Color Tv Patents (Class 348/253)
  • Patent number: 12136143
    Abstract: An image processing system according to an example aspect of the present disclosure includes: an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a monochrome image; a pixel value correction unit configured to correct a pixel value of the monochrome image based on information related to a pixel value; and a colorization generation unit configured to generate a colorized image corresponding to the monochrome image from the corrected monochrome image by using a colorization prediction model trained by machine learning. With the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the reproduction accuracy of a color in colorization of a monochrome image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Toizumi
  • Patent number: 11415462
    Abstract: Certain examples relate to emulating a spectral measurement device in a color measurement apparatus. In these examples, a primary spectral measurement device measures a first spectral characteristic of a rendered color output. A predictive model, parametrized by parameter values, is applied to the measurement from the primary spectral measurement device to determine a predicted measurement of a second spectral characteristic of the rendered color output which would be measured by an ancillary spectral measurement device. Parameter values are generated by training the predictive model with data from the primary spectral measurement device and the ancillary spectral measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Morovic, Jan Morovic
  • Patent number: 10621454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a living body detection method and living body detection system capable of realizing living body detection of a human body, and a computer program product. The living body detection method comprises: respectively using each light source of at least two light sources arranged at different positions to illuminate a face of an object to be detected; capturing a plurality of images of the face of the object to be detected that is illuminated by each light source; calculating a difference image between the plurality of images; and obtaining a detection value of the difference image, and determining that the object to be detected is a living body if the detection value is greater than a pre-determined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: BEIJING KUANGSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., MEGVII (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haoqiang Fan
  • Patent number: 9965842
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus sets a predetermined reading resolution for acquiring image data and a division size for performing a predetermined process on the image data and extract a unique portion from image data resulting from performing the predetermined process. The predetermined process includes an averaging process on the image data for each of division areas obtained by dividing the image data by the predetermined division size, a quantization process for quantizing values obtained by the averaging process, and an addition process for adding values obtained by the quantization process, that are different in the dividing way of the image data in the averaging process. The setting unit sets the predetermined reading resolution so as to make the width of the unique portion in the image correspond to N read pixels (N?2), and sets the division size so as to have a width larger than N pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Suwa, Shinjiro Hori, Tohru Ikeda, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Wakako Tanaka, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Yumi Yanai
  • Patent number: 9946010
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel, and a backlight unit including a first light source emitting a first light and a second light source emitting a second light, the first, second, third, and fourth pixels including respective light control layers and including respective light converting units, the light converting units respectively receiving the first light from the backlight unit through the light control layers of the first, second, and third pixels and converting the received first light into light having different wavelengths, the fourth pixel including a light transmitting unit receiving the second light from the backlight unit through the light control layer of the fourth pixel and transmitting the received second light therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Heekwang Song, Yonghoon Kwon, Junghyun Kim, Seokhyun Nam, Hosik Shin, Juyoung Yoon
  • Patent number: 9196189
    Abstract: A display includes pixels and a controller. The controller can cause the pixels to generate colors corresponding to an image frame. The controller can cause the display to display the image frame using sets of subframe images corresponding to contributing colors according to a field sequential color (FSC) image formation process. The contributing colors include component colors and at least one composite color, which is substantially a combination of at least two component colors. A greater number of subframe images corresponding to a first component color can be displayed relative to a number of subframe images corresponding to another component color. The display can be configured to output a given luminance of a contributing color for a first pixel by generating a first set of pixel states and output the same luminance of the contributing color for a second pixel by generating a second, different set of pixel states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jignesh Gandhi, Edward Buckley
  • Patent number: 9197831
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion system is configured to correct a difference in offset component of signals to be outputted per photoelectric conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Yukio Araoka, Yuichi Naito
  • Patent number: 9013609
