EDGE-DEPENDENT INTERPOLATION METHOD FOR COLOR RECONSTRUCTION IN IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICES

An image processing device is provided for still and video imaging systems which use a low number of samples per image pixel, preferably a single color component per each image pixel. The device includes an edge-dependent and edge-side-dependent color interpolation process, preferably implemented within the imaging system or within a host image processing computer hardware. The process reconstructs the missing color components of each said image pixel with high accuracy, because it is based on the detection of the spatial features present in the pixel neighborhood, thus providing sharp images without artifacts and with smooth transition in hue from pixel to pixel.