Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a methodology for including software controlled filtering effects in digital cameras to reduce the need for physical filters. Filtering effects emulated by the software include technical filters, correction filters and effects filters. The invention includes an input system which allows the user to select various filtering effects, preview the filtered image and record the filtered image in a lossy compressed file format. The input system may consist of a hierarchical menu system, touch screens, voice activation, pointing devices or a round robin mechanism. In addition, the input system includes an ability for the user to indicate a selection has been made such as an enter key or a selection completion signal.

Abstract: Color optical image scanners, optical scanners, and methods of scanning color images are described. In one embodiment, variations in a velocity profile of a moving object to be scanned are compensated for by selecting for illumination during greater velocity regions, colors having lesser degrees of sensitivity to a human eye. In another embodiment, manipulation of color planes of a scanned object takes place to provide improved images with reduced color artifacts.

Abstract: A method of sending a facsimile of a document includes diffusing a grayscale image to produce a binary, black-and-white image having on/off image values corresponding to a first spatial resolution. When communicating with a remote facsimile device that supports a lower resolution, the black-and-white image is converted to a lower resolution. To perform this conversion, a scaled value for each image value of the lower-resolution image is calculated by interpolating between neighboring dots of the original black-and-white image. The resulting scaled values are then error diffused to create a black-and-white image.

Abstract: A dither method converts multi-bit grey level pixel values into an image array of binary level pixel values, wherein the image array is arranged as a raster of scan lines.

Abstract: In a disk drive, servo gain correction, in the presence of servo code signal variations, is achieved by utilizing the servo position signals to produce a servo gain scaling signal which is combined with the servo position signals to produce a corrected servo position signal for controlling the servo. The disk tracks comprise four phases of servo code, either dedicated or sampled servo code. The servo code is conventionally defined by four phases of recorded magnetic dibits, A, B, C, D. Normal, N, [N=(A-B)] and quadrature, Q, [Q=(C-D)], servo position signals are developed from the recorded dibits, either or both of the normal and quadrature signals may be used for controlling the servo. Absolute value signals N and Q are rectified values of the normal N, and quadrature, Q, signals.