Abstract: In visual display devices such as LCD devices with backlight illumination, the backlight typically consumes most of device battery power. In the interest of displaying a given pixel pattern at a minimized backlight level, the pattern can be transformed while maintaining image quality, with a transform determined from pixel luminance statistics. Aside from, or in addition to such minimizing, a transform also can be used for image enhancement, for a displayed image better to meet a visual perception quality. In either case, the transform preferably is constrained for enforcing one or several display attributes.

Abstract: A problem of this invention is to satisfy both of securement of visibility of a display unit and suppression of noises at the time of a telephone call etc. using a receiver and a microphone. In a portable terminal apparatus which relates to the invention, a control unit (16) judges whether a handsfree device (20) is connected or not, on the occasion that a telephone call operation is carried out by an operation unit (18) and a voice telephone call operation by a telephone call circuit (11) and a transmission/receiving unit (12) is started, and in case that the handsfree device (20) is not connected, it is judged that a user is making a telephone call by use of a receiver (13) and a microphone (14) in an apparatus main body in such a state that he puts an apparatus casing to his ear part, and at least one of a drive system, drive frequency of a display unit (19) which comprises a liquid crystal display is changed, and a drive operation giving priority over acoustic characteristics is carried out.

Abstract: Techniques for superimposing highlights and shadows onto a background in order to simulate a brush texture graphical style within a software application's component window. The techniques include decoding a user-selected base-color into its individual color components, performing a contrast operation on the individual color components to determine highlight and shadow colors, and superimposing the highlight and shadow colors onto the user selected background.

Abstract: An image-sensing apparatus has an area sensor 1 that outputs image data by logarithmically converting the brightness of light incident thereon, a black-level detector 2 for detecting the black level BL of the image data at which the image data has the lowest signal level, a white-level detector 3 for detecting the white level WL of the image data at which the image data has the highest signal level, a calculation formula determiner 4 for determining, in accordance with the detected black and white levels BL and WL, the formula to be used to convert the signal level of the image data, and a dynamic range converter 5 for converting the signal level of the image data using the calculation formula determined by the calculation formula determiner 4.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a projector capable of comparatively easily achieving a contrast ratio higher than the original contrast ratio of the liquid-crystal light valve by a simple mechanism. The illumination light modulated by liquid-crystal light valves, i.e., image light, can be combined together in a cross dichroic prism, and then light intensity of suitable pixels is reduced by a proper amount by a liquid-crystal light valve, and then sent to a projection lens. The image light entering the projection lens can be projected to a projection surface. Because the light intensity of the image light formed by the liquid-crystal light valves is appropriately attenuated at suitable pixel areas by the liquid-crystal light valve, image light projection with a contrast ratio exceeding by far the contrast ratio achievable by the liquid-crystal light valves alone is possible due to cumulative light-intensity adjustment.

Abstract: A system and process for generating a two-layer, 3D representation of a digital or digitized image from the image and a pixel disparity map of the image is presented. The two layer representation includes a main layer having pixels exhibiting background colors and background disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of depth discontinuity areas in the image, as well as pixels exhibiting colors and disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of the image not found in these depth discontinuity areas. The other layer is a boundary layer made up of pixels exhibiting foreground colors, foreground disparities and alpha values associated with the correspondingly located pixels of the depth discontinuity areas. The depth discontinuity areas correspond to prescribed sized areas surrounding depth discontinuities found in the image using a disparity map thereof.

Abstract: A method of imaging and a system therefore are provided. The imaging system includes an image forming device for generating a first image and a second image and a controller coupled to the image forming device. The controller receives the first image and the second image. In the method the controller generates an image ratio of the first image and the second image, regularizes the image ratio of the second image with respect to the first image to form a regularized image ratio and filters the image ratio to form a filtered ratio. The controller then multiplies the second image by the filtered ratio to form an adjusted image.

Abstract: A partial region on a screen can be selected for highlighting. Information related to the partial region is transmitted from a computer to a computer monitor. In one embodiment, the partial region information is sent over a different port from the one used to send video data. The image processor adjusts contrast and sharpness of the partial region according to the partial region information. Adjustments are made for differences in a coordinate system between the computer site and the display device. The partial region can be selected from the computer or from a user interface on the computer monitor. Selected partial regions can be moved in conjunction with movements of windows containing the image. Highlighted selected regions can also be automatically disabled when the window is deactivated.

