Abstract: A method for scaling of an image that includes providing an N-tap filter to be applied upon an image region and applying the N-tap filter variously to the image region and obtaining therefrom at least one scaled image pixel, such that N is equal to the scaling factor plus one. For instance, a 4:1 scaling procedure is achieved using a five-tap filter. By carefully selecting the coefficient of the five-tap filter, 2:1 scaling with a three-tap filter may be achieved using the same hardware and adding control signals and selectors. The scaling methodology and apparatus work directly in the CFA domain and provide efficient single pass dual-moded or multi-moded scaling capability.

Abstract: A method comprising selecting a quantization threshold parameters set based upon available storage in a storage mechanism configured to store quantized image data, and quantizing image data using the selected quantization threshold parameter set, the selecting and quantizing guaranteeing that at minimum number (M) of quantized image data can be stored in the storage mechanism.

Abstract: A method of processing an image by generating transform data in response to performing at least one discrete wavelet transform based upon original image data, generating adjusted data by combining noise with the transform data, and generating compressed data representing the image by quantizing based upon the adjusted data.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method that consists of constructing a bit-serial decoding table for a list of variable length codewords without the use of a binary decoding tree, and decoding using the decoding table, in a bit serial fashion, a bitstream encoded using those variable length codewords.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient image encoding in a predictive coding or other error image based image compression scheme, a pseudo-fixed length code is employed to convert certain calculated error values into codewords. The code is pseudo-fixed length since the length of codewords is fixed for a particular range of values and then increased for the next range. The length of codewords is not needed in decoding by choosing prefixes that uniquely distinguish codewords when packed together. As a result, efficient and quick image encoding/decoding is made possible.

Abstract: A method of processing an image by generating transform data in response to performing at least one discrete wavelet transform based upon original image data, generating adjusted data by combining noise with the transform data, and generating compressed data representing the image by quantizing based upon the adjusted data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed having the step of loading a register with a set of color pixel component values. The method also includes circularly shifting the register a predetermined number of times before outputting each value in the register to create a cell of color pixel component values suitable for display in a liquid crystal display. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: What is disclosed is method that interpolates missing color components for an original pixel by utilizing color medians for surrounding blocks of green pixels. A new pixel is output which has complete color information which is a function of the original pixel and interpolated color components. The interpolated pixel is a true representation of both luminance and chrominance information.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method comprising defining a scaling region by indicating in a CFA (Color Filter Array) a starting location, and generating a super-pixel which is a downscaled version of the scaling region, the super-pixel fully color interpolated, the downscaling and the color interpolation achieved in an integrated manner.

Abstract: A method comprising constructing virtual (Discrete Wavelet Transform) DWT sub-bands; from an image without performing the DWT and then applying an inverse DWT upon the virtual sub-bands, the result of the inverse DWT representing an up-sampled version of the image. Alternatively, an apparatus comprising an interface configured to communicate image data, and an up-sampling unit, the up-sampling unit coupled to the interface to receive the image data, the up-sampling unit configured to construct virtual sub-band input data from the image data, the up-sampling unit configured to perform an inverse DWT upon the input data generating an up-sampled image therefrom.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method that includes determining the direction of most probable correlation of a transformed set of image data, and error encoding transformed data, the error determined between a transformed data value and a predicted neighbor data value in the determined direction. In an imaging apparatus that employs a DWT, or Discrete Wavelet Transform to compress an image, the direction of edges in the compressed data in used to generate a more highly correlated error image than typically provided for.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for removing noise by distinguishing between edge and non-edge pixels and applying a first noise removal technique to pixels classified as non-edge pixels and a second noise removal technique to pixels classified as edge pixels. The methodology operates on images while in a Color Filter Array (CFA) domain prior to color interpolation, and uses techniques suited to the classification, whether edge or non-edge.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an image scaling technique and apparatus. The technique and apparatus utilizes a discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The DWT is applied row-wise to an image, which results in a low frequency sub-band and a high frequency sub-band. The DWT is again applied column-wise to the result of the row-wise DWT. The end result is a 2:1 scaled image. The process may be modified easily to obtain a 4:1 scaled image. Further, the architecture for computing the DWT provides high throughput and is composed, due to the nature of the DWT of address multipliers, registers and delay elements.

