Color Masking Patents (Class 358/517)
  • Patent number: 9531962
    Abstract: A method includes identifying feature points in an image in images generated of a scene by a camera and identifying locations of the identified feature points in remaining images in the images. The method also includes selecting a group of the identified feature points indicative of relative motion of the camera between image captures and aligning a set of the images using the selected group of feature points. The method may further include selecting a reference image from the set of aligned images, weighting other images the set, and combining the reference image with the weighted images. Weighting of the other images may include, for each other image in the set, comparing the other image and the reference image to identify one or more moving objects in the other image and applying a weight to pixel locations in the other image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osman G. Sezer, John W. Glotzbach, Hamid R. Sheikh
  • Patent number: 9383706
    Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire, based on the results of reading a test pattern output by a printing unit, tone level correction data for bringing the reproduction characteristics of an image that is output by the printing unit close to a target value; a unit configured to generate adjusted tone level correction data obtained by adjusting the tone level correction data so that a predetermined density area increases in density; and a unit configured to generate color material amount correction data adjusted so that the amount of color material that is used for image formation becomes small in accordance with the degree of the adjustment in the adjusted tone level correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 9077836
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a command unit which generates a command signal periodically; a reading unit which reads an original in accordance with the command signal every time the command signal is generated; a conveying unit which conveys at least one of the reading unit and the original so as to change a relative position between the reading unit and the original; a signal output unit which outputs a displacement signal every time the relative position is changed by a predetermined amount corresponding to a reading interval; and a control unit which controls a generation timing of the command signal by the command unit. A generation period of the command signal is less than an output time interval of the displacement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyoichi Morita, Isao Kubo, Hidenobu Kondo, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 9007652
    Abstract: A basic color to be printed in achromatic colors (a layer superimposed with another layer) is changed in response to the brightness of a pixel indicated by the original image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8953905
    Abstract: Movies to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D?3D) are broken into backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors/depths are automatically applied with masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects. Areas never exposed by motion or foreground objects may be partially or fully realistically drawn/rendered/applied to the occluded areas and applied throughout the images to generate artifact-free secondary viewpoints during 2D?3D conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Legend3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Sandrew, Tony Baldridge, Anthony Lopez, Timothy Tranquill, Craig Cesareo
  • Patent number: 8870320
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data is described. An example of a method involves applying a first mask to image data corresponding to an overlap zone of a first print region, the first mask representing a first mask pattern and applying a second mask to image data corresponding to the overlap zone of a second print region, the second mask representing a second mask pattern. Each of the first and second mask patterns define a periodic variation in a dimension corresponding to the first direction. First and second mask patterns for at least a second image plane are spatially separated in the dimension corresponding to the first direction in relation to first and second patterns of a first image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Utpal Kumar Sarkar
  • Patent number: 8804205
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a memory unit; a read-out image processing unit that performs read-out image processing on input image data and stores the image data on which the image processing has been performed in the memory unit; an output attribute determining unit that performs determination image processing on the image data stored in the memory unit and determines an attribute of the image data on which the determination image processing has been performed; an output image processing unit that performs output image processing on the image data according to the determined attribute; and an output unit that outputs the image data on which the output image processing has been performed by the output image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masato Ishii, Taira Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8780405
    Abstract: A printer includes a printing device, a transport device that transports the printing medium, an optical sensor that outputs a specified output value, based on light that is reflected from the reverse face of the printing medium, a first determination portion that determines whether a first detection object color has been detected, based on the output value, a second declaration portion that declares that the mark has been detected in a case where, after a first declaration portion that, in a case where the number of times that the first determination portion has consecutively determined that the first detection object color has been detected, declares that the first detection object color is continuous over a specified width, the number of times that a second determination portion has consecutively determined that the second detection object color has been detected, based on the output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Sugimura, Satoru Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8767002
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for performing saturation adjustment of one or more pixels. In one embodiment, an input color value of a pixel is received. The input color value includes an input saturation component. An adjusted color value is extracted from a predetermined look-up table that maps the input color value to the adjusted color value, the adjusted color value having an adjusted saturation component that is different from the input saturation component. The adjusted color value is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Samson Huang, Alice Hsia
  • Patent number: 8760464
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that provides a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a display area for displaying an image that includes several pixels. The GUI includes a selectable masking tool for displaying in the display area an adjustable closed curve to identify a region in the image to apply a color correction operation. The selectable masking tool includes a selectable control for modifying the adjustable closed curve through a range of elliptical shapes that ranges from a pure ellipse to an approximate rectangle. The GUI includes a selectable GUI item for applying the color correction operation based on the selectable masking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bryant, Daniel Pettigrew, Olivier Fedkiw
  • Patent number: 8750644
