Contrast Patents (Class 345/617)
  • Patent number: 7773824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing apparatus and a method, a recording medium, and a program, in which portions except an edge can be smoothed while the edge whose change in pixel value is steep is held correctly. A pixel of attention is determined in step S11, and a neighboring pixel is determined in step S12. In step S13, a difference in pixel values between the pixel of attention and each neighboring pixel is calculated. In step S14, according to a relationship in size between the difference and a threshold value ?., flags are raised for the neighboring pixel and a neighboring pixel which are symmetrical. Furthermore, a flag is also raised for a neighboring pixel away from, in view of the pixel of attention, the symmetrical neighboring pixel for which the flag is raised. In step S15, 7-pixel taps centered around the pixel of attention are averaged by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Okada, Kazuhiko Ueda, Mitsuyasu Asano, Takeshi Kubozono, Kazuki Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20100182338
    Abstract: A method and system providing dynamic contrast control in scanning line color display systems, and particularly a method and system comprising at least two modulator units is disclosed. One modulator unit is for modulating pixel information in a line to be displayed while the other one provides illumination intensity control over different pixel areas or clusters of pixels of said same line to be displayed by using a tunable diffractive grating element (TDG) in the illumination path to provide image source dependent active brightness level control, i.e. ‘dynamic contrast’, as well as a shutter function for pixels off transition periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: POLIGHT AS
    Inventors: Gunnar Hedin, Richard Berglind, Tore Svortdal, Benny Svardal
  • Patent number: 7751644
    Abstract: A CPU 200 extracts ornamental image data and layout control information from an ornamental image file FF. When the layout control information does not include characteristic values, the CPU 200 analyzes the ornamental image data to acquire characteristic values representing a tendency of image quality of the ornamental image data. The CPU 200 may additionally compute correction rates for correcting values of image quality-relating parameters of objective image data from the acquired characteristic values of the ornamental image data. The CPU 200 writes either the acquired characteristic values or the computed correction rates into the layout control information. The layout control information including the acquired characteristic values or the computed correction rates is output together with the ornamental image data in the form of the ornamental image file FF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kuwata
  • Patent number: 7737987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of valuing contrast of representation on background displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus, by counting a number of the presentations on the background of the screen, adjusting contrast of the representations against the background displayed on the screen in response to the number of the representation on the background, and displaying the representations on the screen based on the adjusted contrast of the representation. The contrast of the representations against the background is set lower than original contrast against the background when the number of the representations is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The contrast of the representations is set higher than current contrast when the number of the representations on the screen is less than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hikaru Wako
  • Patent number: 7715649
    Abstract: A luminance conversion function calculating circuit calculates a luminance conversion function in order that a specific image contained in an image represented by image data to be processed will be made to have a desired brightness. Saturation of the specific image in a case where the applied image data has been subjected to a luminance correction based upon the calculated luminance conversion function is calculated and upper-limit saturation is calculated based upon an input value from the user. If the saturation of the specific image after the luminance correction thereof exceeds the upper-limit saturation, then a target dynamic range revising circuit narrows the range width of a target dynamic range that stipulates the luminance conversion function. The luminance conversion function is revised in a luminance conversion function revising circuit so as to have the narrowed range width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20100103166
    Abstract: In a method and a device MR images having various contrasts are scanned and then values for some or all of the parameters T1, T2 and PD related to the scanned MR images are determined. Based on the scanned MR images and the determined parameter values an initial conventional MR contrast image with some default scanner settings is generated, or alternatively, a stronger non-physical MR contrast image. The initial MR contrast image can then be manipulated by a user in response to movement of a user-controlled marker on a screen showing the contrast image such that a contrast optimized image can be obtained for a particular diagnosis in a very short time. Furthermore a quantitative image can be generated representing the amount of a single tissue type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Marcel Warntjes
  • Patent number: 7689918
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for displaying a multiplexed property indicator on a network topology map. A coloration designation specification that specifies property-color designations is obtained. A network topology map that includes devices and links having properties that are specified in the coloration designation specification is displayed. A link or device in the map is wrapped with a multiplexed graphical sleeve that includes a color for each property in the coloration designation specification that the link or device has.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yvon Sauvageau
