Gray Scale Transformation (e.g., Gamma Correction) Patents (Class 348/254)
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Patent number: 9024961Abstract: A method for color grading input video data for display on a target display comprises obtaining target display metadata indicative of a capability of the target display, obtaining input video data metadata indicative of image characteristics of the input video data, automatically determining initial values for parameters of a parameterized sigmoidal transfer function, at least one of the initial values based at least in part on at least one of the target display metadata and the input video data metadata and mapping the input video data to color-graded video data according to the parameterized transfer function specified using the initial values.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Peter W. Longhurst, Neil W. Messmer, Steve Margerm, Robin Atkins
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Patent number: 9019294Abstract: A first table, which expresses a color reproducible characteristic of a first output device, is generated, and a second table, which expresses a color reproducible characteristic of a second output device, is generated. Color values of grid points of the first table are mapped to a color gamut of the second output device expressed by the second table. A third table, which expresses a relationship between color values of the first table after mapping processing and device values required to reproduce colors of the color values by the second output device, is generated. With reference to the third table, a profile, which expresses a relationship between color values of grid points arranged on a uniform color space, and device values required to reproduce colors of the color values by the second output device, is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiro Matsuura
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Patent number: 9019406Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup unit generating image data, a selecting unit selecting any one of a first photographic mode that does not correct dark area gradation of the image data and a second photographic mode that corrects the dark area gradation of the image data, a gradation conversion processing unit performing a gradation conversion processing according to a first input-output characteristic when the first photographic mode is selected, and performing a gradation conversion processing according to a second input-output characteristic different from the first input-output characteristic when the second photographic mode is selected, and a correcting unit performing a correction of improving lightness of the dark area gradation of the image data when the second photographic mode is selected. Therefore, when correction of the dark area gradation is performed, the lightness of the whole image can be maintained while the contrast of a highlight area is improved.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Masaru Muramatsu
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Patent number: 9019407Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first calculation unit which calculates information regarding a pixel whose pixel level is equal to or greater than a first threshold in an input image, and calculates a ratio of pixels whose signal levels are equal to or greater than a second threshold in pixel data of a detected person; a second calculation unit which calculates a control amount for a tone control based on information regarding the pixel whose pixel level is equal to or greater than the first threshold; a third calculation unit which calculates a correction amount for correcting the control amount in accordance with the ratio of pixels whose signal levels are equal to or greater than the second threshold; and a control unit which determines an input-output characteristic of an image, based on the control amount and correction amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Ikeda
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Patent number: 9013503Abstract: A device includes converters for converting first image data of an RGB-type into second image data of a YCbCr-type, into third image data of the YCbCr-type, and into fourth image data of the RGB-type, wherein a CbCr-coordinate system has six regions defined by coordinates of a reference color and of six primary colors, and when coordinates of the second image data are located in a region defined by coordinates of the reference color, a first primary color, and a second primary color, the coordinates of the second image data are determined by the coordinates of the reference color, the first primary color, the second primary color, coordinates of a target reference color corresponding to those of the reference color, coordinates of a first target primary color corresponding to those of the first primary color, and coordinates of a second target primary color corresponding to those of the second primary color.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: Won-Woo Jang
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Patent number: 9007392Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing contrast of a color image displayed on a display system and an image processing system utilizing the same. In the present invention, the gray values of R, G, and B components of one color image are separately counted during processing the image. When calculating the corresponding output values for the gray values of R, G, and B components in each pixel, they are adapted to ratios between the gray values of R, G, and B components. Therefore, the present invention can effectively maintain the color distribution for a considerable degree and greatly enhance the image contrast.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.Inventors: Jian-rong Chen, Chun-chieh Chiu
