ELECTRONIC IMAGE PROCESSING

An electronic image processing system, using image dissection by solid state devices or by scanning and sampling, applies a signal representing a succession of signal values on an array of picture elements to complementary high and low pass electronic filters to produce an output signal in which a desired image feature is enhanced and noise is suppressed. The high pass filter, e.g. FIG. 1, comprises at least one matched pair of signal weighting gradient detectors, e.g. FIGS. 3 and 5, arranged back-to-back to detect a brightness transition 10, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, and having their outputs cored independently. Each pair will be sensitive to gradients in a particular direction in the array, e.g. horizontal, vertical or diagonal. The system is applicable to two-dimensional spatial arrays, three dimensional spatial arrays, and also to the temporal dimension, e.g. succession of moving pictures.