Design of Practical Color Filter Array Interpolation Algorithms for Cameras, Part 2

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1 Design of Practical Color Filter Array Interpolation Algorithms for Cameras, Part 2 James E. Adams, Jr. Eastman Kodak Company kodak. com Abstract Single-chip digital cameras use a color filter array and subsequent interpolation strategy to produce full-color images. While the design of the interpolation algorithm can be grounded in traditional sampling theory, the fact that the sampled data is distributed among three different color planes adds a level of complexity. Existing interpolation methods are usually derived from general numerical methods that do not make many assumptions about the nature of the data. Significant computational economies, without serious losses in image quality, can be achieved if it is recognized that the data is image data and some appropriate image model is assumed. 1. Introduction In a previous paper [ 11, the author described the makeup of a digital camera image processing chain with particular emphasis on the color filter array (CFA) interpolation process. This paper again explores the CFA interpolation process, this time from the standpoint of Fourier spectrum analysis and optimum algorithm design. Though the work presented can be generalized to most any CFA pattern, for simplicity, the Kodak Bayer CFA pattern [2] will be assumed throughout this paper. Figure 1 is an illustration of this pattern. In Fig. 1, R stands for red, G stands for green, and B stands for blue. blue information will be performed using Cok s method, described in the author s previous paper [1,]. A one-dimensional approach to CFA interpolation will be used. Used in conjunction with an adaptive strategy for selecting either a horizontal or vertical one-dimensional pixel neighborhood for each pixel in question, this produces a CFA interpolation algorithm capable of very high-quality image reconstructions. In a previous paper [4], the author described how to use the pixels within a resulting one-dimensional slice to produce the best estimate for the missing green pixel value in question. This paper will discuss how to algorithmically choose an appropriate orientation for interpolation. In order to design an optimum green pixel value predictor, the interpolation problem will be stated as a simple signal sampling and recovery problem, after Gaskill [5]. This will establish the characteristics of the perfect CFA interpolation predictor. Subsequently, the best approximation to this ideal predictor from [4] will be compared with the ideal predictor and the results used to develop an optimum pixel neighborhood selection scheme. It should be realized that the image processing operation modeled here, CFA sampling and interpolation, is not shift-invariant. Therefore, the following analysis, which assumes a linear, shift-invariant (LSI) system, cannot be expected to be rigorously correct. However, it does provide a framework from which some general and pragmatic results can be derived. The reader is reminded to keep this caveat in mind. 2. Sampling theory review We will assume the one-dimensional pixel neighborhood in Fig. 2 throughout most of this paper. Figure 1. Bayer CFA pattern This paper will concentrate on the reconstruction of the luminance information in the image. In this case, the green pixel information will be treated as the luminance information. The subsequent reconstruction of the red and... R-2 G-1 R, GI R2... Figure 2. One-dimensional pixel neighborhood In Fig. 2, R would be either a red pixel (for red-green rows) or a blue pixel (for blue-green rows) and G would be a green pixel. If f(x) is the original green image information, then the sampled green data, fs(x), would be given in Eq /98 $ IEEE 488

