Color Balance Or Temperature (e.g., White Balance) Patents (Class 348/655)
  • Patent number: 6862029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling color displayed on a color monitor. The method includes, in one embodiment, the steps of: activating a first color scheme on the monitor; responsive to the activating of the first color scheme, measuring a first color point of the monitor; storing the first color point within a memory associated with the monitor; activating a second color scheme on the monitor; responsive to the activating of the second color scheme, measuring a second color point of the monitor; storing the second color point within the memory associated with the monitor; activating a third color scheme on the monitor; responsive to the activating of the third color scheme, measuring a third color point of the monitor; and storing the third color point within the memory associated with the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Henry M. D'Souza, William H. Nott, Gokalp Bayramoglu
  • Patent number: 6822695
    Abstract: A surrounding light judging method and a video compensation control apparatus which are capable of securing an optimum quality of picture by detecting a color signal near a video displaying instrument, judging a lighting environment from the detected color signal, and automatically correcting a video data in accordance with the judged lighting environment and a variation in the lighting environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Lee, Ja Hwan Koo, Duk Kyu Choi, Kyu Ik Song, Ki Ryong Kwon, Sung Kyu Jeon, Byung Gon Kim
  • Publication number: 20040165001
    Abstract: A color temperature automatic adjusting device comprises a connecting device for inputting or output signals; a signal conversion device for converting into analog signals into digital signals; a central processing unit for programming fonts and formats of the data shown on the display device; a display control device for controlling frame size quality and illumination; a display control device for displaying image and message; a color temperature sensing device for sensing color temperature value and outputting the value; a calculator for operating the output data and outputting the data; and a signal connecting wire for connecting an output of the calculator to the connecting device Also, a color temperature automatic adjusting method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Jui-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 6774938
    Abstract: A white balance compensation method enabling highly accurate image white balance compensation is conducted by a white balance compensation system. Digital image data acquired by a data acquisition unit is sent to a mean value computing unit that effects a computation on color signals B, G and R which are n-th powers of incident light intensity to calculate mean values Bm, Gm and Rm thereof as: Bm=((&Sgr;Bp/n)/M)n/p Gm=((&Sgr;Gp/n)/M)n/p Rm=((&Sgr;Rp/n)/M)n/p where p is a coefficient of the power n falling in the range of 0.5≦p≦1.5, preferably in the range of 1.0≦p≦1.5. The mean values Bm, Gm and Rm are sent to a conversion means that converts the color signals so as to make two of the mean values other than a selected one coincide with the selected mean value, thereby enabling reproduction of a white-balance compensated image free of color failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6757010
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correlating color correction instruction between two color correcting devices are disclosed. The method includes performing a nulling test on a representation a first device has of a known standard and retaining the results of the test. A second color correcting device performs a nulling test on the same known standard and the results of this test are retained. From the results of these two tests a color correction instruction of one of the devices may be converted to a color correction instruction on the other device so that substantially the same color correction effect is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Fasciano
  • Patent number: 6744464
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for real-time testing of television picture colors. It can conduct real-time testing and adjusting of colors at various pixels to make tree and grass greener. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a chromatic-coordinate testing circuit and a chromatic-coordinate bias circuit for each set color and configuring them between the television signal output and the video-driving amplifier. The pixel identified by the chromatic-coordinate testing circuit is the pixel to be adjusted. The chromatic-coordinate bias circuit controls and changes the bias current or bias voltage output to the video-driving amplifier in color television sets so that the connected three-color electron gun produces color bias effects on the monitor screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: TCL King Electronics (Shenzen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaihua Huang
  • Patent number: 6710821
    Abstract: A white balance adjusting apparatus includes a test signal source 13 for generating a black signal for testing and a white signal for testing, a first impedance means 1 for converting currents flowing through three drive transistors for amplifying primary color R, G, B signals into voltages, a second impedance means 5 connected in parallel with the first impedance means, a switch 6 which is selectively closed to flow a current through the second impedance means, a reference voltage source 7 for generating a first reference voltage at the time of performing the cut-off adjustment and a second reference voltage at the time of performing the drive adjustment, a comparator 8 for comparing the levels between the reference voltages of the reference voltage sources and the output voltage converted by the first or second impedance means, and a microcomputer 75 which generates a control signal for adjusting the white balance on the basis of the output signal of the comparator and adjusts the DC level and the AC level