Abstract: A signal processing unit in a liquid crystal display device, etc., includes a brightness component appearance frequency measuring unit that measures an appearance frequency of each brightness component in a video signal; a parameter outputting unit that outputs a distribution of each brightness component, as a parameter, based on the appearance frequency of each brightness component measured by the brightness component appearance frequency measuring unit; a changing signal outputting unit that alters an input signal recorded in a recording unit, by using the parameter, and that outputs the input signal as a changing signal; and a brightness component changing unit that changes a distribution of each brightness component, by using the changing signal, and that outputs the video signal in which the distribution of each brightness component is changed.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in an image by decomposing the digital signal representation of the image into a sequence of detail images representing detail at successive scales and a residual image and modulating pixels of at least some of the detail images by applying modulating coefficients. The modulating coefficients are deduced from a single contrast-to-noise ratio image which represents the local contrast-to-noise ratio in each pixel at a predefined scale.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering a non-zero thickness line on a pixel-limited output device such that aliasing of the line is reduced. The edges defining a line segment are expanded to insure that any pixel touched by the line segment has its center included in the bounds of the line segment. The area of any pixel partially or fully covered by the expanded line is determined. If one edge of the line traverses the pixel, the area is determined according to whether a triangular or triangular plus parallelogram area is covered. If more than one edge of the line segment traverses a pixel, the area covered is computed based on the single edge case. With the area covered by the line segment known, the color or shading of the pixel is determined by linear interpolation between the line and the background.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus controls display contrast of a display screen based on a stored display contrast value. The information processing apparatus includes a display screen, an input unit for inputting data, a storage unit for storing a display contrast value, a unit for adjusting the display contrast of the display screen based on the stored display contrast value, a measuring unit for measuring the time after the completion of data input from the input unit while the display contrast is being adjusted, a value changing unit for changing the stored display contrast value stored in the storage unit after a first predetermined period of the time measured by the measuring unit elapses, and a changing unit for changing the display contrast of the display screen based on the display contrast changed by the value changing unit.

Abstract: A method of performing bilateral filtering and using the method for displaying high-dynamic-range images is presented. The method reduces the contrast of the image while preserving detail of the image. The presently disclosed method incorporates a two-scale decomposition of the image into a base layer encoding large-scale variations, and a detail layer. The base layer has its contrast reduced, thereby preserving detail. The base layer is obtained using an edge-preserving bilateral filter. The bilateral filter is a non-linear filter, where the weight of each pixel is computed using a Gaussian in the spatial domain multiplied by an influence function in the intensity domain that decreases the weight of pixels with large intensity differences. The bilateral filtering is accelerated by using a piecewise-linear approximation in the intensity domain and appropriate subsampling.

Abstract: A polygon drawing apparatus and method draws a polygon by performing intensity processing on a polygon to be drawn so as to smoothly draw each edge portion of the polygon, by performing intensity processing on a polygon to be drawn so as to smoothly draw each edge portion of the polygon.

Abstract: Digital circuitry for imparting halftone to that portion of a video image over which an on-screen-display (OSD) window is superimposed.

Abstract: When a sub-pixel of B having a small contribution to luminance emits light in isolation, a sub-pixel of R is caused to emit light or sub-pixels of B and R are caused to emit light. As a result, a sub-pixel of R having, a larger contribution to luminance than the sub-pixel of B, is caused to emit light. When an adjacent set of sub-pixels B and R having a small contribution to luminance emits light in isolation, a set of sub-pixels R and G is caused to emit light. As a result, a set of sub-pixels R and G having a higher degree of contribution to luminance than the set of sub-pixels B and R is caused to emit light. Therefore, contrast degradation from any allocation of light-emitting patterns to sub-pixels having poor luminance is eliminated and a high quality display is achieved.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a method of converting a source pixel data of a first format for a display of a second format having a plurality of three-color pixel elements comprises determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in the source pixel data of the first format. The resample areas for each emitter of each color in the display is also determined. A set of fractions for each resample area is formed. The denominators are a function of the resample area and the numerators are the function of an area of each of the implied sample areas that at least partially overlaps the resample areas. The data values for each implied sample area is multiplied by its respective fraction and all products are added together to obtain luminance values for each resample area.