    Abstract: A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. Masking tools position graphical representations on the display to define a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The several masking tools may be combined to form a single masking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz, John Tree
  • Patent number: 8654419
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs pseudo gradation processing using dithering, and includes an image carrier; a plurality of light-emitting element arrays arranged in a main-scanning direction and including a plurality of light-emitting elements; an image forming unit performing lighting control of the arrays and forming a pattern image on the image carrier; a detecting unit detecting a density of the pattern image; a position detecting unit detecting a position in the main-scanning direction of the detecting unit with respect to the light-emitting element arrays; a determining unit that, based on the detected position, determines whether the detecting unit is positioned at a proper detection position with respect to the pattern image on which noise has no effect; and an operation control unit that, when the detecting unit is positioned at the proper detection position, performs an image density detection operation on the pattern image using the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Miyazaki, Izumi Kinoshita, Motohiro Kawanabe, Takeshi Shikama, Takuhei Yokoyama, Tatsuya Miyadera
  • Patent number: 8610976
    Abstract: Methods of image enhancement are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of image enhancement is for use with an image capture device, such as a security document reader, for the attenuation, separation or reduction of reflections from objects, such as security documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gerald P. Cook, Anthony D. Jacques
  • Patent number: 8582178
    Abstract: A method for reducing an amount of marking material for printing a binary image on a receiving material uses a printing process configured to apply print pixels and to associate each image pixel with at least two print pixels. A print signal is generated indicating for each print pixel whether marking material is to be applied. The print signal is filtered by a predefined mask that defines for which print pixels no marking material will be applied independent of the pixel value of the associated image pixel. The print pixels that are blocked by the mask define a regular pattern to avoid graininess in the printed image. The main effect on print quality is a reduction of the contrast in the image. By choosing one of a set of at least two masks, the user selects the amount of reduction that is realized in the print process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Jantinus Woering
  • Patent number: 8520275
    Abstract: Methods for generating an inverse mask image are provided. In one aspect, image data is determined for an image to be printed said image data having color data for a first set of colors used in a first color model; and, an inverse mask toner image is generated using color data for one of the first set of colors. The inverse mask image is generated based upon the color data for a selected one of the first set of colors so that the inverse mask pattern can be generated without first determining of color separation toner images that define amounts of color toner to be applied to a receiver to form the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Young No, James Cossavella
  • Patent number: 8502834
    Abstract: An original design image is processed to create a modified design image for blending with an image of a product to create a combined image representing the result of printing the design image onto the product. To create a modified design image, both the alpha value and color of pixels in the original design image are modified. The modified alpha value and the modified color of a pixel are determined as a function of the amount of gray in the original color of the pixel. The modified pixel color is calculated by subtracting the level of gray in the original pixel color from each of the three original component color values and increasing any remaining color component values as a function of the modified alpha value of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Vistaprint Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Brian D. Hanechak, Paul J. Shelman
  • Patent number: 8494280
    Abstract: An automated method for extracting highlighted regions in a scanned text documents includes color masking of highlight regions, extracting text from highlighted regions, recognizing the characters in extracted text optically and inserting the recognized characters to new document in order to easily identify highlighted text in scanned images. Using a two-layer multi-mask compression technology configured in a scanned export image path, edges and text regions can be extracted and together with the use of mask coordinates and associated mask colors, all highlighted texts can be easily identified and extracted. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can then be utilized to appropriate summarization of different extracted highlighted texts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh Nagarajan, Michael R. Campanelli, Isaiah Simmons
  • Patent number: 8422071
    Abstract: Reproduction can be adjusted according to the degree of achromatopsia and the color distribution of an image, and color reproduction approximate to the vision of normal persons is provided to achromates. Different textures are added to respective regions (similar and hardly indistinguishable regions) which have different colors but conduce to similar result of light-reception by a light receiving device according to the differences of the original colors. The textures include a pattern of angle, hatching, or contrast each different according to the difference of the original color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Shimamura, Po-Chieh Hung, Yorihiro Yamaya, Shin-ichiroh Kitoh, Mayumi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8422106
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a display unit, an original image display unit, a touch panel, a detecting unit, a selected region determining unit, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The display unit includes a display region. The original image display unit displays an original display image in the display region based on original image data. The touch panel is superposed on the display region. The touch panel enables a user of the image forming device to specify a prescribed position on the touch panel. The detecting unit detects a prescribed position touched by the user and generates position data based on the prescribed position. The selected region determining unit determines, based on the position data, a selected region in the original display image when the original image display unit displays the original display image in the display region. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 8411320
    Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, a color shift correction execution check unit detects positions of density correction patches of respective colors according to binary signals of density detection outputs by a density sensor on the density correction patches. When distances corresponding to intervals of time from starts of image drawing of the density correction patches of the respective colors to the detection of the positions of the density correction patches of the respective colors and distances between the density correction patches of the respective colors are shifted from a value, the color shift correction execution check unit determines color shift correction processing is required to be executed, and it gives an instruction to a color shift correction control unit to execute the color shift correction processing. And the color shift correction control unit forms a color shift correction patch to execute the color shift correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Takagaki, Hajime Misumi, Fujio Osawa, Kanou Saitou, Mitsunori Shioi, Takashi Kubo, Tadakazu Tsutehira, Yuji Sato, Hideo Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8401336
