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Adaptive image enhancement method using contrast limitation based on multiple layers BOHE

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Abstract

Multiple layers block overlapped histogram equalization (MLBOHE) is a classic image enhancement method. However, median filter is used in it to reduce noises which cause the degeneration of the local information. Moreover, the hidden details are not revealed effectively during the image fusion processes. To solve these drawbacks, an adaptive image enhancement method using contrast limitation is proposed in this paper. Based on MLBOHE, the proposed method employs a contrast limited method to suppress noises before BOHE is performed in each layer sub-blocks. Then an improved image fusion mode is applied to adaptively merge the multilayered BOHE images. The way to obtain the fusion weights by this fusion mode is according to the entropy value of each layer sub-blocks. In addition, four Image Quality Measures (IQMs), namely peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), image clarity, contrast measure (EME) and feature similarity index metric (FSIM), are used to analyze the effectiveness of the proposed method. Simulation results show that the proposed method has high performance in suppressing noises and displaying more trustworthy details. Besides, this method outperforms the existing methods in weakening the excessive enhancement for low illumination and foggy images.

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The test images used in this paper are public data and are free of copyright infringement.

Abbreviations

BOHE:

Block overlapped histogram equalization

MLBOHE:

Multiple layers block overlapped histogram equalization

IQMs:

Image quality measures

PSNR:

Peak signal-to noise ratio

EME:

Image contrast measure

FSIM:

Feature similarity index

HE:

Histogram equalization

CDF:

Cumulative distribution function

LHE:

Local histogram equalization

POSHE:

Partially overlapped sub-block histogram equalization

NBOHE:

Non-block overlapped histogram equalization

CLAHE:

Contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization

BBHE:

Brightness preserving bi- histogram equalization

DTOHE:

Dominant orientation-based texture histogram equalization

ABMHE:

Adjacent blocks-based modification for local histogram equalization

MSE:

Mean square error

LoG:

Laplacian of Gaussian

PC:

Phase congruency

GM:

Gradient magnitude

HVS:

Human visual system

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the reviewers for their valuable suggestions.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51604038, No.51541408), Laboratory for Marine Geology (MGQNLMKF201705), Wenhai Program of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (2017WHZZB0401), Research Fund for the Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province (TSPD20161007), Department of Education in Hubei Province (D20141303). The excellent doctoral dissertation cultivation project of Yangtze University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Demonstration Center for Experimental Electrical and Electronic Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, Hubei, China

    Pei Tao, Qingqing Fu & Aiping Wu

  2. Electronics and Information School, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, Hubei, China

    Pei Tao, Qingqing Fu & Aiping Wu

  3. Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 26606, China

    Yanliang Pei

  4. School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA

    Mehmet Celenk

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  1. Pei Tao
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  2. Yanliang Pei
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  3. Mehmet Celenk
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  4. Qingqing Fu
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Contributions

PT created the methodology, wrote the software, performed the experiments and wrote original manuscript; QF helped with the algorithm, analyzed the experimental data, and revised the manuscript; YP assisted in the experiments. MC made critical revision to the paper; AW. collected the data and helped to analyze the experimental data.

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Correspondence to Qingqing Fu.

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The authors would like to declare no conflict of interest exists in the submission of this manuscript and approved for publication.

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Tao, P., Pei, Y., Celenk, M. et al. Adaptive image enhancement method using contrast limitation based on multiple layers BOHE. J Ambient Intell Human Comput 11, 5031–5043 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-01810-9

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