Color Processing In Perceptual Color Space Patents (Class 345/591)
  • Patent number: 7557815
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing video signals comprises a receiver for receiving a video signal, a video pipeline for post-processing the received video signal, the video pipeline producing a post-processed video signal, and a video output module for converting the post-processed video signal, the video output module producing a formatted video signal. The video output module may further comprise an ancillary data injector, the injector inserting ancillary data into the post-processed video signal. Also, the video output system may further comprise a generator locking device or the video input module may include a generator locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff S. Ford, Claude Denton
  • Publication number: 20090153581
    Abstract: An electronic torque tool with multiple color display assembly comprises a driving portion formed at one end of the spanner body for driving an object; a handle formed at another end of the spanner body for being held by users; and a display portion installed between the driving portion and the handle; the display portion having a display screen for displaying related data; and a color display control module being built in the display screen for emitting lights of different colors so as to display the variation of data and change the background of the screen so that the user can identify the data and variation f the data easily and clearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Chih-Ching HSIEH
  • Patent number: 7542048
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing image metadata includes an input unit, an image metadata decoding unit, and an image color temperature converting unit. The input unit receives an input image, metadata corresponding to the color temperature of the input image, and color temperature information preferred by a user. The image metadata decoding unit calculates a color temperature corresponding to the metadata. The image color temperature converting unit converts the color temperature of the input image using the color temperature calculated by the image metadata decoding unit and the color temperature information preferred by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-kyun Kim, Du-sik Park, Chang-yeong Kim, Ki-won Yoo, Young-sik Huh
  • Patent number: 7532219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of modifying the appearance attributes of digital images comprising: defining in a first channel of a color corrector a first set of appearance attribute corrections to be applied to the images; determining a first set of appearance attribute correction parameters corresponding to the first set of appearance attribute corrections; in the first channel of the color corrector defining at least one further set of appearance attribute corrections to be applied to the images; determining a set of appearance attribute correction parameters corresponding to the or each of the further sets of appearance attribute corrections; and combining each of the sets of appearance attribute correction parameters into a single set of appearance attribute correction parameters. The invention also relates to a method where the channel is implemented in software and to apparatus and software for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Pandora International Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen David Brett
  • Publication number: 20090116819
    Abstract: To provide a multiplexing method which facilitates a reproduction process and reduces unpleasantness felt by a viewer about image quality. The multiplexing method includes: a step of judging whether or not a clip to be coded should be coded as part of a continuous reproduction unit in which bitstreams are structured so as to allow continuous reproduction (S100); a step of determining a color space that is common within the continuous reproduction unit when it is judged that the clip should be coded as part of the continuous reproduction unit (S110); a step of generating bitstreams by coding the clip to be coded according to a determined color space (S112); and a step of packet-multiplexing bitstreams (S118).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi Kondo, Tadamasa Toma, Katsuhiro Kanamori, Haruo Yamashita, Takeshi Ito, JUn Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20090102856
    Abstract: Color is edited using a color representation including digital values B (brightness), e and f such that B=?{square root over (D2+E2+F2)}, e=E/B, f=F/B, where DEF is a linear color coordinate system. Alternatively, color is represented using digital values B, C (chroma) and H (hue), where cos C=D/B and tan H=E/F. Brightness can be changed without a color shift by changing the B coordinate and leaving unchanged the other coordinates e and f or C and H. Other image editing techniques and other features are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Sergey N. Bezryadin
  • Publication number: 20090096806
    Abstract: The image signal converting apparatus is used in a lighting unit. The lighting unit includes a liquid crystal panel modulating a red component light according to a red image signal, a liquid crystal panel modulating a green component light according to a green image signal, and a liquid crystal panel modulating a blue component light according to a blue image signal. Yellow component light is superimposed on any of the red component light, the green component light and the blue component light. The image signal converting apparatus includes a controlling unit which controls a superimposition amount of yellow component light based on a specific image signal among a red image signal, a green image signal, and a blue image signal. A color corresponding to the specific image signal has a hue adjacent to a hue corresponding to the yellow component light. The controlling unit controls a reduction amount of the specific image signal based on the superimposition amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masutaka INOUE, Susumu TANASE, Takaaki ABE