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Osawa, Takemi Beppu, Kenichi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20040032534
    Abstract: A dynamic white balance control circuit is provided which is capable of dynamically setting a white balance and/or a color temperature according to a level of an input image signal. The dynamic white balance control circuit has a color component detecting circuit to-detect a difference between a black and white image region and a colored image region in a video signal input to output a color component detected result, a selecting circuit to select and output a white balance setting value designating a different color temperature according to the color component detected result indicating the black and white image region or the colored image region, and a white balance control circuit to calibrate a white balance of a video image input according to a selected white balance setting value and to produce a video signal output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: NEC VIEWTECHNOLOGY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeru Fujino
  • Patent number: 6674489
    Abstract: In an image display which reproduces a color image by using lights color-separated into four or more colors through color filters, the objects of the invention are to effectively utilize the energy of light from a light source and to reduce the effect that a slight shift of the spectral transmittance characteristics of the color filters exerts on the spectral distributions of the lights after color separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kagawa, Hiroaki Sugiura, Kohei Teramoto, Shinsuke Shikama, Yoshiteru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6674465
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing image data including three complementary color components representing the three primary colors includes a distribution circuit for distributing the image data into first to third complementary color components. A multiplication circuit generates first to third products by multiplying the first and second complementary color components, the first and third complementary color components, and the second and third complementary color components. A square root circuit then calculates the square root of each of the three products. The calculated square roots represent the three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Nakakuki
  • Patent number: 6670987
    Abstract: In white balance adjustment adopting a feedback control technique, after white balance has been established at a certain color temperature, a lead-in limiting frame may be shifted following the establishment of the white balance, causing an incorrect operation to be carried out for a next change in color temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Taura
  • Patent number: 6671001
    Abstract: An offset level detection method for auto color gain control of analog video signals, which is used to find an optimal offset level for determining the input of the auto color gain control. The method includes at least the following steps: First, a lower limit of the min of analog video signals is determined. The position of the lower limit of the min is set as a first min. An upper limit of the min is searched backwards from the first min. The position of the upper limit of the min is set as a second min. Finally, the first min and the second min are averaged to obtain an optimal offset level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 6667775
    Abstract: A method of correcting color purity is provided for reducing differences in picture quality between film images and television receiver images by the video signals, thus enabling reproduction of picture quality that approximates images that are shown in a movie theater. When outputting signal levels of each of the color components of video signals, color mixing is performed in which the output signal level is the sum of products of all of the color component levels that have been received as input multiplied by coefficients. By setting these coefficients within the range −0.3 to 0.3, the influence from other colors can be limited to prevent excessive change from the colors of the original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Matsushita, Shigeru Fujino, Jimmie D. Songer
  • Patent number: 6664973
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a brightest luminance value of the pixels of the processing image and a darkest luminance value of the pixels of the processing image are detected. An improper white balance and a luminance gradation of the processing image are corrected. Moreover, a luminance distribution of the processing image is leveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Iwamoto, Koichi Fujimura
  • Patent number: 6653991
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a video signal in a video display device controls a magnitude of an RGB video signal by controlling RGB gain values based on RGB count values controlled through external key inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Dae Kim