  • Patent number: 7688335
    Abstract: A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7684649
    Abstract: To improve accuracy of determining the average brightness level and maximum and minimum levels of the brightness signals for the entire screen. There are included a differential operation circuit that detects and differentiates rise or breaking edges in horizontal and vertical synchronous signals of an input image signal, thereby outputting horizontal and vertical differential signals synchronized with the horizontal and vertical synchronous signals, respectively; a sample window circuit that detects the beginning and ending positions of horizontal and vertical intervals to produce sample window signals established in any desired vertical and horizontal positions on the screen in accordance with the horizontal and vertical differential signals; and a brightness signal output circuit that outputs sampled brightness signals when the sample window circuit is operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Kunitani, Satoru Tanigawa, Takashi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7684639
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for digital image contrast enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Zhao, Shawmin Lei
  • Patent number: 7684640
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for digital image contrast enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Zhao, Shawmin Lei
  • Patent number: 7679626
    Abstract: In a drive control device 30 for controlling the driving of a display apparatus 20 that displays a video image on the basis of an input video image signal S1 (or S2), there is provided brightness control means (33, 21, 7) for controlling a display brightness in the display apparatus 20 in accordance with brightness information S6 corresponding to the mean brightness of the video image, and the brightness control means (33, 21, 7) performs a control operation so that the display brightness of the video image display variably changes a plurality of times within respective one-frame scanning periods of the video image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makiko Mori
  • Publication number: 20100053203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for increasing contrast in medical images generated by an imaging system featuring an x-ray source and a detector. The detector detects x-rays of the x-ray source and converts image signals from the x-rays. The image signals are transferred to a control and processing unit for processing. Deconvolution of the image signals is carried out by application of an inverse modulation transfer function modified by a regularization. At least a volume image can be reconstructed from the deconvolved image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Philipp Bernhardt, Bernhard Scholz
  • Publication number: 20100033498
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a display device, an operation section, an area setting section and a brightness adjuster is provided. The display device is configured to display an image and text. The operation section configured to be used for input operation. The area setting section is configured to set a noticed area on a screen displayed on the display device on the basis of an input operation done on the operation section. The brightness adjuster is configured to make an unnoticed area of the screen less bright than the noticed area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masanori Terasaki, Atsuo Shono, Koji Takano, Takehiko Tanaka, Kohei Kashima, Yoshiaki Sato, Yusuke Ogura
  • Publication number: 20100033495
    Abstract: The invention discloses an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, for adjusting the contrast of an input image. The input image consists of plural pixels and each pixel has a respective input lightness. The apparatus can perform a normalization procedure on the pixels to obtain a respective normalized lightness of each pixel. In addition, the apparatus generates lightness statistics based on the pixels and determines plural threshold lightness based on the lightness statistics. According to the normalized lightness and the threshold lightness, the apparatus can change the lightness gain of a specific region of the input image dynamically, and thereby adjust the contrast of the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Yi-Chia Shan
  • Patent number: 7643035
    Abstract: In one aspect, a background image constructed from HDR image information is displayed along with portions of the HDR image corresponding to one or more regions of interest. The portions have at least one display parameter (e.g., a tone mapping parameter) that differs from a corresponding display parameter for the background image. Regions of interest and display parameters can be determined by a user (e.g., via a GUI). In another aspect, an intermediate image is determined based on image data corresponding to one or more regions of interest of the HDR image. The intermediate image has a narrower dynamic range than the HDR image. The intermediate image or a derived image is then displayed. The techniques and tools can be used to compare, for example, different tone mappings, compression methods, or color spaces in the background and regions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, Matthew Uyttendaele, William H. Crow
  • Patent number: 7639893
