FPGA implementation of adaptive temporal Kalman filter for real time video filtering

Filtering noise in real-time image sequences is required in some applications like medical imaging. The optimum approach in this case is in the form of adaptive 3-D spatialtemporal filter, which is generally very complex and prohibitive for real-time implementation. Independent processing of the image sequences, in spatial and temporal domains can resolve some of these implementation difficulties. Some of the existing spatial filters can easily be modified for real-time implementation. Adaptive temporal filters, however, are more involved. In this paper, an adaptive temporal filter is proposed that lend itself to hardware implementation for real-time temporal processing of image sequences. The proposed algorithm is based on adaptive Kalman filtering which is relatively simple and effective in its performance. Adaptation in this case is with respect to motion in the image sequence as well as variation of noise statistics. An efficient hardware implementation of this algorithm, based on FPGA technology, is proposed.