  • Patent number: 7519219
    Abstract: A facial image photographed by a digital camera is downloaded to a PC. When a facial image correction program starts, a correction window and a correction item selection window open on a monitor. When a user opens the facial image in the correction window, a pixel extraction circuit extracts pixels representing a skin area, an eye area, a teeth area, and a hair area from the facial image. Correction items to be performed are determined in the correction item selection window. A cursor position detection circuit detects the position of a cursor in the correction window. When the cursor is in one of the areas, a facial image correction circuit judges whether the correction item corresponding to the area is selected. If the corresponding correction item is selected, the facial image correction circuit subjects a pixel pointed by the cursor to predetermined correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Koki Okamura
  • Publication number: 20090085924
    Abstract: A method and system for converting color image data (data outputting from element 202) from a, for example, three-dimensional color space format to a format usable by an n-primary display (206), wherein n is greater than or equal to 3. The system (converter 204) may define a two-dimensional sub-space having a plurality of two-dimensional positions, each position representing a set of n primary color values and a third, scaleable coordinate value for generating an n-primary display input signal (signal inputting toi display 206). Furthermore, the system may receive a three-dimensional color space input signal including out-of range pixel data not reproducible by a three-primary additive display, and may convert the data to side gamut color image pixel data suitable for driving the wide gamut color display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Moshe BEN-CHORIN, Oded Ben-David
  • Patent number: 7511715
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a color image projection unit and a screen. The color image projection unit includes a converter which receives image signals of three primary colors, and converts the received image signals of three primary colors into image signals of four or more primary colors, and a color image projector which includes a plurality of image projection devices having respective primary colors, and which receives the image signals of four or more primary colors, and projects the received image signals of four or more primary colors onto the screen. The color image projector is capable of physically adjusting positions of the image signals of four or more primary colors, which are projected onto the screen such that the positions of the image signals are coincident with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenro Ohsawa, Nagaaki Ohyama, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Takeyuki Ajito
  • Publication number: 20090073182
    Abstract: Various aspects can be implemented for two dimensional representation of a color space. In general, one aspect can be a method for representing a color space, the method includes obtaining first, second, and third primary colors for the color space. The method also includes providing a first virtual triangle, the first virtual triangle includes a base, a height, and an area defined by height*base/2. The method further includes assigning the first primary color as the height of the first virtual triangle. The method also includes assigning a sum of the second and third primary colors as the base of the first virtual triangle, whereby the intensity of the first primary color can be adjusted by modifying the area of the first virtual triangle. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: RGB LIGHT LIMITED
    Inventor: Massimo Ballerini
  • Publication number: 20090066717
    Abstract: A method and system for allowing a computer system platform the ability to intervene in the content workflow and perform additional color management based upon the content state and any color management policies in place is provided. Profile data from a source is converted to an intermediate color space upon entry into the platform at a choke point. In response to the current color content, profile data, and/or policy controls of the platform, color management input can be managed to change color management data immediately, change color management data at a later point, and/or ignore color management data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stokes, Adrian Secchia, Cyra Richardson, Kerry Hammil
  • Patent number: 7502032
    Abstract: An operating system (OS) includes a color adjuster that can map a color space to an adjusted color space that a user can discriminate. The color adjuster can map colors in the gaps of the user's discriminable color space to colors that the user can discriminate or, alternatively to cues. The OS can also include an assessor to determine whether a user would benefit from the use of an adjusted color space. The assessor can also receive color discrimination data associated with a user without having to perform an assessment (e.g., from a profile or “passport” that includes data from a previous assessment performed on another computer or device). This data can be stored on removable media, a smart device, a node on a network, and then accessed by the assessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cyra S Richardson, Peter A Gurevich, Thomas W Olsen, Bradley Phillip Gibson, Michael D Stokes
  • Patent number: 7489320
