Image restoration for interlaced scan CCD image with space-variant motion blurs

When the speeds of objects in a scene exceed the temporal resolution of the camera shutter, motion blurs will occur. Since objects are often moving in different directions at different speeds, the degradation of a CCD image is often characterized by space-variant motion blurs. Image restoration algorithms for space-variant motion blurs are available for progressive scan CCD images, but not for interlaced scan images. To address the space-variant image restoration for interlaced scan images, a novel three-step image restoration scheme is proposed. Firstly, one interlaced scan image is divided into odd field and even field images. Secondly, these two field images are further segmented into rectangular blocks and the motion vectors are computed based on these rectangular blocks using an efficient block matching algorithm. Thirdly, image restoration is performed using a blind deconvolution algorithm in the odd or even field image. The final restored image is obtained by combining the restored odd and even field images. The scheme is illustrated by restoring a space-variant blurred moving vehicle image and a synthetic blurred image. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.