Abstract: The invention provides a visual processing device that has a hardware configuration that does not depend on the visual processing to be achieved. A visual processing device 1 is provided with a spatial processing portion 2 and a visual processing portion 3. The spatial processing portion 2 performs predetermined processing with respect to an input signal IS that has been received as input, and outputs the result as an unsharp signal US. The visual processing portion 3 outputs an output signal OS, which is the input signal IS after visual processing, based on a two-dimensional LUT 4 that lists the relationship between the input signal IS that has been received as input and the unsharp signal US, and the output signal OS.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device with which the storage capacity for storing lookup tables can be reduced while allowing the degree to which various color processing operations are performed to be freely adjusted. The image processing device 10 performs color processing of an image signal d2, and is provided with a profile creation portion 15 and a color processing execution portion 16. The profile creation portion 15 creates a new color transformation profile that achieves a predetermined color processing to a predetermined degree of processing based on a plurality of base color transformation profiles that achieve the predetermined color processing to different degrees of processing. The color processing execution portion 16 executes color processing of the image signal d2 based on the new color transformation profile that has been created.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to obtain an image having a better visual effect for the person who will view the visually processed image. A visual processing device 910 comprises an output portion 914 and a transformation portion 915. The output portion 914 outputs a luminance adjustment parameter P2 based on a parameter P1 expressing the ambient light. The transformation portion 915 transforms a luminance of a target pixel based on the luminance adjustment parameter P2 that is output by the output portion 914, a luminance of the target pixel to be subjected to visual processing, and a luminance of surrounding pixels positioned in an area around the target pixel.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a visual processing device that achieves gradation processing that further enhances the visual effect. The visual processing device 1 is a visual processing device that performs gradation processing for each image region of an input signal IS, and is provided with an image partitioning portion 2, a gradation transformation curve derivation portion 10, and a gradation processing portion 5. The image partitioning portion 2 and the gradation transformation curve derivation portion 10 use a brightness histogram Hm of a wide area image region Em to create a gradation transformation curve Cm of the image region Pm. The gradation processing portion 5 performs gradation processing of that image region Pm based on the gradation transformation curve Cm that has been derived.

Abstract: The following means are adopted in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. First, an object image separating means separate a color image described in an outputting control language into the command image generated by the drawing command and the photo image generated by the image data having color information per pixel, such as a bitmap data, so that the command image and the photo image are color-processed separately. As for the command images, there is provided command image processing means to color-process color palette information given to a region specified by the drawing command and to generate a first image having color information by the pixel, such as a bitmap image. As for the photo images, there is provided photo image processing means to color-process and generate a second pixel image. In this color-processing, the photo image is divided into a plurality of image blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to error distribution processing used for two-valued or multi-valued reproduction on a system recording or displaying a gradation image with several levels. The texture by error distribution processing is suppressed and the granularity of an image is controlled minutely.

Abstract: In the invention, an input image is divided into plural small regions. The color data in each small region are classified to the present group, and plural components are selected in descending order of the variance from the representative color obtained from each group. The color data in the objective group is divided into plural groups in the direction of the selected component, and the representative color of each group is extracted. Such sequential group dividing and the representative color extracting are repeated until a specific number of representative colors are obtained. Therefore the high precise compression and approximation of image can be performed at high speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the data transfer method, the image processing method, the data transfer system and the image data processor for transferring digital data, especially for transferring image data. The invention has an object to provide the data transfer method, the image processing method, the data transfer system and the image data processor, wherein the compression ratio is changed corresponding to the transfer rate between connecting devices and the lack of image is avoided. The detecting means detects the data transfer capability of the transmission channel and the transfer end, and the control means changes the compression ratio of the digital data corresponding to the data transfer capability. Subsequently, the compressing means compresses the digital data based on the changed compression ratio and the transfer means transfers the compressed digital data to the transfer end.

Abstract: The invention relates to the image processing, and more particularly to the image processing method, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing system that compress color data. In order to extract the representative color from a small region on the color image in order to approximate to the color image, the invention performs the calculating of an average and a variance of color data of the small region, the color of which the variance is the largest is determined as a target color. According to the average of the target color, the small region is divided into two sections. After calculating the region information of the two sections and each representative color of section, judging whether the obtained number of representative colors is more than the requested number of colors, if the obtained number is more than the required number of colors, the dividing is completed. If not, the dividing is repeated again.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for automatically improving the contrast of an input image that is obtained from a digital camera or the like, and obtaining a sharper and clearing image. A contrast improvement unit (11) performs a contrast improvement process on the input image by comparing an object pixel in the input image with pixels in the surrounding area. An image combination unit (12) combines the enhanced image obtained by the contrast improvement process with the input image. The combined image is then output to a desired device such as a printer by an image output unit (13).