    Abstract: A method of automatic mapping of image data includes representing image data for an image as luminance values, determining a key value as a function of an average luminance value of the image and of minimum and maximum luminance values of the image, generating offset-adjusted luminance values including applying an offset to each of the luminance values, the offset being a function of the determined key value, and computing a tone reproduction curve for at least a region of the image which includes applying a mapping function to the offset-adjusted luminance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jiang Duan, Marco Bressan, Christopher R. Dance, Guoping Qiu
  • Patent number: 7636496
    Abstract: A method of automatic mapping of image data includes representing image data for an image as luminance values, determining a key value as a function of an average luminance value of the image and of minimum and maximum luminance values of the image, generating offset-adjusted luminance values including applying an offset to each of the luminance values, the offset being a function of the determined key value, and computing a tone reproduction curve for at least a region of the image which includes applying a mapping function to the offset-adjusted luminance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jiang Duan, Marco Bressan, Christopher R. Dance
  • Publication number: 20090303249
    Abstract: A high dynamic range image editing system for editing an image file having pixels spanning a first range of light intensity levels in an image editing system that only displays differences in the light intensity levels of pixels within a second range of light intensity levels that is less than the first range of light intensity levels, without reducing the range of light intensity levels in the image file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: PAUL E. DEBEVEC, TIMOTHY S. HAWKINS, CHRIS D.X.N. TCHOU
  • Patent number: 7627189
    Abstract: The sharpness of an image obtained by an endoscope is adjusted. A sharpness enhancement amount is determined for each pixel based on the value of each pixel which forms a luminance distribution image. Further, a portion contributing to adjustment of brightness and a portion contributing to adjustment of saturation in the sharpness enhancement amount are determined for each pixel of the image so that the sum thereof is equal to the sharpness enhancement amount. Then, an adjustment value of saturation, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel of the image based on the portion contributing to saturation, and an adjustment value of brightness, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel of the luminance distribution image, which corresponds to each pixel of the image, based on the portion contributing to brightness, are added to the value of each pixel of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Donomae, Kazunori Abe
  • Patent number: 7626592
    Abstract: A method of generating a contrast enhanced version of a grey value image by applying contrast amplification to a multiscale representation of the grey value image wherein density in the contrast enhanced version as a function of grey value and contrast amplification are specified independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare
    Inventor: Pieter Vuylsteke
  • Publication number: 20090284547
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne WHITEHEAD, Greg WARD, Wolfgang STUERZLINGER, Helge SEETZEN
  • Patent number: 7609282
    Abstract: Image display method and apparatus are capable of displaying an input image signal in an optical condition on a display screen according to the brightness of the screen image. The image display apparatus for performing a specified process on an input image signal and displaying an image by the image signal on a display unit comprises a controller for adjusting a signal level detecting circuit for detecting brightness levels of an image by the input image signal by controlling the sharpness of an image by the image signal according to a detected signal level in such a way that as the detected signal level rises, the sharpness increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Ryo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7598966
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for automatically rendering information on a display screen of a building information system. Following generation of a plan image, such as a floor or site plan image, the plan image is modified and subsequently rendered on the display screen. The plan image is modified by adjusting the contrast ratio of the plan image such that, when graphical elements, such as icons representing elevators, evacuation stairways and fire hydrants, are rendered on the display screen overlaying the modified plan image, the graphical elements are visually distinct from the modified plan image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Rye, Thomas A. Plocher
  • Patent number: 7595811
    Abstract: An environment-compliant image display system, projector, and program that enables the reproduction of appropriate colors even when affected by ambient light. The projector has a color control processing update section that corrects colors by adjusting a LUT in a 3D-LUT storage section and brightness by adjusting a grayscale characteristic in a ID-LUT storage section, in order to increase the output in at least a lower grayscale range if the environment is affected by ambient light, based on environmental information that has been measured by a color light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7593022
    Abstract: The invention provides tools and techniques for clone brushing pixels in an image while accounting for inconsistencies in apparent depth and orientation within the image. The techniques do not require any depth information to be present in the image, and the data structure of the image is preserved. The techniques allow for color compensation between source and destination regions. A snapping technique is also provided to facilitate increased accuracy in selecting source and destination positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: EveryScape, Inc.
