Image restoration using the particle filter: Handling non-causality

A recursive-state estimation scheme for image restoration using the particle filter is described. Handling non-causal blurs within a recursive framework is a challenging problem. Most recursive image restoration schemes assume the blur to be causal or semi-causal in nature, but this is unrealistic. A novel choice for the state vector and a concurrent block estimation technique to incorporate full-plane regions of support for the image model as well as the blur are proposed. The particle filter-based framework enables general types of degradations to be tackled. The method assumes that the functional form of the distortion as well as the noise statistics are known but does not place any restrictions on them. Several experimental results are presented to validate the approach. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2006.