    Abstract: A system and method for conserving memory bandwidth while supporting multiple sprites includes a memory device that stores main display data and the multiple sprites for presentation upon a display device. A display controller populates a fetch table with pixel source identifiers that indicate pixel sources from either the main display data or one of the multiple sprites. The pixel source identifiers correspond to display pixels of the display device. The display controller then utilizes the pixel source identifiers to directly locate the appropriate display pixels from the various pixel sources for providing to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Barinder Singh Rai, Jimmy Kwok Lap Lai
  • Publication number: 20090027755
    Abstract: A color display including: a stacked plurality of color layers, each layer being selectively reflective or absorptive of light in a different portion of the human visible spectrum; wherein, the layers are each configured as a plurality of independently addressable picture elements, at least some of the picture elements in at least one of the layers are superimposed in the stack over at least some picture elements in at least one other of the layers, and a resolution of the superimposed picture elements in the at least one of the layers is different from the resolution of the superimposed picture elements in the at least one other of the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Stellbrink, Peter Fricke
  • Publication number: 20090009528
    Abstract: A method for color conversion includes calculating distances between color coordinates in a conversion palette and a color coordinate for a pixel and assigning the pixel a color coordinate of the closest color coordinates in the conversion palette. The color coordinates in the conversion palette include a first point and a second point in an RGB color cube on a neutral axis of said RGB color cube and on opposite surfaces of a first sphere, a third point and a fourth point on the neutral axis and on opposite surfaces of a second sphere and on the neutral axis, and a plurality of other points distributed over a surface of the first sphere and around the neutral axis, where a volume of the second sphere is twice the volume of the first sphere, and a center of the first and second spheres is a center of the RGB color cube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Olive
  • Patent number: 7474314
    Abstract: A method for selecting paints is disclosed. This method includes the steps of selecting true paint colors, displaying device-dependent colors corresponding to the true paint colors in a simulated full size room and interacting with the buyers to change the displayed colors and select the desired colors. The method also includes the step of dispensing paints corresponding to the selected colors. The displayed colors are generated by multiple color and/or white LEDs to provide a wider gamut of displayable colors and more color saturation and chromatic. A full-size apparatus for displaying paint colors using device-dependent colors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Carl Minchew, Patrick Tak Fu Chong
  • Patent number: 7474438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for gamut mapping to a printer gamut that includes receiving a narrow gamut, a wide gamut, a printer gamut for printing on a printer and a predetermined mapping between the narrow and printer gamuts, identifying overlapping areas in the wide gamut, the narrow and printer gamuts, determining when the narrow gamut overlaps areas of the wide gamut, utilizing the narrow gamut values when the determination provides overlapping areas of the narrow gamut and the wide gamuts, selecting a wide gamut interpolation point corresponding to the surface of the printer gamut when narrow gamut areas do not overlap the wide gamut according to the determination, selecting a narrow gamut interpolation point by mapping the narrow gamut to the printer gamut and interpolating the narrow gamut interpolation point and the wide gamut interpolation point expanding the narrow gamut values into the printer gamut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jay S Gondek
  • Patent number: 7457003
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing color manipulation using virtual gamuts. In one aspect of the invention, a method to perform color manipulation on a digital processing system includes: performing color manipulation using a virtual gamut of a device if a real gamut of the device is poor quality. When the real gamut of the device is wide, color manipulations are performed using the real gamut of the device. In one example according the this aspect, whether or not the real gamut of the device is poor in quality is determined by comparing an area of the real gamut with a threshold gamut area in a chromaticity diagram. A virtual profile of the device specifies the virtual gamut of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Marcu, Steve Swen, Luke Stanislaw Wallis
  • Patent number: 7456845
    Abstract: An imaging or other sensory reproduction system efficiently converts image or other sensory data between a perceptual color space (e.g., the sRGB color space) and a physical color space (unity gamma) or other perceptual/physical sensory models that are related by an expression involving a computationally expensive exponential function. The imaging system calculates exponential functions that can be composed from computationally inexpensive operations, such as square root, square, reciprocal, as well as multiplications and/or additions and subtractions. These computationally less expensive functions are then combined, such as in a weighted and/or offset mean, summation or difference to approximate the computationally expensive exponential function. The imaging system evaluates the expression using the approximation to efficiently yield the converted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wilt, Gideon A. Yuval, Michael D. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20080238932
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a color value assigned to a spatial point for a low-noise volume rendering of an object is provided. The device mixes a first color value from a classification unit with a second color value obtained by the application of an illumination model on the first color value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Klaus Engel, Jesko Schwarzer