    Abstract: Motion picture scenes to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors and/or depths are automatically applied to masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Legend3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Baldridge, Barry Sandrew
  • Patent number: 8396328
    Abstract: Motion picture scenes to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors and/or depths are automatically applied to masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Legend3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Sandrew, Tony Baldridge
  • Patent number: 8385684
    Abstract: Movies to be colorized/depth enhanced (2D->3D) are broken into backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined into composite frame which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting/reshaping. Colors/depths are automatically applied with masks throughout a scene from the composite background and to motion objects. Areas never exposed by motion or foreground objects may be partially or fully realistically drawn/rendered/applied to the occluded areas and applied throughout the images to generate artifact-free secondary viewpoints during 2D->3D conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Legend3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Sandrew, Tony Baldridge, Barry Sandrew
  • Patent number: 8339662
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate generating a ready-to-print binary dual-plane HLC image for output to an HLC device. A print-ready highlight color (HLC) image can be generated without digital front end (DFE) processing. For example, according to one or more aspects, a color scanner can be employed to produce a two-plane binary TIFF image. One plane contains black (e.g., achromatic) content, while the other contains highlight color content. Black pixels are identified and/or determined using neutral pixel and neutral window detection. Background pixels are mapped to white for both planes. Pixels that are non-neutral and non-background are designated as color pixels. After separation into a neutral plane and an HLC plane, the planes are processed into binary data for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8259349
    Abstract: A printing system includes a converter for replacing graphic elements of a document (100) that is subject to subsequent processing such as color matching. Conversion involves using multiply transparency in place of overprint and creating transparency groups (21, 23) to replace elements (1-4) that have subsequent elements that meet an overlapping overprint criteria. An element transparency group (21, 23) includes multiple elements based on the original element (1, 3) but with geometry and selected colorant channels modified based on the relationship between the original element (1, 3) and each subsequent original element (1-4) meeting the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Glen M. Cairns
  • Patent number: 8254722
    Abstract: A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. Masking tools position graphical representations on the display to define a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The several masking tools may be combined to form a single masking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz, John Tree
  • 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: 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: 8169630
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying print settings and printer factors that may affect the entire print job, and reporting such print settings and printer factors. Methods and apparatus are also provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying any objects in the print job that have associated predetermined attributes, and reporting the print objects that have any such predetermined attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michel, Jonathan Marsden
  • Patent number: 8169657
    Abstract: A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Shen-Ge Wang, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 8085439
    Abstract: In a method/device for preparing a print data stream for generation of print images with at least two primary colors, the print data contained in an input print data stream are supplied to a processing stage as input print data. The input print data are processed with the processing stage wherein at least one raster image of a first primary color is generated. Trapping information is generated by use of the raster image. An output print data stream is generated that has the trapping information in addition to print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rüdiger Siemens, Helmut Weiner, Olga Kurmann, Karl Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 8054504
    Abstract: A method separates a color vector into a colorant vector for a printing system that uses more than four colorants, for example cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange and green colorants. According to the method, the separation process is split up into partial four colorant processes that contain opponent colors. For example, a first partial process is a cyan, magenta, yellow and black process; a second one is an orange, magenta, yellow and black process; and a third one is a cyan, green, yellow and black process. Continuity of magnitudes of the colorants is achieved across the boundaries of the color gamuts of the partial processes by imposing specific constraints on the combinations of colorants to render a given color. A computer implemented system and a print system are based on the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Marc Mahy, Francis Verbeeck
  • Patent number: 7990574
    Abstract: A printing system includes a converter for replacing graphic elements of a color matched document (104). Conversion replaces original elements (2-4) with replacement elements (21-24, 40-42) having modified transparency attributes so that overprinting elements that overlap areas (10-15) appear as intended when subjected to color matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Glen Cairns
  • Patent number: 7944592
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method performed by an image capture device are provided. The method includes performing a calibration operation on a photosensor array of the image capture device using a background surface with a substantially uniform grey color and performing a scan operation to capture a scanned image from a medium using the background surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Youngers, Ted A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7929156
    Abstract: In an image output control system of the invention, an image processing device makes image data subjected to a preset series of image processing and supplies the processed image data to an image output device, which then outputs a resulting processed image. The image processing device determines the number of dots to be created in each pixel group, which has a preset number of multiple pixels included in an image, and outputs the determined number of dots as dot number data to the image output device. The image output device stores multiple options for a priority order of individual pixels included in each pixel group for dot formation. In response to reception of the dot number data, the image output device selects one among the multiple options for the priority order, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in the pixel group, and actually creates dots at the determined positions of the dot-on pixels to output a resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kakutani
