White Balance Correction Patents (Class 358/516)
  • Patent number: 11516365
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and an inspection method of an image reading section capable of precisely detecting dirt that adheres to a dustproof glass. The image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming section, an image reading section, and a controlling section. The image reading section has a light source, a sensor, and a dustproof glass. At the time of the compensation processing operation of the image reading section, the controlling section detects dirt on the dustproof glass on the basis of a detection value acquired by the sensor when light is emitted from the light source onto a reflective member for compensation that specularly reflects the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yasunori Inaba
  • Patent number: 10602032
    Abstract: A method of correcting image distortion of an optical device in a display device and a display device are provided. The method includes: generating a plurality of pre-distorted images having different correcting values based on a same reference image; inputting each of the pre-distorted images into the optical device respectively to generate a plurality of display images in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of pre-distorted images; comparing each of the display images with the reference image respectively, to obtain a display image having a distortion value smaller than a first threshold with respect to the reference image, and determining a correcting value of a pre-distorted image corresponding to this display image as a distortion value of the display device; and correcting the image distortion of the optical device depending on the distortion value of the optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiangyang Liu, Naifu Wu, Xiaojun Tang
  • Patent number: 10567647
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires a captured image of an object captured through an imaging lens, a coordinate transformation unit that performs coordinate transformation for the captured image such that a sagittal resolution in a direction tangent to circumference having a center of an imaging surface as an origin and a tangential resolution in a radial direction perpendicular to the tangential direction are close to each other at a designated spatial frequency, and a resolution enhancement processing unit that performs a rotationally-symmetric resolution enhancement process for the coordinate-transformed image. According to this aspect, a rotationally-symmetric filter can be used for the resolution enhancement process. It is possible to prevent an increase in filter size or to perform a process at a high speed. It is possible to prevent a process from being complicated due to the use of the filter for coordinate transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunobu Kishine
  • Patent number: 10440341
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods related to an image processor formed in an array of memory cells are described. An image processor as described herein is configured to reduce complexity and power consumption and/or increase data access bandwidth by performing image processing in the array of memory cells relative to image processing by a host processor external to the memory array. For instance, one apparatus described herein includes sensor circuitry configured to provide an input vector, as a plurality of bits that corresponds to a plurality of color components for an image pixel, and an image processor formed in an array of memory cells. The image processor is coupled to the sensor circuitry to receive the plurality of bits of the input vector. The image processor is configured to perform a color correction operation in the array by performing matrix multiplication on the input vector and a parameter matrix to determine an output vector that is color corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fa-Long Luo, Jaime C. Cummins, Tamara Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10244218
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an illumination light intensity calculating unit that determines, from a brightness value based on a pixel value of each pixel forming an original image, an illumination light intensity image having as a pixel value an illumination light component of the original image, using at least one smoothed image having the brightness value that is smoothed using at least a smoothing degree, and a light source color calculating unit that determines an illumination light source color as a light source color of illumination light in accordance with the original image and the illumination light intensity image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Makoto Sasaki, Shota Narumi
  • Patent number: 10079959
    Abstract: A data structure includes entries corresponding to a plurality of tiles that form part of an image, where a given entry of the entries includes color information for a given tile of the plurality of tiles. Image data in the given tile is created using the color information of the given entry, where creating the image data in the given tile using the color information of the given entry is performed without using input image data for the given tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mary T Prenn, Bradley R Larson
  • Patent number: 9179041
    Abstract: A method of determining one or more representative color encodings is disclosed. A set of color encoding clusters is determined for a plurality of candidate color encodings based on a clustering criterion related to one or more desired perceptual attributes of the plurality of candidate color encodings. Each candidate color encoding is assigned to one cluster within the set of color encoding clusters. A representative color encoding is determined for each cluster within the set of color encoding clusters depending on the candidate color encodings assigned to each cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Geoffrey John Woolfe, Christine Anne Deller, Peter Vincent Wyatt, Sumit Bhandari
  • Patent number: 8988452
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for color enhancement via gamut expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ya-Ti Peng, Yi-Jen Chiu
  • Patent number: 8982436
    Abstract: A carriage motor which is a heat generating device is arranged next to a CIS in a scanner unit. The carriage motor drives respective transport rollers of an ADF unit via a gear system as well. The scanner unit makes a white reference board be read so as to obtain white reference data, and obtains black reference data more frequently than the white reference data, e.g., in a continuous process for reading a document. As a CIS module continues a reading process, the black reference data changes as being affected by a change in temperature in the CIS module, etc. The scanner unit deals with such a change in the black reference data by obtaining the black reference data more frequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Aya Washizawa