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: This invention is directed to a system and method for creating characterization information and a correction map from a first display grid that can be transmitted and used by a second display grid. Computer readable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium calibrate a first display grid and create an ICC color profile and correction map from said calibration information, such that an image to be displayed across an entire display grid which is segmented into portions corresponding to each display device in the display grid is displayed with uniform luminance and color across the entire display grid. The invention can then store the correction map and characterization information and send the information to a second display device for it to use. Alternatively, the calibration or characterization information can be associated with an image file and sent to a second location for display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controlling contrast in at least part of a picture. The contrast control is performed by reducing the saturation (2–4) of the picture during contrast increase (1).

Abstract: In response to operational instructions for changing an image quality parameter accepted in an operation unit, an image signal for displaying at least two identical images based on an inputted image signal on an image plane is generated. Further, an image quality adjusting processing is performed based on an image quality parameter before adjusting image quality with respect to a part of the generated signal for displaying an identical image, and another image quality adjusting processing is performed based on an image quality parameter after adjusting image quality with respect to another part of the generated signal for displaying another identical image.

Abstract: Automatically and adaptively controlling contrast and color of a display device by computing a normalized histogram of a current image, computing degrees of correlation between the normalized histogram and a number of template histograms, sorting the template histograms based upon the associated degrees of correlation, selecting a number of the best correlated template histograms based on the sorting, blending the selected the transfer functions associated with the selected template histograms to form a blended transfer function, and applying the blended transfer function to the current image.

Abstract: A system and process for generating a two-layer, 3D representation of a digital or digitized image from the image and a pixel disparity map of the image is presented. The two layer representation includes a main layer having pixels exhibiting background colors and background disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of depth discontinuity areas in the image, as well as pixels exhibiting colors and disparities associated with correspondingly located pixels of the image not found in these depth discontinuity areas. The other layer is a boundary layer made up of pixels exhibiting foreground colors, foreground disparities and alpha values associated with the correspondingly located pixels of the depth discontinuity areas. The depth discontinuity areas correspond to prescribed sized areas surrounding depth discontinuities found in the image using a disparity map thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dimmable user interface. A user interface is simultaneously displayed with video content or other data in the same window of a display device. The user interface has a level of transparency that is user adjustable. The user can thus make the user interface either more or less visible with respect to the video content. At the same time, the video content is correspondingly made less or more visible. Each item included in the user interface may also have a level of transparency that can be adjusted independently of the level of transparency of the user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a shade from an image includes a principle component analyzing unit performing principle component analysis on a set of face images having various types of shades to generate an eigen space, a storing unit storing the eigen space generated by the principle component analyzing unit, an image input unit receiving as an input a new face image, a projecting unit projecting the face image input through the image input unit to the eigen space stored in the storing unit, and an image producing unit producing a face image with the shade component removed, based on the face image input through the image input unit and the image projected to the eigen space by the projecting unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically adjusting the color of a digital image. In one aspect, an strength offset is determined to automatically remove gray from a distorted image. In an other aspect applied independently or after gray removal, scaling factors are automatically determined to adjust the image to conform to empirically determined optimal brightening of the image. Using a determination of color dot maximums and a function which ensures constraint within the dynamic range, scaling factors are established which correspond to the strength values of each dot maximum and which are applied to each of the dot's R,G and B to maintain ratios therebetween and thus maintain the true color. The function for establishing the scaling factors is interpolated from a nominal function and a target average strength for the image.

Abstract: A method for is provided for antialiasing a computer graphics image using filtering. The method comprises the steps of defining a plurality of regions having samples from pixels in the computer graphics image, where the regions are associated with a pixel of interest and adjacent pixels to form an antialiasing filter. Another step is determining a contrast for each region. A further step is blending the regions that form the filter based on the contrast for each region.