  • Patent number: 7859689
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying print settings and printer factors that may affect the entire print job, and reporting such print settings and printer factors. Methods and apparatus are also provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying any objects in the print job that have associated predetermined attributes, and reporting the print objects that have any such predetermined attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michel, Jonathan Marsden
  • Patent number: 7834886
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamic correction of data for non-uniformity are disclosed. Feature data are extracted from input video data that include a subject shot against a backing area in a solid color. The feature data may describe characteristics of non-uniformity in input video data. A curve is generated based on the extracted feature data, and correction factors are formed based on the generated curve. At least one of the input video data and alpha data associated with the input video data is corrected based on the correction factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventor: Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 7760405
    Abstract: A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to supply, in an editor mode, a first set of data modeling objects in a document. A user request to enter a print preview mode is accepted. The print preview mode is entered while the editor mode remains active. The document is applied to a page layout with a set of pages. A set of pages to print are specified, where individual pages in the set of pages to print contain a subset of data modeling objects in the first set of data modeling objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Business Objects Software Ltd
    Inventor: Christophe Guy Ricard
  • Patent number: 7742205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a color matching method for transforming a color representation of a first set of color primaries with a plurality of first signals to a second set of color primaries with a plurality of second signals in a first domain. The color matching method of the invention is to consider the characteristics of human visual perception. Since human is more sensitive to the luminous intensity than chrominance, the color matching method of the invention is considered to match the luminous intensity. The color matching method of the invention can minimize the intensity difference by utilizing the optimality of resource distribution. An additional step of smoothing the intensity difference among color primaries at the level of color primaries is appended. It enhances the visual quality especially for the images with a gradual change in numerous levels of color. Besides, when the color is outside the gamut, we keep the information of luminance by adding extra white.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: VP Assets Limited Registered in British Virgin Islands
    Inventors: Wing Keung Felix Lor, Gia Chuong Phan
  • Patent number: 7733527
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a separation unit that separates image information including a first image having plural color components and a second image having a specific color component and to be overlaid at least in part on the first image into a specific color component image of the same color component as the specific color component and an image with color components other than the specific color component among the plural color components; a color conversion unit that performs color conversion of the image with color components other than the specific color component, separated by the separation unit; and a combination unit that combines the color-converted image with color components other than the specific color component, converted by the color conversion unit, and the specific color component image separated by the separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7692830
    Abstract: A luminance nonuniformity adjustment module for eliminating luminance nonuniformities in light emitting elements determines a luminance correction coefficient for each light-emitting element through a test print. The luminance nonuniformity adjustment module comprises a provisional luminance correction coefficient calculation unit, an improper coloring degree calculation unit and a luminance correction coefficient determination unit. The provisional luminance correction coefficient calculation unit calculates a provisional luminance correction coefficient by comparing a measured density value for a grayscale chart and a predetermined target density value. The improper coloring degree calculation unit calculates an improper coloring degree, which is the degree of improper coloring that occurs when other colors are expressed when developing a specific color, from the measured density values for the grayscale chart and an unbalanced chart in which the gray balance has been altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Goma, Yoshiyuki Nakatani, Takeshi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 7587100
    Abstract: A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. A masking tool positions a graphical representation on the display, the graphical representation defining a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The masking tool is positioned over a masked portion of an image and an effect is applied. The effect is applied on the image outside the masked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz, John Tree
  • Patent number: 7583409
    Abstract: A method for encoding information on a printed page includes generating a set of color patches, each having a unique color. The set of color patches is printed. The printed color patches are scanned to identify color values for each patch in the set of patches. For each patch, the identified color values are associated with a datum value in a data structure. A page which includes a patch code is printed. The patch code includes selected ones of the set of color patches for conveying information about the printed page. The printed page is scanned to identify the color values for the color patches in the patch code. The data structure is accessed to identify the data values for the identified color values of the patches in the patch code. Information about the printed page is determined from the identified data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Morgana, R. Victor Klassen
  • Patent number: 7577312
    Abstract: Motion picture scenes to be colorized are broken into separate elements, backgrounds/sets or motion/onscreen-action. Background and motion elements are combined separately into single frame representations of multiple frames which becomes a visual reference database that includes data for all frame offsets used later for the computer controlled application of masks within a sequence of frames. Each pixel address within the database corresponds to a mask/lookup table address within the digital frame and X, Y, Z location of subsequent frames. Masks are applied to subsequent frames of motion objects based on various differentiating image processing methods, including automated mask fitting of all masks or single masks in an entire frame, bezier and polygon tracing of selected regions with edge detected shaping and operator directed detection of subsequent regions. The gray scale actively determines the mask and corresponding color lookup that is applied in a keying fashion within regions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Legend Films Inc.