  • Patent number: 8854709
    Abstract: A method of white balancing an image includes mapping pixels of the image to a color space diagram. Each of the pixels of the image include a red (“R”), a green (“G”), and a blue (“B”) subvalue. A first central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a first pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined and a second central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a second pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined. The first pre-defined region is associated with a first illuminating source and the second pre-defined region is associated with a second illuminating source. RGB values of a white pixel are generated based on the first and second central tendencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengming Liu, Changmeng Liu, Jizhang Shan
  • Patent number: 8823726
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that performs a color balance operation. The program identifies an image that includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a luma component value and chroma component values. The program analyzes the luma component values of the pixels in the image to identify several luma ranges. The program determines, for each luma range in the several luma ranges, a set of transforms for modifying chroma component values of pixels in the image in order to remove a color cast from the image. The program applies the sets of transforms to the image to remove the color casts from the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Pettigrew, Andrew Bryant, James C. Arndt, Olivier Fedkiw, Ryan A. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 8823728
    Abstract: A shape may be virtually generated from a formula specifying a scalable property of the shape that determines the appearance of the shape as the size of the shape is changed. Once the shape is generated, a reflection and/or shadow may be generated according to one or more customizable parameters specifying different properties of the reflection and/or shadow. Reflections and shadows may be regenerated with shapes each time the shapes are resized. Each generated shape, reflection, and/or shadow may then be outputted to a display. Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad E. Jones, John O. Louch, Bas Ording, Christopher P Wright
  • Patent number: 8817039
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Xiaomang Zhang, Akiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8760536
    Abstract: A camera device (1) includes: an imaging unit (2) having a complementary color filter; a color temperature estimating unit (8) that estimates a color temperature on the basis of a video signal obtained from the imaging unit (2); a color parameter calculating unit (9) that calculates a color parameter value corresponding to the estimated color temperature; and a color calibrating unit (7) that performs color calibration using the calculated color parameter value. The color parameter calculating unit (9) calculates the color parameter value corresponding to the estimated color temperature on the basis of color parameter values (a first color parameter value and a second color parameter value) at two reference color temperatures (a first color temperature 2000 K and a second color temperature 3200 K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Oyabu, Yasuji Nakamura, Yuma Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8723880
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 8711168
    Abstract: The color gamut of display devices like digital projectors and digital displays is expanded by incorporating additional passband filters into the optical path of the devices to produce presentations of color components in two different color gamuts. The composite visual effect of the two presentations is a presentation in an expanded color gamut. Special considerations in the modulation of color components of the image can reduce variations in color and brightness, which can otherwise manifest themselves as flicker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Richards
  • Patent number: 8705152
    Abstract: A system, medium, and method calibrating gray data. The system calibrating gray data includes a transformation unit to transform red, green, and blue (RGB) data of a source device into transformed color data of a different color space using a color appearance model, and a calibration unit to map a chroma value of gray data, corresponding to the transformed color data, in the different color space to a predetermined value to generate calibrated color space data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-ki Cho, Heui-keun Choh, YouSun Bang, Se-eun Kim, Yun-tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8675961
    Abstract: An image processing system includes: an update unit updating color space information indicating a color space by allowing rotational movement of a selected reference color, taking a line connecting a white color to a black color in the color space as a rotation axis, based on adjustment information indicating that hue of at least one reference color is adjusted, which is in a reference color group including plural reference colors of a RGB system and plural reference colors of a CMY system in the color space; and a correction unit correcting an input image signal based on the color space information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiki Furui, Hitoshi Hayama
  • Patent number: 8670166
    Abstract: A method of automatic white balance adjustment for a scanner is described hereinafter. First, a light source provides a white light to make the scanner scan a document and get an initial image of the document. Secondly, red, green and blue chromatic values of a background color are obtained in the initial image. Next, a factor is calculated based on the chromatic values and a calibration value which is stored in a calibration sheet. Lastly, the scanner automatically adjusts a brightness ratio of the red, green and blue lights of the light source according to the factor, and then rescans the document to get a final image which has a processed background color. Therefore, the final image having the background color close to white is in favor of identification. Furthermore, the adjustment is executed in the process of the scanner rescanning the document so that the step of executing adjustment by software can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hsien Sung, Chien-Shen Chien