  • Patent number: 7417762
    Abstract: A method which enables high-accuracy color conversion. On condition that conversion from a second color space into a first color space can be made accurately, target coordinates in the first color space are determined and coordinates in the second color space are arbitrarily determined. The coordinates in the second color space are converted into coordinates in the first color space and the difference between the resulting coordinates and the target coordinates is calculated. A trial for moving the coordinates in the second color space is repeated until the difference becomes smaller than a prescribed threshold. Therefore, the correlation between the first and second color spaces can be defined by repeating only the accurate conversion process so that color conversion can be accurately made over the whole color gamut according to the correlation thus defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Arai
  • Patent number: 7414631
    Abstract: An improvement to sigmoidal gaussian cusp knee (SGCK) gamut mapping algorithm useful for gamut boundary descriptors (GBDs) that are defined with multiple shells rather than a single hull. The gamut mapping algorithm involves a lightness-rescaling step and a chroma compression step, in which points on each of the shells of the source GBD are mapped to corresponding points on the respective shells of the destination GBD. In situations where there is a mismatch between the number of shells in the source GBD and the destination GBD, such as a case where one of the GBDs is defined by a singly-shelled GBD whereas the other is defined by a two-shelled GBD, an induced hue slice may be constructed so as to simulate the missing shell. In addition, an induced hue slice may be constructed in a situation where lightness rescaling results in a mapping that is too steep between source and destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Patent number: 7408558
    Abstract: A method for displaying a color image by providing a color image display apparatus having at least three narrow-band emissive light sources that define a display color gamut. Image data values are accepted that are defined within an original color gamut that is smaller in area than the display color gamut. The input image data values are transformed into display color gamut data values having an expanded image chromaticity range. At least a portion of the expanded chromaticity range lies outside the original color gamut. At least a portion of the display color gamut lies outside the expanded image chromaticity range. The display color gamut data values are provided to the color image display apparatus to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Madden, Marek W. Kowarz
  • Patent number: 7405736
    Abstract: An imaging or other sensory reproduction system efficiently converts image or other sensory data between a perceptual color space (e.g., the sRGB color space) and a physical color space (unity gamma) or other perceptual/physical sensory models that are related by an expression involving a computationally expensive exponential function. The imaging system calculates exponential functions that can be composed from computationally inexpensive operations, such as square root, square, reciprocal, as well as multiplications and/or additions and subtractions. These computationally less expensive functions are then combined, such as in a weighted and/or offset mean, summation or difference to approximate the computationally expensive exponential function. The imaging system evaluates the expression using the approximation to efficiently yield the converted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wilt, Gideon A. Yuval, Michael D. Stokes
  • Patent number: 7403836
    Abstract: The automatic work apparatus extracts the target image of which photos are taken by the left and right CCD cameras, specifies the spatial position of the target and executes an operation to the target by the arm. Two regions, the central region and the peripheral ones, allocated to the image taken by the CCD camera so that if the target image stays in the peripheral region of the image then the cameras are rotated to take the target image in the central portion and the position determining module determines the spatial position of the target and then tasks are done for the targets. The relative distance from the target is adjusted by transfer equipment. This invention is applicable to an automatic work apparatus that can operate a predetermined operation for moving target and an automatic operation control program to carry out such operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiaki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7400332
    Abstract: A digital color imager provides an extended luminance range, enabling a method for an easy transformation into all other color spaces having luminance as a component. White pixels are added to hexagonal red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels can alternatively have an extended dynamic range as described by U.S. Pat. No. (6,441,852 to Levine et al.). Especially the white pixels may have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. This larger size can be implemented by concatenation of “normal” size hexagonal white pixels. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Oigital Imaging Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Schweng, Stefan Spaeth
  • Patent number: 7394468
