	US 7,496,224 B2
	Method for rendering digital radiographic images for display based on independent control of fundamental image quality parameters
Mary E. Couwenhoven, Fairport, N.Y. (US); and Robert A. Senn, Pittsford, N.Y. (US)
Assigned to Carestream Health, Inc., Rochester, N.Y. (US)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/781,973.
Application 11/781973 is a division of application No. 10/625964, filed on Jul. 24, 2003, granted, now 7,266,229.
Prior Publication US 2007/0269094 A1, Nov. 22, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06K 9/00 (2006.01); G06K 9/40 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 382—132 [382/260]

15 Claims

1. A method of enhancing a digital image, comprising:

using a computer to carry out the steps of:

providing at least one control to independently affect one of the following attributes of the digital image: brightness, latitude, detail contrast, sharpness, or fine detail; and

enhancing the digital image responsive to the control of one of the attributes;

wherein the step of enhancing includes:

decomposing the digital image into a plurality of frequency bands including at least four frequency bands as follows:

(a) a lowest frequency band image which represents large-sized features in the digital image;

(b) a low-to-mid frequency band image which represents mid-sized features in the digital image;

(d) a highest frequency band which represents very fine detail in the digital image;

multiplying each of the high frequency band images with a gain factor;

wherein the gain factor of any given high frequency band has a functional relationship to the gain factor associated with at least one lower frequency band;

wherein the effect of the controls on the digital image are visually/perceptually independent

wherein independent control of at least one of sharpness/blurring of small detail and sharpness/blurring of very fine detail in said image is achieved;

summing together the unmodified low frequency band image and the modified high frequency band images to produce a reconstructed digital image; and

mapping the reconstructed digital image to a display space.