Gray Scale Transformation (e.g., Gamma Correction) Patents (Class 348/254)
  • Patent number: 7151566
    Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to provide an electronic camera which is able to precisely evaluate the type of a subject and perform an optimal gray-scale transformation on the image of the subject. The electronic camera comprises: an histogram creation unit for creating an intensity histogram of an image obtained with an image sensor; and a setting unit for setting a gray-scale transformation characteristic to be applied to the image according to the created intensity histogram. Using the created histogram makes it possible to precisely evaluate the type of the subject and set an optimal gray-scale transformation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Hattori, Hideo Hoshuyama
  • Patent number: 7151572
    Abstract: An information-processing device receives and processes predetermined program data. The information-processing device includes an extracting unit for extracting image data and audio data of a program selected by a user, an obtaining unit for obtaining information related to the selected program, and a setting unit for setting a control parameter for controlling an image data display or an audio data output of the selected program in accordance with the related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirahama, Shinichiro Miyazaki, Seigo Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 7145608
    Abstract: This specification discloses a method of using locality statistics characteristic to enhance gamma corrections. Using the property that the color values of nearby digital image pixels are close to one another, the cache queue operation model is employed to partly replace the time-consuming table mechanism in the gamma correction procedure. The disclosed method first establishes a cache queue and then captures digital image pixels. According to the extracted digital image pixels, gamma correction values are searched to satisfy the cache queue. Finally, the gamma correction values corresponding to the digital image pixels are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Lung Mao
  • Patent number: 7102696
    Abstract: A process of effecting various anti compensation processes on input image on a plasma display panel comprises the steps of a) performing a gamma (i.e., ? equal to 0.45) compensation process on a video signal received by the PDP with respect to a ?; b) dividing the video signal into at least two segments based on a gray level thereof; and c) performing a variety of anti compensation processes on the video signal in respective segment. A smaller ? is used in the anti compensation process with respect to the video signal in a range of low gray level for increasing the gray level in the range of low gray level. Similarly, a larger ? is used in the anti compensation process with respect to the video signal in a range of high gray level for increasing a gradient in the range of high gray level, thereby obtaining a sharp image contrast, improving image quality, and rendering an enhanced image brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Chunghwa Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiuh-Bin Kao, Liang-Kuei Hsu, Kuang-Lang Chen
  • Patent number: 7102669
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention involves a method for processing an image. A sensor output is provided. An automatic gain control of the sensor output is performed to generate a first output. An automatic white balance correction to the first output is performed to generate a second output. A gamma correction of the second output is performed to generate a third output. A color interpolation is performed to the third output to generate a fourth output. A low-pass spatial filtration of the fourth output is performed to generate a fifth output. A color saturation and correction of the fifth output is performed to generate a sixth output, and a high-pass spatial filtration of the sixth output is performed to generate an image output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Skow
  • Patent number: 7092625
    Abstract: A camera according to this invention determines whether a subject to be photographed is backlit; and when it is backlit, compares a brightness of the subject with a brightness of a background of the subject by emitting strobe light onto the subject; and changes an amount of correction by at least one of a gamma conversion processes and a contour emphasizing process based on a result of the comparison, thereby processing a subject image signal detected by an imaging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7088390