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes a determining part configured to determine, from a difference between information on color of a first pixel in a first image and information on color of a second pixel corresponding to the first pixel in a second image, whether or not the first image includes color blur due to defocus, the first and second images being generated by an image-pickup system and whose focus states are mutually different. The apparatus further includes a correcting part configured to perform on the first image a correction process that corrects the color blur determined by the determining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chiaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 8970746
    Abstract: An image processing device that corrects an obtained image includes: an image acquisition unit that obtains the image; a region setting unit that sets a first region including a main object and a second region not including the main object on the image; an image characteristic amount calculation unit that calculates a first image characteristic amount, which is an occurrence state of a predetermined image characteristic amount, respectively in the first region and the second region; a comparison unit that compares the first image characteristic amounts of the first region and the second region; and an image characteristic adjustment unit that adjusts a second image characteristic amount of the obtained image on the basis of a comparison result obtained by the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Shuta Yanagita, Takeyuki Ajito
  • Publication number: 20150042850
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided. An apparatus including at least one color separation diffraction grating configured to direct different spectral components of incident light in different directions; one or more further diffraction gratings configured to at least partially compensate for dispersion in one or more of the different spectral components of light; and one or more image sensors configured to detect the one or more dispersion compensated spectral components of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Radu Bilcu, Martin Schrader
  • Patent number: 8890983
    Abstract: A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images from low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventor: Ruxandra Vranceanu
  • Publication number: 20140132808
    Abstract: A method for interpolating a color includes interpolating, in a first pixel of a first color, a first pixel value based on pixel values of pixels adjacent to the first pixel, skipping an interpolation on a second pixel of a second color corresponding to the first pixel of the first color; and generating an image based on the interpolated first pixel value and an uninterpolated pixel value of the second pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Jae LEE, Byung Joon BAEK, Tae Chan KIM
  • Patent number: 8698924
    Abstract: A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images from low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Alexandru Drimbarean, Adrian Zamfir, Felix Albu, Vlad Poenaru, Corneliu Florea, Petronel Bigioi, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 8692911
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an edge enhancement unit and a brightness level determination unit. The edge enhancement unit performs an edge enhancement process by adding extraction data which has been subjected to a noise cancellation process and an amplitude limitation process to a brightness signal. The brightness level determination unit determines a height of the signal level of the brightness signal. The edge enhancement unit adjusts the signal level of the extraction data added to the brightness signal depending on a determination result of the brightness level determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shiroshi Kanemitsu, Takaaki Kawakami, Kazuhiro Tabuchi
  • Patent number: 8659609
    Abstract: It is expected to increase the size of a display panel and the number of tones to be displayed on the display panel, and it is requested to use a display panel displaying M (M>3) types of colors. This requires a large memory capacity and makes a circuit for performing signal conversion complex due to an increase in the amount of data to be subjected to the signal conversion. An image memory stores image data compressed at a fixed compression rate, and the signal conversion is performed on the compressed image data. This technique reduces a memory capacity and simplifies a signal conversion circuit. The signal conversion makes it possible to improve color reproducibility of an image displayed and the quality of the image due to smoothing of the outline of the image. In the case of a display panel having sub-pixels displaying M types of colors, the signal conversion is performed on a compressed signal for each sub-pixel to improve the quality of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 8634491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the contribution of noise to digitally sampled signals includes a statistical processor and a slope limiter. The statistical processor determines an average value (mean and/or standard deviation) of the filtered signal which is used to determine a slope limit corresponding to an expected maximum first derivative value of a target signal frequency. This slope limit is applied to constrain the output of an analog to digital converter, to prevent the output of the analog to digital converter from exceeding this maximum rate of rise or fall. By constraining the output of the analog to digital converter, it is possible to digitally sample analog signals without first utilizing an anti-aliasing filter, since the post processing of the digitally sampled signals limits the contribution of the higher frequency components of the signal to thereby enable a fully digital sampling and filtering circuit to be provided for receiving signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rockstar Consortium USLP
