Spectral-Based Blind Image Restoration Method for Thin TOMBO Imagers

Abstract

With the recent advances in microelectronic fabrication technology, it has now become now possible to fabricate thin imagers, less than half a millimeter thick. Dubbed TOMBO (an acronym for Thin Observation Module by Bound Optics), a thin camera-on-a-chip integrates micro-optics and photo-sensing elements, together with advanced processing circuitry, all on a single silicon chip. Modeled after the compound-eye found in insects and many other arthropods, the TOMBO imager simultaneously captures a mosaic of low resolution images. In this paper, we describe and analyze a novel spectral-based blind algorithm that enables the restoration of a high resolution image from the captured low resolution images. The proposed blind restoration method does not require prior information about the imaging system nor the original scene. Furthermore, it alleviates the need for conventional de-shading and rearrangement processing techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can restore images for Signal-to-Noise Energy Ratio (SNER) lower than 3 dB.

A High Resolution Color Image Restoration Algorithm for Thin TOMBO Imaging Systems

“…Simulation parameters for the generated LR, blurred and noisy images are given in Table 2 for noiseless and noisy cases. The simulated images are generated f(ollowing the pro)cedure described in [1]. In all simulations, the SNER is defined as $\text{SNER}=10log\left(\frac{\text{Signal Energy}}{\text{Noise Enegry}}\right)$.…”

“…The proposed algorithm is an extension of our grayscale algorithm reported in [1] to the case of color images. In this color extension, each Point Spread Function (PSF) of each captured image is assumed to be different from one color component to another and from one imaging unit to the other.…”

Geometry based three-dimensional image processing method for electronic cluster eye

“…In [29], an iterative back projec-tion method (IBP) was presented to further improve the reconstructed results. El-Sallam et al introduced a spectral-based blind method for TOMBO [9,10], but the point spread function (PSF) of sub-images should be known before. As for depth estimation, most algorithms were designed for TOMBO.…”

Defocus Blur Detection and Estimation from Imaging Sensors

“…Blur is an image degradation that commonly appears in consumer-level images obtained from a variety of image sensors [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Defocus blur is one type of blur degradation that results from defocus and improper depth of focus.…”