  • Publication number: 20030214606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a white balance regulating device, including a cut-off value adjusting portion for adjusting and outputting a cut-off value of an analog image signal which is input as a first pattern; an A/D converter for converting the analog image signal, in which the cut-off value is adjusted, into a digital image signal; a detecting portion for detecting a least significant bit of each tristimulus value of the digital image signal; a controlling portion for upwardly regulating a level of a variable register of the cut-off value adjusting portion from a level corresponding to a preset first initial cut-off value until the least significant bit becomes different from the first initial cut-off value and setting the level of the variable register just before the least significant bit becomes different from the first initial cut-off value as a first cut-off value; and a storing portion for storing the first cut-off value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho-Woong Kang
  • Patent number: 6642957
    Abstract: A color signal processing circuit comprising an amplification circuit having three gains for amplifying a color signal of red, green and blue color signals and amplifying the red, green and blue color signals, the red, green and blue color signals being generated from an image signal taken by a solid-state imaging device by a color separation; a pull-in determination circuit for judging whether or not the color signal in a two dimensional coordinates for defining the color is positioned within a first pull-in limit region showing a color adjustment region and a second pull-in limit region defined in the first pull-in limit region and contained an origin of the two dimensional coordinates, and determinating the pull-in of a color shown by the color signal into a white color defined as the origin of the two dimensional coordinates; and a gain adjustment circuit for adjusting the gain of the amplification circuit, to thereby pull-in the color shown by the color signal determined the pull-in into the origin of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Taura
  • Patent number: 6639628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing color images are provided. The apparatus includes a color conversion unit for white-transforming signals in RGB space. The color conversion unit includes a first white-transforming means for white-transforming signals in RGB space to signals in a predetermined color space using N predetermined illuminant colors, and a second white-transforming means for white-transforming the signals in the predetermined color space to the signals in RGB space using M predetermined color temperatures of the display means, so that a natural color image or an image of a desirable color can be obtained without information with respect to the illuminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-deok Lee, Chang-Young Kim, Du-sik Park, Yang-seock Seo, Jeong-yeop Kim
  • Publication number: 20030189672
    Abstract: A blue stretch circuit of this invention has a first voltage detection circuit and a second voltage detection circuit, each of which detects that an amount of each of the first and the second color difference signals are within a predetermined range, a blue stretch control circuit which generates a control signal for blue stretching according to output signals of the voltage detection circuits and a level of a brightness signal and a B drive circuit to amplify a blue color signal according to an output signal of the blue stretch control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Keijiro Ueki
  • Publication number: 20030169374
    Abstract: A apparatus and apparatus for compensating for video insertion loss due to transmission over long twisted pair cable lines is presented. Transmission of video over twisted pair cable is advantageous because of its superior cost advantage over coaxial cable. However, twisted pair cables have significant loss characteristics at the higher frequencies (i.e., broadband) compared to coaxial cables. At a transmitter station, the video signal is amplified in the high frequency region for possible skin effect losses thereby brute forcing the high frequency components to the receiving station. At the receiver station, the video signal is further compensated for diffusion line and skin effect losses. The total skin effect compensation applied in both the transmitter and receiver stations is such that the square root of frequency characteristics of skin effect losses is compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Dean Cole, Manfred Schneider, Art Garcia, Mike A. Andrews
  • Patent number: 6583791
    Abstract: Apparatus for color correcting a display module is disclosed. The display module includes a plurality of light emitting elements such as LEDs. The LEDs typically include sources of nominally red, green and blue colors. The apparatus includes a device for activating a light emitting element to emit an uncorrected first color and a device for activating at least one further light emitting element which emits a color other than the first color, to produce a corrected first color. An array of corrected display modules and a method of correcting a color in a display module are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignees: Hybrid Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Persistent Vision Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Walter Henry Berryman, John McRae Badcock
  • Publication number: 20030107680
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for balance control for component video signals. The system and method of the present disclosure allow for adjusting or compensating for possible color encoding errors, as well as allowing individual viewer preferences to be accommodated, in consumer electronics devices, such as high definition monitors and other imaging devices and appliances. The system includes circuitry for receiving the U and V component video signals and outputting balance adjusted component color difference signals Uout and Vout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: William G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030103143