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Patent number: 9001141Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing display information generates, independently from an operating system, different screen subsections of a screen image using independent gamut remapping configurations to generate an output image in a target gamut space of a display. The method and apparatus also provides the generated output image for display or may display the generated output image.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: ATI Technologies ULCInventors: David I. J. Glen, Jie Zhou
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Patent number: 8988452Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for color enhancement via gamut expansion.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Ya-Ti Peng, Yi-Jen Chiu
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Patent number: 8982251Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a gray-scale conversion characteristic deriving unit configured to set reference image data out of a plurality of input image data obtained by shooting an identical object with a different amount of exposure and derive a gray-scale conversion characteristic from the reference image data; and an image synthesis processing unit configured to derive a new pixel value for each pixel using a pixel value of one or more input image data selected from a plurality of the input image data based on the gray-scale conversion characteristic to create synthesized image data.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Takeshi Fukutomi
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Patent number: 8970732Abstract: There are provided an image capture apparatus which can implement good tone gradation at various shooting sensitivities without preparing a nonlinear conversion characteristic for each shooting sensitivity, and a method of controlling the apparatus. If the shooting sensitivity is less than the standard sensitivity, nonlinear conversion processing is performed by linearly converting the range of signal levels obtained by shooting operation with an image sensor sensitivity corresponding to the standard sensitivity such that the maximum value decreases with a decrease in shooting sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akimitsu Yoshida
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Patent number: 8963945Abstract: A red, green, and blue (RGB) primary generation system and method for a wide color gamut, and a color encoding system using the RGB primaries. The RGB primary generation system may achieve a wide color gamut by generating a color gamut having a gamut coverage which meets a gamut coverage threshold, meeting a unique hue, having a maximum gamut efficiency, and a minimum quantization error.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yun-Tae Kim, Seo Young Choi, Ho Young Lee, Du-Sik Park, Ji Young Hong
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Patent number: 8963941Abstract: An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takumi Aragaki, Hiroshi Hasegawa
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Patent number: 8958658Abstract: Image tone adjustment using local tone curve computation may be utilized to adjust luminance ranges for images. Image tone adjustment using local tone curve computation may reduce the overall contrast of an image, while maintaining local contrast in smaller areas, such as in images capturing brightly lit scenes where the difference in intensity between brightest and darkest areas is large. A desired brightness representation of the image may be generated including target luminance values for corresponding blocks of the image. For each block, one or more tone adjustment values may be computed, that when jointly applied to the respective histograms for the block and neighboring blocks results in the luminance values that match corresponding target values. The tone adjustment values may be determined by solving an under-constrained optimization problem such that optimization constraints are minimized. The image may then be adjusted according to the computed tone adjustment values.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein
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Patent number: 8928775Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for processing an image of an image signal projected through a digital camera lens. The apparatus includes an image sensor module to transform an optical signal projected through the digital camera lens into an electric signal, to generate and output an image signal. The apparatus includes a light receiving module to receive a light source, wherein the light receiving module is disposed close to the image sensor module. The apparatus also includes a light source characteristic detector to detect a frequency of the light source received by the light receiving module. The apparatus further includes an auto color adjustment controller to identify a kind of light source based on the frequency of the light source, and control a white balance gain of the image signal based on the kind of the light source.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yong-Gu Lee
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Patent number: 8913164Abstract: An image processor includes a first correction circuit that outputs a first correction value, which corresponds to a pixel value of an input image, based on a first correction characteristic. A second correction circuit outputs a second correction value, which corresponds to the pixel value of the input image, based on a second correction characteristic. A control circuit controls a ratio for mixing the first correction value and the second correction value. A mixing circuit that mixes the first correction value and the second correction value based on the ratio. A corrected pixel value, which corresponds to the pixel value of the input image, is generated in accordance with an output value of the mixing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventor: Nobuaki Sekine