    Inventors: Jonathan Davey, Russell Jones
  • Patent number: 8514267
    Abstract: A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving, from a video source device, a standard definition video signal, fragmenting the standard definition video signal into at least one of a red representation of the standard definition video signal, a green representation of the standard definition video signal, and a blue representation of the standard definition video signal using one or more 3D converter devices, reconstructing at least one of the red representation of the standard definition video signal, the green representation of the standard definition video signal, and the blue representation of the standard definition video signal using one or more video reconstruction devices, capturing at least one of a reconstructed red representation of the standard definition video signal, a reconstructed green representation of the standard definition video signal, and a reconstructed blue representation of the standard definition video signal using one or more video image capture
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
    Inventors: Rosa M. Underwood, Umang A. Patel, Henry A. McKelvey
  • Patent number: 8457417
    Abstract: In an image-encoding scheme, an input image is decomposed into several image blocks (600) comprising multiple image elements (610). The image blocks (600) are encoded into encoded block representations (700). In this encoding, color weights are assigned to the image elements (610) in the block (600) based on their relative positions in the block (600). At least two color codeword (710, 720, 730, 740) are determined, at least partly based on the color weights. These codewords (710, 720, 730, 740) are representations of at least two color values. The original colors of the image elements (610) are represented by color representations derivable from combinations of the at least two color values weighted by the assigned color weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Jacob Ström
  • Patent number: 8279348
    Abstract: A display method and apparatus are provided for enabling a user, whether or not he has experience, to readily detect a luminance level of a video image with high accuracy. A luminance level of a video signal of a video image is converted to color information to display a change in the luminance of the video image as a change in color. The conversion preferably involves a method of converting the luminance level to color information of three primary colors, red, green, blue, in accordance with a plurality of weights, respectively, a method of converting a luminance level in a predetermined range to color information having a changing rate larger than a changing rate of the luminance level, a method of converting a luminance level out of the predetermined range to color information of a maximum or a minimum level, or the like. Also, the input video signal is preferably displayed together with a converted video image side by side or one on another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Leader Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yano, Genichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 8115840
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a mosaic image sensor (24), which is configured to generate a stream of input pixel values belonging to a plurality of input sub-images, each sub-image responsive to light of a different, respective color that is incident on the mosaic image sensor. An image restoration circuit (26) is coupled to receive and digitally filter the input pixel values in each of the input sub-images so as to generate a corresponding plurality of enhanced output sub-images. An image signal processor (ISP) (28) is coupled to receive and combine the plurality of the output sub-images in order to generate a color video output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation International
    Inventors: Anatoly Litvinov, Alex Alon, Irina Alon, Einat Kidron, Uri Kinrot
  • Patent number: 7932940
    Abstract: A viewfinder configured to display a captured image includes: an edge correction signal generation unit configured to generate a peaking signal corresponding to an edge enhancement correction target hue that is a hue for which edge enhancement correction will be performed from three primary color signals generated from an input video signal; a signal adding unit configured to add the peaking signal generated by the edge correction signal generation unit to each of the three primary color signals generated from the input video signal; and a driving signal generation unit configured to generate a driving signal for a display device from the three primary color signals to each of which the peaking signal has been added by the signal adding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kawamura, Yoshihiro Date
  • Patent number: 7876330
    Abstract: A technique that can contribute to improvement of processing efficiency in performing image processing employing an SIMD command is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 7858646
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I); pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using the same, processes or preparing the same, and intermediates thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventors: Thomas Daniel Aicher, Dana Rae Benesh, Maria-Jesus Blanco-Pillado, Guillermo S. Cortez, Todd Michael Groendyke, Albert Khilevich, James Allen Knobelsdorf, Fredrik Pehr Marmsäter, Jeffrey Michael Schkeryantz, Tony Pisal Tang
  • Publication number: 20100321524
