Directional hypercomplex wavelets for multidimensional signal analysis and processing

Abstract

We extend the wavelet transform to handle multidimensional signals that are smooth save for singularities along lower-dimensional manifolds. We first generalize the complex wavelet transform to higher dimensions using a multidimensional Hilbert transform. Then, using the resulting hypercomplex wavelet transform (HWT) as a building block, we construct new classes of nearly shift-invariant wavelet frames that are oriented along lower-dimensional subspaces. The HWT can be computed efficiently using a 1D dual-tree complex wavelet transform along each signal axis. We demonstrate how the HWT can be used for fast line detection in 3D.