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Patent number: 8913135Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for measuring response curve of an image sensor. The method comprises: taking at least one photograph of a Grey Scale card with an image sensor to be measured, wherein the photograph comprises a plurality of greyscale image blocks; calculating relative exposure values for each greyscale image block respectively corresponding to the greyscale blocks of the Grey Scale card; plotting a plurality of reference points based on pixel values of pixel points within each greyscale image block and the relative exposure values, and executing an interpolation calculation based on the reference points to obtain a response curve of the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xiaofeng Peng, Yuan Chen, Sen Wang, Fuhuei Lin, Yuchun Huang
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Patent number: 8908990Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A receiving device receives an image. An estimating device estimates, for each of pixels within the image received by the receiving device, on the basis of the received image, an amount of fog, which is a difference between a luminance value of the pixel and an original luminance value of the pixel. A measuring device measures, for each of the pixels within the image received by the receiving device, a luminance value of the pixel. A determining device determines a correction target value for luminance values of pixels of a background portion within the image received by the receiving device. A correcting device corrects the luminance value of each of the pixels measured by the measuring device on the basis of the amount of fog estimated by the estimating device and the correction target value determined by the determining device.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masakazu Fukunaga
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Publication number: 20140347530Abstract: In an original image color pixels and transparent pixels are arranged, the color pixels having gradation values assigned according to received light levels of respective color light-receiving pixels and the transparent pixels having gradation values assigned according to received light levels of respective transparent light-receiving pixels. An image processing device includes an image generation unit which generates a high-sensitivity image for the original image by calculating for each color pixel, a corrected gradation value correcting a first reference gradation value of gray calculated based on the gradation value of itself or the gradation values of other color pixels in the periphery, according to the gradation values of transparent pixels in the periphery; and the corrected gradation value of each color pixel and the gradation value of each transparent pixel are assigned as gradation values of the pixels in the corresponding arranged positions of the high-sensitivity image.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Tadahiko Kanou, Masahiko Adachi
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Publication number: 20140347529Abstract: An image capturing device includes a pre-capturing module, a conversion module, a division module, a ranging module, a calculation module, and an image capturing module. The pre-capturing module obtains an initial image of a view the image capturing device to be captured. The conversion module converts the initial image to a gray scale image. The division module divides the gray scale image into multiple areas. The ranging module calculates an object distance collection of each area, and generates a total object distance collection by integrating the object distance collections. The calculation module calculates image capturing condition which makes a plurality of depth-of-field cover the total object distance collection. The image capturing module captures a plurality of images according to the image capturing condition to form an image array. An image capturing method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: JENG-LI HUANG
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Patent number: 8896737Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus has a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels includes: a photoelectric conversion element for converting incident light to an electric charge; an accumulating element accumulating the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element; a first transfer element for transferring the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element to the accumulating element; a second transfer element for transferring the electric charge accumulated in the accumulating element to a floating diffusion region; and an amplifying element for amplifying the electric charge in the floating diffusion region, wherein the first transfer element transfers the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element to the accumulating element a plurality of times and causes the accumulating element to cumulatively accumulate the electric charge transferred the plurality of times.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichiro Sugiyama, Yuichiro Yamashita
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Patent number: 8896705Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a response speed of a display panel is provided. The measuring device includes a microcontroller and at least one photo sensor. The microcontroller provides a control command, according to which a display controller of the display panel provides test pattern to the display panel. The photo sensor senses a test frame displayed corresponding to the test pattern by the display panel, and provides a corresponding sensing signal associated with brightness and a response signal. According to the response signal, the response speed of the display panel is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chiu, Tien-Hua Yu, Wen-Cheng Wu
