Feature-Based Fusion of Dual Band Infrared Image Using Multiple Pulse Coupled Neural Network

To improve the quality of the infrared image and enhance the information of the object, a dual band infrared image fusion method based on feature extraction and a novel multiple pulse coupled neural network (multi-PCNN)is proposed. In this multi-PCNN fusion scheme, the auxiliary PCNN which captures the characteristics of feature image extracting from the infrared image is used to modulate the main PCNN, whose input could be original infrared image. Meanwhile, to make the PCNN fusion effect consistent with the human vision system, Laplacian energy is adopted to obtain the value of adaptive linking strength in PCNN. After that, the original dual band infrared images are reconstructed by using a weight fusion rule with the fire mapping images generated by the main PCNNs to obtain the fused image. Compared to wavelet transforms, Laplacian pyramids and traditional multi-PCNNs, fusion images based on our method have more information, rich details and clear edges.