    Abstract: A sharpness processing method and system for a digital image are applied to an image capturing device for capturing a raw image. The method includes the steps. An image processing procedure is performed on the raw image to generate a registered image. A first sharpness enhancement table and a second sharpness enhancement table respectively sharpness attenuation at an outer-edge region and a central region of the registered image are loaded, and a range between the outer-edge region and the central region is defined as a plurality of critical regions. A sharpness enhancement weight table is loaded, and weight values of each critical region respectively corresponding to the first sharpness enhancement table and the second sharpness enhancement table are searched, for obtaining a sharpness enhanced value of each critical region. An image sharpness processing procedure is performed on the critical region, for correct the registered image into a digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Che Hung Lin, Chung Ta Wu
  • Patent number: 7683973
    Abstract: An image processing method aims to optimally improve a brightness distribution with respect to brightness of a face being a main subject of a person image. Thus, the method consists of: a brightness component extraction step of extracting a brightness component from image data; a low-frequency brightness component extraction step of extracting a low-frequency component signal of the brightness component as a low-frequency brightness component; a color adjustment step of performing color adjustment to the image data by using the brightness component and the low-frequency brightness component; a first parameter determination step of determining a first parameter; and a second parameter determination step of determining a second parameter in accordance with a distribution of brightness component values in a second area in the image data, wherein the color adjustment step causes processing a degree of the color adjustment according to the first and second parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7649557
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digital image signal includes a pseudo-luminance generator configured to generate pseudo-luminance signals from the image signal. An edge detector detects an edge in the image signal using a part of an interpolated image signal as a luminance signal for a line of the image signal including a pixel subjected to edge detection and using the pseudo-luminance signals for adjacent lines. A color suppressor suppresses pseudo-color present in the chrominance component of the image signal in response to a detected edge. A compensator may be provided to generate a second edge metric relative to the image signal to compensate for an edge detection error occurring in the edge detector. A color suppression coefficient calculator to generate a color suppression coefficient using a first edge metric generated by the edge detector and the second edge metric. Corresponding systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-Beom Song, Jae-Hoon Seo
  • Patent number: 7643073
    Abstract: An image apparatus has signal slicing unit for two-dimensionally slicing a signal from an imaging device; pixel correlation detection unit for detecting correlation between a center pixel of the signal sliced by the signal slicing unit and its peripheral pixels; correction unit for executing a correction processing for each pixel signal sliced on the basis of the degree of correlation; and synchronization unit for extracting each color signal at the center pixel position of the area sliced by using a signal after correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Nonaka, Akihito Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7573508
    Abstract: An image signal generated by a CCD image sensor is processed by the block-generating section 28 provided in an image-signal processing section 25. A class tap and a prediction tap are thereby extracted. The class tap is output to an ADRC process section 29, and the prediction tap is output to an adaptation process section 31. The ADRC process section 29 performs an ADRC process on the input image signal, generating characteristic data. A classification process section 30 generates a class code corresponding to the characteristic data thus generated and supplies the same to an adaptation process section 31. The adaptation process section 31 reads, from a coefficient memory 32, the set of prediction coefficients which corresponds to the class code. The set of prediction coefficients and the prediction tap are applied, thereby generating all color signals, i.e., R, G and B signals, at the positions of the pixels which are to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Takashi Sawao
  • Publication number: 20090147109
    Abstract: An edge directed demosaicing algorithm for determining an edge direction from an input color filter array (CFA) sampled image is disclosed. Aspects of the present invention include calculating for a current missing green pixel, interpolation errors in an East-West (EW) direction at known neighboring green pixels, and averaging the EW interpolation errors to obtain an EW error. Interpolation errors are also calculated for the current missing green pixel in a North-South (NS) direction at known neighboring green pixels, and the NS interpolation errors are averaged to obtain a NS error. An EW or NS direction indicated by a minimum of the EW error and the NS error is then selected as the edge direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Darian Muresan
  • Patent number: 7450166
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for processing a digital signal in an image sensor. The apparatus includes: a line memory unit for storing an inputted digital signal of red (R), green (G) and blue (B); a kernel generation unit for generating a plurality of kernels after receiving the RGB digital signal from the line memory unit; a false color detection unit for detecting false colors by using the plurality of kernels; an edge detection unit for detecting edges by using the plurality of kernels; an interpolation unit for interpolating the RGB digital signal from the line memory unit; a color space conversion unit for converting the interpolated RGB digital signal into a YCbCr signal; and an image enhancement unit for suppressing the false colors and enhancing the edges in the YCbCr signal in response to outputs of the false color detection unit and the edge detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Mi Jo, Chae-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7428021