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Patent number: 8896619Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. The apparatus is caused to receive a digital image including pixels each of which has a pixel value that has been calibrated according to a first calibration function for calibrating an image for display by a first monitor. The apparatus is caused to transform the pixel value of each of at least some of the pixels to a corresponding transformed pixel value calibrated according to a second calibration function for calibrating an image for display by a second monitor. The apparatus is also caused to cause output of the digital image including the plurality of pixels each of at least some of which has a transformed pixel value, the respective digital image being displayable by the second monitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: McKesson Financial HoldingsInventor: Mahmoud Ramze Rezaee
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Patent number: 8891899Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for approximating vertical and horizontal correction values in a pixel value correction calculation. Multiple vertical and/or horizontal correction curves are used and may be employed for one or more color channels of the imager. The use of multiple correction curves allows for a more accurate approximation of the correction curves for image pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Gregory Michael Hunter
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Patent number: 8890901Abstract: A color management circuit and a related color management method are provided. The color management circuit is disposed in a display device which has a panel provided with a panel conversion characteristic. The color management circuit includes: a first nonlinear conversion circuit, a color matrix conversion circuit and a second nonlinear conversion circuit. The first nonlinear conversion circuit is utilized for performing a first nonlinear conversion upon a color data to generate a first conversion data. The color matrix conversion circuit is utilized for performing a liner matrix calculation upon the first conversion data to generate a matrix calculation data. The second nonlinear conversion circuit is utilized for performing a second nonlinear conversion upon the matrix calculation data to generate a second conversion data to the panel, wherein a combined conversion characteristic of the second conversion characteristic with the panel conversion characteristic is substantially linear.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Yu-Chung Lee, Pei-Chen Huang
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Publication number: 20140327796Abstract: A method for estimating image conversion parameters is revealed. Firstly, using an image capturing unit to capture at least one captured image of an object to an image processing unit for calculation. The image processing unit can take linear brightness change of single captured image to estimate the image conversion parameters, also can take comparison of linear and non-linear images to estimate the image conversion parameters, further can take the difference of exposure quantities to estimate the image conversion parameters. Therefore, the estimation of the image conversion parameters can be finished well and easily.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: NATIONAL CHUNG CHENG UNIVERSITYInventors: HUEI-YUNG LIN, JUI-WEN HUANG
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Patent number: 8879867Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for real-time enhancement of an identified time-series signal of interest in a video that has a similar spatial and temporal structure to a given reference signal, as determined by a measure of closeness. A closeness measure is computed for pixels of each image frame of each channel of a multi-channel video to identify a time-series signal of interest. The intensity of pixels associated with that time-series signal is modified based on a product of the closeness measure and the reference signal scaled by an amplification factor. The modified pixel intensity values are provided back into the source video to generate a reconstructed video such that, upon playback of the reconstructed video, viewers thereof can visually examine the amplified time-series signal, see how it is distributed and how it propagates. The methods disclosed find their uses in remote sensing applications such as telemedicine.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Takashi Tanaka, Lalit Keshav Mestha
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Patent number: 8866942Abstract: Provided are an auto focus adjusting device, method, and a recording medium storing a program product for executing the auto focusing method. The method includes: deriving an input image from an image capturing device by changing a position of a focus lens; deriving a gamma correction image by applying a gamma curve to the input image; and deriving an auto focus (AF) value about a position of a focus lens through the gamma correction image.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Sung-shik Ko, Jin-ok Ha
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Patent number: 8861887Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a shading correction unit. The shading correction unit executes at least one of the use of shading correction parameters calculated in accordance with exposure information for capturing a subject image and the adjustment of a center position in a two-dimensional direction which is used as the basis of the shading correction in accordance with the exposure information.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Shiroshi Kanemitsu, Kazuhiro Tabuchi, Takaaki Kawakami
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Patent number: 8860751Abstract: A method of producing a color image using a display comprised of pixels comprising red, green and blue primary color subpixels. The method comprises reducing the color gamut and increasing the brightness of the image relative to a base level, decreasing power to the display to reduce the brightness of the image, restoring color to the image to approximately the base level by modifying image pixel data using a three-dimensional lookup table to produce output image pixel data, and communicating the output image pixel data to the display. The display may be an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a plasma display, and a DMD projector. Reducing the color gamut and increasing the brightness of the image may be accomplished by adding white to the image. The white may be added adaptively according to an algorithm by which the amount of white added decreases with increasing color saturation.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Entertainment Experience LLCInventors: James R. Sullivan, Rodney L. Heckman
