Patents by Inventor Mark Jozef Willem Mertens

Mark Jozef Willem Mertens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10134444
    Abstract: To allow a better coordination between an image creation artist such as a movie director of photography and the final viewer, via a receiving-side display and its built-in image processing, a method of adding image defining information to an input image signal (I) comprises showing the input image (I) to a human operator; receiving via a user interface (303, 308) descriptive data (D) from the human operator, the descriptive data (D) including at least luminance value information on the one hand, and a regime descriptor (rd) on the other hand; and encoding into an output description data signal (DDO), relatable to an output image signal (O) based upon the input image signal (I), of the descriptive data (D) in a technical format standardized to be intended for use by a receiving-side display to control its image processing for changing the color properties of its rendered images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 10075738
    Abstract: Encoding a high dynamic range image (M_HDR), comprising: 1. converting the high dynamic range image to an image of lower luminance dynamic range (LDR_o) by applying the acts of: a) scaling the high dynamic range image to a predetermined scale of the luma axis such as [0,1], b) a sensitivity tone mapping which changes the brightnesses of pixel colors falling within at least a subrange comprising the darker colors in the high dynamic range image, c) a gamma function, and d) applying an arbitrary monotonically increasing function mapping the lumas resulting from performing the acts b and c to output lumas of the lower dynamic range image (LDR_o); and 2. outputting in an image signal (S_im) a codification of the pixel colors of the lower luminance dynamic range image (LDR_o), and 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Renatus Josephus Van Der Vleuten, Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 10057600
    Abstract: The image encoder encodes an image of a high dynamic range scene. A pixel texture encoding unit is configured to encode pixels colors of the image with an image representation comprising N-bit code words. An image analysis unit is configured to determine and output a region differentiator grey value, which is a luma value demarcating below it lumas of all pixels of a first object in at least one block of the image, and above it lumas of all pixels of a second object in the at least one block of the image. A formatter is configured to co-encode the image representation and the region differentiator grey value in an output image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 10027965
    Abstract: To have a very efficient and in some embodiments also backwards compatible with legacy LDR display systems, apparatuses and methods relating to decoding an image encoding (LDR_CONT) corresponding to a first luminance dynamic range (R_oLDR) into a second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR) output image (HDR_FIN), in which image encoding (LDR_CONT) are encoded pixels of an original image (HDR_ORIG) of a high dynamic range scene, the method comprising: tone mapping with a predetermined tone mapping strategy (FL2H) at least the lumas of pixels in the image encoding (LDR_CONT) onto lumas of pixels in an intermediate image (HDR_PRED) corresponding to the second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR); and modifying the lumas of at least some of the pixels of the intermediate image (HDR_PRED) by multiplying them with predetermined multiplication factors, resulting in the output image (HDR_FIN) are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Publication number: 20180005356
    Abstract: For obtaining an good yet easy to use luminance dynamic range conversion, we describe an image color processing apparatus (200) arranged to transform an input color (R,G,B) of a pixel of an input image (Im_in) having a first luminance dynamic range into an output color (Rs, Gs, Bs) of a pixel of an output image (Im_res) having a second luminance dynamic range, which first and second dynamic ranges differ in extent by at least a multiplicative factor 2, comprising: a maximum determining unit (101) arranged to calculate a maximum (M) of color components of the input color, the color components at least comprising a red, green and blue component; —a uniformization unit (201) arranged to apply a function (FP) to the maximum (M) as input, which function has a logarithmic shape and was predetermined to be of a fixed shape enabling to transform a linear input to a more perceptually uniform output variable (u); a function application unit (203) arranged to receive a functional shape of a function, which was specified
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Renatus Josephus VAN DER VLEUTEN, Jeroen Hubert Christoffel Jacobus STESSEN, Mark Jozef Willem MERTENS
  • Publication number: 20170339433
    Abstract: To allow graders to make optimally looking content of HDR scenes for various rendering displays, we invented an image encoder (202) comprising: an input (240) for a high dynamic range input image (M_HDR); an image grading unit (201) arranged to allow a human color grader to specify a color mapping from a representation (HDR_REP) of the high dynamic range input image defined according to a predefined accuracy, to a low dynamic range image (Im_LDR) by means of a human-determined color mapping algorithm, and arranged to output data specifying the color mapping (Fi(MP_DH)); and an automatic grading unit (203) arranged to derive a second low dynamic range image (GT_IDR) by applying an automatic color mapping algorithm to one of the high dynamic range input image (M_HDR) or the low dynamic range image (Im_LDR). We also describe and interesting new saturation processing strategy useful in the newly emerging high dynamic range image handling technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventor: MARK JOZEF WILLEM MERTENS
  • Publication number: 20170330529