    Abstract: An image processing method aims to optimally improve a brightness distribution with respect to brightness of a face being a main subject of a person image. Thus, the method consists of: a brightness component extraction step of extracting a brightness component from image data; a low-frequency brightness component extraction step of extracting a low-frequency component signal of the brightness component as a low-frequency brightness component; a color adjustment step of performing color adjustment to the image data by using the brightness component and the low-frequency brightness component; a first parameter determination step of determining a first parameter; and a second parameter determination step of determining a second parameter in accordance with a distribution of brightness component values in a second area in the image data, wherein the color adjustment step causes processing a degree of the color adjustment according to the first and second parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7379098
    Abstract: Camera signal processing for interpolating, at least on two directions, pixel data based on an imaging signal from a solid-state image sensor in which an imaging light enters through a color filter having a different spectral characteristic for each pixel separately generating interpolated pixel data in the directions, detecting a correlation value indicative of a degree of correlation in each of the directions of the interpolated pixel data, normalizing the correlation value of each of the directions to generate a normalized value indicative of a relative value of the correlation value of each of the directions, adding a predetermined correction value to the normalized value, weighting the interpolated pixel data by the normalized value and adding together the weighted interpolated pixel data, and generating an image based on the interpolated pixel data weighted by the weighting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Ken Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20080055435
    Abstract: A viewfinder configured to display a captured image includes: an edge correction signal generation unit configured to generate a peaking signal corresponding to an edge enhancement correction target hue that is a hue for which edge enhancement correction will be performed from three primary color signals generated from an input video signal; a signal adding unit configured to add the peaking signal generated by the edge correction signal generation unit to each of the three primary color signals generated from the input video signal; and a driving signal generation unit configured to generate a driving signal for a display device from the three primary color signals to each of which the peaking signal has been added by the signal adding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kawamura, Yoshihiro Date
  • Patent number: 7333137
    Abstract: A camera signal process and apparatus processing for interpolating, at least on two directions, pixel data based on an imaging signal from a solid-state image sensor in which an imaging light enters through a color filter having a different spectral characteristic for each pixel separately generating interpolated pixel data in the at least two directions, detecting a correlation value indicative of a degree of correlation in each of the at least two directions of the interpolated pixel data, normalizing the correlation value of each of the at least two directions to generate a normalized value indicative of a relative value of the correlation value of each of the at least two directions, adding a predetermined correction value to the normalized value, weighting the interpolated pixel data in each of the at least two directions by the normalized value and adding together the weighted interpolated pixel data in all of the at least two directions, and generating an image based on the interpolated pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Ken Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7319482
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating an image by interpolating, at least on two directions, pixel data based on an imaging signal from a solid-state image sensor in which an imaging light enters through a color filter having a different spectral characteristic for each pixel separately generating interpolated pixel data in the at least two directions. The method includes detecting a correlation value indicative of a degree of correlation in each of the at least two directions of the interpolated pixel data, and normalizing the correlation value of each of the at least two directions. A predetermined correction value is added to the normalized value, and the interpolated pixel data is weighted in each of the at least two directions by the normalized value and adding together the weighted interpolated pixel data in-all of the at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Ken Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7319481
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating an image by interpolating, at least on two directions, pixel data based on an imaging signal from a solid-state image sensor in which an imaging light enters through a color filter having a different spectral characteristic for each pixel separately generating interpolated pixel data in the at least two directions. A correlation value is detected that is indicative of a degree of correlation in each of the at least two directions of the interpolated pixel data. The correlation value is normalized for each of the at least two directions. The method further includes adding a predetermined correction value to the normalized value, and weighting the interpolated pixel data in each of the at least two directions by the normalized value and adding together the weighted interpolated pixel data in-all of the at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Ken Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7298404
