Patents Examined by Edward L. Coles, Sr.
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Patent number: 5801848Abstract: A process for the transmission and/or storage of information defined in digital form comprises transforming the clear file, containing said information, to graphic equivalent form, transmitting and/or storing the same in such graphic-equivalent form and bringing it back to digital form.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Fontech Ltd.Inventor: Oded Kafri
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Patent number: 5801843Abstract: An improved method for providing a more faithful and pleasing rendition of a pixel pattern is described herein. This method first places the original pixel pattern in a bit mapped memory. A small portion of this bit mapped pattern, called an input tile, acts as an address for a look-up table containing a corrected pixel pattern portion (an output tile) corresponding to the target pixels to be corrected in the input tile. To derive the output tiles stored in the look-up table, a high resolution bit map is created from an input tile by scaling the input tile. A triangular portion of each convex corner in the high resolution bit map is chopped off, and a triangular portion of each concave corner in the high resolution bit map is filled in. The resulting pattern is then smoothed using a low pass filter. The size of these triangular portions and the extent of low pass filtering are determined using a function based on the vulnerability of a pixel to being eliminated during the above smoothing process.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Mark A. Overton
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Patent number: 5798847Abstract: When an array of photodetecting elements has to be calibrated, normally a reference surface is scanned. Yet the reference surface is not an ideal surface and likely may include scratches or dust particles so that the signals read out from the array have to be corrected. A method and system of correction are provided in which the statistical distribution of the signals read out over the surface is evaluated for each photodetector. By this evaluation, dust and scratches can be disregarded before calculating a mean value representative of the sensitivity of each individual element.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1996Date of Patent: August 25, 1998Assignee: Oce-Nederland B.V.Inventor: Wilhelmus Joseph Aerts
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Patent number: 5798845Abstract: A method for registering a multi-terminal identification of a facsimile system and selectively transmitting the multi-terminal identification during a transmission mode. At a terminal identification register mode, a user's terminal number and a terminal identification are registered in a multi-terminal identification register table. At an automatic dialing data register mode, automatic dialing data and the terminal number are registered in an automatic dialing data register table. The terminal identification of the multi-terminal identification register table is selectively transmitted according to the received terminal number.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1995Date of Patent: August 25, 1998Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nam-Dae Baek, Chan-Kook Yoon
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Patent number: 5799108Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a matrix for an arbitrary pixel (to be an observed pixel) on the original image is set up so that the density of the observed pixel and that of a target pixel which is located in the direction along which shadows are formed are compared to determine a maximum value of density of the two. If the density of the observed pixel is greater than that of the target pixel or pixels, the density of the target pixel is converted into a predetermined level of density, whereas if the density of the observed pixel is less than that of the target pixel, no conversion of density is made. This procedure is repeatedly performed for the entire image information to thereby create shadows having a designated length and complete a shadowing image. Then, the shadowing image is combined with the original image, whereby a shadowed image is complete.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1995Date of Patent: August 25, 1998Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiro Okahashi
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Patent number: 5796496Abstract: An image-data processing apparatus includes an image-reading unit which converts an original image on an image-reading area to corresponding image data. The image-data processing apparatus also includes an automatic-document feeder. The automatic-document feeder has a receiving member, which receives originals having the original image, and a mechanism which transports the originals from the receiving member to the image-reading area one by one. The image-data processing apparatus includes an image-forming unit which forms an image on an image bearing member on the basis of the image data in a first mode, an interface device adapted to transmit the image data to an external unit in a second mode, and a control unit for setting the first mode when the automatic-document feeder transports the originals from the back of the originals, and setting the second mode when the automatic-document feeder transports the originals from the front of the originals.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1994Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Kenichi Ono
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Patent number: 5796495Abstract: An image input equipment including a stage having a diffusion board provided on an upper surface thereof on which an object is to be placed, an image input head for inputting an image of the object and photoelectrically converting the image into an electric signal, a supporting pillar for supporting the image input head and positioning the image input head over the stage, exterior illumination lamps for illuminating the object placed on the stage from above the stage, interior illumination lamps for illuminating the object placed on the diffusion board from inside the diffusion board. The image input equipment is further provided with lighting circuits and a changeover device. The lighting circuits are used to activate both the exterior illumination lamps and the interior illumination lamps. The changeover device connects the lighting circuits to only either the exterior illumination lamps or the interior illumination lamps selectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1994Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Elmo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masami Miyata, Yoshikazu Ohara