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling aging, cathode ray tube aging including a microcontroller generating brightness level data for aging of the cathode to a video input signal; a video preamplifier connected to the microcontroller receiving the brightness level data by the video input signal and mixing a host video signal to generate a video output signal wherein the brightness level of the video output signal being controlled by the microcontroller; a cutoff control coupled to the video preamplifier receiving brightness data of the video output signal and setting a proper brightness level of a cathode; and a voltage control not coupled to the microcontroller preset for a an initial brightness level of the cathode during aging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Shin Fujimori, Hiyouki Nakazono, Toshinori Hamada
  • Patent number: 6556254
    Abstract: In a black and white level stabilization device, an OSD signal generator (OSD-SG) generates black and white reference signals (OSD-R/G/B), amplifying circuits (VA-R/G/B) amplify the black and white reference signals (OSD-R/G/B) or RGB signals (Ri, Gi, Bi), and a measuring circuit (PNP-R/G/B, RM), coupled to the amplifying circuits (VA-R/G/B), measures a white level and a black level in response to the black and white reference signals (OSD-R/G/B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Augusto Palmero
  • Patent number: 6552751
    Abstract: A video signal processing circuit for making adjustments of a brightness, a contrast, a hue, and the like of a color video signal by a simple circuit construction. Input video signals which are supplied as 3-primary color signals or luminance and color difference signals are converted to the luminance and color difference signals or the 3-primary color signals and processed to effect adjustments of a picture displaying form, and the adjusted signals are inversely converted subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shigeta
  • Patent number: 6512340
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a temperature sensor with current mode output utilized within a cathode ray tube (CRT)-based display system for providing thermal protection to a CRT driver. Specifically, the current mode output temperature sensor of the present embodiment is implemented with the CRT driver of the CRT display system. Furthermore, the temperature sensor has a current sink output that is connected to an Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) circuit of the CRT display. The current sink of the temperature sensor operates in a manner similar to an “OR gate” with the CRT anode current. As such, when the CRT driver temperature rises above a threshold temperature, the current mode output temperature sensor sinks a current and activates the ABL circuit. As a result, the video amplitude of the CRT driver is reduced and its temperature is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hon Kin Chiu
  • Publication number: 20020149701
    Abstract: A detector circuit detects a voltage corresponding to the leakage current that flows through the cathode electrode of a color display during a vertical blanking period of a video signal. The voltage detected is held in a first sample-and-hold circuit. Meanwhile, a reference signal corresponding to the reference black level is input during a part of the vertical blanking period of the video signal. A voltage corresponding to the leakage current that flows through the cathode electrode of the color display during the part of the vertical blanking period is detected by the detector circuit and then held in a second sample-and-hold circuit. The voltage held in the first sample-and-hold is subtracted from the voltage held in the second sample-and-hold circuit. A comparator circuit compares the difference between these voltages with a reference voltage. The result of the comparison controls a cutoff adjustment circuit for adjusting a DC level of the video signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Reiji Tagomori, Kenji Hara, Hajime Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 6459436
    Abstract: When gamut mapping (hue restoration) defined by one Lab color space is applied in color matching under different reference white points, human vision perceives the hue as inconsistent. In view of this, input data which is dependent on a color space of an input device is converted by a first conversion LUT to color space data which is independent of any devices, based on a viewing condition at the time of viewing an input original. The device independent data is converted to data in the human color perception space by a forward converter, subjected to gamut mapping, and converted back to device independent data in the color space independent of any devices by an inverse converter, based on a viewing condition at the time of viewing an output original. Then, the device independent data is converted to output data in a color space which is dependent on an output device by a second conversion LUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kumada, Manabu Ohga
  • Patent number: 6433769
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a contrast control method and circuitry for setting and compensating the contrast of a liquid crystal display (LCD). The present invention has circuitry for generating a contrast voltage normally applied to a control pin. Normally the actual contrast of the LCD is a sensitive function of the difference between the applied contrast voltage and the display power supply voltage. The present invention generates a reference voltage that is adjustable and made to vary inversely with temperature. The contrast control circuitry uses a feedback loop to make the difference voltage between the display power supply voltage and the contrast voltage equal to twice the reference voltage. A contrast setting made using the circuitry of the present invention now becomes independent of the display power supply voltage and compensated for variations in the temperature of the LCD. A high gain amplification method for reducing error voltages and providing wide dynamic range is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Cato