Abstract: An image processing method and image processing apparatus in which the densities around the object pixel are integrated and re-allocated. Level division means divides an original image belonging to a scanning window into specific division levels or divides re-allocated image data and inputted image data into specific division levels. Means for calculation of allocation values by levels finds the sum of re-allocation values by division levels and adds a multi-leveling error in case of specific levels. Furthermore, the means finds an allocation number and residual by dividing the sum thus obtained by the maximum value within the division level. Means for re-allocation by levels allocates, by division levels, the maximum values and residuals within the respective division levels in the allocation number according to the rank order obtained by ranking means and stores the data in storage means for re-allocation by levels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for removing block distortion comprises an area specifying unit 103 for specifying a block distortion area to remove the block distortion therefrom in a reconstructed image decoded from a compressed data, and a block distortion area noise removing unit 104 for removing the noise from the block distortion area.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus that adjusts an input color image in natural color and performs the color adjustment at high speed according to the desires of the operator and within an arbitrary adjustment range, and comprises: a chromaticity value curve selection unit that sets a target chromaticity value surface inside a three-dimensional space expressed by one lightness value and two chromaticity values, and selects a target chromaticity value curve on the surface; a target chromaticity value display unit that displays the curve; a target chromaticity value generation unit that uses the curve to find target chromaticity values according to the input lightness value of an input color image signal; a color adjustment coefficient generation unit that generates a color adjustment coefficient from the target chromaticity value; and a color adjustment unit that uses the coefficient to bring the input chromaticity values close to the target chromaticity values.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing filter processing on a decoded image that is obtained by decoding compressed data obtained by coding a multi-valued image by the block of M×N pixels so as to eliminate noises and generating a reconstructed image, the image processing apparatus comprising: a differential value calculation unit operable to calculate a differential value between a pixel value of a current pixel and each one of pixel values of peripheral pixels in a filter processing area that is predetermined for each pixel that forms the decoded image, a distribution coefficient calculation unit operable to calculate distribution coefficients as to the pixel values of the pixels, a filter coefficient calculation unit operable to calculate the filter coefficients as to the peripheral pixels based on the differential values calculated by the differential value calculation unit and the distribution coefficients calculated by the distribution coefficient calculation unit, a filter processing unit o

Abstract: In the invention, an input image is divided into plural small regions. The color data in each small region are classified to the present group, and plural components are selected in descending order of the variance from the representative color obtained from each group. The color data in the objective group is divided into plural groups in the direction of the selected component, and the representative color of each group is extracted. Such sequential group dividing and the representative color extracting are repeated until a specific number of representative colors are obtained. Therefore the high precise compression and approximation of image can be performed at high speed.

Abstract: The following means are adopted in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. First, an object image separating means separate a color image described in an outputting control language into the command image generated by the drawing command and the photo image generated by the image data having color information per pixel, such as a bitmap data, so that the command image and the photo image are color-processed separately. As for the command images, there is provided command image processing means to color process color palette information given to a region specified by the drawing command and to generate a first image having color information by the pixel, such as a bitmap image. As for the photo images, there is provided photo image processing means to color process and generate a second pixel image. In this color-processing, the photo image is divided into a plurality of image blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to the image processing, and more particularly to the image processing method, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing system that compress color data. In order to extract the representative color from a small region on the color image in order to approximate to the color image, the invention performs the calculating of an average and a variance of color data of the small region, the color of which the variance is the largest is determined as a target color. According to the average of the target color, the small region is divided into two sections. After calculating the region information of the two sections and each representative color of section, judging whether the obtained number of representative colors is more than the requested number of colors, if the obtained number is more than the required number of colors, the dividing is completed. If not, the dividing is repeated again.

Abstract: A compact optical waveguide employs a photonic band gap element as a reflector to enable a light beam to be reflected at angles greater than the critical angle. The photonic band gap device is a two-dimensional array of columnar holes formed in the substrate the holes are filled with air or another material having a different dielectric constant than the substrate. The optical waveguide forms a right angle bend and first and second photonic band gap devices are formed on both the inside and outside angles of the bend to deflect light which is incident on the waveguide at an angle greater than a critical angle defined by the materials that constitute the optical waveguide. The columnar holes of the photonic band gap element have a diameter of approximately one-half wavelength and are arranged in a triangular packing having an inter-column separation of approximately one-half wavelength of the light which is to be transmitted through the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus applied to a widely-used and high-speed color conversion which is utilized in a color printer, a color display apparatus and the like, and provides a novel three-dimensional interpolation operation by use of a triangle-pole shaped interpolation unit-space. Input color signals R,G, and B are converted into lightness signal Y and chromaticity signals Cr, Cb which constitute a three-dimensional space. This three-dimensional space is dissected into rectangular parallelopipeds and is further divided into two prisms having base planes parallel to the chromaticity plane CrCb. A prism judging section 207 judges which of prisms an input color is involved in. There are provided a plurality of color conversion table memories 210.about.215 which store output values corresponding to input values constituting respective points of the prism and difference values of mutual output colors and further difference values of mutual difference values.

Abstract: A correspondence relation between a structure of a bi-level pattern A and a structure of a bi-level pattern B is statistically learned by use of a learning high-density image. The bi-level pattern A forms a partial region of a low-density character and line image except a screened dot image. The bi-level pattern B forms a corresponding partial region of a desired high-density image. A judgement is made as to whether the low-density image is equal to or different from a screened dot image. Reference pixels are selected from the partial region of the low-density image. The low-density bi-level pattern A is converted into the high-density bi-level pattern B on the basis of a result of the learning by use of the selected reference pixels when the low-density image is different from a screened dot image. A pixel of the low-density image is repeated to convert the low-density image into the high-density image when the low-density image is equal to a screend dot image.