THE WMMR FILTERS - A CLASS OF ROBUST EDGE ENHANCERS

In this correspondence we develop a class of filters called weighted m ajority of m values with minimum range (WMMR(m)), that have the same i mpulse rejection properties as the median. We then demonstrate a subcl ass of these filters (WMMR) that may be optimized for edge enhancement in one dimension in that their output converges to the closest perfec t edge. One of these filters is shown to restore a class of noisy edge s to the closest perfect edge on one pass. Applications in one and two dimensions are discussed and a two-dimensional simulation is provided comparing the WMMR to other filters for smoothing and edge enhancemen t.