Color Patents (Class 345/597)
  • Patent number: 7355600
    Abstract: A method of globally analyzing intersections between objects in computer animation includes providing objects represented by meshes, with each of the meshes being formed by a set of vertices, where a set of pairs of vertices defines a set of edges of the mesh. All edges of the meshes are checked to determine if the edges intersect with any of the meshes. An intersection path, formed by the intersection of the meshes, is traced and which vertices that are contained within the intersection path are determined. A polarity of each of the contained vertices is set to indicate that those vertices are contained within the intersection path. The analysis forms the backbone of a collision-response algorithm for unoriented objects such as cloth that is better than previous existing algorithms. The analysis also allows objects to be simulated even when hand-animated elements of the simulation have extreme amounts of interpenetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: David E. Baraff, Andrew Witkin, Michael Kass
  • Patent number: 7355612
    Abstract: A method of displaying an image with a display device having a set of defective display pixels includes receiving image data for the image. The method includes generating a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame corresponding to the image data. The method includes selecting a first position and a second position spatially offset from the first position, the first and the second positions selected based on positions of the defective display pixels and characteristics of a human visual system. The method includes alternating between displaying the first sub-frame in the first position and displaying the second sub-frame in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Niranjan Damera-Venkata, Daniel R. Tretter
  • Patent number: 7352373
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for creation, modification and implementation of dither pattern structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiao-Fan Feng, Scott J. Daly
  • Patent number: 7336285
    Abstract: Aspects for maintaining and providing a calibrated color environment for display devices of a computer system. In an aspect of an exemplary method, the method includes determining relevant state data. The method further includes saving the relevant state data as calibration information for the calibrated color environment. The relevant state data includes information about a display that has an effect on color, such as a framebuffer driver state, a display driver state, and phospher characteristics of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Hendry, David Hayward, John Calhoun, Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 7336275
    Abstract: A pseudo random number generator that generates a plurality of intermediate values, where each successive intermediate value is based, at least in part, on one of the succeeding intermediate values, where a final value based on a subset of the plurality of intermediate values. In application, the final value is based on performing a logical operation on the penultimate and last generated intermediate values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Lefebvre, Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 7330585
    Abstract: A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships for providing one or more combinations of complementary colors for the desired starting color based on color theory and expert input. One implementation of the invention provides a kiosk with a display device, an input device, and a processing unit configured to receive a starting color via the input device, determine one or more complementary colors for the starting color, and provide one or more color combinations via the display device, each color combination including the starting color and one or more of the complementary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Rose Rice, Damien Reynolds, Marc Webb
  • 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: 7317458
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display unit that arranges and displays display images of a plurality of original images in a plurality of display areas on a display so as to be comparable with each other, an operation input unit that sets a color temperature of the display image independently every display image or interlockingly with respect to the display images on photographing data or information on the color temperature set in the past, and a display-color correcting unit that generates the display image whose color temperature has been corrected on the basis of the setting by the operation input unit, displays the generated display image displayed in the display area on the display via the display unit, and corrects the color temperature of the original image so as to match that of the display image upon the storing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Wada
  • Patent number: 7286142
    Abstract: A method of rendering a plurality of graphical objects of an image on a scanline basis, with each scanline having at least one run of pixels, and each run of pixels being associated with at least one of the graphical objects such that the pixels of the run are within edges of the at least one graphical object, includes the steps of decomposing each of the graphical objects into at least one edge representing the corresponding graphical object, and sorting one or more arrays containing the edges representing the graphical objects of the image. At least one of the arrays is sorted in an order from a highest priority graphical object to a lowest priority graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: David Christopher Smith, Giles Puckett
  • Patent number: 7283142
    Abstract: A color display having horizontal sub-pixel arrangements and layouts is disclosed. The display can include a plurality of a sub-pixel group. The sub-pixel group can have a plurality of sub-pixels wherein each sub-pixel has a height along a vertical axis and a width along a horizontal axis. The width of each sub-pixel is greater in length than its height in the sub-pixel group. The display also includes a column driver coupled to each sub-pixel in a column and a row driver coupled to each sub-pixel in a row of the sub-pixel group. Each sub-pixel in the sub-pixel group is coupled to the row driver along the width of the sub-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Clairvoyante, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Lloyd Credelle, Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Moon Hwan Im
