Contrast enhancement in video sequences using variable block shape adaptive histogram equalization

This paper describes a new method for enhancing the local contrast of high dynamical range images on conventional low dynamical range displays. We use the mean shift clustering algorithm to segment the image and enhance segments using contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) in combination with a new kernel based interpolation technique. Our main application is the enhancement of welding image sequences, but we tested our method on a larger image database. Experiments demonstrate improvements over the traditional CLAHE based image enhancement.