    Abstract: A digital camera which can change gradation properties comprises a CCD image pickup element 105 for photographing a subject, an exposure control mechanism 103 for controlling an exposure on the image pickup element 105, a digital processing circuit 108 including a gradation converting circuit for being capable of generating image signals having different gradation properties (gamma properties) based on the output signal from the image pickup element 105, and a system controller 112 including a selecting circuit for selecting one of the different gradation properties, which is used in the gradation converting circuit. In the digital camera, to suppress the change of a sensitivity (output level) due to the a change of the gradation property, the exposure control mechanism 103 changes a control target value to control the exposure in accordance with the selected gamma value so that the output level is maintained at constant in the average exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Mori, Hideaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7079702
    Abstract: An image condition is judged based on a mean value and a standard deviation of a feature quantity of an image, and image correction information in the image condition is created based on the mean value and the standard deviation, to thereby correct the image, based on the created image correction information. In this manner, parameters for the image correction processing are determined automatically and highly accurately corresponding to the feature quantity of the image, and the image correction processing is performed based on the parameters. Therefore, the image quality can be improved, while considerably reducing the labor of the operator who performs the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Kouichi Fujimura
  • Patent number: 7061529
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus in which a first signal converted linearly to the intensity of incident light, and a second signal converted logarithmically to the intensity of light, can be processed by a common circuit after undergoing a predetermined signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7061528
    Abstract: To provide a signal processing apparatus and an image pickup signal processing method both of which restrain a color signal from being influenced by band limitation in a color processing system, thereby enabling signal processing which produces an undegraded image, the processing of color-suppressing RGB signals or complementary color signals is performed between a color interpolation circuit and a color-difference matrix circuit. Otherwise, the processing of suppressing a color signal is performed in front of the color interpolation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Honma
  • Patent number: 7057653
    Abstract: Apparatus for image capturing has preview function for monitor-outputting an image before capturing image to be recorded, image processing section including band correcting section for controlling frequency characteristic of color data constituting image data, gamma correcting section for controlling gradation characteristic of image data, pixel interpolating section for interpolating pixels with unknown data of each color data constituting image data, and exposure control section for controlling exposure setting value. Capture image size, image data compression rate or subject image recording mode can be met before capturing an image. Controller is selected according to capture image size, image data compression rate or image recording mode set before capturing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kubo
  • Patent number: 7058238
    Abstract: A current frame portion (21) stores therein the most recent information of an image of those fingerprint images input from an inputted unit (1), while a previous frame portion (22) stores therein image information saved in the current frame portion (21). A pixel comparing portion (31) compares mutually corresponding pixel gray-level value information saved in the current frame portion (21) and the previous frame portion (22) respectively. A gray-level-value-changed pixels counting portion (32) counts the gray-level-value-increased pixels and the gray-level-value-decreased pixels based on the resultant information of that comparison of the pixel gray-level values. A pick-up timing deciding portion (33) utilizes the results obtained by the gray-level-value-changed pixels counting portion (32), to automatically detect a fingerprint image appropriate for matching in order to thus decide pick-up timing and also in order to output to an output unit (4) an appropriate fingerprint image based on the decision results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Huang Lei
  • Patent number: 7050099
    Abstract: Gray level data of boundary pixels that are adjacent to a block boundary in a photoelectric conversion section is stored. Then, a cumulative histogram regarding the number of pixels for different gray levels is produced based on the stored gray level data separately for each block, and a data table representing the correspondence between each gray level before correction and that after correction for the block to be corrected is produced so as to reduce the difference between the cumulative histograms. The data table is stored in a correction data RAM. By using the data table, the outputs of the block to be corrected are non-linearly corrected for different gray levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Takakura, Toshiya Fujii, Hiroyoshi Komobuchi, Yasuhiro Morinaka, Kazuyuki Inokuma
  • Patent number: 7046252
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Genesis Microchip Inc.