    Inventors: Byong Mok Oh, Fredo Durand
  • Publication number: 20090204322
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for converting display of information on a GPS device between a first display mode and a second display mode by “negativizing” pixels or other image elements, wherein negativizing entails converting lighter image elements to darker image elements and converting darker image elements to lighter image elements so as to result in reduced total emission of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: John CROSS, Christopher Lalik, John DeCastro, Richard Ball
  • Patent number: 7573493
    Abstract: Novel three-color and four-color subpixel arrangements and architectures for display and the like are herein disclosed. Novel techniques for subpixel rendering on the above subpixel arrangements are also herein disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Thomas Lloyd Credelle, Edward Eastle Thompson, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090174727
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the improved display of digital mammographic images, which were measured in the context of a mammographic imaging system and displayed on a workstation monitor. The mammogram consists of a plurality of pixels with each pixel having a pixel value assigned thereto. The pixel values of all pixels of the mammogram lie within a pre-determined first range of values and the pixel values of pixels of a subsection of the mammogram lie within a second range of values, which represents a subset of the first range of values. A mammogram having a subsection with increased contrast, such that the second range of pixel values of the pixels in the subsection are spread by a spreading function, whereby the amount of the spreading function changes over the subsection. In this way, an improved display is created, by means of those representations of the mammogram regarding their contrast in subsections being optimized, at the same time the representation for a user is improved without artifacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Heinlein, Wilfried Schneider, Marco Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 7557813
    Abstract: A picture displaying apparatus and method of arranging mapping corresponding to the whole or a part of a material that has a time concept in time series on a screen. Gradation is set to the mapping of the whole of the material. Gradation that is set to a region corresponding to the arranged mapping of the gradation that has been set to the whole of the material is added to the arranged mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20090153584
    Abstract: An image adjusting apparatus is provided for adjusting the contrast of an input image. The image adjusting apparatus comprises a transformation module, a memory module, a processing module, an output module and a display module. The transformation module is used for transforming the input image to a plurality of input image values. The memory module is used for pre-storing a plurality of gain curves, wherein each of the gain curves comprises at least one first segment with a first slope and one second segment with a second slope. The processing module is coupled to the transforming module and the memory module for adjusting the plurality of the input image values and generating a plurality of output image values corresponding thereto according to a gain curve. The output module is coupled to the processing module for generating an output image according to the plurality of the output image values. The display module is coupled to the output module for displaying the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: PRINCETON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Feng-Jia Liu, Chun-Ming Cheng, Tsung-Hsiang Huang
  • Publication number: 20090102858
    Abstract: Assistance systems are increasingly being used to assist vehicle drivers when driving their vehicles. To this end, a camera is used to record image data from the area surrounding a vehicle, and at least some of the image data (1) are shown on a display following object identification and image processing. After the image data have been recorded by the camera, they are processed using object identification in order to identify objects (2, 3) in the recorded image data. At least some of the objects (2, 3) which have been identified in this manner are highlighted when showing the image data (1) on the display. In this case, the identified objects (2, 3) are highlighted in such a manner that the image data (1) to be shown are divided into two types of regions. In this case, the first type of region comprises the objects (2, 3) which have been identified and are to be highlighted and a surrounding region (2a, 3a) which respectively directly adjoins the latter in a corresponding manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Helmuth Eggers, Stefan Hahn, Gerhard Kurz, Otto Loehlein, Matthias Oberlaender, Werner Ritter, Roland Schweiger
  • Patent number: 7516417
    Abstract: A user interface for the adjustment of display parameters. The user interface includes a plurality of selectable icons arranged in a matrix, each icon having a visual cue indicating the display adjustment achieved by the selection of the icon. The visual cues may include level and window number values and grayscale patches. The level and window number values are calculated from a default center value obtained from a digital image file to be displayed and a predetermined gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon U.S.A.
