Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating user preference data regarding the color characteristic of an image and a method and apparatus for converting image color preference using the method and apparatus is provided. The method for generating user preference data comprises (a) obtaining an image color characteristic value of a preference image and a reference image, (b) generating {preference value, reference value} which corresponds to a pair of the preference value and the reference value, and (c) generating the pair {preference value, reference value} as preference meta-data having at least one feature block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering a color image on a delta-structured display are provided. The method for rendering a color image on a display apparatus in which a pixel expressing an input image is formed with delta-structured sub-pixels, the method comprising: (a) forming a scaling filter which is used to make the resolution of the input image correspond to the resolution of the display apparatus; (b) obtaining a representative value of a sub-pixel of the display apparatus corresponding to a consideration area which is an area processed by the scaling filter in the input image; (c) obtaining the value of the sub-pixel based on the difference of pixels in the consideration area in the input image; (d) performing gamma correction of the sub-pixel value so that the sub-pixel is appropriate to the display apparatus; and (e) rendering the gamma-adjusted sub-pixel value on the display apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering an image signal by adding another one color different from an inputted color, to an image signal composed of a predetermined number (for example, RGB) of components, is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a white signal component and for controlling the brightness of an image are provided. In the above method and apparatus, the brightness increases of Red, Green and Blue, the saturations of which are not decreased from an input image are calculated using a vector, and the minimum value of such increases is utilized as the input value for the white component. Further, by adding brightness control components of RGB color to the input RGB signals, brightness increases in the direction of the original colors instead of the achromatic one are possible, which is the way the white component is added so as to increase the luminance of color display devices representing a color using a color filter such a flat panel display. Accordingly, a color saturation of the image is not decreased even with addition of the achromatic color a component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively enhancing contrast depending on the level of incoming video signals while preserving colors are provided. An apparatus for enhancing the contrast and brightness of a video signal displayed on a display device includes: a first luminance level transformation circuit that receives luminance and chrominance signals, reduces the level of the luminance signal in response to a first control signal, and outputs the chrominance signals and the luminance signal whose level has been reduced; an image converting circuit that receives the output signals from the first luminance level transformation circuit and converts the received signals into RGB video signals; and a second luminance level transformation circuit that receives the RGB video signals from the image converting circuit, concurrently increases the respective levels of the RGB video signals in response to a second control signal, and outputs the RGB video signals whose levels have been increased.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adaptively enhancing a color of an image are provided. The apparatus includes a saturation component deriving unit, a saturation enhancement function determining variable calculator, a saturation enhancement unit, and a saturation component synthesizing unit. The saturation component deriving unit derives a saturation component from an input image. The saturation enhancement function determining variable calculator determines a saturation enhancement function used to enhance the saturation of the input image based upon a predetermined reference value. The saturation enhancement unit changes the derived saturation component using the saturation enhancement function. The saturation component synthesizing unit synthesizes the changed saturation component and other components of the input image and generates an output image based upon the synthesized components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing color images are provided. The apparatus includes a color conversion unit for white-transforming signals in RGB space. The color conversion unit includes a first white-transforming means for white-transforming signals in RGB space to signals in a predetermined color space using N predetermined illuminant colors, and a second white-transforming means for white-transforming the signals in the predetermined color space to the signals in RGB space using M predetermined color temperatures of the display means, so that a natural color image or an image of a desirable color can be obtained without information with respect to the illuminant.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for changing the brightness of an image are provided. The method for changing the brightness of an image includes obtaining a level incremental rate, which denotes the degree to which the brightness of three input color components, i.e., first, second and third color components, will be increased according to a determined color gamut, scaling the input color components using the level incremental rate and determining the results of the scaling as incremental values of the input color components, obtaining a fourth color component value using the incremental values, and obtaining output color components, the brightnesses of which are increased from those of the input color components, using the fourth color component value and the incremental values.

Abstract: An image segmenting apparatus and method is provided. The image segmenting apparatus includes an initial image segmenting unit, a region structurizing unit and a redundant region combiner. The initial image segmenting unit converts color signals of an input image into a color space which is based on predetermined signals, and segments the input image into a plurality of regions according to positions of color pixels of the input image in the color space. The region structurizing unit classifies the plurality of regions into layers according to horizontal, adjacent relation and hierarchical, inclusive relation between the regions, and groups adjacent regions into region groups in each layer, so as to derive a hierarchical, inclusive relation between the region groups. The redundant region combiner determines the order in which adjacent regions are combined according to the horizontal, adjacent relation between regions and the hierarchical, inclusive relation between region groups.