    Abstract: Color transformation apparatus (201) for calculating resultant colors (R2, G2, B2) of pixels of an output image for a display with a display peak brightness (PB_D) starting from input colors (R,G,B) of pixels of an input image first image peak brightness (PB_H) which is different from the display peak brightness, said color transformation apparatus comprising: a color transformation determination unit (102) arranged to determine a color transformation (g) from color processing specification data (MET) comprising at least one tone mapping function (CC) for at least a range of pixel luminances received via a metadata input (116), which color transformation specifies the calculation of at least some pixel colors of an image having corresponding to its maximum luma code a second image peak brightness (PB_L), which is different from the display peak brightness (PB_D) and the first image peak brightness (PB_H), and whereby the division of the first image peak brightness by the second image peak brightness is either
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Gerardus Rijk VAN MOURIK, Mark Jozef Willem MERTENS, Rutger NIJLAND
  • Patent number: 9754629
    Abstract: To allow a better coordination between an image creation artist such as a movie director of photography and the final viewer, via a receiving-side display and its corresponding image processing, a method of adding display rendering specification information to an input image signal (I) comprises determining descriptive data (D) that includes at least identification information for at least one luminance regime subset of pixels of an input image; and encoding the descriptive data (D) into an output description data signal (DDO), relatable to an output image signal (O) based upon an input image signal (I), of the descriptive data (D) in a technical format standardized to be intended for use by a receiving-side display to control its image processing for changing the color properties of its rendered images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 9749550
    Abstract: An audiovisual signal processing device including a signal processing unit configured to receive a video signal comprising a plurality of images; identify at least first and second video components of the video signal, the first video component relating to motion of the first video component between at least a first portion of the plurality of images and the second video component relating to a substantial lack of motion of the second video component between at least a second portion of the plurality of images; select at least one image from the second portion of the plurality of images including the second video component; and insert the first video component into a plurality of the selected at least one image to create a temporally repeating sequence of the at least one image including the first video component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Publication number: 20170208344
    Abstract: The image encoder encodes an image of a high dynamic range scene. A pixel texture encoding unit is configured to encode pixels colors of the image with an image representation comprising N-bit code words. An image analysis unit is configured to determine and output a region differentiator grey value, which is a luma value demarcating below it lumas of all pixels of a first object in at least one block of the image, and above it lumas of all pixels of a second object in the at least one block of the image. A formatter is configured to co-encode the image representation and the region differentiator grey value in an output image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: MARK JOZEF WILLEM MERTENS
  • Patent number: 9699482
    Abstract: An image encoder includes an input for a high dynamic range input image (M_HDR); an image grading unit arranged to allow a human color grader to specify a color mapping from a representation (HDR_REP) of the high dynamic range input image defined according to a predefined accuracy, to a low dynamic range image (Im_LDR) by a human-determined color mapping algorithm. The image encoder is configured to output data specifying the color mapping (Fi(MP_DH)). Further, the image encoder includes an automatic grading unit configured to derive a second low dynamic range image (GT_IDR) by applying an automatic color mapping algorithm to one of the high dynamic range input image (M_HDR) and the low dynamic range image (Im_LDR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Publication number: 20170180759
    Abstract: To enable future video transmission of a large range of HDR videos, and render them on displays of variable dynamic range or peak brightness capability, we describe an encoder (301) for encoding an input high dynamic range video set of images (Im_5000), having pixel colors with luminances lower than a first maximum luminance (L_max_M), into an encoded high dynamic range video (Im_2000), being a high dynamic range image, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem MERTENS
  • Publication number: 20170127069
    Abstract: To have a very efficient and in some embodiments also backwards compatible with legacy LDR display systems, apparatuses and methods relating to decoding an image encoding (LDR_CONT) corresponding to a first luminance dynamic range (R_oLDR) into a second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR) output image (HDR_FIN), in which image encoding (LDR_CONT) are encoded pixels of an original image (HDR_ORIG) of a high dynamic range scene, the method comprising: tone mapping with a predetermined tone mapping strategy (FL2H) at least the lumas of pixels in the image encoding (LDR_CONT) onto lumas of pixels in an intermediate image (HDR_PRED) corresponding to the second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR); and modifying the lumas of at least some of the pixels of the intermediate image (HDR_PRED) by multiplying them with predetermined multiplication factors, resulting in the output image (HDR_FIN) are taught.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem MERTENS
  • Patent number: 9641894
    Abstract: To allowed for increased security for selling HDR movies (or at least HDR experiences) even when some of the movie data gets pirated, an image transformation apparatus (201) is arranged to derive a e.g. a high dynamic range image (HDR_PRED) from a low dynamic range image (LDR_CONT) or any dynamic range image (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Publication number: 20170078706
