An improved pulse coupled neural network for image processing

To develop new image processing applications for pulse coupled neural network (PCNN), this paper proposes an improved PCNN model by redesigning the linking input, activity strength, linking weight, pulse threshold and pixel update rule. Two typical image processing examples based on such a model, namely fingerprint orientation field estimation and noise removal, are presented for explaining how to use the PCNN and determine parameters in image processing. Experiments show that the improved model is quite useful, and the PCNN-based approaches achieve better image processing results than the traditional ones. This work was supported by National Science Foundation of China under Grant 60471055 and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education under Grant 20040614017.