Abstract: An apparatus to perform symmetric filtering image compression is provided. The apparatus includes an N-element shift circuit, that has N shifting blocks (SB), to store and shift data elements. Each data element represents a pixel of an image. The apparatus also includes a first plurality of adder circuits to add data elements from a first plurality of pairs of SBs of the N SBs. The apparatus further includes a second plurality of adder circuits to add data elements from a second plurality of pairs of SBs of the N SBs. Additionally, the apparatus includes a first plurality of multiplier circuits, to multiply by corresponding low pass coefficients results of additions performed by the first plurality of adder circuits. The apparatus also includes a second plurality of multiplier circuits, to multiply by corresponding high pass coefficients results of additions performed by the second plurality of adder circuits.

Abstract: A method comprising entropy encoding into bits a set of data values, and packing into storage the entropy encoded bits by reversing the bits of words with unknown length and keeping in blocks the words with known lengths. For instance, in an entropy encoded data set that uses both Huffman coding and zero run coding, the class code may be reversed in bit order from right to left rather left to right while the words of known length such as the zero run code and Huffman pointer are stored left to right in blocks. This data arrangement is particularly useful in an MMX based machine.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated systolic architecture which can perform both forward and inverse Discrete Wavelet Transforms with a minimum of complexity. A plurality of processing cells, each having an adder and a multiplier, are coupled to a set of multiplexers and delay elements to selectively receive a single input datastream in the forward DWT mode and two datastreams in the inverse DWT mode. In the forward DWT mode, the integrated architecture decomposes the input datastream into two output sequences—a high frequency sub-band output and a low frequency sub-band output. In the inverse DWT mode, the integrated architecture reconstructs the original input sequence by outputting even terms and odd terms on alternating clock cycles. As a result, the architecture can achieve 100% utilization and is suitable to be implemented in VLSI circuitry.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method that allows a fixed length (L) codeword and flag to serve as a structure for encoding large run of identical values, a single bit capable of representing 2.sup.L such values. The zero non coding method may be utilized to efficiently encode data sets, such as images or other data files with large consecutive runs of a particular value such as zero. In an entropy encoding scheme, such enhanced zero run coding may be combined with variable length coding for non-zero values.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method that includes splitting raw image data into a plurality of channels including color plane difference channels, and then compressing separately each of these channels using a two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform, the compression utilizing quantization, whereby the recovery of the compressed channel data yielding a perceptually lossless image. The method and apparatus operates on images directly in their Bayer pattern form. Quantization thresholds are defined for the quantizing which may vary depending upon the channel and DWT sub-band being processed.

Abstract: A cost effective digital image capture apparatus such as a digital camera that operates in both still mode and video mode, using a common programmable image processing chain and fixed optics. The full resolution of the image sensor (yielding raw image data) may be used in still mode, with adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved either from the scene ambient lighting or from supplemental light supplied by a strobe. In video mode, the apparatus may be configured to capture video image data by programming the parameters for image processing methodologies such as scaling, decorrelation, and encoding into a look-up table (LUT) which in turn configures logic circuitry to spatially scale and compress if necessary the raw image data in order to meet storage and transmission bandwidth constraints for video images. In video mode, adequate SNR may be achieved despite the lower light conditions, encountered, for example, during videoconferencing, by averaging pixels together during scaling.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method that includes generating an overall sharpness parameter for a given focus position by performing a Discrete Wavelet Transform upon an image captured by an imaging device and automatically focusing said imaging device to an optimal focus position by comparing a plurality of different sharpness parameters. The optimal focusing position is automatically determined by finding the highest sharpness parameter for a given scene.