    Inventor: Barry B. Sandrew
  • Patent number: 7551317
    Abstract: A method and a measuring device are proposed for controlling the color application of a printing press (10) using at least one ink-feeding device (20) on the basis of spectral reflectance values of printed surface elements (24) on a print substrate (22), which are distinguished in that measured spectral reflectance values are converted into corrected spectral reflectance values. The method and/or the measuring device can be advantageously used in a printing system having a printing press (10), to implement a control on the basis of polarized spectral reflectance values, in particular for a detector (28) which measures unpolarized spectral reflectance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Engler, Werner Huber, Manfred Schneider
  • Patent number: 7545536
    Abstract: Based on a read value of a calibration reference chart including achromatic patches and chromatic patches having different concentrations and a reference value of the calibration reference chart, a masking coefficient according to each hue area is calculated. A gradation conversion is performed on an image signal output from an image reading unit. The image signal is corrected based on the masking coefficient. Consequently, it is possible to reduce a difference in performance of a scanner between units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Koji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7545976
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus of processing an image using filters. The method and apparatus receives an input pixel and a pixel array associated with the image, identifies a color of the pixel array to facilitate processing the input pixel and the pixel array associated with the image and locates the color and the association with a corresponding image enhancement operation in a color lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jay Stephen Gondek, Thomas Berge
  • Publication number: 20080309955
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to improve image quality. The image forming apparatus includes a window control unit to generate a window of a predetermined size using a lines per inch (LPI) value of a dithering mask and an angle, and to detect locations of a center reference pixel and neighboring reference pixels in the window, a weighting set unit to apply weighted values to the reference pixels based on locations of the detected center reference pixel and the neighboring reference pixels, and a control unit to determine a dot size of the center reference pixel corresponding to weighted values corresponding to locations of black pixels of the center reference pixel and neighboring reference pixels. Accordingly, image quality is improved by generating dots corresponding to a plurality of gray levels based on weighted values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-keun LEE, Sang-youn Shin
  • Patent number: 7436545
    Abstract: If an ink for a particular color (for example, red) having an excellent color developing characteristic is used in addition to inks for three primary colors of subtractive color mixture, the high color reproducibility is to be maintained for a long period. To accomplish this, at least one (for example, a yellow ink) of the inks of two colors between which the hue angle of red, included in the three primary colors, is sandwiched is applied to an area of a printing medium to which a red ink is applied so that the inks overlap each other. Thus, the yellow ink, having a high weatherability, is applied to an area on the printing medium to which only the red ink, having a low weatherability, is otherwise applied. It is therefore possible to improve the weatherability while maintaining the color developing characteristic at a high level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomioka, Hiroyuki Takuhara, Tsuyoshi Kanke, Shin-ichi Tochihara, Shohei Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: RE42618
    Abstract: A multiple-field sensor for a scanner suitable for scanning a document. The scanner includes a multiple-field sensor, an average accumulator, and a block of memory. The multiple-field sensor has a plurality of sensing lines for each color channel. Each sensing line picks up a portion of image signal from the document during scanning. The sensing lines scan the same portion of the document to produce corresponding image signals. The average accumulator averages the image signals obtained from the sensing lines of the same color channel to produce an average image signal. The block of memory is used as a storage area for image signals in general and the average image signal in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Shih-Zheng Kuo