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting a digital colour image to a digital colour image with improved colour distinction. This method improves the colour distinction in a colour image for an observer suffering from a colour-blindness. The method includes defining a number of main colour values of a received digital colour image, converting the main colour values to converted main colour values such that the converted main colour values are perceived as distinguishable from each other by a colour-blind observer, and rendering the digital colour image with the converted main colour values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Paul M. Hofman, Waldo Ruiterman, Frederik G. Heeman
  • Patent number: 7394470
    Abstract: In a method for reversibly transforming a data format, a forward transformation and a backward transformation are reciprocally conducted for data between unit systems having different resolution levels, and the forward transformation and the backward transformation, a first unit system having a lower resolution level is used as a common unit system, and a reversible data conversion is conducted by an integer operation for data in the first unit system having the lower resolution level and data in a second unit system having a higher resolution level higher than the first unit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nishimura, Yasuyuki Nomizu, Hiroyuki Sakuyama, Junichi Hara, Nekka Matsuura, Takanori Yano, Taku Kodama, Toshio Miyazawa, Yasuyuki Shinkai
  • Publication number: 20080150958
    Abstract: Techniques for low cost gamma mapping convert three-primary input image data, such as RGB data, into a four primary color display color space, such as an RGBW color space, for rendering on the display by calculating a value for W image data based upon the RGB image input data; deriving an allowable value for W based upon a chromaticity specification of the display, and calculating output values for R, G and B image data based upon the allowable W value. A display system receiving input image data specified in three input primary colors includes modules for converting the input image data into image data specifying color values in four display primary colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: CLAIRVOYANTE, INC
    Inventor: Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7382415
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a color correction process designed for enabling all the hues in the image properly corrected without leaving any uncorrected range; the inputted image data represented by the combination of 3 color signals is divided into a plurality of ranges by the hue so that color correction can be made by the range of each hue; in the color correction processing circuit by each hue, in order for the peripheral area of the range set for color correction to be prevented from being left uncorrected, the color correction process is designed so that correction ranges peripherally overlap with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Shuji Kiyama, Masayuki Bannai, Masakazu Fukuchi, Junichi Onodera
  • Patent number: 7375729
    Abstract: An animation display device, which is a dedicated hardware circuit implemented in an integrated circuit, includes a control register for storing a plurality of control bits, an image memory for storing image data, and a processing unit coupled to the control register and the image data. The processing unit reads the image data stored in the image memory according to the control bits so as to generate an animation effect. The animation display device generates the animation effect frame by frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Zuong Chou, Zou-Ping Chen, Tsung-Chi Lin, Cheng-Shun Liao
  • Patent number: 7372469
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rotating YUV4:2:0 image in a digital display device, such as TV image system. A YUV4:2:0 image is separated to a Y division matrix and a U and V division matrix. Then the Y division is performed a rotation matrix calculation. And the U and V division matrix is performed a reverse rotation matrix calculation. A rotated YUV4:2:0 image is obtained by combining the processed Y division matrix and the processed U and V division matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Te Chou
  • Patent number: 7365754
    Abstract: A system and method for image acquisition enables selective automated application of color management to color image data generated by an image-capturing device by the device driver for the device. In the image acquisition system, each image-capturing device has properties or operation parameters that can be set to control the operation of the device. During an image acquisition operation, color image data generated by the image-capturing device are transmitted to the device driver. If the operation parameters of the device are set to indicate that color management is to be performed, the device driver calls color management functions provided by the operating system to perform the desired color operation, such as a color space conversion, on the received color image data. The processed color image data are then sent to the image-processing application for further processing or editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Stokes, Franc J. Camara, David M. Parsons, Gilman K. Wong, Vladimir Sadovsky
  • Patent number: 7365755
    Abstract: The present invention provides for gamut mapping between a source device and a destination device, the destination device having a destination device black point with a hue, and the source device and the destination device being respectively characterized by a source gamut shell and a destination gamut shell. A lightness compression is performed using the source gamut shell, the destination gamut shell and the destination device black point. A constant lightness transformation is performed, wherein the constant lightness transformation modifies the destination gamut shell so that a shell boundary of the destination gamut shell on the hue plane containing the destination device black point is shifted from an original position to align with a neutral axis of the destination gamut shell. A chroma compression is performed using the source gamut shell and the modified destination gamut shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Patent number: 7355745