    Inventors: Hari Nair, Neha Agrawal, Saif Choudhary, Ashish Neema, Arun Johary
  • Patent number: 7038721
    Abstract: A gamma correction circuit for correcting a digital video signal, the circuit comprising first (6) and second (8) lookup tables for storing discrete output intensity data and the associated slope data of a non-linear transfer function, respectively, for each of the discrete input video signal intensities, an adder (10) having a first input connected to the output of the first lookup table, a multiplier (12) having a first input connected to the output of the second look-up table (8), characterized by a quantizer (4) for providing the most significant bits of the incoming video signal to address the first (6) and second (8) lookup tables and to transfer the corresponding output intensity data to the adder (10) and the associated slope data to the multiplier (12), the quantizer (4) transmitting the remaining least significant bits of the input video signal to the second input of the multiplier (12), the multiplier (12) multiplying the slope data with the remaining least significant bits and feeding the multipli
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Hubert Christoffel Jacobus Stessen, Andrea Maccato, Mitchell Oslick
  • Patent number: 7034878
    Abstract: A camera apparatus including a camera unit which acquires an image, a line-of-sight detection unit which detects a point of eye fixation of a user within a camera screen, and an importance computation unit which determines levels of importance for respective areas of the image acquired by the camera unit in accordance with the detection by the line-of-sight detection unit. Also included is a number-of-gray-scale-level determining unit which changes a number of gray scale levels for the respective areas of the image in response to the determination by the importance computation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7027090
    Abstract: In an image input apparatus having an image sensor that is composed of plural chips, the stepwise difference in density on a chip boundary is made inconspicuous by a limited amount of compensation memory. The image input apparatus obtains the stepwise differences in density between pixels that are positioned in adjacent places to adjoining chips of the image sensor and for plural lines, averages the differences, reads an image, and displays the same on a screen after compensating for the stepwise difference in density between the chips for each line by using the average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Takahashi, Fumio Fujimura
  • Patent number: 7027088
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a monotone conversion apparatus that it is provided with a picture acquisition unit for expressing a picture in picture elements in a dot matrix form and acquiring picture data representing each picture element in gradation of prescribed element colors into which an original color is separated. Further, a luminance distribution totaling unit is used for totaling the luminance equivalent of each picture element on the basis of the picture data, where a luminance correspondence setting unit is employed to derive a correspondence relationship of luminance conversion for converting the pertinent luminance distribution on the basis of the totaled luminance distribution. Further, present invention contains a picture data conversion unit which generates monotone picture data where the luminance of each picture element in the picture data is converted on the basis of the derived correspondence relationship of luminance conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kuwata, Yoshihiro Nakami
  • Patent number: 7023476
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for recording and displaying a time sequential scene on a computer (16). The digital camera (12) transmits a sequence of digital image frames to the timer (14) representative of the image of a body passing a plane in space. Each frame represents a line object (18) of the body, thus forming a fractional part of the scene. Once the frame reaches the image timer (14), it is digitally marked with a time reference (34) and buffered into a block of information. The main control computer (16) stores blocks of information from the image timer (14) for a variety of processing and features available to the user. The invention also provides a selected memory (36), preferably a virtual memory subsystem, or hard-disc drive. Preferred constructions for adjusting camera pixel processing of light values, time-marking the images, creating color palettes for interactive viewing of color images, and video data coding to accommodate the high volume of line image data are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Lynx System Developers, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Deangelis, Mike Ciholas, Kirk Sigel
  • Patent number: 7024036
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus substantially performs image processing on an image including first gray-scale conversion processing using a first gray-scale conversion curve. Then, the image processing apparatus performs second gray-scale conversion processing on the processed image using a second gray-scale conversion curve, and displays a composite gray-scale conversion curve combining the first and second gray-scale conversion curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shinbata
  • Patent number: 7006065
    Abstract: A driving method for a color liquid crystal display which drives the color liquid crystal display based on a video red signal, a video green signal and a video blue signal by independently applying a gamma compensation to a clamped video red signal, a clamped video green signal and a clamped video blue signal in gamma compensating circuits in order to make suitable to a red transmittance characteristic, a green transmittance characteristic and a blue transmittance characteristic. With this operation, it is possible to carry out an optimal gamma compensation suitable to a characteristic of the color liquid crystal display and to remove a gradation batter occurring in a specific color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Sugawara, Kouichi Koga