  • Patent number: 7274383
    Abstract: A three-color pixel element for a display comprises a blue emitter disposed at the origin of a rectangular coordinate system having four quadrants, a pair of red emitters and a pair of green emitters spaced apart from the blue emitter and symmetrically disposed about the origin of the rectangular coordinate system in a first and second pair of opposing quadrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Clairvoyante, Inc
    Inventor: Candice Hellen Brown Elliot
  • Patent number: 7268790
    Abstract: A display system provides temporal stochastic dithering to image data for storage in a frame buffer for display. Stochastic dithering is used to reduce the size of the frame buffer and the complexity of the drive circuitry that is used to display an image in accordance with the image data. The bit depth of the frame buffer is reduced by spatially dithering image data for the image data before the image data is written into the frame buffer. Additionally, the displayed image is temporally dithered by using a different dither pattern for successive frames. Uncorrelated stochastic dither patterns are used to minimize detection of the dither patterns within the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Small, Christopher A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 7256795
    Abstract: Power consumption in a portable computer device that provides true-color simulation on a liquid crystal display can be realized by selectively operating a graphics controller that drives the LCD to selectively enable or disable true color simulation. Disabling dithering which provides true color simulation in an LCD, can significantly reduce power consumption by a portable computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: I-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7239327
    Abstract: A method for processing a digital signal to enhance the resolution is disclosed. An embodiment provides for a method of processing an image for display on a display having sub-pixel display capability. The method first maps a plurality sub-pixels of the display to corresponding regions of the image. Each sub-pixel may be mapped to a unique region of the image. Next, the method accesses the image, which was sampled to have a higher spatial resolution than the spatial resolution of the display. Then, for each sub-pixel of the display, the method calculates an intensity value for one color of a plurality of colors in the image. The calculation may be based on the intensity of that color alone. Finally, the method causes the sub-pixels on the output display to display the colors in proportion to the calculated intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Amnon Silverstein
  • Patent number: 7236179
    Abstract: In general, the invention relates to techniques for reconstructing color channels in a multi-channel display device. The invention may be particularly useful in reconstructing the light source spectra for the color channels of liquid crystal displays (LCD). In order to accurately model and calibrate a display device, an accurate light source spectrum estimate for each of the individual color channels is needed. In accordance with the invention, a light source spectrum can be determined for each color channel of a display based on measured emission spectra for the color channels, an inverted contrast ratio for the display, and an assumed transmission spectrum for a light valve in the display. The invention provides techniques to compensate for light leakage from adjacent color channels with regards to wavelength dependent transmissions that cause hue shifts in images reconstructed by the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Arkady Ten
  • Patent number: 7230629
    Abstract: A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships implementing a data-driven color model. A starting color is associated with a first color in the color database. One or more predefined color palettes associated with the first color are retrieved. Each palette including one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Damien Reynolds, Mary Rose Rice, Marc Webb
  • Patent number: 7221381
    Abstract: The gamma adjustment allows the luminance for the sub-pixel arrangement to match the non-linear gamma response of the human eye's luminance channel, while the chrominance can match the linear response of the human eye's chrominance channels. The gamma correction allows the algorithms to operate independently of the actual gamma of a display device. The sub-pixel rendering techniques disclosed with gamma adjustment can be optimized for a display device gamma to improve response time, dot inversion balance, and contrast because gamma correction and compensation of the sub-pixel rendering algorithm provides the desired gamma through sub-pixel rendering. These techniques can adhere to any specified gamma transfer curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Clairvoyante, Inc
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Seok Jin Han, Moon Hwan Im, In Chul Baek, Michael Francis Higgins, Paul Higgins
  • Patent number: 7209144
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide an image-display apparatus including an image display, such as a liquid-crystal display panel, where the image display can display a limited number of gray scales, interpolation is performed so that the number of gray scales displayed by the image display becomes the same as that of gray scales of obtained image data. The image-display apparatus can have the liquid-crystal display panel or the like and can be mounted on a mobile phone, a PDA, and so forth, so as to process and display image data transmitted from outside sources. First, a CPU performs a bit-slice process for the obtained image data, so as to reduce the data amount thereof. Next, a dither processing unit performs a dither process for interpolating the reduced data amount, so as to represent half-tone gray scales simulatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kurumisawa
  • Patent number: 7206000
    Abstract: A system and process for generating a two-layer, 3D representation of a digital or digitized image from the image and a pixel disparity map of the image is presented. The two layer representation includes a main layer having pixels exhibiting background colors and background disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of depth discontinuity areas in the image, as well as pixels exhibiting colors and disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of the image not found in these depth discontinuity areas. The other layer is a boundary layer made up of pixels exhibiting foreground colors, foreground disparities and alpha values associated with the correspondingly located pixels of the depth discontinuity areas. The depth discontinuity areas correspond to prescribed sized areas surrounding depth discontinuities found in the image using a disparity map thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Zitnick, III, Richard Szeliski, Sing Bing Kang, Matthew Uyttendaele, Simon Winder