    Abstract: A document-to-printer color gamut matching system enables comparison of at least two color maps in a manner that allows selection of the printer that will result in the best print output. Information related to the document to be printed and information describing the color gamut(s) that each available printer is capable of printing is compared. Each color gamut is evaluated to determine suitability for use with the document. The document-to-printer gamut matching system may provide the author of the document with a number of candidate printers best matched to the printing of the document depending on the rendering intent of the author; may select a printer based on a measurement of best fit; or may generate a custom color map to result in a color gamut that is satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard
    Inventors: Kevin R. Hudson, Huanzhoa Zeng
  • Patent number: 7348992
    Abstract: An apparatus for color compensation includes a chroma deflection generation unit to calculate a chroma deflection based on an input chroma signal and a predetermined first reference value, a hue deflection generation unit to calculate a hue deflection based on an input hue signal and a predetermined second reference value, a chroma deflection function generation unit to calculate a luminance deflection based on an input luminance signal and a predetermined third value, and a tone mapping function generation unit to output the chroma signal, hue signal and luminance signal after individually compensating these signals based on the chroma deflection, hue deflection and luminance deflection. According to the present invention, when color is distorted due to transmission flaws, the color can be compensated to be an appropriate color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-cheol Kim, Jae-hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 7345786
    Abstract: A method for color cast removal in a scanned image in L*a*b* space includes generating a first color cast correction curve for mapping L* to a first color correction, ?a*, (or ?b*) wherein the first correction curve provides a desired a* shift in midtone regions and is modulated as a function of L* such that black and white points are unaffected; for each pixel n in the scanned image, passing L*n through the first color cast correction curve for obtaining a value of ?a*n; and adding the value of ?a*n to the scanned image's original a*n component. To ensure that the color corrected a* remains within gamut, a second correction curve for applying a clipping factor to the mapped ?a* may be generated with the a*n passing through the second correction curve for obtaining a clipping factor Cn; and modifying the a*n value by Cn(?a*n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Rumph, Charles M. Hains
  • Publication number: 20080062192
    Abstract: Displaying colors in a color selection interface is disclosed. Displaying includes identifying a first plurality of colors associated with a color selection interface, mapping each color in the first plurality of colors to an allowed color in an allowed color set of one or more colors to obtain a second plurality of colors, wherein mapping is performed based at least in part on a color lookup table, and visually displaying the second plurality of colors in the color selection interface, wherein the color selection interface is configured to receive a color selection from the second plurality of colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Voliter, Teri Pettit
  • Publication number: 20080062193
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention receive an output color including a first hue, identify from the color profile a plurality of output color values that have a hue substantially equal to the first hue, provide a user interface that allows a user to create an edited output color including a second hue, and shift the hue of the identified plurality of output color values from the first hue to the second hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Thor A. Olson
  • Patent number: 7342593
    Abstract: Color mapping methods, data signals, articles of manufacture, and color mapping apparatuses are described. According to one aspect, a color mapping method includes providing a spectral model corresponding to a respective image forming device configured to utilize a plurality of available colorants of a device dependent color space to form a plurality of hard images, providing a colorimetric value of a device independent color space, and searching a plurality of weighting values for individual ones of the available colorants to associate the colorimetric value with a plurality of weights of the available colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ufuk A. Agar
  • Patent number: 7339596
    Abstract: By using a spectral reflectance of a projection plane or color information under a light source, which is stored in wall color storage means 4, matrix calculation means 5 calculates a conversion matrix, and mixing amounts R, G, B of primary colors of an input image are converted into corrected mixing amounts R?, G?, B?, and they are projected by means of a projector. Thereby, even in a case where a wall is colored, correct color reproduction is made in a colorimetric manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Johji Tajima
  • Publication number: 20080043033
    Abstract: A method for a color tone correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of first intermediate components by scaling a plurality of first color components towards a first ideal color, wherein the first color components (i) are for a first plurality of pixels in an input video signal and (ii) fall inside a first region of a color space, (B) generating a plurality of first corrected components by adjusting the first intermediate components such that a first mapping of the first color components to the first corrected components is both (i) continuous in the color space and (ii) non-overlapping in the color space and (C) generating an output video signal by combining the first corrected components with a plurality of unaltered color components, wherein the unaltered color components (i) are for a second plurality of the pixels and (ii) fall outside the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Lowell L. Winger