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Patent number: 8860747Abstract: System and methods for gamut bounded saturation adaptive color enhancement are provided. Color enhancement incorporating gamut bounded saturation enhances colors of an pixel from a source color gamut such that the resulting color is within a target color gamut. This resulting color may, for example, take advantage of an expanded target color gamut of a display. Gamut bounded saturation may be implemented independently or in combination with RGB bounded saturation.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.Inventors: Vasudev Bhaskaran, Sujith Srinivasan, Nikhil Balram
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Patent number: 8854512Abstract: In the technical field of video cameras gamma correction is an often used technique to compensate the non-linear effects of the CRT (cathode ray tube), in order to enhance visibility in images to be displayed. Gamma correction is—by way of example—expressed by the gamma function: A process for enhancing detail visibility in an input image comprising a step of applying a first transfer function (11) to the input image, thereby generating an intermediate image; a step of performing a statistical measurement (12), Mmt (2) on the intermediate image; a step of applying a second transfer function (14) to the intermediate image, thereby generating an output image; a step of performing a statistical measurement (15), Mmt (3) on the output image, a step of determining gain parameters gg, gk for the first and the second transfer function (11, 14) on basis of the statistical measurement results (8, 12, 15), Mmt (1), Mmt (2), Mmt (3) is proposed.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jan Klijn, Helios Jellema, Sacha Cvetkovic
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Patent number: 8848004Abstract: A method of calculating a correction value used when signal value correction is performed with respect to an image signal supplied to a display panel includes setting a target luminance value, which is not uniform in an overall surface of the display panel, as a target luminance value of one image signal value such that at least a portion of a distribution of target luminance values at each plane position of the display panel becomes a curved distribution, and calculating a correction value at each plane position of the display panel using luminance observed at each plane position of the display panel when one image signal value is given to the overall surface of the display panel and the target luminance value at each plane position of the display panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yasunobu Kato
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Patent number: 8847976Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for transforming a calorimetric adjustment of a sequence of images from an input color space into an output color space includes a color adjustment device for determining a transformation table for converting the input color space of the sequence of images to an output color space, for applying a first order approximation to at least one subset of the sequence of images, the subsets of the sequence of images defined by the transformation table, and if the sequence of images has not reached convergence, for applying a second order approximation to at least one subset of the sequence of images. In one embodiment, the color components of the output color space are defined by a combination of intermediate terms, where the number of the intermediate terms corresponds to the number of input color space components. The transform is configured to survive a video distribution workflow.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventor: Pierre Jean Ollivier
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Patent number: 8842141Abstract: A method of uniform distribution for increasing a display rate. For data to be displayed, dividing a complete effective output enable (OE) time that is greater than one serial shift cycle into several unit serial shift cycles and uniformly distributing the effective OE time for display. The method implements the uniform distribution of the display time to the maximum extent by using an OE signal under the condition that the whole display time remains unchanged, thereby increasing effective output number of the uniform distribution, uniformly maintaining a display effect and steadily improving a refresh rate effect, so as to effectively increase a display quality and avoid a significant loss of brightness.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Shenzhen Zhongqing Photoelectric Display Technology Co., LtdInventor: Song Shang
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Publication number: 20140267841Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of reducing processing load by determining whether or not to perform gradation correction, according to a difference or a ratio between feature values of object areas, and generating an excellent image by performing gradation correction. An image dividing section divides an input image into a plurality of predetermined object areas. A feature value calculation section and a determination section compare the feature values indicative of features of the respective object areas, obtain a luminance level difference, and determine whether or not the difference is within a predetermined range. When the difference is within the predetermined range, an image processing section and a system controller perform area-by-area tone mapping on respective images of the areas to form a synthesized image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Sasaki