  • Patent number: 7205995
    Abstract: This invention is a computer program and process that make it possible for the novice or experienced crafter to convert any digital picture into a customize high quality painting. The crafter can choose the subject that he wants to paint (his children, a scanned pictures, an image from the internet, etc). He can choose the size of the painting, the pigments that he will like to use (acrylic, oil, markers etc), the surface (canvas, paper etc), and the level of complexity of his project. The invention generates a ‘color in line’ drawing and detailed instructions on how to accurately and artistically fill the drawing with paint in order to create a high quality fine art painting with likeness to the original digital picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventors: Alon Hod, Tony Topaz, Noam Small
  • Patent number: 7193632
    Abstract: A distributed color selection and coordination system including a remote computer communicatively coupled to a server. The remote computer is configured to select a starting color and access a database in the server to find one or more complementary colors. The colors in the database are arranged in a predetermined relationship with other colors in the database, the relationship between colors based on color theory. The remote computer is capable of storing personal information and color selections on the server. An in-store kiosk is communicatively coupled to the server and configured to execute color selection and coordination software. The in-store kiosk is capable of retrieving stored personal information and color selections from the server which were previously stored from the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Rose Rice, Damien Reynolds, Marc Webb
  • Patent number: 7187386
    Abstract: A paint color matching and coordinating system comprises an interface for receiving an input reference color, a processor capable of reading a memory, a memory including (1) instructions readable by the processor and (2) a database of architectural paint colors spanning all or most of the known color space, and a display generator. In use, the interface of the system receives an input reference color from a user. The processor selects a “reference paint color” from the database, the reference paint color being visually closer, with respect to color space, to the input reference color than any other paint color in the database. According to the invention, color space is divided into a plurality of fixed, generally equally sized, non-overlapping, contiguous portions, each color space portion being defined as the space of all colors within a band of hues within color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Mary R. Rice, James P. Pace
  • Patent number: 7180524
    Abstract: An assortment of color elements is grouped within a plurality of color families which are organized in accordance with a circular color chart (FIG. 10-A) and a columnar chart (FIG. 11-A). Except for the neutral-gray color family, a pair of boundary-hues respectively defines the extent of acceptable hue variation within each group, resulting in an included range of hue within each color family, and an excluded range of hue in between neighboring color families. Variant-hue charts enhance color comparison and selection within each main color family by displaying contrasting variations of all three color attributes, that is, value, saturation, and hue, within a single chart. Variant-hue charts also consolidate color elements into a compact format, and provide a graphical user interface for computer color selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Dale Axelrod
  • Patent number: 7180526
    Abstract: A method for improving compatibility between an application program and a display device of a computer system includes: providing a first format in a first frame buffer, the first format compatible with a format for an application program, providing a second format in a second frame buffer, the second format compatible with a format for an output device, and transforming inputs from the application program from the first format in the first frame buffer to the second format in the second frame buffer for output on the output device. With the present invention, new formats can be developed to reduce costs and improve performance with transparent compatibility for programs developed to correspond with old formats. Thus, improved flexibility for supporting a variety of formats developed for differing memory depths, differing resolutions, and differing color formats is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Dowdy
  • Patent number: 7180525
    Abstract: A graphics system comprising a set of rendering processors and a series of filtering units. Each of the rendering processors couples to a corresponding one of the filtering units. Each rendering processor RP(K) is configured to (a) generate a stream of samples in response to received graphics primitives, (b) add a dither value DK to a data component of each the samples in the stream to obtain dithered data components, (c) buffer the dithered data components in an internal frame buffer, and (d) forward a truncated version of the dithered data components to the corresponding filtering unit. The filtering units are configured to perform a weighted averaging computation on the truncated dithered data components in a pipelined fashion to determine pixel data components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel David Naegle
  • Patent number: 7170524
    Abstract: In an original image, an area whose brightness is smaller than a predetermined value is detected as an ink line area, and a neighboring area of the ink line area, which surrounds the ink line area, is detected as a neighboring area. Furthermore, with respect to an area other than the ink line area and the neighboring area in the original image, an outline portion of an image is detected as an outline area. A color is applied to the ink line area and the outline area, and a different color is applied to an area other than the above two types of area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Fujita