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Patent number: 5793448Abstract: A cathode ray tube package includes a cathode ray tube assembly and a housing assembly including a deflection coil and/or at least one focus coil. The cathode ray tube assembly includes a collar (31) aligned with the electron beam, being arranged to mate with a mounting collar (41) carried on the housing assembly. The provision of the collar (31) enables the cathode ray tube assembly to be easily replaced at the end of the cathode ray tube's life within the housing assembly without the need for realignment of the coils.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1995Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Brimar LimitedInventors: George David Atkinson, James Francis Nangle
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Patent number: 5790276Abstract: An apparatus for image presentation and reformatting comprising an image projector for transmitting an image from an image source, a sizing element for transmitting a selected portion of the image, an image display device, and an image recapture device. A source transducer and target transducer are provided for reading source information and target information, respectively. Such information is provided to a control device which automatically adjusts an exposure adjustment device to enhance the quality of the reformatted image.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1995Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Stanley Ward Stephenson, III
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Patent number: 5790764Abstract: The present invention comprises the steps of one-dimensionally converting, into a vector, a dot distribution around an attentional pixel in a K.times.L coordinate (K and L=odd numbers, M=L or K.noteq.L) adjacent to the attentional pixel, specifically, in a 3.times.3 coordinate, 3.times.5 (5.times.3) coordinate or 3.times.7 (7.times.3) coordinate on the basis of rasterized data of the coordinate; and then smoothing the image or heightening an image density by correcting a location error of the attentional pixel on the basis of the vector information and the kind of attentional pixel (a dot or a blank). Thus, according to the present invention, the image patterns can be smoothed and the image resolution can be increased in a pseudo state with ease and high precision without complicating a circuit constitution by a simple judgement operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventor: Yoshitaka Suzuki
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Patent number: 5790265Abstract: Disclosed are an image coding method and apparatus for coding digital image data in a highly efficient manner, and to an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding the data thus coded. Each image signal constituting the image data is partitioned into a plurality of pixel blocks, and coding of each of the image signals is performed in block units. A plurality of items of coded data obtained by such coding are gathered together to form a block (a re-sync block) corresponding to each image signal. A plurality of the re-sync blocks corresponding to the image signals of an image area of the original image data are sequentially combined, boundary-line information is inserted between mutually adjacent re-sync blocks, and an error correction code is attached to form a code for transmission. In the apparatus for receiving this code, the code is decoded into the original image data by partitioning the code into re-sync blocks and performing decoding and interpolation in re-sync block units.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Shikakura
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Patent number: 5786905Abstract: In an image scanner having a flat bed type structure and an automatic document feeding type structure, the scanner includes: an image read unit at least including a lamp, a mirror and CCD sensors to read a manuscript which is put on the structure; an image control unit operatively connected to the image read unit to process an image read by the image read unit; a host computer operatively connected to the image control means; and the image control unit including a main printed-circuit board provided for the original functions of the image scanner, a main connector connecting the image control means to the host computer, a user printed-circuit board selectively provided by a user as an extended slot and the board being mounted within the image control unit, and a user connector connecting the main printed-circuit board to the user printed-circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1995Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignees: PFU Limited, Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yukio Kaji, Norio Kanemitsu, Mikio Murosaki
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Patent number: 5786909Abstract: A photographic printing apparatus including a lens controlled to be positioned at a printing position, immediately adjacent a film negative, during photographic printing operation of the apparatus and at a normal position, displaced from the film negative, during other operations of the apparatus. Positioning the lens at the normal position, displaced from the film negative, enables the lens to be more easily protected and adjusted. The apparatus further includes a sample print detector apparatus comprising a CCD camera for capturing the sample print for display on a video monitor with a print position recognizing cursor. Key-subject points are specified with the cursor and mismatch between the key-subject points is determined in order to provide correction of filming-position. A rotating mechanism is also provided for rotating a negative mask member, lens member and exposure station by an identical angle of rotation to obtain a predetermined angle of exposure.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1993Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Miyawaki, Mitsuhiko Itojima, Hiroto Nakao, Takayuki Oka, Hisahiro Maeda, Masaaki Tsuji, Toshiro Akira