    Inventors: Rich Amador, Richard R. Neugebauer
  • Patent number: 7515749
    Abstract: An image processing method for carrying out predetermined correction processing with respect to one or more items regarding the quality of color images and the image processing method comprises a judgment step for judging the necessity/nonnecessity of correction with respect to each of the above-mentioned items and a correction processing step for carrying out the predetermined correction processing with respect to the item judged as required to be corrected at the above-mentioned judgment step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Masaki
  • Publication number: 20090085929
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lorne Whitehead, Greg Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Publication number: 20080291212
    Abstract: A method of producing an engraved image on a computer screen includes loading an image to be engraved and converting the image into a high contrast image using at least two colors. The first lighter color is used for the lighter portions of the high contrast image and a darker color is used for the darker portions of the high contrast image. Mixing of the colors is based on the luminance level of the image. A plurality of lines are drawn over the high contrast image with variations in the plurality of lines drawn being a function of the luminance of the underlying image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Dean Robert Gary Anderson as Trustee of D/L Anderson Family Trust
    Inventor: Dean Robert Gary Anderson
  • Publication number: 20080246775
    Abstract: A display system comprises a plurality of display devices, a plurality of display control devices, each display device O connected to at least one display control device, a data processing device and a data network, the data processing device connected to each display control device via the data network. The data processing device is arranged to transmit a control signal to a display control device, the control signal comprising video signal configuration data, the video signal configuration data comprising timing and frequency data. Alternatively or additionally, the control signal can comprise at least one of power saving data, memory use data, brightness and contrast data, colour temperature data or display address data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: DISPLAYLINK (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew John Fisher, Timothy Holroyd Glauert
  • Publication number: 20080238935
    Abstract: A contrast control apparatus includes a statistic distribution unit and a characteristic judging unit. The statistic distribution unit receives an image data to have a brightness histogram distribution in statistic. The brightness histogram distribution has a plurality of statistic nodes, respectively corresponding to a plurality of gray levels in statistic. The characteristic judging unit at least receives the brightness histogram distribution to determine a brightness adjusting signal for the image data, so as to proportionally adjust a brightness of a display light source. In addition, the characteristic judging unit also outputs a contrast curve, and the contrast curve represents a plurality of adjusted nodes, respectively corresponding to the statistic nodes. As a result, the brightness of the statistic nodes is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Kuo-Wei Huang, Chung-Wen Hung
  • Publication number: 20080238934
    Abstract: A display that includes at least one gray level being provided to a plurality of pixels that illuminates each of the pixels with the gray level. The display applies corrective data for the pixels so as to reduce the mura effects of said display for those characteristics generally visible by the human visual system and so as not to reduce the mura effects of the display for those characteristics generally not visible by the human visual system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Scott J. Daly, Yasuo Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20080238933
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of valuing contrast of representation on background displayed on a screen of a navigation apparatus, by counting a number of the presentations on the background of the screen, adjusting contrast of the representations against the background displayed on the screen in response to the number of the representation on the background, and displaying the representations on the screen based on the adjusted contrast of the representation. The contrast of the representations against the background is set lower than original contrast against the background when the number of the representations is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The contrast of the representations is set higher than current contrast when the number of the representations on the screen is less than a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Hikaru Wako
  • Publication number: 20080158244
    Abstract: A method and system for generating light maps for use with an out the window, or a night vision goggles display utilizes inputs from a variety of different geographical and structural data sources. These data sources are then used to determine the locations of structures, roads, and areas of interest within a selected land area. Realistic light maps can then be created quickly and automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Scott S. Hulet, Stephen A. Curless, Este-Lela F. Curless, John J. Burky
