Abstract: A method and system for adaptively compensating for the printer MTF. The MTF compensation applied locally depends on the local mean: Several compensated High-pass images are computed for different mean values. Then locally, depending on the value of the low-pass band, one compensation high-pass value is selected for the final result.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining image quality are disclosed. A printing system and method is provided for maintaining image quality, comprising: initially establishing a plurality of image quality threshold standards; assigning an image quality threshold standard from the plurality of image quality threshold standards to an associated image critical job; comparing the assigned image quality threshold standard of each associated image critical job to a quality system check value; and, releasing and printing selected image critical jobs if the quality system check value is at least equal to the assigned image quality threshold standard.

Abstract: As set forth herein, methods and systems for automated image defect detection. An input image is subjected to skew detection and contaminant detection. Upon detection of skew of and/or contaminants in the image data, correction data, including indicia of the contaminants/skew, correction angles and directions are calculated and displayed on an electronic representation of the document. Automatic correction may then be performed to correct the detected defects, allow the defects to remain, or re-scan the original document to generate new image data without the detected defects.

Abstract: A printing device is provided with an imager to capture an output image of the paper after it is printed on. The output image is compared to an input image representing the image being printed to detect any artifacts in the output image and to determine the type of the artifacts. The types of the artifacts include effects caused by dirty drum, low or missing toner, dirty or wrinkled paper, etc. The printing device performs a responsive action based on the type of artifacts detected, including displaying a diagnostic message, stopping the printing, rejecting the sheet, re-printing, printing subsequent pages with a corrective action, etc. Further, another imager is provided to capture an image of the paper before it is printed on, and the image is analyzed to detect artifacts of the input paper, including dirty or wrinkled paper, wrong paper size, paper skew or misalignment, etc.

Abstract: A density detector detects a first density of a first pattern and a second density of a second pattern from a density-correction determination patch. A density-correction-value calculator calculates a density correction value from the first and the second densities. A noise-occurrence determination unit determines whether a target pixel is a noise generating pixel that causes a change of a local density due to a change in a relation with a nearby pixel. A density correction processor performs a density correction process on the target pixel by adding or subtracting the density correction value to or from the target pixel or the nearby pixel.

Abstract: A method of displaying a high dynamic range image, comprising receiving the high dynamic range image, calculating a first set of tone mapping parameters as a function of the high dynamic range image, sub-sampling the first set of tone mapping parameters at a first resolution to create a first sub-sampled parameter set, creating a first tone-mapped image by processing the high dynamic range image as a function of the first sub-sampled parameter set, and displaying the first tone-mapped image. A method of composting a plurality of versions of an image to create the high dynamic range image is also disclosed such that the compositing may be modified as a function of received user input.

Abstract: Since a less-than-one-pixel-basis correction and a one-pixel-basis correction are constantly performed on an image after halftoning, unevenness in density disadvantageously occur depending on a halftoning method. According to the halftoning method, whether the less-than-one-pixel-basis correction is performed on a continuous tone image or the one-pixel-basis correction is performed on a halftone image is switched. The one-pixel-basis correction is constantly performed on the halftone image.

Abstract: A laser projection display and a method of compensating for image distortion of the same stereoscopic liquid crystal display device having a touch panel and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Herein, the method includes displaying a picture including a red image, a green image, and a blue image, selecting one of the red image, the green image, and the blue image so as to perform pixel alignment of the picture, calculating pixel coordinate values x+dx and y+dy corresponding to the selected image (herein, x represents the x coordinate value prior to alignment, y represents the y coordinate value prior to alignment, dx represents a varied x coordinate value after alignment, and dy represents a varied y coordinate value after alignment), calculating distortion compensation coordinate values X? and Y? corresponding to the pixel coordinate values x+dx and y+dy, and mapping the distortion compensation values X? and Y?, thereby compensating for an image distortion occurring in the selected image.

Abstract: An unnatural color change which occurs when combining trapping and spatial filter processing is suppressed. When image data is input, it is determined whether to perform trapping at the position of the pixel of interest of the input image data, and trapping is performed for the input image data. In addition, spatial filter processing is performed for the pixel of interest of the input data, an output of the trapping and that of the filter processing are weighted, and image data to be output is calculated.