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Patent number: 8831345Abstract: The present invention is an image processing device which has tone mapping curve generation means for local tone correction, which generates a tone mapping curve for local tone correction using the luminance of peripheral areas for each pixel of interest within an input image; prediction means which predicts the overall luminance and/or the contrast of the image after the local tone correction on the basis of the average luminance of partial areas into which the input image has been partitioned; tone mapping curve generation means for global tone correction, which generates a tone mapping curve for global tone correction on the basis of the prediction; and correction means which integrates the tone mapping curve for local tone correction and the tone mapping curve for global tone correction so as to simultaneously execute the local tone correction and the global tone correction.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Masato Toda
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Patent number: 8830275Abstract: A hardware-implemented function evaluator performs mathematical calculations at high speeds to generate data values in place of an LUT. The disclosed embodiments can generate a small number of output values from a large number of input values. The calculations can use functions that are monotonically increasing such as, for example, square root, power curves, and trigonometric functions.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: Michael Francis Higgins
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Patent number: 8817039Abstract: Provided is an image processing device which enables image display that takes full advantage of a color reproduction performance of a panel without providing a viewer with a feeling of strangeness. An image processing device includes: a color gamut conversion processor configured to convert inputted data into RGB data according to a liquid crystal panel; a weighting factor calculator configured to calculate a weighting factor; a first post-color-gamut-conversion data weighting processor configured to perform weighting processing to the RGB data; an inputted data weighting processor configured to perform weighting processing to the inputted data; and an output adder configured to add data after the weighting processing to generate RGB data to be supplied to the liquid crystal panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Xiaomang Zhang, Akiko Yoshida
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Patent number: 8817129Abstract: An apparatus having a circuit is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) process a digital image received from a camera sensor and (ii) convert the digital image after the processing. The converting generally uses a lookup table-based conversion that performs both (a) a color correction and (b) a tone correction.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Ambarella, Inc.Inventors: Elliot N. Linzer, Leslie D. Kohn
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Patent number: 8797443Abstract: A method for checking a camera includes the steps of capturing an image of an object using a photo-sensitive element, converting the color level value of each of a plurality of pixels of the image into image gray level values, and when one of the image gray level values is higher than a predetermined gray level threshold value, displaying an alarm message on the screen of the camera. A camera is also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Wistron CorporationInventor: Wen-Lung Huang
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Patent number: 8797346Abstract: A gamma correction system and method for a display device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the gamma correction system includes a display panel configured to display an image, a measuring unit configured to acquire optical characteristic information from the image displayed on the display panel, and a display panel driver configured to convert a gamma data result value obtained after performing optical compensation for at least two sample gray values among a plurality of reference luminance values into a corresponding data voltage and calculate a data voltage for the rest of the luminance values for which optical compensation is not performed.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung-Un Park, Ji-Yun Son, Dong-Ho Yoon
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Patent number: 8786907Abstract: When an image processing apparatus of one aspect of this invention corrects input image data using correction values (misregistration correction amounts ?y), it determines whether or not image data to be corrected using amounts ?y includes a specific pattern which may cause density unevenness in an image to be formed. When the image processing apparatus determines that the image data includes the specific pattern, it modifies amounts ?y corresponding to pixels including the specific pattern of the amounts ?y using any of a plurality of different predetermined modulation amounts (modification values). Furthermore, the image processing apparatus corrects the image data for respective pixels using either the amounts ?y before modification, or the modified amounts ?y when the modification is done.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Yamazaki
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Patent number: 8781249Abstract: In an image processing performing local tone correction on an image, tone correction on an object (face) area can be suppressed from becoming nonuniform. The apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit (102) that acquires coordinate information on an object area, a division unit (103) that divides the inputted image into a plurality of divided areas, a first decision unit (105) that decides a tone correction coefficient for each of the divided areas, a second decision unit (106) that decides a tone correction coefficient for the object area based on coordinate information on the object area and the tone correction coefficients for the plurality of divided areas, and an image processing unit (107) that performs tone correction processing on the object area by applying thereto the tone correction coefficient decided by the second decision unit in a uniform manner without depending on coordinates thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuya Iwata