  • Patent number: 7164430
    Abstract: A system and method for rendering a non-zero thickness line on a pixel-limited output device such that aliasing of the line is reduced. The edges defining a line segment are expanded to insure that any pixel touched by the line segment has its center included in the bounds of the line segment. The area of any pixel partially or fully covered by the expanded line is determined. If one edge of the line traverses the pixel, the area is determined according to whether a triangular or triangular plus parallelogram area is covered. If more than one edge of the line segment traverses a pixel, the area covered is computed based on the single edge case. With the area covered by the line segment known, the color or shading of the pixel is determined by linear interpolation between the line and the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang (Jeff) Jiao, Zhou (Mike) Hong
  • Patent number: 7161634
    Abstract: An error diffusion system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention adjusts the color depth of an RGB signal using error diffusion without the using an expensive frame buffer. Specifically, a color depth adjustment unit in accordance with the present invention can perform error diffusion on an RGB signal using two error buffers, which are smaller in memory size than typical line buffers that would be used for the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Huaya Microelectronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wai Khaun Long
  • Patent number: 7158145
    Abstract: A description is given of a method for applying colored information to an object (4), the object having at least two different chromophoric particles, at least in a layer (4A) close to the surface, which change the color of this layer (4A) under the influence of laser radiation, laser radiation (1, 2, 3) having at least two different wavelengths (?1, ?2, ?3) being used in order to change the color of this layer (4A), the object (4) being acted on by laser radiation in the vector and/or raster method by means of a two-coordinate beam deflection device (6) and a focusing device (7) for focusing the laser radiation onto the layer (4A) of the object (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Orga Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Fannasch, Dirk Fischer, Michael Hennemeyer-Schwenker
  • Patent number: 7154508
    Abstract: A color image is produced from image data. Color image bit-planes are generated from the image data. Each color image bit-plane represents a time increment for displaying one color of a plurality of colors for each pixel of the color image. For each of the colors, color patterns are displayed in a plurality of image sub-frame locations. The color patterns represent the color image bit-planes. At least the least significant color image bit-planes are displayed in less than all of the image sub-frame locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Winthrop D. Childers
  • Patent number: 7145575
    Abstract: A color image processing apparatus which performs color matching using a plurality of profiles storing printer property information comprises a first selecting portion whereby a user selects four or more matching options and a second selecting portion whereby a user selects an optional profile from the plurality of profiles with attributes other than the matching options. Image processing is then performed using color information corresponding to a combination of results of selections made by the first selecting portion and the second selecting portion, and profile type and three matching options within the profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7142220
    Abstract: The blending coefficients (alpha values) of font glyphs undergo alpha correction to compensate for a lack of gamma correction in text rendering processes. The alpha correction includes selecting a set of correction coefficients that correspond to the predetermined gamma value of the display device and computing corrected alpha values from the known alpha values, the foreground colors, and set of correction coefficients. The corrected alpha values can then be used to blend the foreground and background colors of the corresponding display pixels without requiring gamma correction. Accordingly, the alpha correction can be performed by a GPU, which is not configured to perform gamma correction, thereby increasing the speed at which text rendering can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Platt, Mikhail M. Lyapunov
  • Patent number: 7136062
    Abstract: A networking conferencing and collaboration tool utilizing an enhanced T.128 application sharing protocol. This enhanced protocol is based on a per-host model command, control, and communication structure. This per-host model reduces network traffic, allows greater scalability through dynamic system resource allocation, allows a single host to establish and maintain a share session with no other members present, and supports true color graphics. The per-host model allows private communication between the host and a remote with periodic broadcasts of updates by the host to the entire share group. This per-host model also allows the host to allow, revoke, pause, and invite control of the shared applications. Subsequent passing of control is provided, also with the hosts acceptance. The model contains no fixed limit on the number of participants, and dynamically allocates resources when needed to share or control a shared application. These resources are then freed when no longer needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Laura J. Butler
  • Patent number: 7129955
    Abstract: When displaying an image with at least four primary colors mixed, there are provided a primary color B generating unit (1036) having, as an xy chromaticity, (x, y)=(0.150, 0.060) and generating a primary color B lowest in luminance, a primary color G generating unit (1038) having, as an xy chromaticity, (x, y)=(0.300, 0.600) and generating a primary color G highest in luminance, and a primary color R generating unit (1037) having, as an xy chromaticity, (x, y)=(0.640, 0.330) and generating a primary color R higher in luminance than the primary color B and lower in luminance than the primary color G, whereby it is possible to expand a color gamut while ensuring compatibility with 3-primary-color image signal by allowing three primary colors to agree with the primary color Rec. 709 of a standard display sRGB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Motomura
  • Patent number: 7129957
