Patents by Inventor Zhe-Hong Chen
Zhe-Hong Chen 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).
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Patent number: 8878956Abstract: A CCD captures a subject image passed through a taking lens and an image processing circuit performs various types of image pre-treatment including gamma correction and white balance on image data corresponding to n lines×m rows output by the CCD. The image processing circuit performs format processing on the data which are then compressed at a compression circuit. The white balance adjustment is implemented in line sequence at a line processing circuit which engages in signal processing in pixel sequence in units of individual lines in the output from the CCD. The image data having undergone the pre-treatment are subjected to format processing prior to JPEG compression, at a block processing circuit that engages in signal processing in units of individual blocks each ranging over an n×m (N>n, M>m) block. The signal processing is performed in block sequence.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Michihiro Tamune, Zhe-Hong Chen, Masahiro Juen, Yutaka Tsuda
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Publication number: 20130242132Abstract: A CCD captures a subject image passed through a taking lens and an image processing circuit performs various types of image pre-treatment including gamma correction and white balance on image data corresponding to n lines×m rows output by the CCD. The image processing circuit performs format processing on the data which are then compressed at a compression circuit. The white balance adjustment is implemented in line sequence at a line processing circuit which engages in signal processing in pixel sequence in units of individual lines in the output from the CCD. The image data having undergone the pre-treatment are subjected to format processing prior to JPEG compression, at a block processing circuit that engages in signal processing in units of individual blocks each ranging over an n×m (N>n, M>m) block. The signal processing is performed in block sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro SUZUKI, Michihiro TAMUNE, Zhe-Hong CHEN, Masahiro JUEN, Yutaka TSUDA
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Publication number: 20110261224Abstract: A CCD captures a subject image having passed through a taking lens and an image processing circuit performs various types of image pre-treatment including gamma correction and white balance on image data corresponding to n lines×m rows output by the CCD. The image processing circuit also performs format processing on the data. The data are then compressed at a compression circuit. The white balance adjustment and the like are implemented in line sequence at a line processing circuit which engages in signal processing in pixel sequence in units of individual lines in the output from the CCD. The image data having undergone the pre-treatment are then subjected to format processing prior to JPEG compression, at a block processing circuit that engages in signal processing in units of individual blocks each ranging over an n×m (N>n, M>m) block. In other words, the signal processing is performed in block sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Michihiro Tamune, Zhe-Hong Chen, Masahiro Juen, Yutaka Tsuda
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Patent number: 7856139Abstract: A signal correcting method includes: obtaining multiple types of signals at each of a plurality of points; extracting a point with signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals, which have a predetermined relationship to signal values of the multiple types of signals at a target point; and correcting the multiple types of signals at the target point based upon the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the target point and the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the extracted point.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20100142817Abstract: A signal correcting method includes: obtaining multiple types of signals at each of a plurality of points; extracting a point with signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals, which have a predetermined relationship to signal values of the multiple types of signals at a target point; and correcting the multiple types of signals at the target point based upon the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the target point and the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the extracted point.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Patent number: 7684615Abstract: A signal correcting method includes: obtaining multiple types of signals at each of a plurality of points; extracting a point with signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals, which have a predetermined relationship to signal values of the multiple types of signals at a target point; and correcting the multiple types of signals at the target point based upon the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the target point and the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the extracted point.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Patent number: 7346210Abstract: An image processing device according to the present invention includes a similarity factor calculating portion locally comparing pixels that compose an image so as to calculate a similarity factor of the pixels in a predetermined direction, and includes an analyzing portion analyzing the structure of the image in accordance with the similarity factor calculated by the similarity factor calculating portion. In particular, the similarity factor calculating portion selects and changes pixels to be compared in accordance with color shift of the image to calculate the similarity factor. As a result, a similarity factor can be calculated with suppressing influence of color shift.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20070268379Abstract: A CCD captures a subject image having passed through a taking lens and an image processing circuit performs various types of image pre-treatment including gamma correction and white balance on image data corresponding to n lines×m rows output by the CCD. The image processing circuit also performs format processing on the data. The data are then compressed at a compression circuit. The white balance adjustment and the like are implemented in line sequence at a line processing circuit which engages in signal processing in pixel sequence in units of individual lines in the output from the CCD. The image data having undergone the pre-treatment are then subjected to format processing prior to JPEG compression, at a block processing circuit that engages in signal processing in units of individual blocks each ranging over an n×m (N>n, M>m) block. In other words, the signal processing is performed in block sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Michihiro Tamune, Zhe-Hong Chen, Masahiro Juen, Yutaka Tsuda
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Patent number: 7289665Abstract: An image processing unit of the present invention receives a first image, performs weighted addition on color information in the first image to generate a color component different from that of the color information in the first image, and outputs the generated color component as a second image. The first image is expressed in a plurality of color components and comprises a plurality of pixels each having color information corresponding to one of the color components. At least nine coefficient patterns consisting of values of not less than zero are prepared, and any one of the coefficient patterns is used for weighted addition. This allows an improvement in image quality with high precision.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Kenichi Ishiga, Zhe-Hong Chen
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Patent number: 7253836Abstract: A CCD captures a subject image having passed through a taking lens and an image processing circuit performs various types of image pre-treatment including gamma correction and white balance on image data corresponding to n lines×m rows output by the CCD. The image processing circuit also performs format processing on the data. The data are then compressed at a compression circuit. The white balance adjustment and the like are implemented in line sequence at a line processing circuit which engages in signal processing in pixel sequence in units of individual lines in the output from the CCD. The image data having undergone the pre-treatment are then subjected to format processing prior to JPEG compression, at a block processing circuit that engages in signal processing in units of individual blocks each ranging over an n×m (N>n, M>m) block. In other words, the signal processing is performed in block sequence.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Michihiro Tamune, Zhe-Hong Chen, Masahiro Juen