2 Evaluating Eq. 6 for odd integral values (i.e., green pixels) and for even integral values (Le., red or blue pixels) produces the desired results: The Fourier transform of Eq. 1 is given in Fig. 2. Equation 2 indicates the well-known fact that the spectrum of the sampled signal consists of the spectrum of the original signal, F(C), replicated along the frequency axis at regular intervals. Assuming the spectrum replicates do not overlap, then by eliminating the spectrum replicates, F(@, and, therefore, f(x), can be recovered. The ideal interpolation filter to perform such a spectrum replicate elimination is where Intp(Lj) = rect(25), (). Analysis of an optimum family of predictors m even Since Eq. 6 does not converge quickly enough for practical use, an approximation must be employed. In a previous paper [4], the author derived an approximation with optimum spatial frequency performance. The form of this predictor, a generalized 5-point FIR filter [7-91, is given in Eq. 9. Applying Intp(&) to F&) produces the desired result, to within an unimportant multiplicative constant. (See Eq. 5.) In Eq. 9, the first -point kernel is convolved with the existing green pixel values. The second 5-point kernel is convolved with the existing red pixel values. A good numerical example of Eq. 9 is given in Eq. 10. Taking the inverse Fourier transform of Eq. 5 produces the ideal interpolation process. (See Eq. 6.) In Eq. 6, Gaskill's definition of the sinc fiinction is assumed: Of course, Eq. 6 is the well-known Shannon-Whittaker sampling theorem [6]. Equally well known fs that a direct implementation of Eq. 6 is impractical because the summation has a painfully slow rate of convlergence. The spatial frequency response of Eq. 10 is given in Eq Intp(4) = cos2(n5)+-sin2(2n~) Figure is a plot of Eqs. and 11. It can be seen that there is good agreement between the ideal predictor (Eq. ) and the 5-point predictor (Eq. 11) up to roughly 0.25 cycles/sample. Beyond 0.25 cycles/samples the curves diverge significantly. We can define a simple figure of merit for how well the 5-point predictor performs as a function of spatial frequency by simply subtracting Eq. 11 from Eq. and taking the absolute value. (See Eq. 12 and Fig. 4.) clas(6) = lcos'(n<) + 1 sin2(2n<) - rect(26) 489

3 0.6 lntp 0.4 (5) Ideal -5-Point Predictor (cycledsam ple) Figure. Comparison of ideal and optimum 5-point interpolating function spectra i Pirr o h I\ J \ (cycle s/sa m pl e) Figure 4. Absolute difference between ideal and optimum 5-pOint interpolating function spectra Clearly, we would like to operate solely in the spatial region from 0 to just below 0.25 cycles/sample. 4. Creation of an optimum classifier the orientation that produces the smallest value. This should correspond to the direction that has the least amount of spatial frequency activity above 0.25 cycles/sample. The challenge will be being restricted to the available data points called out in Fig. 5. Referring back to our one-dimension pixel neighborhood of Fig. 2, two terms of our classifier immediately suggest themselves. These are the wellknown gradient and Laplacian operators. The gradient operator can be applied to the green data points and the Laplacian operator to the red data points. In terms of convolution kernels, we might express our initial classifier as done in Eq. 1 [7-91. g=21(1 0 -l)l+l(-l I)] (1) The first term is the green gradient operator and the second term is the red Laplacian operator. Note that we incorporate absolute value signs to prevent the operators from canceling each other out in any way. We also scale the gradient operation by two to permit both terms to have equal full-scale values. Equivalent clas(x) and Clas(5) functions are and where clas(x) = (z6~(~)]+[26(*)-~~6(f)] (14) Clas(c) = 4sin2(2n()+j4sin(2n{) (15) We can expand Fig. 2 into a two-dimensional representation. (See Fig. 5.) Figure 5. Two-dimensional pixel neighborhood Our strategy is going to be to evaluate the spatial frequency response of the data in both the horizontal and vertical directions and pick the direction that has the least amount of energy above 0.25 cycleslsample, i.e., where Clas(5) is greatest. In order to easily perform this spatial frequency content test, we will create a numeric classi$er that will have a spatial frequency response similar to Eq. 12. Once we have this classifier, then we simply evaluate it in both the horizontal and vertical directions and select and j is the square root of -1. Note that we have temporarily removed the absolute value signs in going from Eq. 1 to Eq. 14. Figure 6 is a plot of the absolute value of the components of Eq. 15 with the ideal response of Eq. 12. While there is reasonable agreement above 0.25 cycleslsample, below that frequency the responses diverge. What is needed is a third term that has a low response below 0.25 cycleslsample and a high response above 0.25 cycleslsample. If pixel R, in Fig. 2 were actually another green pixel, Go, we could then add a second Laplacian of the central three green pixel values to perform the needed discrimination. The new set of convolution kernels and corresponding clas(x) and Clas(5) expressions would then be [