Abstract: According to this invention, the image attribute is determined by determining whether the image of each color component of color image data having undergone a screen process is a continuous tone image, and whether the image of each color component is a pattern image. Whether to perform an interpolation process is determined for each color component based on the attribute determination result of each color component. If it is determined that the images of all the color components are pattern images, interpolation determination results do not coincide with each other, and there is a color component determined to represent a continuous tone image, the interpolation determination result of this color component is overwritten with the interpolation determination result of the remaining color components. The interpolation process is executed in accordance with the interpolation determination result.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for analyzing, characterizing and/or rating the composition of images. Further embodiments of the present invention include methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for providing instructive feedback or automatic corrective actions, relating to the quality of the composition of an image, to a user of an imaging device (e.g. digital camera, camera phone, etc.)—Optionally while the user is preparing to acquire an image, i.e. in real time. Embodiments of the present invention may further include methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for extracting image composition related rules based on analysis of composition parameters of rated images.

Abstract: A method for exposing a printing form includes the following steps: A matrix having device-dependent image information is provided on a computer for supplying data to a printing form exposer. The matrix having device-dependent image information is transformed in a matrix manipulation device into a corrected matrix having device-dependent image information. A printing form is exposed in the printing form exposer with the image information in accordance with the corrected matrix. Here, a first part of the transformation rule for producing the corrected matrix in a first zone of the matrix is defined as a function of the area coverage of the first zone, and a second part of the transformation rule for producing the corrected matrix in a second zone of the matrix, which is different from the first zone, is defined as a function of the area coverage of the second zone, the area coverage in the first zone and the area coverage in the second zone being different from each other.

Abstract: An image processing method for removing a noise component contained in an original image, includes: separating an original image into a temporary noise-free image and a temporary noise component; extracting an edge component in the temporary noise-free image by executing edge detection on the temporary noise-free image; determining a fine edge component in the original image contained in the temporary noise component based upon a level of the extracted edge component; extracting an actual noise component by excluding the fine edge component from the temporary noise component; and removing noise from the original image based upon the extracted actual noise component.

Abstract: PSF coding has become well known in recent years. Although it enables significant increases in the depth of field, defocus introduces artifacts in images that are a major detraction from the final image quality. A method is described that enables the deduction or defocus and consequently the removal of these artifacts. The principle of the disclosed techniques involves iteratively adjusting the restoration algorithm according to a chosen image or artifact metric and choosing the defocus parameter that yields the image the lowest level of artifact.

Abstract: A print controller controls a print process in which black ink having permeability to a recording medium and chromatic color ink having permeability to the recording medium different from the permeability of the black ink are used to form an image on the recording medium. The subject pixel setting unit sets, as a subject pixel, one pixel that satisfies a first condition that the pixel is a black pixel, a second condition that a plurality of peripheral pixels that are located adjacent to the pixel and that surround the pixel include at least one chromatic pixel, and a third condition that gradation level of black changes discontinuously between the pixel and at least one of the at least one chromatic pixel. The bleed suppressing unit executes a bleed suppression process to a set of pixel data corresponding to the subject pixel to suppress bleeding of the black ink on the recording medium.

Abstract: Method of computing a convex hull in a predetermined color space, comprising determining a print attribute value range pertaining to a reference print attribute value, selecting base NP (Neugebauer Primary) area coverages, comprising area coverages of single NPs and combined NPs, having print attribute values in the print attribute value range, printing and measuring patches corresponding to the base NP area coverages, computing linear combinations of the base NP area coverages, and assigning one of the base NP area coverage or the linear combination of base NP area coverages to the corresponding color, depending on which is closest to the reference print attribute value.

Abstract: Methods, software, circuits and apparatuses for detecting a malfunction in an imaging device. The methods generally comprise orienting an image at an angle on an image detecting device; detecting the image; determining an error in the image; and correlating the error to a malfunction in the imaging device. Software instructions can be adapted to determine an orientation angle of an image; analyze the image to detect an error; and calculate a location of a malfunction in the imaging device. The circuits generally include a memory element; logic configured to calculate the orientation of an image; a processor configured to analyze the image and locate a fault; and logic configured to determine a location of the fault in the image and correlate the fault to a malfunction in an imaging device. The present invention advantageously provides a lower cost technique for detecting a malfunction in a high resolution imaging device.