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Patent number: 7236628Abstract: A first interpolation processing apparatus that engages in processing on image data which are provided in a calorimetric system constituted of first˜nth (n?2) color components and include color information corresponding to a single color component provided at each pixel to determine an interpolation value equivalent to color information corresponding to the first color component for a pixel at which the first color component is missing, includes: an interpolation value calculation section that uses color information at pixels located in a local area containing an interpolation target pixel to undergo interpolation processing to calculate an interpolation value including, at least (1) local average information of the first color component with regard to the interpolation target pixel and (2) local curvature information corresponding to at least two color components with regard to the interpolation target pixel.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Zhe-Hong Chen, Kenichi Ishiga
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Patent number: 7146042Abstract: The first image processing apparatus that converts a first image having a plurality of pixels and expressed in a first calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components with each of the pixels corresponding to one of the color components to a second image expressed in a second calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components which are different from the first calorimetric system, comprises: a similarity decision-making device that determines levels of similarity manifesting at a processing object pixel in the first image along a plurality of directions; and a new component generating device that generates color information representing at least one of the color components constituting the second calorimetric system at a pixel in the second image corresponding to the processing object pixel through a weighted addition executed by using predetermined coefficients to add together a plurality of sets of color information selected from color information present at the processingType: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20060198556Abstract: A first interpolation processing apparatus that engages in processing on image data which are provided in a calorimetric system constituted of first˜nth (n?) color components and include color information corresponding to a single color component provided at each pixel to determine an interpolation value equivalent to color information corresponding to the first color component for a pixel at which the first color component is missing, includes: an interpolation value calculation section that uses color information at pixels located in a local area containing an interpolation target pixel to undergo interpolation processing to calculate an interpolation value including, at least (1) local average information of the first color component with regard to the interpolation target pixel and (2) local curvature information corresponding to at least two color components with regard to the interpolation target pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicant: Nikon CorporationInventors: Zhe-Hong Chen, Kenichi Ishiga
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Publication number: 20060098869Abstract: A signal correcting method includes: obtaining multiple types of signals at each of a plurality of points; extracting a point with signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals, which have a predetermined relationship to signal values of the multiple types of signals at a target point; and correcting the multiple types of signals at the target point based upon the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the target point and the signal values corresponding to the multiple types of signals at the extracted point.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2005Publication date: May 11, 2006Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20050073591Abstract: An image processing unit of the present invention receives a first image, performs weighted addition on color information in the first image to generate a color component different from that of the color information in the first image, and outputs the generated color component as a second image. The first image is expressed in a plurality of color components and comprises a plurality of pixels each having color information corresponding to one of the color components. At least nine coefficient patterns consisting of values of not less than zero are prepared, and any one of the coefficient patterns is used for weighted addition. This allows an improvement in image quality with high precision.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: Kenichi Ishiga, Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20050069218Abstract: An image processing device according to the present invention includes a similarity factor calculating portion locally comparing pixels that compose an image so as to calculate a similarity factor of the pixels in a predetermined direction, and includes an analyzing portion analyzing the structure of the image in accordance with the similarity factor calculated by the similarity factor calculating portion. In particular, the similarity factor calculating portion selects and changes pixels to be compared in accordance with color shift of the image to calculate the similarity factor. As a result, a similarity factor can be calculated with suppressing influence of color shift.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2002Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20030164886Abstract: The first image processing apparatus that converts a first image having a plurality of pixels and expressed in a first calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components with each of the pixels corresponding to one of the color components to a second image expressed in a second calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components which are different from the first calorimetric system, comprises: a similarity decision-making device that determines levels of similarity manifesting at a processing object pixel in the first image along a plurality of directions; and a new component generating device that generates color information representing at least one of the color components constituting the second calorimetric system at a pixel in the second image corresponding to the processing object pixel through a weighted addition executed by using predetermined coefficients to add together a plurality of sets of color information selected from color information present at the processingType: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Patent number: 6570616Abstract: When processing an image of a two-dimensional pixel arrangement such as a Bayer arrangement, when a pixel G (j, i) of a first color component which represents luminance is interpolated, the value of the first color component associated with the primary reference pixels located adjacent to the top and bottom or left and right of the interpolated pixel position, and secondary reference pixels of the first color component, located in the vicinity of the primary reference pixel, is checked. The existence of an image edge component is detected. When an image edge component is detected, the weight of the reference pixels, for example, G(j−1, i), G(j+1, i), G(j, i−1) and G(j, i+1) is changed at the top, bottom, left and right.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Patent number: 6487309Abstract: An interpolation processing apparatus includes: an interpolation processing unit that performs interpolation processing on a color image expressed through a colorimetric system constituted of a predetermined plurality of color components to determine an interpolation quantity corresponding to a value representing a missing color component in each pixel; and a color composition identification unit that identifies a color component composition of the color image. And the interpolation processing unit is capable of performing a plurality of types of interpolation processing in correspondence to color component compositions of the color image, selects a type of interpolation processing corresponding to the color component composition identified by the color composition identification unit and performs the type of interpolation processing that has been selected on the color image.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1999Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Zhe-Hong Chen
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Publication number: 20020047907Abstract: Smoothing that uses pieces of color information of at least one color component of a target pixel and of pixels adjacent to the target pixel among a plurality of pixels that form image data is performed selectively for at least one color component of the target pixel. The smoothing is in accordance with correlation between the target pixel and pixels in the vicinity of the target pixel. Since the entire image data is not smoothed uniformly, the smoothing can be performed so as to leave structures inherent to the original image.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Zhe-Hong Chen, Kenichi Ishiga