  • Patent number: 6429905
    Abstract: An automatic white balance adjustment system including a color signal reproduction circuit having a white balance adjustment section, a picture tube drive circuit, a picture tube, a cathode voltage detection circuit, a storage circuit, and a control circuit. The cathode voltage detection circuit detects a cathode voltage applied to a red cathode electrode, a cathode voltage applied to a green cathode electrode, and a cathode voltage applied to a blue cathode electrode of the picture tube. In the storage circuit, there are stored in advance comparison reference values set for the RGB primary color signals in order to control the RGB primary color signals so as to achieve a white balance in a given ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020101516
    Abstract: A white balance control apparatus includes an evaluation value calculation circuit calculating and outputting evaluation values of color components of each of a plurality of regions of digital image data, a luminance conversion part converting the evaluation values of each of the regions into a luminance value, and a high-luminance weighting part converting the evaluation values of each of the regions into a base white balance control amount, calculating a non-weighted white balance control amount from the base white balance control amount and a weighted white balance control amount by performing weighting processing on the base white balance control amount by using the luminance value of each of the regions so that a region of higher luminance has a greater weight, and calculating a white balance control amount to be applied to the image data at a time of image recording by using the weighted and non-weighted white balance control amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Junichi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6411331
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a lens and a plurality of color filters adjacent the lens. An array of detectors such as CCDs each receive, through the lens and a corresponding one of the color filters, light reflected from a scene. Each detector outputs a signal representative of an amount of light it receives. Circuitry is connected to the array for processing the signals from the detectors and generating a set of digital image data including a chromaticity value and a luminance value of a plurality of pixels representing an uncorrected image of the scene. A control circuit maps a two-dimensional representation of the digital image data into a two-dimensional representation of a set of reference image data and adjusts selected ones of the values of the set of digital image data in accordance with a predetermined transform to white balance the uncorrected image of the scene and produce a modified set of digital image data representing a corrected image of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Cindy Y. Sansom-Wai, Kirt A. Winter, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 6392717
    Abstract: A display system using red, green, blue, and white light. The system derives data for the white portion of a color wheel or a white device from the red, green and blue data. The white portion of the color wheel is controlled as if it were another primary color on the wheel. Errors are prevented by a correction applied if the unfiltered light from the source has a different color temperature than the white light produced using the red, green and blue segments of the color wheel, or the devices for those colors. Analysis is performed on the data to determine if white light is necessary to be added to each frame of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Adam Kunzman
  • Patent number: 6373531
    Abstract: An image processor includes a determination unit which determines an adaptation ratio of a reference white color value with respect to at least two white color values. Also included are a calculation unit which calculates a reference white color value in accordance with the determined adaptation ratio, and a conversion unit which converts an image signal in accordance with the calculated reference white color value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumiko Hidaka, Toshiyuki Mizuno, Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
  • Publication number: 20020041332
    Abstract: In a color separation circuit of a single chip color camera, gain control means for controlling a gain for each of color filters is provided in a stage preceding correlated value detection means, and the correlated value detection means detects, on the basis of signals at all pixels in a block composed of M by N pixels around the pixel to be processed which is inputted through the gain control means, the direction in which there is a strong correlation out of a plurality of types of directions centered around the pixel to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Haruhiko Murata, Yukio Mori, Akihiro Maenaka
  • Patent number: 6343141