    Abstract: To enable a good HDR image or video coding technology, being able to yield high dynamic range images as well as low dynamic range images, we invented a method of encoding a high dynamic range image (M_HDR), comprising the steps of: converting the high dynamic range image to an image of lower luminance dynamic range (LDR_o) by applying a) scaling the high dynamic range image to a predetermined scale of the luma axis such as [0,1], b) applying a sensitivity tone mapping which changes the brightnesses of pixel colors falling within at least a subrange comprising the darker colors in the high dynamic range image, c) applying a gamma function, and d) applying an arbitrary monotonically increasing function mapping the lumas resulting from performing the steps b and c to output lumas of the lower dynamic range image (LDR_o); and outputting in an image signal (S_im) a codification of the pixel colors of the lower luminance dynamic range image (LDR_o), and outputting in the image signal (S_im) values encoding the func
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Renatus Josephus VAN DER VLEUTEN, Mark Jozef Willem MERTENS
  • Patent number: 9595297
    Abstract: To allow a better coordination between an image creation artist such as a movie director of photography and the final viewer (via the display and its built-in image processing), we describe method of adding image defining information to an input image signal (I), comprising: —showing the input image (I) to a human operator; receiving via a user interface (303, 308) descriptive data (D) from the human operator, the descriptive data (D) including at least luminance values and/or geometrical shape information on the one hand, and a regime descriptor (rd) on the other hand; encoding into an output description data signal (DDO), relatable to an output image signal (O) based upon the input image signal (I), of the descriptive data (D) in a technical format standardized to be intended for use by a receiving display to control its image processing for changing the color properties of its rendered images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 9511290
    Abstract: If one has at his disposition a robust display which can be thrown around, a whole new range of computer games can be designed. The electronic gaming system comprises: a robust, moveable display (101); a game controller (103), arranged to generate a game scenario, comprising generation of pictures to be displayed on the robust moveable display (101); and a trajectory mapping unit (105), arranged to map a virtual trajectory in space-time of a virtual world in the game scenario, with at least two of the pictures with unequal picture content corresponding to different locations of the virtual space-time trajectory, to a real trajectory of the robust moveable display (101) in real space, so that at an appropriate moment the two of the pictures are displayed on the robust moveable display (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Patent number: 9516351
    Abstract: To have a very efficient and in some embodiments also backwards compatible with legacy LDR display systems, apparatuses and methods relating to decoding an image encoding (LDR_CONT) corresponding to a first luminance dynamic range (R_oLDR) into a second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR) output image (HDR_FIN), in which image encoding (LDR_CONT) are encoded pixels of an original image (HDR_ORIG) of a high dynamic range scene, the method comprising: tone mapping with a predetermined tone mapping strategy (FL2H) at least the lumas of pixels in the image encoding (LDR_CONT) onto lumas of pixels in an intermediate image (HDR_PRED) corresponding to the second luminance dynamic range (R_oHDR); and modifying the lumas of at least some of the pixels of the intermediate image (HDR_PRED) by multiplying them with predetermined multiplication factors, resulting in the output image (HDR_FIN) are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens
  • Publication number: 20160307602
    Abstract: To allow a better coordination between an image creation artist such as a movie director of photography and the final viewer, via a receiving-side display and its corresponding image processing, a method of adding display rendering specification information to an input image signal (I) comprises determining descriptive data (D) that includes at least identification information for at least one luminance regime subset of pixels of an input image; and encoding the descriptive data (D) into an output description data signal (DDO), relatable to an output image signal (O) based upon an input image signal (I), of the descriptive data (D) in a technical format standardized to be intended for use by a receiving-side display to control its image processing for changing the color properties of its rendered images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: MARK JOZEF WILLEM MERTENS
  • Patent number: 9451274
    Abstract: To allow improved high dynamic range image encoding, we describe an image encoding unit (551) arranged to encode a high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) comprising: a first receiver (901) for receiving a lower dynamic range (SELR); a first code mapping unit (904) arranged to encode in a first image (Im_1) all pixels of the high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) with luminances within the lower dynamic range (SELR); a second receiver (902) for receiving a maximal redundancy (MAXRED), which specifies to which amount luminances already encoded in the first image (Im_1) need to be redundantly encoded again; an image processing unit (903) arranged to determine, based upon the maximal redundancy (MAXRED), which pixels of the high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) need to be encoded in a second image (Im_2); a second code mapping unit (905) arranged to encode in the second image (Im_2) luminances of the pixels of the high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) which need to be encoded in the second image (Im_2); and a formatter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Jozef Willem Mertens