image with a portion of a fourth image to create the first image. 
     
     
         8 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a tile of the plurality of tiles has a width; and   the width of the tile is between 20 and 80 pixels.   
     
     
         9 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 2 , the method further comprising sharpening the second image. 
     
     
         10 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 9 , wherein sharpening the second image emphasizes high frequency components of the second image. 
     
     
         11 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 9 , wherein sharpening the second image emphasizes differences between adjacent light areas and dark areas of the second image. 
     
     
         12 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 9 , wherein sharpening the second image decomposes the second image into a plurality of frequency bands. 
     
     
         13 . The method for processing the picture as recited in  claim 12 , wherein sharpening the second image attenuates low frequency bands and/or amplifies high frequency bands. 
     
     
         14 . A memory device having instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform the following steps for modifying a picture:
 receive a first image;   tile the first image, whereby the first image is divided into a plurality of tiles enabling independent processing of the plurality of tiles;   apply an enhancement to a first tile of the plurality of a tiles; and   reassemble the plurality of tiles to form a second image.   
     
     
         15 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to sharpen the first image before tiling the first image. 
     
     
         16 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the enhancement applied to the first tile is a local histogram process to redistribute a dynamic range of the first tile. 
     
     
         17 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to apply the enhancement to a second tile of the plurality of tiles. 
     
     
         18 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to replace a region of a third image with a portion of a fourth image to create the first image. 
     
     
         19 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to sharpen the second image. 
     
     
         20 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 19 , wherein sharpening the second image emphasizes high frequency components of the second image. 
     
     
         21 . The memory device having instructions as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to average two or more images to generate the first image.