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting skin areas in video sequences is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to include a shape locator and a tone detector. The shape locator analyzes the input video sequences to identify the edges of all the objects in a video frame and determine whether such edges approximate the outline of a predetermined shape that is likely to contain a skin area. Once objects likely to contain skin areas are located by the shape locator, the tone detector examines the picture elements (pixels) of each located object to determine if such pixels have signal energies that are characteristic of skin areas. The tone detector then samples pixels that have signal energies which are characteristic of skin areas to determine a range of skin tones and compares the range of sampled skin tones with the tones in the entire frame to find all matching skin tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okada, Jonathan David Rosenberg
  • Publication number: 20020008762
    Abstract: When tone conversion processing and color correction processing is carried out on image data obtained by a digital camera, processed image data enabling reproduction of a high quality image can be obtained. A 3DLUT for carrying out the tone conversion processing and the color correction processing on the image data obtained by the digital camera is generated by image processing condition determining means. The image data are converted according to the 3DLUT by processing means, and subjected to sharpness processing to generate the processed image data. The processed image data are printed as a print by a printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Fumito Takemoto
  • Patent number: 6337695
    Abstract: A circuit for compensating a brightness level of a video display apparatus capable of simplifying a circuit configuration and reducing a cost of production by placing a brightness level compensation circuit for the video display apparatus is disclosed. Microprocessor memorizes a predetermined data for a brightness level compensation and outputs a data signal and a clock signal based on the data for the brightness level compensation. Video pre-amplifier receives a video signal and horizontal and vertical fly-back pulse signals from an outside and controls a contrast level and compensates a brightness level of the video signal in accordance with the data signal and the clock signal to output a compensated video signal. Accordingly, the design of the brightness level compensation circuit is simplified and the size of the printed circuit board is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Ho Bang
  • Patent number: 6330026
    Abstract: The present invention provides a color testing system for testing intensities of color output from a screen of a display device. The color testing system comprises a reading probe for reading color output from the screen of the display device, a display equipment, and a color analyzer connected to the reading probe for analyzing the intensities of the color output from the screen of the display device. When testing the display device, the color analyzer will display a screen graph and a cursor on the display equipment corresponding to a next testing area on the screen according to a predetermined test track. The screen graph and the cursor will direct an operator to move the reading probe on the screen of the display device so that the reading probe can properly read the color output of each testing area along the test track on the screen of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Acer Technologies Sdn. Bhd
    Inventor: Jacky Chan
  • Patent number: 6317153
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correlating color correction instruction between two color correcting devices are disclosed. The method includes performing a nulling test on a representation a first device has of a known standard and retaining the results of the test. A second color correcting device performs a nulling test on the same known standard and the results of this test are retained. From the results of these two tests a color correction instruction of one of the devices may be converted to a color correction instruction on the other device so that substantially the same color correction effect is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Fasciano
  • Publication number: 20010030694
    Abstract: a digital still camera with an image sensor exposes the image sensor to capture a series of still images. The signal processor generates a series of one frame worth of color image signals. The color temperature setter defines a standard color temperature corresponding to the illuminating-light, and defines at least one shifted color temperature, which is different relative to the standard color temperature by a given amount. The color balance adjuster that adjusts a relative color balance with respect to red, green and blue color signal components in each of the series of one frame worth of color image signals, in accordance with the standard color temperature and the shifted color temperature. At this time, the color balance adjuster adjusts the relative color balance, by changing the color temperature in each of the series of one frame worth of color image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Abe
  • Patent number: 6288756
    Abstract: A luminance correction circuit to correct areas of unevenness in luminance or color of a video image and smoothes gaps between correction blocks. The luminance correction circuit comprises a memory for storing correction data for correcting unevenness in luminance or color of video image, a timing generator for controlling read timing of the correction data from the memory, and an analog processor for processing the video signal using the correction data from the memory. A display area is divided to an appropriate number of blocks and the video signal is corrected in each block and the boundary between corrected blocks is smoothed by controlling the correction timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Shiota, Hiroshi Miyai
  • Patent number: 6285398