  • Patent number: 6999098
    Abstract: Graphics processing circuitry includes processing circuitry operative to generate pixel information in response to primitive information, and a correction circuit, coupled to the processing circuitry, operative to generate gamma corrected pixel information in response to the pixel information. The correction circuit converts the floating point pixel information generated by the processing circuitry into a gamma corrected fixed-point value so that gamma space pixel data is stored in the frame buffer. This fixed point gamma corrected pixel information, converted from the floating point pixel information, compensates for the non-linear display characteristics exhibited by current display devices. This results in the display output being more accurate; thereby, improving the appearance quality of the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Mark M. Leather
  • Patent number: 6995791
    Abstract: In performing automatic white balance of a digital image, a signal is obtained from an image sensor, which represents data corresponding to an image. A plurality of channels is obtained from the signal. A mean value for each of the plurality of channels is determined using a histogram. An average dynamic range is determined from the signal using a histogram. A difference or ratio between one or more of the mean values and the average dynamic range is determined, and that difference or ratio defines a white balance correction. The white balance of the image is then adjusted using the white balance correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Skow
  • Patent number: 6992713
    Abstract: There is shown an single chip CMOS device for capturing a video image. The device includes an APS imager containing an array of pixels for providing a signal representing a scene, a row of extended dynamic range sample and hold circuits for receiving a signal from the array of pixels and a row of linear sample and hold circuits for receiving another signal for said array of pixels. Also included is an image processor for determining a controllable function and for processing a plurality of signals received from the extended dynamic range sample and hold circuits and the linear sample and hold circuits according to said controllable function to form a processed video signal. Further included is a memory for storing the controllable function and the processed video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Nathaniel Joseph McCaffrey, Peter Ferdinand Zalud, Scott Thomas Smith, John Thomas Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 6985637
    Abstract: A method for deriving enhanced image processing parameters for a source digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a source digital image; b) generating at least three rendered digital images from the source digital image with at least one image processing parameter associated with each rendered digital image; c) displaying the rendered digital images on a display; d) selecting two or more of the rendered digital images; and e) using the image processing parameters associated with the rendered digital images to generate enhanced image processing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Edward B. Gindele
  • Patent number: 6970208
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to present a first portion of an output data stream in response to a first portion of an input data stream. The second circuit may be configured to present a second portion of the output data stream in response to a second portion of the input data stream. The apparatus may be configured to perform color and gamma correction on the input data stream to generate the output data stream in response to one or more control signals. In one example, the apparatus may comprise block move engine (BME).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Pether, Ivan M. DiPrima
  • Patent number: 6967679
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an imaging apparatus constructed as follows. The imaging apparatus picks-up a subject image formed by a imaging optical unit, and comprises an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a subject image, a memory for storing gamma property data of the image pickup device and light quantity distribution data of incident light in accordance with pixel positions on the image pickup device; and a correcting circuit for correcting image signals outputted from each pixel of the image pickup device based on the gamma property data and light quantity distribution data that are stored in the memory. Thereby, a drop in peripheral light quantity can be electrically corrected while reflecting the gamma property of the image pickup device without an increase in noise, whereby a high-quality image accurately reproducing the actual brightness distribution in a shooting range can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6965406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processor and an image processing method for compensating gradation by effectively avoiding drop of partial contrast through application to an image processor such as television receiver, video tape recorder, television camera and printer or the like. A domain to which an input image data belongs is judged, for example, with reference to the low frequency element r (i, j) of the pixel value x (i, j) and the signal level x (i, j) of the image data forming an input image VT is compensated on the basis of the result of judgment r(i, j).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ueda, Masami Ogata, Takashi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6943836