  • Patent number: 8644602
    Abstract: A method (199) is disclosed for modifying colors of text extracted from an image of a document page to improve visual quality. The document image comprises text and image regions of various colors. The method divides (100) the document image into a plurality of connected components, the connected components comprising pixels of similar color that are closely spatially located, and selects from the image a plurality of the connected components that represent text. The plurality of text connected components are grouped to form a logical structure grouping of said page comprising one or more text blocks wherein each said text block represents a text line or paragraph. One or more logically consistent color sets are then formed (120, 699, 399, 499) for each text block based on the colors of the connected components in the text block. The logically consistent color sets represent all text of visually similar color of the corresponding text line or paragraph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu-Ling Chen, Trevor Lee McDonell
  • Patent number: 8606005
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a white balance calculating unit is configured to calculate a first coordinate value that indicates a white balance of an image in a color space. A determining unit is configured to determine whether a first distance between the first coordinate value and a reference coordinate value is greater than a prescribed threshold distance. An adjustment amount setting unit is configured to set the adjustment amount to a first adjustment amount when the determining unit determines that the first distance is smaller than or equal to the prescribed threshold distance, the first adjustment amount corresponding to the first distance, the adjustment amount setting unit setting the adjustment amount to a second adjustment amount when the determining unit determines that the first distance is greater than the prescribed threshold distance, the second adjustment amount corresponding to a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 8564860
    Abstract: An image processor includes an identifying unit, a first correcting unit, and a second correcting unit. The identifying unit identifies a white point value of an image represented by first image data. The white point value indicates a first color temperature. The first correcting unit performs a white balance correction on the first image data such that the white point value approaches a target white point value. The target white point value indicates a second color temperature. The second correcting unit performs a brightness correction for correcting the first image data corrected by the first correcting unit into second image data such that an image corresponding to the second image data is brighter as the second color temperature is higher than the first color temperature and such that the image corresponding to the second image data is darker as the second color temperature is lower than the first color temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhide Sawada
  • Patent number: 8564687
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention reduces computational complexity in determining a illuminant of a scene of interest by selecting only a subset of illuminants from several more potential illuminants, and searching for a current illuminant for a present image frame in only the subset of illuminants. Computational complexity may be reduced due to the searching in fewer illuminants. The subset of illuminants are selected according to various aspects to enhance the probability that the closest matching potential illuminant is accurately determined. The features can be used in image capture devices (ICDs) such as video cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Anurag Goel, Veldandi Muninder
  • Patent number: 8520022
    Abstract: Display functions in an electronic device may comprise combining runtime color adjustments with brightness adjustments triggered by ambient light detection. Light sensors may be utilized to detect ambient lighting conditions, which may cause adjustment of brightness level applicable to a display (or screen) of the electronic device. The adjustment of brightness level may then be combined with adjustment of contrast level that may also be applicable to display functions. In this regard, a particular contrast level may be selected based on the detected ambient lighting conditions—e.g., by mapping various contrast levels to preconfigured ambient lighting levels. The contrast adjustment may comprise adjusting colors and/or sharpness. Using contrast adjustments, in conjunction with the brightness adjustments, may allow for achieving the same levels of readability with less brightness, and/or for increased readability with the same brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Cohen, Michael A. Cleron
  • Patent number: 8508616
    Abstract: A white balance correction apparatus may include a dividing unit, a white evaluation unit, a white balance correction unit, and a camera orientation discrimination unit. The dividing unit divides an image into a plurality of divided areas. The white evaluation unit determines whether image data within every divided area is indicative of a color white according to white detection regions in a color temperature range defined based on a position of each divided area in the image. The white balance correction unit performs a white balance correction based upon image data determined to be indicative of the color white. The camera orientation discrimination unit discriminates orientation of a camera. In accordance with the discriminated orientation, the white evaluation unit changes a combination of position of each divided area and condition used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichiro Ikeda, Takaaki Fukui
  • Patent number: 8498031
    Abstract: A method is provided for correcting an image. At least some pixels in a captured image are scanned and there is selected each scanned pixel having at least one associated light intensity value greater than an intensity threshold value based on a comparison between the light intensity values for color indicators associated with the scanned pixel. Three correction information items are obtained by summing the light intensity values associated with the pixels selected by color indicator, and a correction of the white balance deviation affecting the captured image is determined based on the correction information items. A pixel is selected if both the difference between a mean light intensity value and a lowest light intensity value associated with the scanned pixel and the difference between a highest light intensity value and the mean light intensity value associated with the scanned pixel are less than a difference threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventor: Reda Mimoune
