A new class of nonlinear filters for image enhancement

Abstract

Two types of very simple two-dimensional nonlinear filters are introduced and applied to image contrast enhancement. The first type is based on a generalization of the Teager's algorithm. A theoretical analysis has shown that this type of nonlinear filter works like a local-mean-weighted highpass filter. Based on this analysis, a second type of nonlinear filter has been developed which works like local-mean-weighted bandpass filter. The proposed image contrast enhancement technique is based on combining the original image with its filtered version obtained using one of the two nonlinear filters. Very high quality enhancement has been achieved for natural images.