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Patent number: 5784495Abstract: A period determination signal is generated in accordance with the image type of an input image signal. A clock signal having one of a plurality of periods is generated in accordance with the period determination signal. A CR integration circuit having a resistor and at least one capacitor generates a triangular-wave signal based on the clock signal. The combined capacitance of the CR integration circuit is changed in accordance with the period determination signal. A pulse-width modulated binary image signal is produced by comparing the triangular-wave signal with the input image signal. The amplitude of the triangular signal is kept constant by changing the combined capacitance of the CR integration circuit in proportion to the period of the clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Moriya
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Patent number: 5784500Abstract: A binarization circuit compares the density value of the target pixel with the density value of surrounding pixels in the vicinity. A judging unit judges whether or not the target pixel is isolated from the surrounding pixels. A detection unit detects the density values of the target pixels which make the target pixels isolated by a binarization process. A calculation unit calculates the accumulated isolated pixel frequencies of each density value detected by the detecting function when the judging unit and the detecting unit have finished processing all of the original image. A determination unit determines a threshold value on the basis of the accumulated isolated pixels frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Toru Homma, Koji Yura, Yoshikatu Nakamura
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Patent number: 5784176Abstract: A method of noise reduction processing for reducing noise generated when an image of a photographic film is converted to a digital image signal includes the steps of: measuring a large area transmission density of each of a plurality of image frames recorded on the photographic film; classifying measured values of the large area transmission density into a plurality of groups; reading the image signals of the same image frame by an amount corresponding to the number of inputs of the image signals of the same image frame set in advance for each of the classified groups; and subjecting the image signals of the same image frame which have been read to averaging processing.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshihiko Narita
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Patent number: 5784543Abstract: The clock multiplier which is useful for multiplying the frequency of a clock signal by an integer factor, like 4 or 6. In a typical application this multiplier is used for achieving high addressability printing on a laser printer. In order to print at a quarter pixel resolution, the frequency of the clock signal must be multiplied by four. It is important that at the beginning of the pulse train, as occurs on the leading edge of each scanline, the new clock locks in at once with the input clock from the printer. The clock multiplier, as described below, has capabilities for multiplying the input clock by a factor of 4. Other factors, like 2, 6 or 8 can easily be achieved by expanding on the description. The circuit features automatic and instant locking to the input pulse train, as well as automatic tuning to the present clock frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: J. F. Philippe Marchand
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Patent number: 5784492Abstract: A method and system for deconvolution derived from the CLEAN technique. The nonlinear CLEAN method, combined with a priori knowledge of the point spread function allows for extraction and subsequent transmission of the non-redundant information. The point spread function is then treated as the redundancy function. Thus, the data set may be regarded as a convolution of the non-redundant information with the redundancy function. Since the non-redundant data is a small subset of the overall data set, images and/or other data may be transmitted over narrowband channels using the system of this invention. Effective data compression may be further enhanced by using the system of this invention prior to additional compression or encoding techniques based upon the digital data and digital compression techniques.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Nathan Cohen, Guido Sandri
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Patent number: 5781312Abstract: An image input apparatus capable of reliably reducing random noise and switching noise arising during a dummy pixel period using a simple circuit configuration and providing a high-quality video signal without horizontal lines. The image input apparatus is provided with a clamping circuit made up of a capacitor for feeding an analog image signal supplied from a CCD solid-state image pickup element via a first amplifier to a second amplifier through an alternating-current link, a reference voltage source for generating a predetermined reference voltage VR, and a first switch for effecting switching during the dummy pixel period of the CCD solid-state image pickup element. The clamping circuit is further provided with a resistor disposed between the capacitor and the second amplifier, and a second switch for selectively bridging across the resistor 152. This second switch is complimentarily activated in relation to the operation of the first switch.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1995Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Fuji Xerox, Co. Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Noda
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Patent number: 5781311Abstract: An image reading device includes a planar light source having sufficiently even illumination to allow accurate shading correction to be performed regardless of the position in the auxiliary scanning direction. The image reading device includes a light source, a photoelectric conversion device, a movement device and a computer. The planar light source includes a rod-shaped light-emitting device and a light-guiding plate that receives light from the rod-shaped light-emitting device and emits light from a single surface. The rod-shaped light-emitting device is at least along one lengthwise side of the light-guiding plate. The photoelectric conversion device converts the image into an electrical image signal which is processed by the computer.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Osamu Inoue, Yoshiyuki Takeda