  • Patent number: 8467109
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a scanner to scan an image; a first determiner to determine an attribute of a feature of the image; a processor to perform a first processing on data representing the image; a storer to store the data subjected to the first processing; a receiver to instruct to output the image represented by the data stored and to receive an input for deciding an output image to be output of the image; a decider to decide, according to the input received, the output image; a second determiner to determine an attribute of a feature of the output image; a reliability determiner to determine, in accordance with the input, whether the attribute determined by the first and/or second determiner is reliable; and a processor to output, by performing a second processing on the data, output data representing the output image, in accordance with a result of the reliability determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taira Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8456483
    Abstract: The subpixel rendering component of a display system provides the capability to substitute a second subpixel rendering filter for a first subpixel rendering filter for computing the values of certain subpixels on the display panel when the input image data being rendered indicates an image feature that may give rise to a color balance error at some portion of the displayed output image. An image processing method of correcting for color balance errors detects the location of a subpixel being rendered and for certain subpixels, detects whether the input image data indicates the presence of a particular image feature. When the image feature is detected for particular subpixels being processed, a second subpixel rendering image filter is substituted for a first subpixel rendering image filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Jin Han
  • Patent number: 8422091
    Abstract: Carried out are (i) an infrared light scanning process in which light is directed to a document in a state in which a visible light cut filter is provided in an optical path, in which the light is directed from a light source to the document, reflected from the document, and then received by a light receiving element, so that the light receiving element receives the reflected light from the document and prepares image data S1; (ii) a visible light scanning process in which the light is directed to the document in a state in which no visible light cut filter is provided in the optical path, so that the light receiving element receives the reflected light from the document and prepares image data S2; and (iii) a color correction process in which a color of an image in the image data S2 is corrected in accordance with the image data S1 so that an influence of light having a infrared wavelength is removed or reduced from the image data S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8421813
    Abstract: A display device includes a light modulating unit configured to modulate light based on a video signal, a light source configured to supply light to the light modulating unit, a detecting unit configured to detect a light amount of the light source, and a control unit configured to perform control for correcting the video signal based on the detected light amount so as to attain a color temperature and brightness that had already been set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takase
  • Patent number: 8416477
    Abstract: A method and systems for calibrating a document scanner are provided. The scanner calibration method includes providing a geometrically operative black absorption device having a structural geometry that is capable of receiving light and limiting propagation of the received light, where the black calibration target has a total light reflectance of less than one percent. The method further includes powering on a light source of a document scanner to provide light toward the black absorption device, where the light source generates a noise signal when providing the light. The method further includes detecting, by a sensor of the document scanner, light reflected from the black absorption device and generating calibration signals based on the reflected light and the noise signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: R. Victor Klassen, Martin Edward Banton
  • Patent number: 8395830
    Abstract: An image reading signal processing IC includes three circuits which independently process input analog image signals of three primary colors. Each circuit includes an ADC which converts amplified analog image signals into digital image data. Each circuit also includes an LVDS processing circuit which outputs the digital image data in a low voltage differential signaling level. Each circuit further includes a test pattern generating circuit connected between the ADC and the LVDS processing circuit for generating digital data of a test pattern. The image reading signal processing IC additionally includes an operational mode determination information input unit which inputs operational mode determination information to the test pattern generating circuit. Further, the image reading signal processing IC includes a switching unit which switches one of the digital data of the test patterns to any one or more of main scanning direction gradation pattern data and sub scanning direction gradation pattern data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Tsukahara, Tohru Kanno
  • Patent number: 8395636
    Abstract: A method and system are described for adjusting displaying of images to be displayed on a display system. The method is suitable for display systems comprising at least one hardware feature (f1, f2, f3) influencing the display uniformity of the displaying of images, such as e.g. a defect pixel, seams, variations in positions of hardware components, etc. The method comprises obtaining pixelated image information to be displayed on a display system (100), and adjusting the displaying thereof by applying a distributed variation correction signal to the displaying of the pixelated image information. Such a distributed variation correction signal thereby takes into account the at least one hardware feature (f1, f2, f3) of said display system (100) so as to influence the perception of the display uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Gerets, Bruno Devos
