• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2008

This study applies fuzzy functions to improve image quality under the assumption that uncertainty of image information due to low contrast is based on vagueness and ambiguity of the brightness pixel values. To solve the problem of low contrast images whose brightness distribution is inclined, we use the k-means algorithm as a parameter of the fuzzy function, through which automatic critical points can be found to differentiate objects from background and contrast between bright and dark points can be improved. The fuzzy function is presented at the three main stages presented to improve image quality: fuzzification, contrast enhancement and defuzzification. To measure improved image quality, we present the fuzzy index and entropy index and in comparison with those of histogram equalization technique, it shows outstanding performance.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.51-56
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• 2011

This paper proposes an efficient moving picture compression for video sequences with luminance variations. In the proposed algorithm, the luminance variation parameters are estimated and local motions are compensated. To detect the frame required luminance compensation, we employ the frame classification based on the cross entropy between histograms of two successive frames, which can reduce the computational redundancy. Simulation results show that the proposed method yields a higher peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) than that of the conventional methods, with a low computational load, when the video scene contains large luminance variations.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.10-15
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• 2011

Histogram equalization is an effective method to enhance the contrast of the image. However, it can result in unwanted artifacts such as excessive contrast enhancement and noise amplification. These artifacts can be reduced by modifying an intensity mapping function which is generated by histogram equalization. In this paper, we present a variational approach to the modification of the intensity mapping function. We define a functional whose minimization produces a modified intensity mapping function. Experimental results show that the intensity mapping function obtained by the proposed method can enhance the contrast of the image without visual artifacts.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2001

We propose an optimization of mutual information for multiresolution image registration to represent useful information as integrated form obtaining from complementary information of multi modality images. The method applies mutual information as cost function to measure the statistical dependency or information redundancy between the image intensities of corresponding pixels in both images, which is assumed to be maximal if the images are geometrically aligned. As experimental results we validate visual inspection for accuracy, changning initial condition and addictive noise for robustness. Since our method uses the native image rather than prior feature extraction, few user interaction is required to perform the registration. In addition it leads to robust density estimation and convergence as applying non-parametric density estimation and stochastic multiresolution optimization.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2001.10b
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• pp.418-420
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• 2001

본 논문에서는 뉴스 비디오의 정지 영상에서 뉴스 자막과 배경 문자를 추출하기 위한 새로운 방법을 제안한다. 본 논문에서는 일차적으로 입력 컬러 영상을 그레이 영상으로 변환한 후 입력 영상의 명암 대비를 강화시키기 위해 명암 대비 스트레칭을 적용한다. 이후 명암 대비 스트레칭된 영상의 분할을 위해 적응적 임계값을 적용하고 다음 단계에서 문자와 유사한 영역들을 적당한 크기 의 structuring element를 이용하여 제거하는 1차 하부 단계와 모폴로지 녹임(erosion)을 적용한 영상과 모폴로지(열림닫힘[OpenClose]+닫힘열림[CloseOpen])/2가 적용된 영상 사이의 차이 영상을 구하는 2차 하부 단계를 적용시킨다. 마지막 단계에서 각 후보 영역들 중 실제 자막 영역을 추출해내기 위해, 후보 문자 영역의 화소수 비율과 외곽선의 화소수의 비율, 그리고 장축과 단축간의 비율 등에 대해 필터링을 적용한다. 본 논문에서는 임의의 300개의 뉴스영상을 입력 값으로 실험한 결과 93.6%의 우수한 인식률을 얻을 수 있었다. 또한 본 논문에서 제안한 방법은 structuring element의 크기 조절을 통해 크기가 다른 다양한 이미지에서도 좋은 성능을 거둘 수 있다.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.45-54
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose an adult images detection algorithm using a mean intensity filter and an improved 2D Hough Transform. This paper is composed of three major steps including a training step, a recognition step, and a verification step. The training step generates a mean nipple variance filter that will be used for detecting nipple candidate regions in the recognition step. To make the mean variance filter, we converts an input color image into a gray scale image and normalize it, and make an average intensity filter for nipple areas. The recognition step first extracts edge images and finds connected components, and decides nipple candidate regions by considering the ratio of width and height of a connected component. It then decides final nipple candidates by calculating the similarity between the learned nipple average intensity filter and the nipple candidate areas. Also, it detects breast lines of an input image through the improved 2D Hough transform. The verification step detects breast areas and identifies adult images by considering the relations between nipple candidate regions and locations of breast lines.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.787-795
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• 2009