    Abstract: A digital-signal-processing circuit comprising an LUT memory used for storing a gamma-correction LUT used for carrying out gamma correction on an input digital video signal, and a front-stage signal-processing unit provided at a stage preceding the LUT memory and used for carrying signal processing, such as contrast adjustment, after the input digital video signal having a typical width of 8 bits is subjected to signal processing, such as contrast adjustment, in the signal-processing unit to be transformed into a digital video signal with a width of 11 bits. The 11-bit digital video signal is supplied to the LUT memory having an output bit count of 10 bits, which is smaller than the 11-bit width of the digital video signal supplied to the LUT memory but greater than the 8-bit width of the digital video signal input to the signal-processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 6944336
    Abstract: A fast gamma correction method for an image reading apparatus is proposed. The original intervals for normalized output data are combined to merged intervals fewer in number and the original color correction function is replaced by a fitting function in the merged intervals. For an input normalized data, the corresponding merged interval is found and a fitting function associated with the merged interval is invoked to find the corresponding normalized and corrected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Sean Chiu
  • Patent number: 6941031
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a transition model between input pixel samples from which output sample values are calculated based on various relative background and brightness conditions of the input pixel samples. A brightness condition is determined from the input sample values associated with the input pixel samples. A first transition model that preserves a constant luminance is used where the brightness condition is indicative of light isolated pixels and a second transition model that preserves a constant darkness is used where the brightness condition is indicative of dark isolated pixels. The resampling circuit may also use alternative models for other brightness conditions, such as for pixel transitions without any emphasis or alternating pixels. The resampling circuit may also perform modified operations for pixels arranged in a diagonal fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Slavin
  • Patent number: 6940556
    Abstract: An electronic still camera is provided with a photographic image capturing device that outputs image data by capturing a subject image passing through a taking lens, an analytic image capturing device provided at a position adjacent to the position that is conjugate with the photographic image capturing device relative to the taking lens that receives light forming the subject image and outputs image data for scene analysis, an analyzing circuit that performs scene analysis of the subject image based upon the image data for scene analysis output by the analytic image capturing device and an image processing circuit that performs image processing based upon the results of the scene analysis output by the analyzing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Michihiro Tamune
  • Patent number: 6917382
    Abstract: In a signal processing apparatus which can output a chroma signal of m bits into a chroma signal of n bits via an output apparatus, the chroma signal of m bits is gamma converted into a chroma signal of k bits, the gamma converted chroma signal of k bits is converted into a signal of k bits showing a brightness and a color tone, and the signal converted into the signal of k bits showing the brightness and color tone is converted into a signal of n bits showing a brightness and a color tone. Thus, a signal processing apparatus is provided in which color crush in a high luminance area of an image can be remarkably reduced, and white skip of the image and discoloration are remarkably improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6906747
    Abstract: The present invention performs gradation conversion linearly on an image signal when the image signal is darker than a preset value. Consequently, the dark region of the image is not distorted nonlinearly, and the gradations of shadows and hair can be reproduced in full richness. On the other hand, gradation conversion is performed nonlinearly on image signals if the image signal is brighter than a preset value. The nonlinear conversion in this case: (1) has a slope that effectively equalizes an average noise amplitude of the image signal without being based on the output gradation value, and (2) is offset so as to be continuous with the gradation conversion characteristic of the dark area gradation conversion unit. Through condition (1), the level-dependent noise in the bright region is equalized. Furthermore, through condition (2), gradation differences and gradation reversals do not occur at the boundary between the dark region and the bright region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Sadami Okada
  • Patent number: 6888122
    Abstract: A cascaded imaging storage system for a pixel is disclosed for improving intrascene dynamic range. Charges accumulated in a first capacitor spill over into a second capacitor when a charge storage capacity of the first capacitor is exceeded. A third capacitor may also be provided such that charges accumulated by said second capacitor spill over into the third capacitor when the charge storage capacity of the second capacitor is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • Patent number: 6850271
    Abstract: White balance correction amounts are read from a region in which white balance correction amounts are recorded in a region in which print information is recorded in a smart media. An overall white balance correction average value is computed. From the white balance correction average value, an AWB additional control amount which is to be additionally corrected at a digital still camera is computed. A current AWB additional control amount and the above AWB additional control amount are multiplied to determined a new AWB additional correction amount which is set in the camera. Similarly, a correction circuit, a ? conversion circuit, a YCrCb matrix circuit, and a contour correction circuit are set on the basis of a brightness correction amount, a gradation correction amount, a tint correction amount, and a contour correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6844881