    Abstract: The present invention provides an edge enhancing apparatus (20) including a filter (51) to extract a horizontal high-frequency component of a video signal, a rise/fall detection detector (52) to detect leading and trailing edges of the horizontal high-frequency component of the video signal, and a waveform balancer (53) to multiply the high frequency component extracted by the filter (51) by a gain to generate an enhancement signal for enhancing the original video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 7262795
    Abstract: Camera signal processing comprising interpolating, at least on two directions, pixel data based on an imaging signal from a solid-state image sensor in which an imaging light enters through a color filter having a different spectral characteristic for each pixel separately generating interpolated pixel data in the directions, detecting a correlation value indicative of a degree of correlation in each of the directions of the interpolated pixel data, normalizing the correlation value of each of the directions to generate a normalized value indicative of a relative value of the correlation value of each of the directions, adding a predetermined correction value to the normalized value, weighting the interpolated pixel data by the normalized value and adding together the weighted interpolated pixel data, and generating an image based on the interpolated pixel data weighted by the weighting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Ken Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7113211
    Abstract: A video signal processing circuit, which performs contour adjustment by means of digital signal processing, is applicable to a viewfinder apparatus for a television camera and an image monitor apparatus, which can be operated both in an NTSC/PAL system and an HDTV system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Seino, Mitsuo Kamiko, Tomoyasu Katsuyama, Yoshihiro Date, Naoki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 7095438
    Abstract: An image signal processing device of the present invention includes an RGB-YC conversion for converting color component signals output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor to luminance signals and components thereof lying in a high frequency range. The luminance signals and their components lying in a high frequency range are fed to a first, a second and a third low pass filter (LPF), respectively. Luminance signals output from a third LPF are fed to an adder while components lying in a high frequency range are fed from the first LPF to a selector. Further, the components output from the second LPF are fed to the selector via a resolution correcting section. The selector selects either one of the two different kinds of components input thereto. The adder adds the luminance signals output from the third LPF and the components selected by the selector and thereby outputs second luminance signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6850275
    Abstract: An edge correction apparatus for a digital video camera includes horizontal and vertical edge signal generators, horizontal and vertical edge signal gain controllers, an adder, a slice processor, and a vertical edge component suppression position detector. The horizontal and vertical edge signal generators respectively generate horizontal and vertical edge correction signals in the horizontal and vertical directions of a sensed image obtained via the image sensing element of a digital video camera. The horizontal and vertical edge signal gain controllers control the gains of the horizontal and vertical edge correction signals. The adder adds the horizontal and vertical edge correction signals whose gains are controlled. The slice processor adds, to the image processing signal of the digital video camera, an edge correction signal obtained by performing slice processing for an edge signal output from the adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Minakami
  • Patent number: 6670999
    Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit and a contour emphasizing method, in which an image having sharpness and a clear image can be obtained, are provided. The contour emphasizing circuit provides a contour emphasizing signal generating means which outputs a delayed video signal, a contour emphasizing signal, and a plurality of differential signals by processing an inputted video signal, a signal level difference detecting means to which the plurality of differential signals outputted from the contour emphasizing signal generating means are inputted and which outputs a signal selecting control signal, and a signal selecting means to which the delayed video signal, the contour emphasizing signal, and the signal selecting control signal are inputted and which mixes the delayed video signal with the contour emphasizing signal in an arbitrary ratio and outputs a video output signal or which selects the delayed video signal or the contour emphasizing signal and outputs the selected signal as a video output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Fujino
  • Patent number: 6606119
    Abstract: The present invention has as an object thereof to provide a semiconductor arithmetic circuit which is capable of conducting edge accentuation processing, edge detection processing, and noise removal by means of averaging processing of an image, using extremely simple circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Tadashi Shibata, Tadahiro Ohmi
  • Patent number: 6507364