Abstract: An image generation method for generating image information of an image C by using an image A and an image B having a resolution higher than that of image A. Image C having the same resolution as image B is generated by enlarging image A; presence or absence of a point in image B corresponding to each pixel position of image C and the position of the relevant corresponding point are estimated; and to each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated that there is a corresponding point, image information of the corresponding position in image B is assigned. It is possible to generate image information at each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated in the corresponding point estimation that there is no corresponding point, by using the image information assigned according to an estimation result that there is a corresponding point.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. A color profile is generated for each image area. The partition and the multiple color profiles are stored in the printer. In an actual printing process, the page of image to be printed is divided into a plurality of image areas based on the paper size and the stored partition, and the respective stored color profiles for the image areas are retrieved and used to process the digital image for printing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio for satellite sensor data or signals, such as hyperspectral imageries (also referred to as datacubes due to their 3-dimensional nature). This is done by reducing the noise in the data or signals by first elevating the noise level temporarily for effective denoising. The denoising process is then performed in this condition and the noise level is then reversibly de-elevated after denoising. The denoising process comprises noise removal in both the spectral and the spatial domains. Once the denoising process is complete, the data is converted back from the spectral and spatial domains. Since this reconstruction process introduces errors, these errors are compensated for using the components from both the original data and denoised data filtered by the low pass filters.

Abstract: An image generation method for generating image information of an image C by using an image A and an image B having a bit depth higher than that of image A. Image C having the same bit depth as image B is generated by increasing the bit depth of image A by means of tone mapping; presence or absence of a point in image B corresponding to each pixel position of image C and the position of the relevant corresponding point are estimated; and to each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated that there is a corresponding point, image information of the corresponding position in image B is assigned. It is possible to generate image information at each pixel position in image C for which it is estimated in the corresponding point estimation that there is no corresponding point, by using the image information assigned according to an estimation result that there is a corresponding point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting roller eccentricity in a CIS scanner is disclosed. An image of a target is captured using the CIS scanner. The image of the target is analyzed for periodic horizontal banding. The period of the periodic horizontal banding is compared with the circumference of a pressure roller in the CIS scanner. When the period matches with the circumference of the pressure roller, an error is set.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus performs first filter processing to combine pixels of an image along a predetermined direction. A line noise image is extracted by executing second filter processing for the processed image along a direction different from the predetermined direction. The extracted line noise image is subtracted from the image to acquire a line noise reduced image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image restoring apparatus and a method thereof, which sets a restoration image area to establish a portion of a target image area to be restored as a restoration image area to be restored with priority according to a request for an image restoration; sets a search area to establish an area with a predetermined size including the restoration image area as a search area; detects a similar image area to search for the most similar image area to the restoration image area within the search area; and reconstructs the deteriorated image in a natural manner by copying the image of the detected similar image area and attaching the same to the restoration image area.

Abstract: An image scanning unit includes a translucent member, a transport unit, and a scan device. The translucent member has a flat face on which a document is contactingly transported by the transport unit while contacting the document against the translucent member. The scan device scans image information of the document transported by the transport unit at a scan position, and is fixedly disposed on a side of the translucent member opposite a side on which the document contacts the flat face of the translucent member. The translucent member includes a convex portion to lift the document transported by the transport unit from the flat face of the translucent member. The scan device scans the document at the scan position when the document transported by the transport unit passes over the convex portion and is still lifted from the flat face of the translucent member by the convex portion.

Abstract: Methods and a processing device are provided for restoring pixels damaged by artifacts caused by dust, or other particles, entering a digital image capturing device. A user interface may be provided for a user to indicate an approximate location of an artifact appearing in a digital image. Dust attenuation may be estimated and an inverse transformation, based on the estimated dust attenuation, may be applied to damaged pixels in order to recover an estimate of the underlying digital image. One or many candidate source patch may be selected based on having smallest pixel distances, with respect to a target patch area. The damaged pixels included in the target patch area may be considered when calculating the pixel distance with respect to candidate source patches. RGB values of corresponding pixels of source patches may be used to restore the damaged pixels included in the target patch area.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by a sensor; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; determining aperiodic components of the coherent signal by the processor; determining the periodic component of the coherent signal using spline interpolation, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile, by the processor; and printing an output print with a correction applied based on the banding profile.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for estimating a banding profile in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining image data across multiple measurement intervals by one or more sensors; combining the image data with timing information into a coherent signal by a processor; estimating periodic and aperiodic components of the coherent signal using least squares estimation by the processor, wherein the periodic component represents a banding profile; and wherein at least the periodic component is used to generate an output.