  • Patent number: 8390640
    Abstract: A television device structured to automatically adjust the color temperature on the display screen in accordance with the viewing environment includes an external light detection unit or an optical sensor for detecting the illuminance and the tint of the ambient light, and an image quality control unit or a microcomputer for adjusting quality of the video image to be displayed on the display panel. The image quality control unit adjusts the color temperature of the video image to be displayed in accordance with the illuminance value and the tint value detected by the external light detection unit. The optical sensor includes an illuminance sensor for mainly detecting the visible light, and an infrared sensor for mainly detecting the infrared light. The illuminance value and the tint value are obtained based on the output values of those two sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Akira Kitazume, Daisuke Honda, Naoya Oka, Yuki Nagano, Hiroyuki Kurabayashi, Akihiro Shiraishi, Toshiaki Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8384734
    Abstract: A method for implementing a user selectable white level includes displaying a default white patch of a default shade of white on a display, displaying a modified white patch of a modified shade of white that is different than the default shade of white on the display, receiving a selection of the modified white patch, associating another default shade of white with the modified shade of white in response to receiving the selection, receiving pixel data for a pixel, the pixel data comprising color information for displaying the default shade of white, and displaying the pixel with the second default shade of white.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: John M. Knadler, Eugen Munteanu, Jack D. Conway
  • Patent number: 8325395
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an image, includes: a color information determination unit; and a correction amount setting unit. The color information determination unit classifies a plurality of pixels configuring an image into a plurality of groups according to a brightness thereof, and determines representative color information for each of the groups. The correction amount setting unit sets a correction amount for a white balance correction based on the representative color information determined for at least a part of the groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8310690
    Abstract: The presence or absence of outside light is individually decided with respect to each of the time of executing AFE adjusted value acquiring processing, the time of executing LED adjusted value acquiring processing and the time of executing black correction data acquiring processing. In the case of deciding that the outside light is present, a parameter in the case of deciding that the outside light is present is modified to a predetermined value or a reacquired value. As a result of this, even when an incident state of outside light changes at the time of acquiring each of the parameters, it can properly be switched whether or not their parameters are replaced with the predetermined value or the reacquired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taisei Okuzono
  • Patent number: 8294954
    Abstract: An image processing controlling unit calculates an image processing parameter to reduce an image quality difference between image data read by a first reading unit and a second reading unit depending on a reading characteristic of a reading unit indicated by attached information (reading-unit information) received together with the calculating request and a writing characteristic of a printer. The calculated image processing parameter is stored in a memory. Next, when printing the image data, a middleware unit causes a printer to print the image data based on the image processing parameter held in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Akira Murakata
  • Patent number: 8254001
    Abstract: A color gamut data creating device includes a target plane determining unit. The measurement points are defined in a color space. The color space has an achromatic axis and an axis perpendicular to the achromatic axis. The target plane determining unit further determines a plurality of target planes. Each target plane has a fixed hue angle and including the chromatic axis. A difference between a maximum saturation at a hue angle of each target plane and a maximum saturation at a hue angle of another target plane that is adjacent to the each target plane is lower than a prescribed value. The locating unit that projects, on each target plane, those measurement points that are within a prescribed range relative to the subject target plane. The color gamut creating unit creates color gamut data indicative of a distribution range of the measurement points projected on each target plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8243163
    Abstract: Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for adjusting auto white balance (AWB). An AWB adjusting device includes a map setting unit to perform map-setting on a number of light-source boxes that is at least M times greater than a number of registers by performing map-switching. M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The AWB adjusting device includes a pixel counting unit for counting a number of white pixels of a standard image contained in each light-source box with map-setting. The AWB adjusting device includes a light-source selection unit to select a light source based on a maximum light-source box selected from the number of light-source boxes having a greatest number of the white pixels. The AWB adjusting device includes a balance gain applying unit to calculate a red gain and a blue gain based on a mapping value of the maximum light-source box to adjust AWB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Core Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Ho Chang
  • Patent number: 8208758
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to techniques for region-of-interest (ROI) video processing based on low-complexity automatic ROI detection within video frames of video sequences. The low-complexity automatic ROI detection may be based on characteristics of video sensors within video communication devices. In other cases, the low-complexity automatic ROI detection may be based on motion information for a video frame and a different video frame of the video sequence. The disclosed techniques include a video processing technique capable of tuning and enhancing video sensor calibration, camera processing, ROI detection, and ROI video processing within a video communication device based on characteristics of a specific video sensor. The disclosed techniques also include a sensor-based ROI detection technique that uses video sensor statistics and camera processing side-information to improve ROI detection accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Haohong Wang, Shuxue Quan, Khaled Helmi El-Maleh, Chinchuan Andrew Chiu, Xiaoyun Jiang