4 If we are processing the line in Fig. 2 from left to right, then by the time calculation of Go is ready to begin, a value for G, has already been determined. Therefore, for the sake of using the convolution kernel in Eq. 18, we may estimate Go as,and (19) (c ycleslsam p le) Figure 6. Comparison of classifier spatial frequency responses. The gradient and Laplaciain functions have been scaled in amplitude for ease of comparison with the ideal response. Figure 7 is a repeat of Fig. 6 with the second Laplacian (labeled the mixed Laplacian for reasons explained below) added. Clas (5) 1.o (cycleslsam ple) Figure 7. Comparison of classifier spatial frequency responses. The gradient, Laplacian and mixed Laplacian functions have been scaled in amplitude for ease of comparison with the ideal response. Our new term has the desired frequency response. Now, we need to address the fact that we do not have Go. For the purposes of our classifier we can get a rough estimate of Go from previously interpolatedl green pixels by assuming the red and green channels are perfectly correlated to within an offset term. (See Eq. 21.) We can assume this image model because the RGB color planes of an image tend to be correlated [lo]. This estimate will probably not be nearly as accurate as the one produced by Eq. 10, but it will generally be sufficient for Eq. 18 to allow the correct interpolation orientation to be determined. All that is left is to use the results of Eq. 18 to select the correct orientation for interpolation. If we return to Fig. 5, we would apply Eq. 18 to the horizontal pixel neighborhood to determine the horizontal classification value. Then we would apply Eq. 18 to the vertical pixel neighborhood to determine the vertical classification value. Note that for the vertical classification calculation, we will want to estimate Go with the pixel values bo, &* and G;, assuming we are processing the image from top to bottom. Once we have classification values for both directions, we simply choose the direction that produces the smallest classification value for our preferred direction of interpolation. 5. Summary The process of color filter array sampling and interpolation can be cast in the form of a signal sampling and recovery problem using standard Fourier spectrum analysis. A simple image model can be used to permit the use of information from color channels other than green to aid in the reconstruction of the green (luminance) record. Fourier spectra can be derived for various CFA classifier kernels and relative image quality predictions be made from these spectra. 6. Acknowledgments The author would like to thank John Hamilton, Kevin Spaulding, Brian Keelan, and Karin Topfer, all of Eastman Kodak Company, for their valuable contributions to this material. 7. References [ 1 J. E. Adams, Jr., Interactions between color plane interpolation and other image processing functions in electronic photography, Proceeding of SPIE, C. Anagnostopoulos, M. Lesser, eds., vol. 2416, pp , SPIE, Bellingham, WA, [2] B. E. Bayer, Color imaging array, U.S. Patent,971,065,

5 [] D. R. Cok, Signal processing method and apparatus for producing interpolated chrominance values in a sampled color image signal, U.S. Patent 4,642,678, [4] J. E. Adams, Jr., Design of practical color filter array interpolation algorithms for digital cameras, Proceeding ofspie, D. Sinha, ed., vol. 028, pp , SPIE, Bellingham, WA, [5] J. D. Gaskill, Linear Systems, Fourier Transforms, and Optics, John Wiley & Sons, New York, p. 266, [6] Zbid., p [7] J. E. Adams and Jr., J. F. Hamilton, Jr., Adaptive camera, U.S. Patent 5,506,619, [8] J. F. Hamilton and Jr., J. E. Adams, Jr., Adaptive camera, U.S. Patent 5,629,74, [9] J. E. Adams, Jr. and J. F. Hamilton, Jr., Adaptive camera, U.S. Patent 5,652,621, [ 101 K. Topfer, J. E. Adams, and B. W. Keelan, Modulation transfer functions and aliasing patterns of CFA interpolation algorithms, Proceedings of IS&T s FICS Conference, Portland, OR, p. 67,