An MRF-based approach to generation of super-resolution images from blurred observations

Abstract

This paper presents a new technique for generating a high resolution image from a blurred image sequence; this is also referred to as super-resolution restoration of images. The image sequence consists of decimated, blurred and noisy versions of the high resolution image. The high resolution image is modeled as a Markov random field (MRF) and a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation technique is used for super-resolution restoration. Unlike other super-resolution imaging methods, the proposed technique does not require sub-pixel registration of given observations. A simple gradient descent method is used to optimize the functional. The discontinuities in the intensity process can be preserved by introducing suitable line processes. Superiority of this technique to standard methods of image expansion like pixel replication and spline interpolation is illustrated.