Stripe non-uniformity can reduce the quality of infrared images and will seriously affect subsequent infrared imaging applications. In the field of image vision, a large number of non-uniformity correction algorithms have been proposed, but a correction algorithm that capable of removing fringe noise while retaining image edge details is still a problem to be solved. The separation of the fringe noise and high-frequency components is the key issue.  

Recently, researchers at Shenyang Institute of Automation of Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed an infrared image stripe non-uniformity correction algorithm that can use a single frame of infrared image to remove stripe non-uniformity and maintain edge details. Relevant research results are published in Applied Sciences-Base and Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications.

The researchers proposed a wavelet analysis and full variational smoothing fringe correction algorithm. The advantage of the algorithm lies in the multi-scale representation of the image using wavelet transform, the introduction of a full variational model for edge-preserving smoothing of the image, and finally denoising using guided filtering. It avoids retaining strong noise as detailed information during algorithm processing, and ensures that image details are not lost during denoising. Final correction results show that the algorithm has a good processing effect.

Workflow of the proposed algorithm. (Photo by SIA)