Minimum mean brightness error quad histogram equalization for scanning electron microscope images

Abstract

This paper studies the Contrast and Brightness Enhancement Technique for Scanning Electron Microscope images. Low contrast and/or brightness SEM image may have some hidden or information loss due to this limitation from image environment. This leads to the design of Minimum Mean Brightness Error Quad Histogram Equalization (MMBEQHE) technique. The MMBEQHE improves the visual image quality (qualitative measurement) and enhances the quantitative measurement (metric). This MMBEQHE technique produces the least amount of Absolute Mean Brightness Error (AMBE) with maximum brightness preserved, good peak signal-to-noise ratio for good contrast enhancement and better Structural Similarity (SSIM) value with better enhancement and still maintain image energy conservation.