  This paper presents the development of a new algorithm for Gaussian based
color image enhancement system. The algorithm has been designed into
architecture suitable for FPGA/ASIC implementation. The color image enhancement
is achieved by first convolving an original image with a Gaussian kernel since
Gaussian distribution is a point spread function which smoothen the image.
Further, logarithm-domain processing and gain/offset corrections are employed
in order to enhance and translate pixels into the display range of 0 to 255.
The proposed algorithm not only provides better dynamic range compression and
color rendition effect but also achieves color constancy in an image. The
design exploits high degrees of pipelining and parallel processing to achieve
real time performance. The design has been realized by RTL compliant Verilog
coding and fits into a single FPGA with a gate count utilization of 321,804.
The proposed method is implemented using Xilinx Virtex-II Pro XC2VP40-7FF1148
FPGA device and is capable of processing high resolution color motion pictures
of sizes of up to 1600x1200 pixels at the real time video rate of 116 frames
per second. This shows that the proposed design would work for not only still
images but also for high resolution video sequences.