Abstract: A method for adjusting sharpness and brightness of a digital image. In this method, an image function is first inputted into a processor. The image function comprises a plurality of control parameters. Next, the control parameter values of the control parameters are set, and then each of the pixels is sequentially leaded into the image function according to the control parameter value so as to perform the corresponding operation for adjusting the sharpness and brightness of the image. Finally, the adjusted image is outputted. Therefore, the two processes in the prior art, one for adjusting the brightness, the other for the sharpness, are merged into one process so that the design of the hardware circuit is simplified and the required memory space is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting an enhancement vector for a plurality of enhancement functions using a cost function. A sharpness enhancement system is described that receives an input picture and outputs an enhanced picture, the sharpness enhancement system comprising: a plurality of enhancement functions that enhance the input picture; and a picture quality analyzer that selects an enhancement vector for the plurality of enhancement functions, wherein the enhancement vector is selected from a set of vectors based on a cost function that comprises: (1) a gradient analysis, and (2) a dynamic range analysis.

Abstract: Digital circuitry for imparting halftone to that portion of a video image over which an on-screen-display (OSD) window is superimposed.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing tone scale of a digital color image in which the histogram of tone scales (for example, of RGB, YCrCb, Lab or Luv) is considered for deciding the semi-S curve. The semi-S curve suits the digital color image and improves the brightness contrast and color saturation for the image output device. A weighting procedure can also be used for compensating those high occurrence colors in the image, and rearrange and analysis the histogram of tone scale, so as to decrease the influence of the high occurrence colors to the calculation and process of tone scale.

Abstract: The method for evaluating a quality of an image on a display device displays a test pattern having different contrast intensities on a display screen of the display, then determines a contrast intensity at which the test pattern is visually discernible and uses the thus determined contrast intensity as a value for evaluation of granularity on the display device. The method is optimal for achieving quantitative and objective visual evaluation of image quality, particularly, its granularity.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus comprises an input device; an output device; and a processor coupled to the input and output devices. The processor is adapted to compare the tone range of an image scanned by the input scanner and the tone range provided by the output scanner, and i. if the input tone range falls wholly within the output tone range, to cause the output device to render an absolute reproduction of the image, or ii. if the input tone range overlaps the output tone range, to cause the output device to render a reproduction of the image in which that part of the input tone range falling outside the output tone range has substantially been mapped into the output tone range, providing a pleasing appearance.

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.

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.

Abstract: A silhouette edge is rendered in a display format that corresponds to a geometry of a three-dimensional model. An angle between the silhouette edge and an adjacent silhouette edge in the image is determined, and the display format for the silhouette edge is selected based on the angle. Texture mapping is used to generate the silhouette edge in the display format.

Abstract: A color contrast adjuster is disclosed that automatically selects and applies a new color combination for text and background based on the current color combination for the text and background, if the current color combination is a problem color combination. The text can be any text object (such as a hypertext link, bold text, underline text, groups of text etc.) and the background can be any background object whose color can be determined (such as a solid color, a button, a global interchange format file, etc.). Additionally, the color contrast adjuster can store multiple problem and preferred color combinations for each user. The color contrast adjuster can replace a problem color combination with a preferred color combination. Furthermore, the color contrast adjuster can provide example color combinations to a user, allow the user to select a better color combination, and add this preferred and problem combination to a user preferences.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying an image, includes steps and means for: storing image data in a manner that enables retrieval of different spatial regions of an image at different fidelities; determining an viewer's point of gaze on a display; retrieving image data for each spatial region of an image at a fidelity that is a decreasing function of the distance of the regions from the point of gaze; and displaying the retrieved image data on the display.

Abstract: A method enhances images of a naturally illuminated scene. First, a set of images Ii(x, y) is acquired of a scene. Each image is acquired under a different uncontrolled illumination. For each image Ii(x, y), intensity gradients ∇Ii(x, y) are determined, and each image is weighted with weights according to the intensity gradients. The weighted images are then combined to construct an enhanced image I′.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital image of a document to provide one or more bitonal digital copies of selected image quality that are optimized for specific purposes. The method is suited for use with such documents as bank checks and commercial forms that have printed or handwritten textual characters overlaid on potentially obscuring backgrounds. The method may provide a clean bitonal digital copy with reduced background optimized for use in optical character recognition or an archival copy with meaningful background retained that is optimized for archiving the original document. A set of bitonal copies of the digital image of a document is derived covering a range of contrast sensitivities. The copies are compared and a numerical measure is provided representing the amount of change in going from one copy to the next. The collection of such numerical measures defines a numerical sequence representing variations in the digital image as the contrast sensitivity is monotonically varied.