  • Patent number: 7372641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for contrast enhancement for display devices. A high-contrast representation of optical signals and/or symbols is achieved by providing a light-absorbing and/or light-deflecting background which is dark in comparison to the symbol or signal to be displayed and thus highlights said symbol or signal. The following invention enables a high-contrast representation of optical signals and symbols by the provision of a dark, light-absorbing background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Inventor: Hubertus Maschek
  • Patent number: 7359573
    Abstract: A contrast compensation apparatus and a method thereof utilize a simplified hardware structure and a low contrast distortion. The contrast compensation apparatus includes a pixel value detection unit to detect a distribution of pixel values of respective pixels of an input image signal, a pixel value limit unit having pre-set luminance limit values and re-configuring the distribution of the pixel values of the respective pixels based on the pre-set luminance limit values, and a mapping unit to set luminance for the respective pixels based on a cumulative distribution function with respect to the re-configured pixel values. When certain portions of an image are rendered very bright or dark, the phenomenon in which the entire image becomes abruptly bright or dark is reduced. Further, the contrast compensation apparatus uses the minimum number of multipliers, adders, and subtractors only, thus having an advantage of simplified structure and using less electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-jun Park, Jae-hwan Oh, Hyun Kang, Seung-joon Yang
  • Patent number: 7301545
    Abstract: A method of visually measuring the brightness of ambient lighting around a display device is disclosed. In this method, first, a reference brightness of the display device is determined according to a type of display device. Thereafter, information about locations where the display device is used is received from the user, and illuminance values of the display device corresponding to brightness stages are set based on the reference brightness and the location information. Then, a reference brightness is converted into each of the illuminance values corresponding to each of the brightness stages. The converted images with the illumination values corresponding to the brightness stages are displayed to the user, and an image that has a brightness value nearest to the brightness of ambient lighting is selected, and the brightness value of the selected image is determined as the brightness of ambient lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-sik Park, Heui-keun Choh, Hyun-Jeong Koo, Chang-yeong Kim, Jin-ho Yim, Dong-sik Park, Hwan-young Kim
  • Patent number: 7298383
    Abstract: An image which has been subjected to image processing wherein contrast amplification and density can be specified independently is displayed on a display screen. The contrast of all pixels in the displayed image is changed upon movement of an indicium in a first direction and the density of all pixels in the displayed image is changed upon movement of the indicium in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA Healthcare
    Inventor: Pieter Vuylsteke
  • Patent number: 7298373
    Abstract: An image which has been subjected to image processing wherein contrast amplification and density can be specified independently is displayed on a display screen. An initial density level is specified. The contrast of pixels in the displayed image having a density substantially equal to the specified initial density is changed upon movement of an indicium in a first direction and the density of pixels in the displayed image having a density substantially equal to the specified initial density is changed upon movement of the indicium in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA Healthcare
    Inventor: Pieter Vuylsteke
  • Patent number: 7298380
    Abstract: A technique for correcting white eye in image data is disclosed. In this technique, a white eye candidate pixel is detected from an eye extracted from the image data based on a predetermined detection condition. The white eye candidate pixel as a white eye pixel based on a predetermined determination condition. Then, white eye correction is effected on the determined white eye pixel by changing its luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7271828
    Abstract: A burn-in prevention image signal is generated by subjecting an input image signal to blurring and then to contrast inversion to invert the contrast of the signal luminance level. The burn-in prevention image signal is used when the input image is a still image that does not change for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Okano
  • Patent number: 7268753
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-deok Lee, Chang-yeong Kim, Yang-seock Seo, Yong-in Han
  • Patent number: RE41447
    Abstract: A contrast-based image fusion system and method of processing multiple images to form a processed or fused image including regions selected from one or more images. Images are divided into image regions. Portions of the images are filtered if necessary. A contrast map is generated for each image via a convolution kernel resulting in a contrast map with contrast values for each image region. Contrast values are compared and image regions are selected based on a selection criteria or process such as greater or maximum contrast. The selected image regions form the fused image. If necessary, the luminance of one or more portions of the fused image is adjusted. One sensor is selected as a reference sensor, and an average intensity of each region of the reference sensor image is determined across the reference sensor image. The intensity of one or more regions in the final image is adjusted by combining the determined average luminance values and intensity values of the final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlo Tiana