Two-dimensional H∞-based blind deconvolution for image enhancement with applications to ultrasonic NDE

This letter presents a new algorithm for blind deconvolution and consequently enhancement for ultrasonic C-scan images. A modified two-dimensional (2-D) H-infinity state estimation technique has been utilized that deconvolves the effect of unknown blur in the image and enhances the important edges. A new state-space model, based on redundant representation of constrained 2-D convolution sum, has been developed for the image so that it can be utilized in the H-infinity state estimation framework. Satisfactory results have been obtained for real images. The same procedure can also be applied to any other image where localized enhancement can be helpful.