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Patent number: 8767080Abstract: A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion or a digital image and to generate images of greater resolution by modifying digital images or modifying digital and emulsion images.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Cedar Crest Partners Inc.Inventor: Craig Mowry
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Patent number: 8743234Abstract: A technique of approximating exponential transformations such as gamma correction is disclosed that achieves high resolution without requiring relatively large RAMs for lookup tables or specialized DSP processors. The technique includes the acts of scaling the pixel values according to their values, wherein smaller pixel values are scaled with larger scale factors and larger pixel values are scaled with smaller scale factors; quantizing the scaled pixel values; looking up the quantized pixel values in a lookup table to provide lookup values; and scaling the lookup values responsive to their scale factors to provide the gamma-corrected pixel values.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.Inventor: Barry Walker
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Patent number: 8743102Abstract: A gamma tab voltage generator includes a plurality of, a data calculator configured to generate a buffer selection information and a buffer combination information based on a current capacity of buffer, a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to generate gamma tab voltages based on a gamma tab voltage information, a buffer selector configured to connect input terminals of the buffers selected based on the buffer selection information to output terminals of the digital-to-analog converters, and a buffer combiner configured to connect output terminals of the selected buffers to one another in response to the buffer combination information.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyoungdon Woo, Taegung Kim, Mookyoung Hong
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Patent number: 8736723Abstract: An image processing system includes a multiresolution decomposition section for frequency decomposing an image signal into high and low frequency components at an nth stage, a correction coefficient calculation section for calculating at least one of a gradation correction coefficient, a noise correction coefficient, and an edge correction coefficient with respect to the high frequency component at an ith decomposition stage (1?i?n) based on at least one of the low frequency component at the ith decomposition stage, a visual system adaptation model, a noise amount estimation model, and an edge enhancement model, a correction section for correcting the high frequency component based on the calculated correction coefficient, and a multiresolution composition section for composing the image signal corrected based on the low frequency component and the corrected high frequency component.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Takao Tsuruoka
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Patent number: 8730329Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for initially calibrating an image capture device. According to one aspect, the calibration includes calibrating parameters of an image filter for resolving the captured image. The method includes receiving a captured image of a test target and resolving the captured image using a set of initial parameters. A sharpness index of the resolved image is determined without matching the captured image to the test target. The sharpness index is used to minimize a cost function for determining parameters for use by the image capture device.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Qualcomm, IncorporatedInventors: Xiaoyun Jiang, Eri Haneda
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Patent number: 8723880Abstract: A white balance method for a display image is disclosed. The steps of the method includes: measuring gray levels of a basic and reference colors based on a plurality of color temperatures; obtaining reference color gains according to average values of the gray level of the reference and basic colors and a ratio according to the reference color gains corresponding to each of the color temperatures; dividing the display image into a plurality of blocks, and obtaining a reference color gain of each of blocks according to the average values of the gray levels of reference and basic colors, and obtaining a block ratio of each of blocks; generating a selected number corresponding to each of the color temperature according to the ratios and the block ratios; selecting the basic and reference color gains of one of the color temperatures for executing white balance to the display image.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.Inventor: Wei Hsu
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Patent number: RE45282Abstract: An image sensor system using offset analog to digital converters. The analog to digital converters require a plurality of clock cycles to carry out the actual conversion. These conversions are offset in time from one another, so that at each clock cycle, new data is available. A system includes a CMOS active pixel image sensor having an array for photoreceptors to convert an image into an analog signal. The CMOS image sensor converts the analog signal into a digital signal using a pipelined analog to digital converter.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLCInventors: Eric R. Fossum, Sandor L. Barna