    Abstract: A CCD video camera is coupled to a host system. The CCD video camera captures image data representing elements in its field of view. The video camera does not include a digital signal processing circuit for processing the raw video data into the appropriate video format. The raw video data is processed and converted into the appropriate video format for display by the host computer system after it is received from the video camera. Necessary gain adjustments and control signals are calculated within the host computer and provided to the video camera or used during the digital signal processing of the video data to adjust the parameters of the data before the video images are displayed. A histogram is generated in order to continually monitor and adjust the exposure and gain of the system and thereby appropriately change the necessary control signals for optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Shinsky, Michael Yukelson, Leonid Milenky, Ken Carter
  • Publication number: 20010009438
    Abstract: The invention provides a technique of making color adjustment for a great number of colors among different imaging apparatus. In the process of making color adjustment among a plurality of cameras, a color correction processing unit disposed in a CCU of each camera detects data associated with lightness, hue, and saturation for a plurality of specified colors. The detected data is transmitted as color data to a CPU. According to the color data supplied from each CCU, the CPU divides the color space into a plurality of areas, and calculates setting data which is required by the color correction processing unit to correct the lightness, hue, and saturation. The resultant setting data is transmitted to the color correction processing unit. In actual use in a normal operation mode, the color correction processing unit corrects the lightness, hue, and saturation according to the procedure determined for each area in accordance with the setting data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: TAKU KIHARA, HIROSHI HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 6249323
    Abstract: In a white balance control, correction signals are added to input chrominance signals (Uin, Vin) to obtain output chrominance signals (Uout, Vout). Chrominance sum signals are derived from the input and output chrominance signals (Uin, Vin ; Uout, Vout) and reference chrominance signals (Uref, Vref). Exponential signals are derived from the chrominance sum signals, and the reference chrominance signals (Uref, Vref) are multiplied by the exponential signals to obtain the correction signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Victor H. J. Van Der Voort
  • Patent number: 6184940
    Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, a signal obtained through a long exposed signal and a shortly exposed signal are synthesized into a luminance signals, a color difference (CD) signal R−G and a CD signal B−G to yield a video signal. The shortly exposed signal has been modulated by one of four colors. The magnitude of each pixel value in the shortly exposed signal is multiplied by one of four gains (prepared for the four colors) associated with the modulation color. The magnitudes of colors, e.g., R and B are multiplied by first and second gains, respectively. The microcontroller provides, for each field, a long/short mode signal. In each field of the short mode, the controller finds the four gains such that at least one of averages of the first and second CD signals converges on a predetermined target value (e.g., 0). In each field of the long mode, the controller finds the first and second gains such that said at least one of said averages converges on the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sano
  • Patent number: 6181374
    Abstract: White balance control for a video camera is strongly influenced by remarkably change of brightness level, color of an object and photographing conditions. An automatic white balance control device according to the present invention for a video camera can control white balance by controlling timming of outputing control signals for controlling gains of amplifiers for control white balance and changing signal process of a picture image in accordance with a percentage of white color shared in the picture image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Yasuhiro Shinkai
  • Patent number: 6172719
    Abstract: An automatic color temperature control device for a video appliance is disclosed which can control the color temperature of a picture displayed on a screen so as to give the viewer the impression of being coolly refreshed when the environmental temperature is high, and the impression of being warmed when the environmental temperature is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Man Kim
  • Patent number: 6160593
    Abstract: An image signal processor generates color difference output signals from color component signals representative of image data. The image signal processor includes multiple color calculators that generate multiple sets of primary color signals from the color component signals. Multiple color difference calculators connected to the color calculators generate multiple sets of color difference signals using the respective sets of primary color signals. A synthesizing circuit combines the multiple sets of color difference signals using a predefined ratio to generate the color difference output signals. By generating multiple sets of signals, errors due to noise can be filtered and higher quality images produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Toshio Nakakuki
  • Patent number: 6115063
    Abstract: A color spectrum detecting apparatus is provided which can correctly detect whether an input signal is within a selected color spectrum from color information that are insensitive to luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kameyama