Abstract: Display data comprising text and a background are processed. A combination of the text and background is evaluated against one or more objective criteria to provide one or more objective values. A determination is made whether the one or more objective values exceed one or more respective thresholds that are indicative of text-background combinations that are difficult to read. The text or the background or both are adjusted if any of the one or more thresholds is exceeded, so that the one or more thresholds are no longer exceeded after the adjusting.

Abstract: A video display apparatus comprises: a converting circuit for executing nonlinear conversion for an input signal; a display brightness featured value detecting circuit for detecting a display brightness featured value indicating a brightness of a display screen from the input signal; and an adjustment circuit receiving an output of the converting circuit for adjusting the received signal on the basis of the display brightness featured value, wherein the display brightness featured value detecting circuit is placed on a stage after the converting circuit, and an image is displayed on the basis of an output of the adjustment circuit.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for enhancing discrete pixel images in accordance with a desired dynamic range, such as the dynamic range of a softcopy display. Adaptive equalization is first performed on the image data to reduce overall differences between high and low intensity values, while maintaining the overall appearance of light and dark regions of the reconstructed image. Adaptive contrast boosting or enhancement is then performed on the equalized values to bring out details visible by virtue of the enhanced local contrast. The contrast enhancement may include non-linear mapping of a mid-frequency boosted image onto the dynamic range of the softcopy display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows a display device to adaptively and automatically control display contrast and color is disclosed. The method and system in accordance with the present invention can be described by the following sequential process: 1. Separating an input image data value into its luma and chroma components. 2. Collecting the luma distribution data over the entire image or a specified window. 3. Analyzing the luma distribution. 4. Generating an appropriate contrast control response that modifies the input luma component to generate an output luma component, on a pixel by pixel basis. 5. Analyzing the input luma component and the output luma component, and an input chroma component, to generate an appropriate modification for the chroma component, on a pixel by pixel basis.

Abstract: A battery voltage detector detects a voltage of a battery, a battery alarm voltage detector detects whether the voltage of the battery has dropped to a battery alarm voltage, a near-battery alarm voltage detector detects whether the voltage of the battery has dropped to a near-battery alarm voltage, and a display brightness control unit decreases the brightness of a display unit if the near-battery alarm voltage detector detects that the voltage of the battery has dropped to a near-battery alarm voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for driving a plurality of displays in a computer system. The apparatus can include a checking circuit for checking inherent control information of the displays, and an output circuit for confirming a brightness control information corresponding to the inherent control information of the checked display among preset brightness control information to output an information to control the display at a brightness of the corresponding display. A conversion circuit can supply an information to drive a corresponding display based on the output information of the output circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing a digital image without distortion of the color. The result is an adjusted image which preserves the essential color of each and every dot in the input digital image while varying the effective light gathering power—like a virtual flash. The image enhancement is performed in RGB color space and comprises determining the maximum strength of the R,G, and B of a dot's RGB triplet and similarly for all dots. The dot maximums are scaled through a scaling function which is constrained in domain and range to the system's dynamic range. The same scaling factor that is applied to a dot maximum is also applied to each of R,G and B in the triplet. Preferably, a continuous scaling function is provided which smoothly approaches the minimum and maximum of the system's dynamic range for providing an aesthetically pleasing enhancement while maintaining true color.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting an enhancement vector for a plurality of enhancement functions using a cost function. A sharpness enhancement system is described that receives an input picture and outputs an enhanced picture, the sharpness enhancement system comprising: a plurality of enhancement functions that enhance the input picture; and a picture quality analyzer that selects an enhancement vector for the plurality of enhancement functions, wherein the enhancement vector is selected from a set of vectors based on a cost function that comprises: (1) a gradient analysis, and (2) a dynamic range analysis.

Abstract: A method is presented for the treatment and visualization of local contrast in n-dimensional multispectral images, which directly applies to n-dimensional multisensor images as well. A 2×2 matrix called the contrast form is defined comprised of the first derivatives of the n-dimenional image function with respect to the image plane, and a local metric defined on n-dimensional photometric space. The largest eigenvector of this 2×2 contrast form encodes the inherent local contrast at each point on the image plane. It is shown how a scalar intensity function defined on n-dimensional photometric space is used to select a preferred orientation for this eigenvector at each image point in the n-dimensional image defining the contrast vector field for an n-dimensional image.