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing gamma corrections to maintain a plurality of colors substantially consistent with a color point. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to generate correction functions for performing color correction for a device for signals of different color components in a color space includes: generating a first correction function for a first color component in the color space; and generating second correction functions for second color components in the color space by reducing first color differences between a target white point and white points of a plurality of grays corrected by the first and second correction functions. The second color components are the color components in the color space other than the first color component. The first color differences are minimized relative to a chromaticity diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Kok Chen, Gabriel G. Marcu
  • Publication number: 20040252240
    Abstract: A circuit, method and computer program product wherein a nonlinear signal outputted from a nonlinear circuit is nonlinearly processed in two steps using a main circuit and an assistant circuit. The main circuit performs a first relatively rough nonlinear process (main correction), and the assistant circuit performs fine a second adjustment (sub-correction) process on the nonlinearly-processed signal resulting from the first process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Mizusaki
  • Publication number: 20040239790
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus capable of realizing both improved operability and higher picture quality. In the case where a sports mode which is mainly selected when the subject is a moving subject is set, at the time of image capturing, by electrically connecting a first terminal and a second terminal of a switch to each other to set a state where a base current of a transistor does not flow, a substrate voltage is not switched. On the other hand, in the case where the normal image capturing mode is set which is mainly selected when the subject is stationary, the first terminal and a third terminal of the switch are electrically connected to each other, and a signal is supplied to the base side of the transistor through a resistor, thereby setting so that an emitter current of the transistor flows and switching the substrate voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Maeda, Ryuichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 6816155
    Abstract: The method of gradation correction of input image data to be displayed on an image display apparatus converts to logarithmic data first characteristic values which represent the display characteristics inherent in the image display apparatus and second characteristic values which represent the desired gradation to be eventually realized with the image display apparatus, respectively, and optionally interpolating both the logarithmic data, constructs a gradation correction table based on both the logarithmic data of the first characteristic values and the logarithmic data of the second characteristic values and performs gradation correction on the input image data to the image display apparatus using the gradation correction table. The image display system displays on the image display apparatus the thus corrected image data on which the gradation correction is performed by implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20040207736
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image-capturing element that captures a subject image and outputs image-capturing signals each corresponding to a pixel; and a control device that executes gradation correction on the image-capturing signals output by the image-capturing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 6806903
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus capable of performing a suitable illuminance nonuniformity correction by setting a suitable &ggr;-characteristic every block even in the case that the size of a character image projected on a sensing surface changes according to an image capturing magnification, and capable of extracting a boundary area between a white board portion and a background portion and applying a suitable image processing to this boundary area during the illuminance nonuniformity correction for a picked image, and capable of image capturing a representation such as characters drawn on a white board in such a manner that an obtained image is clear and easy to see by suitably performing an illuminance nonuniformity correction even in the case of color image capturing, and capable of detecting a regularly reflected light with high accuracy and can thereby securely prevent an error of obtaining an image of low quality by image capturing, and capable of preventing an error in flash-image capturing a representa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Okisu, Shinichi Fuji
  • Publication number: 20040201759
    Abstract: An image pick-up device for producing a synthesized image signal having a wide dynamic range by partially exchanging a plurality of image signals from a solid state image sensing element in an image synthesizing unit (41), said image signals being obtained by picking-up a subject moving on a bright background with different exposure amounts, including a synthetic unsuitable portion detecting unit (42, 44) for detecting a synthetic unsuitable portion by comparing said plurality of image signals picked-up with different exposure amounts, a synthetic unsuitable portion correcting unit (46, 48) for correcting a pixel signal of said synthesizing unsuitable portion to derived a corrected synthesized image signal, and a low pass filter (47) for combining said corrected synthesized image signal from said synthetic unsuitable portion correcting unit with said synthesized image signal from said image synthesizing unit to derive a corrected synthesized image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhito Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20040201728
