	US 12,260,529 B2
	Image processing apparatus and method for enhancing a phase distribution
Kai Walter, Schriesheim (DE); and Benjamin Deissler, Butzbach (DE)
Assigned to LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
Appl. No. 17/620,777
Filed by LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
PCT Filed Jun. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/067096 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/254574, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19181836 (EP), filed on Jun. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0357558 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G06T 5/10 (2006.01); G02B 7/38 (2021.01); G02B 21/12 (2006.01); G02B 21/24 (2006.01); G06F 17/13 (2006.01); G06F 17/15 (2006.01); G06T 5/20 (2006.01); G06T 5/70 (2024.01); G06T 5/73 (2024.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 10/30 (2022.01); H04L 25/02 (2006.01); H04N 25/615 (2023.01)

CPC G06T 5/73 (2024.01) [G02B 7/38 (2013.01); G02B 21/12 (2013.01); G02B 21/244 (2013.01); G06F 17/13 (2013.01); G06F 17/15 (2013.01); G06T 5/10 (2013.01); G06T 5/20 (2013.01); G06T 5/70 (2024.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06V 10/30 (2022.01); H04L 25/025 (2013.01); H04N 25/615 (2023.01); G06T 2207/10056 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10068 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20056 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20084 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20182 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01)]

15 Claims

1. An apparatus for enhancing an input phase distribution (I(x_i)), the apparatus being configured to:

record two or more digital input images (J_k(x_i)) using, for each of the two or more digital input images (J_k(x_i)), one of a different focal length, a different illumination, a different distance of an objective lens from a probe volume and a different length of an optical path from an image sensor to the probe volume;

retrieve a phase transfer function custom character

(H(x¿));

obtain an intermediate image by subtracting the two or more digital input images from one another;

obtain the input phase distribution (I(x_i)) based on the intermediate image and the phase transfer function custom character

(H(x¿));

compute a baseline estimate (ƒ(x_i)) as an estimate of a baseline (I₂(x_i)) representing noise in the input phase distribution (I(x_i)) by an iterative minimization scheme, wherein the iterative minimization scheme uses a least-square minimization criterion that includes a penalty term, wherein the penalty term penalizes a non-smooth base line estimate; and

obtain an output phase distribution (O(x_i)) based on the baseline estimate (ƒ(x_i)) and the input phase distribution (I(x_i)) by subtracting the baseline estimate (ƒ(x_i)) from the input phase distribution (I(x_i)), thereby reducing the noise in the input phase distribution (I(x_i)).