  • Patent number: 8199372
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a white balance processing apparatus comprising white balance processing means for effecting white balance processing on an image to be taken, color histogram processing means for effecting histogram processing by color components in accordance with the image to be taken processed of white balance by the white balance processing means, and display means for displaying histograms by color components obtained by the color histogram processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Suekane
  • Patent number: 8194092
    Abstract: An image processing method for reducing a power consumption. The image processing method may reduce the power consumption by classifying an input content into a conversion target region and a preservation target region and by converting a luminance of pixels included in the conversion target region. Also, the image processing method may effectively perform a luminance conversion for pixels by separating the input content into the conversion target region and the preservation target region based on a luminance of the pixels of the input content. The image processing method may convert the luminance of the pixels of the conversion target region to maintain a contrast between text pixels and background pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ran Han, Seung Sin Lee, Du-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 8194296
    Abstract: A system for capturing a color image, includes a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors; the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels, and a plurality of non-overlapping cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels; a structure for combining pixels of like color from at least two of the plurality of cells within the minimal repeating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Compton, John F. Hamilton, Jr., Thomas E. DeWeese
  • Patent number: 8189013
    Abstract: Disclosed is a video signal processing device and a method of processing gradation capable of improving the contrast ratio and the user satisfaction of a plasma display device. The video signal processing device includes a position detecting unit for detecting positions of pixels to be displayed in a frame, a sub region detecting unit for detecting a central region including a reference point formed of at least one pixel in the frame and sub regions surrounding the central region, and a compensating unit for differently compensating brightness of pixels positioned in the sub regions and brightness of pixels positioned in the central unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mi-Young Joo, Jong-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 8164648
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided in which all WB coefficient values are calculated rather than only WB coefficient values of a default light source, then a result thereof is associated with intermediate raw data and stored. Further still, when a user gives instruction for a change in a light source setting when carrying out WB readjustments on a personal computer (407) or the like, WB coefficient values corresponding to the selected light source are read in from among all the WB coefficient values that have been associated with the intermediate raw data and applied to the intermediate raw data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumiaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8149454
    Abstract: A method of operating a color printer including using a first set of one-dimensional TRCs or a second set of one-dimensional TRCs with a single set of color tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Meng Yao, Michael T. Stevens, Paul W. Philippi, Michael D. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8125496
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting three-color image signals to four-color image signals including a white signal comprises a data processor which generates the four-color image signals from the three-color image signals, calculates distortion values associated with conversion to the four-color image signals, and calculates scaling factors from the distortion values, the scaling factors being used to scale image signals in generating the four-color image signals. A method for operating the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Baek-Woon Lee
  • Patent number: 8103094
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for performing color correction. One product can receive a digital image that includes a region depicting human skin; obtain a skin color value based on a sample; receive a skin parameter value that is a tan or a blush value; use the skin color value and the skin parameter value to determine an estimated ambient lighting condition of the image; and determine a color correction based on the estimated lighting condition and a target lighting condition. Another product can use the skin color value to determine an estimated color temperature of the image and an estimated tint shift of the image, and can determine a color correction based on the estimated lighting condition and a target lighting condition and the estimated tint shift. Another product can use the skin color value and the skin parameter value to determine an estimated camera color setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregg D. Wilensky
  • Patent number: RE43892
    Abstract: A four-line CCD sensor is structured by line sensors R, G, B in which color fillers are respectively disposed on surfaces of light receiving elements, and a line sensor BK at which no color filter is disposed. Amplitudes of signals which are outputted from the line sensors R, G, B at a time of reading a color document, and an amplitude of a signal which is outputted from the line sensor BK at a time of reading a monochrome document are adjusted so as to be substantially equal to one another. In a case in which a color document is read, outputs of the line sensors R, G, B are selectively provided, and in a case in which a monochrome document is read, output of the line sensor BK is selectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Sakakibara, Koji Tanimoto