    Abstract: An image processing device is provided for still and video imaging systems which use a low number of samples per image pixel, preferably a single color component per each image pixel. The device includes an edge-dependent and edge-side-dependent color interpolation process, preferably implemented within the imaging system or within a host image processing computer hardware. The process reconstructs the missing color components of each said image pixel with high accuracy, because it is based on the detection of the spatial features present in the pixel neighborhood, thus providing sharp images without artifacts and with smooth transition in hue from pixel to pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Pictos Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Magued M. Bishay, Randy M. Chung
  • Patent number: 6493029
    Abstract: A signal processing method for estimating luminance is provided, for use with matrix patterned image sensors where elected sensor pixels (G), preferably green pixels, from which luminance-representative signals are taken, only occupy alternate horizontal and vertical positions in the matrix pattern. The method is designed for detecting luminance contour edges and/or stripes in an image so as to enable images obtained form the sensor to be enhanced. Each pixel site (Hc) which is at the centre of both a row and a column of five pixels, and which is not the site of an elected (green) pixel, is identified and, for each such identified site (Hc), the signals output from the immediately adjacent four pixels (Gn,Ge,Gs,Gw) in said row and column are processed to establish both signal amplitude and pixel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: VLSI Vision Limited
    Inventors: Peter Brian Denyer, Stewart Gresty Smith
  • Publication number: 20020176014
    Abstract: This camera having a contour improvement circuit (13) is formed from a sensor (3) composed of elements sensitive to various color components in the view exhibiting an entire spectrum of spatial frequencies, and at least a first image filtering device (10) for the low frequencies in the spectrum with a view to processing the signals issuing from said sensitive elements. It is in the form of a first branch (B1) in which said first filtering device (10) is inserted, and at least a second branch (B2) in which the contour improvement circuit (13) is inserted in order to act on the high frequencies taking account of all the signals issuing from said elements, and a combination device (16) for supplying an image from the output signals of said branches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Frederic Bompard
  • Patent number: 6459425
    Abstract: A system for automatic color calibration for a color display is provided having an assembly of a member adjacent the outer periphery of the screen of the display and a color measuring instrument coupled to the member. The system is particularly usefull at a site or node of a network of sites or nodes for distributing and controlling color reproduction. The color measuring instrument includes a sensor spaced from the screen at an angle with respect to the screen for receiving light from an area of the screen. Methods are also provided for maintaining calibration of a color display using a color measuring instrument. Apparatuses are further provided for checking the calibration of a color measurement instrument having a spectrograph for measuring color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventors: Richard A. Holub, Daniel R. Mongeau
  • Publication number: 20020093579
    Abstract: An image interpolating device comprises a color filter, in which R, G, and B color filter elements are disposed in a checkerboard arrangement, and an imaging device which generates R, G, and B-signals corresponding to the color filter elements. In an interpolation process, the differences between a G-signal of an objective pixel and G-signals of pixels adjacent to the right, left, upper, and lower sides of the objective pixel are checked. For example, if the G-signal of the left side pixel is the closest to that of the objective pixel, a luminance value Y, a color difference signal Cb, and a modified luminance signal YG of the objective pixel are obtained using the R, G, and B-signals of the left side pixel. A B-signal of the objective pixel is obtained using the modified luminance value YG, and the color difference signal Cb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuaki Abe
  • Patent number: 6400403
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a color filter of a checkered pattern arranged in an all-pixel reading solid-state image sensor includes an original signal aperture compensation device for forming an original signal aperture compensation signal from all pixels of a color filter, a luminance signal aperture compensation device for forming a luminance signal aperture compensation signal from a luminance signal obtained by synthesizing the all pixels of the color filter, and a chrominance signal ratio detecting device for detecting an output ratio of chrominance signals. The original signal aperture compensation signal and the luminance signal aperture compensation signal are weighed in response to a detection output from the chrominance signal ratio detecting device. Thereafter, the weighed original signal aperture compensation signal and the weighed luminance signal aperture compensation signal are added to obtain an aperture compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6380973
    Abstract: An image in a field inputted by interlace scanning is delayed for a time period corresponding to one field, then, by comparing the delayed image signals and the not-delayed image signals of the image, a movement detecting unit determines whether the input image is a moving image or a still image and outputs a signal indicating the determined result. A selecting unit which includes an image combining unit combines the delayed image signals and the not-delayed image signals, and selects either the combined image signals or not-combined image signals on the basis of the detected result by the movement detecting unit. Accordingly, the image signals realizing a high quality image displayed on a multimedia device are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihiro Kawahara