  • Patent number: 7330189
    Abstract: An information display device and an information processor for performing, in the case where an image is delivered to information terminals such as a mobile phone varied in display, optimum image processing in accordance with performance of the display of each of the information terminals and content information including a material and an object distance contained in the image in addition to a framework of a color conversion by a color management technology. The information display device and the information processor are also capable of changing parameters of the image processing in accordance with a user image preference and an image texture input by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuko Nichogi, Katsuhiro Kanamori, Yoichi Miyake, Norimichi Tsumura, Makoto Oishi
  • Patent number: 7330286
    Abstract: A CPU of a color printer performs gamma correction and a matrix operation M on an RGB color space image data derived by a matrix operation S. Using gamma correction value settings, the CPU performs gamma conversion of image data. Matrix operation M converts the RGB color space to an XYZ color space. When performing matrix operation M, the CPU refers to a PrintMatching tag and performs the matrix operation using a matrix (M) that corresponds to the indicated color space, in order to reflect the color space used for generation of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7327372
    Abstract: In a color correcting parameter calculator, a color correcting unit 11 calculates a target color by executing color correction processing of an input color on a reference side while a reference side color perception value calculator unit 13 calculates color perception values of the input color and its target color on the reference side. An object side color perception value calculator unit 15 calculates color perception values of an input color on an object side. A color difference searching unit 16 detects that input color on the reference side which has a minimum color difference with the input color on the object side, by accessing a color perception storage unit 14 for input and target colors for the reference side. A device dependent color unit 17 on the object side calculates device dependent color data of a target color on the object side with reference to perception values of the target color on the reference side while a color correcting parameter calculator 18 calculates color correcting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7324118
    Abstract: An optimal pen color is automatically selected for a given background color based upon a predetermined relative distance in the Munsell color-order system. The predetermined distance is defined in terms of saturation, hue and or lightness. In general, sufficient visual distinction is observed when the color representations of the pen and the background are separated by the predetermined relative distance in the Munsell color-order system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Fujioka, Kunikazu Tsuda, Kohji Hikawa
  • Patent number: 7315309
    Abstract: In order to perform pseudo-three-dimensional display for analyzing color distribution, there are provided a color-distribution-information input step of inputting color-distribution information indicating color coordinate values that sample points in a first color system can have in a second color system, a user's-instruction input step of inputting an instruction of a user relating to an operation of generating object-surface information, and a generation step of generating three-dimensional-object-surface information in accordance with the instruction of the user, based on the color-distribution information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirochika Matsuoka, Suzuko Fukao
  • Patent number: 7312800
    Abstract: A system which utilizes the processing capabilities of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in the graphics controller. Each frame of each video stream or track is decoded into a buffer and a color profile indicating parameters of the color space of the video source is associated with the buffer. The compositor uses the color profile to convert each buffer to a defined working color space from the source color space. This conversion and rendering of the buffer is performed using the fragment processing capabilities of the GPU. The compositor then instructs the GPU to convert the buffer to the final color space of the display device and the frame is rendered to the frame buffer for final display. Each of these operations is done in real time for each frame of the video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Matthew Gies, James Batson, Tim Cherna
  • Publication number: 20070279430
    Abstract: Various embodiments utilize a set of pixels that that make up an image that is to appear in a user interface. The method divides the applicable color space into pre-defined regions and then analyzes the image by mapping color values associated with pixels of the image into defined regions. After mapping the color values, the method determines which one or more region(s) is associated with the most mapped color values and then selects that region(s) for further analysis. Using the selected region(s), the method then divides the region(s) into further sub-regions and repeats the mapping process, progressively narrowing the regions down until a single color is selected for use in a frame that comprises part of the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mark S. Flick