Abstract: Provided are a method of improving the gradation of an image, and an image display apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating illuminant chromaticity and a method and apparatus for converting the estimated illuminant chromaticity into desired illuminant chromaticity using software are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a white signal component and for controlling the brightness of an image are provided. In the above method and apparatus, the brightness increases of Red, Green and Blue, the saturations of which are not decreased from an input image are calculated using a vector, and the minimum value of such increases is utilized as the input value for the white component. Further, by adding brightness control components of RGB color to the input RGB signals, brightness increases in the direction of the original colors instead of the achromatic one are possible, which is the way the white component is added so as to increase the luminance of color display devices representing a color using a color filter such a flat panel display. Accordingly, a color saturation of the image is not decreased even with addition of the achromatic color component.

Abstract: Provided are an image brightness controlling apparatus and method, and an adaptive brightness controlling apparatus and method based on the brightness degree and/or brightness range of an image. The image brightness controlling apparatus includes a brightness increment arithmetic unit for outputting a brightness increment for a pixel, and an individual component brightness increment arithmetic unit for outputting the brightness increments of individual components constituting the pixel in response to the brightness increment for a pixel. The individual component brightness increment arithmetic unit multiplies the brightness increment of the pixel by each of the unit vectors of the components constituting the pixel to obtain the brightness increments of the individual components. The image brightness controlling apparatus further includes an adder for adding the components constituting the pixel to the brightness increments of the components.

Abstract: An image browsing apparatus capable of calculating color temperature of an image and browsing the image based on the color temperature, and a method of browsing an image are provided. The image browsing apparatus includes a data storage unit for storing a plurality of image data; a color temperature calculator for calculating the color temperature of each image and storing the calculated color temperature in the data storage unit; a command input unit for inputting an image browsing mode; and a color temperature browser for classifying images corresponding to the browsing mode using the color temperature as an image search condition and then, browsing the classified images. The method of browsing images includes determining the color temperature of an input image when a browsing mode is input; and browsing images when the color temperature falls within the color temperature range of the browsing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating object-labeled images based on query images in a video sequence are provided. A video sequence is divided into a plurality of shots, each of which consists of a set of frames having a similar scene, and an initial object region is extracted from each of the shots by determining whether an object image exists in key frames of the shots. Based on the initial object region extracted from each of the key frames, object regions are tracked in all frames of the shots. Then, the object regions are labeled to generate object-labeled images. Therefore, the object-labeled image generating apparatus and method can be applied regardless of the degree of motion of an object and time required to extract query objects is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a color-texture distance and a method and apparatus for sectioning an image into a plurality of regions using the measured color-texture distance are provided.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a print board assembly, which is implemented in a system having a computer for storing parts insertion instruction diagrams and displaying parts insertion instructions, and a soldering unit for soldering a printed circuit board, includes: assembling different types of the printed circuit boards from pieces of parts and inspecting them in a multitude of cells; installing different types of the printed circuit boards in carriers to assemble them separately according to the parts insertion instructions displayed by the computer of each cell, and moving them to the soldering unit through a transfer conveyor line; and returning the carriers having the printed circuit boards completely soldered to each cell identified for the carriers through a return conveyor line.

Abstract: A method for determining the color of an illuminant and an apparatus therefor are provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a print board assembly, which is implemented in a system having a computer for storing parts insertion instruction diagrams and displaying parts insertion instructions, and a soldering unit for soldering a printed circuit board, includes the steps of: assembling different types of the printed circuit boards from pieces of parts and inspecting them in a multitude of cells; installing different types of the printed circuit boards in carriers to assemble them separately according to the parts insertion instructions displayed by the computer of each cell, and moving them to the soldering unit through a transfer conveyor line; and returning the carriers having the printed circuit boards completely soldered to each cell identified for the carriers through a return conveyor line.

Abstract: In a color processing method and apparatus therefor using two-dimensional (2-D) chromaticity separation for minimizing color difference between an original image and a reproduced image in a color apparatus including a color television receiver, the apparatus includes an index calculator for calculating indexes for projecting R, G and B color signals or luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (R-Y and B-Y) in a 3-D color space onto a 2-D chromaticity plane, a first look-up table in which the indexes are stored, a second look-up table in which matrix transformation coefficients which define an input-versus-output relationship between the R, G and B color signals or luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (R-Y and B-Y) are stored and for outputting a predetermined number of transformation coefficients stored in the corresponding address designated by the output signal of the first look-up table, and a color transformation operation unit for receiving the predetermined number of transformation