    Abstract: A color signal processing device and method thereof include a conversion unit converting an input image signal into an RGB color signal, a change rate calculation unit calculating change rates of the RGB color signal when the RGB color signal changes with respect to change rates of a color difference signal on boundaries of a color space of the RGB color signal, and a color gamut decision unit determining a displayable scope of color chroma based on the change rates of the RGB color signal with respect to the change rates of the color difference signal and when the detected RGB color signal exists on the boundaries of the color space of the RGB color signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moon-cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 7126605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to computer graphics applications involving scene rendering using objects modeled at multiple levels of detail. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a ray tracer implementation allows users to specify multiple versions of a particular object, categorized by LOD ID's. A scene server selects the version appropriate for the particular scene, based on the size of the object on the screen for example, and provides a smooth transition between multiple versions of an object model. In one example, the scene server will select two LOD representations associated with a given object and assign relative weights to each representation. The LOD weights are specified to indicate how to blend these representations together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventors: Aaftab A. Munshi, Mark Wood-Patrick
  • Patent number: 7116336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively manipulating and/or restandardizing color measurement or spectral data are provided. The color measurement or spectral data may be advantageously restandardized based on a selected color coordinate system using data transform(s) or delta profile(s). Users of the systems/methods are able to mix or employ color-measuring instrument types more easily and effectively by selectively causing a first instrument produced by a first color-measuring instrument manufacturer to provide color measurement data according to a color measurement standard of another color-measuring instrument manufacturer. Selective transformation of color measurement data gathered by the first manufacturer's color-measuring instrument is facilitated, so that the resultant color measurement data may be evaluated as though it was generated by the other manufacturer's color-measuring instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: GretagMacbeth, LLC
    Inventors: Harold R. Van Aken, Shreyance Rai, Mark A. Lindsay, Richard J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 7106343
    Abstract: A method and process for virtual paint application which allows a user to apply a virtual combination of paints and/or graphics to an object and visually observe and print the resultant object as if it had been physically painted. The method and process is especially useful for virtually painting vehicles with colors supplied from paint company charts and then allowing a user to print the resulting combination and thereafter allowing the user to supply the finished printout to a painter for physical paint application. The method and process is unique in its ability to preserve highlights and shadows of the original image to ensure that the virtual paint application is an accurate representation of the object after the physical paint is applied. The method and process further allows a user to supply a photo of a personal object such as a vehicle or house and after processing, apply the desired virtual paint to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Carter Hickman
  • Patent number: 7102653
    Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Byron A Alcorn, Joseph Norman Gee, Kevin Lefebvre, Don B. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7095417
    Abstract: In an original image, an area whose brightness is smaller than a predetermined value is detected as an ink line area, and a neighboring area of the ink line area, which surrounds the ink line area, is detected as a neighboring area. Furthermore, with respect to an area other than the ink line area and the neighboring area in the original image, an outline portion of an image is detected as an outline area. A color is applied to the ink line area and the outline area, and a different color is applied to an area other than the above two types of area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., HAL Laboratory Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Fujita
  • Patent number: 7095420
    Abstract: A system and related method for synthesizing natural color ground or landcover imagery for a predetermined project area, includes the steps of inputting a high-resolution natural color sample of a sample area contained within the project area. Next, a multispectral image of the sample area, where the multispectral image has a plurality of feature types, is also input. This generates a color palette for each of the plurality of feature types. The color palettes are applied to a multispectral image of the project area to generate a low-resolution natural color image which is then combined with a high resolution panchromatic image of the project area to generate a high-resolution natural color image of the project area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Burky, Rosemarie Hanus
  • Patent number: 7091989
    Abstract: The invention illustrates a system and method of displaying a base image and an overlay image comprising: capturing a base image of a real event; receiving an instrumentation data based on the real event; identifying a visual segment within the base image based on the instrumentation data; and rendering an overlay image within the visual segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Gibbs, Michael Hoch
  • Patent number: 7081898
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided to color-suppress a source frame that is composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel being represented by three components defining a position within a color space. The source frame, comprising a foreground image against a background of a substantially uniform backing color, is provided to a processing means via an input means. A distance value is defined that for any, pixel describes how close its color is to a specified color, and the processing means calculates a transformation that maximises the distance value of a selected background pixel. Then, for each pixel, the processing means calculates a transparency value that is a function of the distance value of the corresponding transformed pixel. The transparency value is used to calculate how much of the backing color should be subtracted. The foreground image can then be composited with a replacement background using the same transparency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventor: Benoit Sevigny
