IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF

Abstract

An image processing method is disclosed for processing a first and a second image area of a video frame or a video field. The image processing method includes performing a first operation on the first image area wherein the first operation corresponds to a first criterion, performing a first image processing procedure on the first image area according to the result of the first operation so as to update the first image area, performing a second operation on the second image area wherein the second operation corresponds to a second criterion, and performing a second image processing procedure on the second image area according to the result of the second operation so as to update the second image area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of determining filters and the processing filters that can be applied in the image processing device as shown in FIG. 1

Claims

1. An image processing method for processing an input image, the image processing method comprising: performing classification on a plurality of input pixels in the input image; andWith respect to each of the input pixels, selecting a processing procedure according to the classification result of the input pixel, and through the processing procedure, generating an output pixel corresponding to the input pixel;wherein an output image is composed of a plurality of output pixels corresponding to the input pixels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing classification on the input pixels in the input image comprises: determining which type of edge each input pixel belongs to according to the pixel values of said input pixel and nearby pixels of said input pixel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of performing classification on the input pixels in the input image further comprises: if it is determined that each input pixel does not belong to any type of edge, then further determining whether said input pixel belongs to a smooth area or a disorderly area according to the pixel values of said input pixel and nearby pixels of said input pixel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a processing procedure according to the classification result of the input pixel comprises: if it is determined that the input pixel belongs to a specific type of edge, then using an edge enhancement procedure as the processing procedure to enhance said specific type of edge in the output pixel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting a processing procedure according to the classification result of the input pixel further comprises: if it is determined that the input pixel belong to a smooth area or a disorderly area, then using a noise reduction procedure as the processing procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing classification on the input pixels in the input image is only performed according to data included in the input image.

7. An image processing method for processing a first and a second image area of a video frame or a video field, the image processing method comprising: performing a first operation on the first image area, the first operation corresponding to a first criterion;performing a first image processing procedure on the first image area according to the result of the first operation so as to update the first image area;performing a second operation on the second image area, the second operation corresponding to a second criterion; andperforming a second image processing procedure on the second image area according to the result of the second operation so as to update the second image area.

8. The image processing method of claim 7, wherein the first criterion determines whether an edge exists in the first image area.

9. The image processing method of claim 8, wherein the first operation comprises a Sobel filtering operation.

10. The image processing method of claim 8, wherein the first operation comprises a Laplace filtering operation.

11. The image processing method of claim 7, wherein the first image processing procedure comprises a filtering operation.

12. The image processing method of claim 11, wherein the first image processing procedure is utilized for performing an edge enhancement procedure.

13. The image processing method of claim 7, wherein the second image processing procedure comprises a filtering operation to reduce noise effect.

14. The image processing method of claim 7, wherein the first image area is a first pixel, and the second image area is a second pixel.

15. The image processing method of claim 14, wherein the first operation is a specific operation on a value of the first pixel and values of a plurality of pixels in the vicinity of the first pixel.

16. The image processing method of claim 14, wherein the first image processing procedure is a specific operation on a value of the first pixel and values of a plurality of pixels in the vicinity of the first pixel.

17. The image processing method of claim 7, wherein the first image area comprises a plurality of pixels, and the second image area comprises a plurality of pixels.

18. The image processing method of claim 7, further comprising: performing a third operation on the first image area, the third operation corresponding to the second criterion; andperforming the second image processing procedure on the first image area according to the result of the third operation so as to update the first image area.