    Abstract: A digital camera supplies raw pixel data in a raw data mode to a digital processor. In the digital processor, a white balance decision circuit determines a white balance gain as color temperature information. The digital processor outputs the image data and the white balance gain thus determined over data bus to an interface unit. The linear matrix coefficients, supplied from a system controller, are sent over the data bus to the interface unit, which interfaces the data in accordance with a recording format, according to which the three sorts of data are recorded in a storage unit responsive to a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20040196394
    Abstract: A gamma correction device performs gamma correction on an input signal from an image capturing element based on at least one correction curve having a predetermined input-output characteristic in an image capturing apparatus. The correction curve is composed of a logarithmic curve whose slope at the origin is 5.0 or less or a composite of a curve segment lying from the origin to a predetermined level of an input signal complying with the ITU-709 standard and a logarithmic curve segment lying above the predetermined level of the input signal, wherein both curve segments are continuously combined and have the same slope at the predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Fumio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6801179
    Abstract: A display driver for implementing an inversion flicker compensation method is disclosed. The inversion flicker compensation method is applicable to a liquid crystal display device that is operable to emit a luminous output in response to a reception of a voltage drive signal and a voltage reference signal. The display driver is operated in accordance with the method to provide the voltage drive signal to the liquid crystal display device in response to a reception of a voltage data signal having a data voltage level indicative of a gray level of a color component. The display driver includes a gamma lookup table for the voltage drive signal that lists a pair of drive voltage levels for the voltage drive signal that correspond to the gray level as indicated by the data voltage level of the voltage data signal. The drive voltage levels have opposing polarities relative to a reference voltage level of the voltage reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Sandeep M. Dalal
  • Publication number: 20040189818
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a photographing condition estimation unit for estimating a photographing condition of the input image based on photometric information and focal information. A Y/C separation unit separates the input image into a luminance signal and a color difference signal; a luminance correction unit extracts an edge from the luminance signal and corrects the luminance signal by a gradation conversion curve; a color difference correction unit corrects the color difference signal based on luminance signals obtained before and after the gradation correction and a theoretical limit characteristic of color reproduction; a skin color correction unit performs skin color correction depending on the photographing condition; and a Y/C synthesis unit synthesizes the luminance signal and the color difference signal obtained after the correction. Gradation correction is performed on the input image such that appropriate hue and saturation are achieved while emphasizing a main object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Tsuruoka, Kazuhito Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6791576
    Abstract: Gamma correction or other power functions are generated for correcting the light intensity for digital pixels. Two levels of mapping of segments are preformed to reduce the total number of segments for a given precision. The range of inputs is divided into successively smaller segments. Each segment is smaller than the next by a factor of 1/a for a first or primary level, or 1/b for a second level of segments. All inputs are mapped or scaled up to the input range of the largest segment in the primary level. Then the largest primary segment is further divided into several second-level segments, and the input is again mapped or scaled into the largest of the second-level segments. Gamma correction is performed on the input scaled into the largest second-level segment. A linear approximation within the largest second-level segment is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: NeoMagic Corp.
    Inventor: Tao Lin
  • Publication number: 20040174448
    Abstract: A gray-scale power supply line supplied to a source signal line driving circuit is made only one system, and each of D/A conversion circuits drives source signal lines in which three source signal lines corresponding to RGB are made a unit and the number of which is a multiple of 3. The periods in which respective source line selecting circuits select source signal lines corresponding to respective colors of the RGB are made synchronous with each other, and the power supply voltage applied to the gray-scale power supply line is changed in one horizontal writing period, so that power supply voltages corresponding to R, G and B are respectively applied to the gray-scale power supply line in periods while the source signal lines of R. G and B are respectively selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Munehiro Azami
  • Patent number: 6788306
    Abstract: A display apparatus is composed of a pseudo gray level data processor generating pseudo gray level data having m bits based on input gray level data having n bits. The pseudo gray level data processor includes a state variable generator generating a state variable data having n−m bits, based on lower n−m bits of the input gray level data, an adder calculating a sum of the lower n−m bits of the input gray level data and the state variable data to output a carry bit representative of carry-over of the sum, and a pseudo gray level data calculator generating the pseudo gray level data based on the input gray level data and the carry bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Machihiko Yamaguchi, Youji Hirano