  • Patent number: 7075552
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a system and method for creating characterization information and a correction map from a first display grid that can be transmitted and used by a second display grid. Computer readable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium calibrate a first display grid and create an ICC color profile and correction map from said calibration information, such that an image to be displayed across an entire display grid which is segmented into portions corresponding to each display device in the display grid is displayed with uniform luminance and color across the entire display grid. The invention can then store the correction map and characterization information and send the information to a second display device for it to use. Alternatively, the calibration or characterization information can be associated with an image file and sent to a second location for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Integrated Color Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Franz H. Herbert, Daniel G. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 7071951
    Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention has a first element which produces partial straight lines from a straight line. One of the vertical or horizontal coordinate values of each of the partial straight lines has the same value. The image processing device has a second element which produces, based on the partial line produced by the first element, a shading range having a first and second end, wherein the first end has first color and the second end has second color, and a third element which converts the first and second colors of the shading range to third and fourth colors, which express brightness as an independent parameter. The image processing device also includes a fourth element which produces, by using the third and fourth colors converted by the third element, colors of respective pixels existing between the first end and the second end of the shading range produced by the second element, wherein the color changes smoothly from the first end to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Ito
  • Patent number: 7071950
    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: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Fujioka, Kunikazu Tsuda, Kohji Hikawa
  • Patent number: 7068285
    Abstract: A system and method for converting color images divides a first image into first RGB values per pixel, determines which of the RGB colors in the first image has a greater specific gravity, converts the first RGB values into second RGB color values based on the color with the greater specific gravity, and forms a second image based on the second RGB values. The color value conversion involves allocating a first number of bits to represent the second RGB value corresponding to the color having the predetermined specific gravity and a second number of bits to represent the RGB values corresponding to remaining ones of the colors. The first and second numbers of bits are different and preferably the first number is greater than the second number. Through this system and method, an M-bit color image may be converted into an N-bit color image with greater color accuracy than other methods which have been proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoung-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7057624
    Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for light leakage compensation in a multi-channel display device. The invention may be particularly useful in calculating single-channel emission spectra for liquid crystal displays (LCD). In order to accurately model and calibrate a display device, an accurate spectral output estimate for each of the individual color channels is needed. The invention provides techniques to compensate for light leakage from adjacent color channels that cause hue shifts in the images reconstructed by the display device. In accordance with the invention, a light leakage emission spectrum can be determined for each color channel of a display based on a measured emission spectrum for the display at a minimum level and assumed emission spectra for light sources in the display. A single-channel emission spectrum is the difference between a cumulative color channel emission spectrum measurement and the light leakage spectra of adjacent color channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Arkady Ten
  • Patent number: 7053909
    Abstract: The display method and apparatus display colors used in color information on a display unit capable of displaying gray scale. The method and apparatus convert the colors into gray scale values so as to enable differences in the colors to be identified even when the colors are displayed based on the gray scale on the display unit, and then display the color information on the display unit by utilizing the converted gray scale values as the colors. The method and apparatus can recognize meaning of the differences in original colors even in the case of displaying color information on a monochrome display (the display unit capable of displaying the gray scale).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7046403
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing techniques for identifying, in a device space, an effective centerscan object color along an edge between an overscan object and a centerscan object, the overscan object having a higher paint order than the centerscan object. The edge is mapped to the device space. A set of overscan boundary pixels is identified in the device space, the overscan boundary pixels being device space pixels that are intersected by the edge. A vector pointing in a direction of the centerscan object relative to the edge is created. The vector is applied to each overscan boundary pixel in the set of overscan boundary pixels to identify a corresponding set of centerscan boundary pixels in the device space. Each centerscan boundary pixel is mapped to the centerscan object to identify a color of the centerscan boundary pixel. A corresponding method for reversed paint order is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephan R. Yhann