Estimating Generalized Gaussian Blur Kernels for Out-of-Focus Image Deblurring

• Published in: IEEE transactions on circuits and systems for video technology Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 829 - 843
• Main Authors: Liu, Yu-Qi, Du, Xin, Shen, Hui-Liang, Chen, Shu-Jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.03.2021; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Computational modeling; Defocusing; Gaussian kernel; generalized Gaussian function; image deblurring; Image degradation; Image edge detection; Image processing; Image restoration; Kernel; Kernels; Mathematical models; Optical diffraction; Optical imaging; Optical sensors; Out-of-focus blur; Parameter estimation; parametric blur kernel; uniform disk kernel
• ISSN: 1051-8215; 1558-2205
• DOI: 10.1109/TCSVT.2020.2990623

Out-of-focus blur is a common image degradation phenomenon that occurs in case of lens defocusing. The out-of-focus blur kernel is usually modeled as a Gaussian function or a uniform disk in previous work. In this paper, we propose that it can be more accurately depicted using the generalized Gaussian (GG) function. This is motivated by the theoretical analysis of the out-of-focus blur and the practical observation of real blur kernels. We show that as the out-of-focus blur kernels are of specific shapes, the GG function can be further simplified to a single-parameter model. We estimate the parameter of the GG blur kernel from image patches containing step edges, and obtain the clear image by non-blind image deblurring. Experimental results validate that the proposed GG blur kernel estimation algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art ones deploying either parametric (disk and Gaussian) or nonparametric kernels, and consequently benefits the image deblurring process.