This paper presents a histogram equalization based on the logistic function for enhancing the quality of images. The histogram equalization is a simple and effective spatial processing method that it enhances the quality by adjusting the brightness of image. The logistic function that is a nonlinear transformation function is applied to adaptively enhance the brightness of the image according to its intensity level frequency. We propose a flexible and asymmetrical logistic function by only using the intensity level with maximum frequency and the maximum intensity level in an histogram, and the total number of pixels. The proposed function excludes both the computation load of an exponential function and the heuristic setting of an optimal parameter values in the traditional logistic function. The proposed method has been applied for equalizing many images with a different resolution and histogram distribution. The experimental results show that the proposed method has the superior enhancement performances and the faster equalizing speed compared with the traditional histogram equalization and the adaptively modified histogram equalization, respectively. And the proposed histogram equalization can be used in various multimedia systems in real-time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.150-153
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• 2014

영상 표시 장치에서 대조 이미지의 왜곡 현상을 보완하기 위해 히스토그램 평활화(Histogram Equalization)와 플래토 평활화(Plateau Equalization)가 사용된다. 히스토그램 평활화(Histogram Equalization)를 이용하여 명암대비를 증가 시킬 경우 과도한 이미지의 밝기 변화에 따른 과포화 현상이 발생하며 실시간 시스템에서는 물체 추적에 왜곡 현상이 발생한다. 특히, 적외선 영상(infrared image)과 같이 명암비가 한쪽으로 치우쳐 있는 영상들을 명암비를 개선하기 위해서는 플래토 평활화(Plateau Equalization)와 같은 영상 개선 방법이 필수적이다. 플래토 평활화에서는 임계값을 사용하는 방법이 제시되고 있지만 실험에 의한 최적 임계값을 찾아내는 방식이며, 이 방법은 입력되는 새로운 영상마다 임계값을 실험에 의해 매번 반복해서 도출해야 문제점이 있다. 본 논문에서 제안하는 방법은 과포화 되는 이미지 영역의 문제를 해결하기 위해 제시하는 방법으로 히스토그램 평활화(Histogram Equalization)의 동적 분할하는 알고리즘에 근거하되, 입력 영상에따라 적응적으로 임계값을 설정하는 기법을 제안한다. 실험을 통해 제안하는 방법이 실시간 영상에서 기존의 동적분할 히스토그램에 비해 자연스럽게 명암비를 개선하여 과포화 되거나 중요한 정보를 누락하여 왜곡 되지 않게 자연스러운 화면을 재생하는 방법을 제안한다.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.9B no.3
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• pp.369-374
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• 2002

In this paper, we propose the react-time car license plate recognition algorithm using intensity variation and geometric pattern vector. Generally, difference of car license plate region between character and background is more noticeable than other regions. And also, car license plate region usually shows high density values as well as constant intensity variations. Based on these characteristics, we first extract car license plate region using intensity variations. Secondly, lightness compensation process is performed on the considerably dark and brightness input images to acquire constant extraction efficiency. In the proposed recognition step, we first pre-process noise reduction and thinning steps. And also, we use geometric pattern vector to extract features which independent on the size, translation, and rotation of input values. In the experimental results, the proposed method shows better computation times than conventional circular pattern vector and better extraction results regardless of irregular environment lighting conditions as well as noise, size, and location of plate.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.346-349
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• 2013

화질향상에 큰 영향을 주는 요소 중의 하나는 명암대비 향상이다. 영상의 명암대비를 향상시키는 대표적인 방법으로 히스토그램 평활화(Histogram Equalization) 방법이 있으며, 히스토그램 평활화의 변형된 방법에 대한 다양한 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 그러나 기존의 방법들은 평균 밝기의 급격한 변화로 인하여 부자연스러운 결과영상을 얻거나, 대비 향상 효과가 낮은 결과를 얻는 단점이 종종 발생한다. 본 논문에서는 히스토그램 압축방법을 통해서 개선된 명암대비 향상 기법을 제안한다. 제안한 방법은 과도한 명암대비 증가로 인한 과포화 현상을 억제하기 위하여 히스토그램의 빈도수에 따라 히스토그램을 차등 압축시키도록 설계되어 있다. 실험결과 제안방법은 기존 방법에 비해 과포화 현상 없이 좋은 명암대비 향상 효과를 보였다.