Technique for image fusion based on non-subsampled contourlet transform domain improved NMF

To overcome the problem of multi-sensor image fusion, a technique for image fusion based on non-subsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain improved nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is presented. Firstly, by using NSCT, multi-scale and multi-direction sparse decompositions of source images are performed. Then, an improved NMF technique is utilized to complete the fusion of low-frequency sub-images. The low-frequency fused image can be produced fast by the process which does not involve the randomization of the vectors W and H at all, in addition, the fusion course of high-frequency sub-images can be dealt with by use of the model of adaptive unit-fast-linking pulse coupled neural network (AUFLPCNN). Finally, the ultimate fused image can be obtained by synthesizing all sub-images with inverse NSCT. The simulated experiments show that the technique is effective.