Abstract: A device for removing mosquito noise and associated method is provided to adaptively determine a proper strength for removing the mosquito noise according to image complexities, thereby removing the noise while maintaining the quality of image details. The device includes a buffer, a lookup table, and a strength determining unit. The buffer stores a pixel matrix having a target pixel. The lookup table stores a plurality of coefficients. The strength determining unit, coupled to the buffer and the lookup table, detects the image complexities of the pixel matrix and looks up the lookup table according to the image complexities of the pixel matrix, so as to output a strength coefficient for removing the mosquito noise.

Abstract: A halftone screen is modified to reduce harmonic artifacts. Artifacts are modeled from the screen in a frequency domain. Threshold values in the screen are modified to reduce amplitude of at least some of the modeled artifacts.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an image reading apparatus. In the apparatus, reading an original by irradiating it with light of three primary colors, respectively, and by receiving the reflected light is performed as follows. More specifically, an operation mode is designated, and conditions used to perform image reading are set in accordance with the designated mode. Under the set conditions, the image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original sequentially with beams of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Alternatively, under the set conditions, image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original simultaneously with beams of two primary colors in each of three different combinations of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Instead, image reading is executed twice according to these two methods.

Abstract: A document administration system includes a server connecting document storing apparatuses via a network. Each document storing apparatus includes a plurality of boxes, and a document storing portion for making the document storing apparatus store a document in one of the boxes. The server includes a storing destination deciding portion for deciding one of the document storing apparatuses and one of the boxes thereof for storing the document, based on one or more of information including information on the document corresponding to the storing request, information on the document storing apparatuses registered in a document storing registering portion, and information on the boxes obtained by a box information obtaining portion, and a controller for transmitting the document to the document storing apparatuses having the one of the boxes selected by the storing destination deciding portion and making the document storing portion store the document in the one of the boxes.

Abstract: This disclosure provides printing methods, systems and apparatus to compensate for distortions by fusing toner applied to a media substrate. According to one exemplary method, image data is processed according to media characterization data for a toner density value associated with the image. The processed image data compensates for media substrate distortions due to fusing of a printed image on the media substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for image processing are disclosed, each of which obtains a mark from image data, detects additional information in the mark, determines whether the mark is detected in the mark to generate a determination result, and controls processing performed by an image processing apparatus with respect to the image data based on the determination result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for compensating for spatial non-uniformities in a printer by deriving a true spatial non-uniformity tone response curve (TRC) that characterizes the printer in terms of color output variation for each addressable pixel location in a spatial range. The “true average” tone response curve is determined for a color channel. A prediction of the true response as a function of the spatial location is derived by printing and scanning a specially designed halftone-independent target of binary patterns. The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for each addressable pixel location in the spatial range. Also stored is an “average predicted tone response” by averaging the “predicted tone response curve” over the spatial range of the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus that is capable of effectively generating a high-resolution image with high image quality from multiple low-resolution images having displacements by an iterative reconstruction processing based on a reconstruction-based super-resolution processing method.

Abstract: Techniques and technologies for de-hazing hazy images are described. Some techniques provide for determining the effects of the haze and removing the same from an image to recover a de-hazed image. Thus, the de-hazed image does not contain the effects of the haze. Some disclosed technologies allow for similar results. This document also discloses systems and methods for de-hazing images. Some of the disclosed de-hazing systems include an image capture device for capturing the hazy image and a processor for removing the effects of the haze from the hazy image. These systems store the recovered, de-hazed images in a memory and/or display the de-hazed images on a display. Some of the disclosed methods include removing the effects of the haze from a hazy image and outputting the recovered, de-hazed image.

Abstract: An image processing system includes: an image input unit which reads an image printed on a medium and generates electronic data representing the image; and a processing unit which corrects the image represented by the electronic data. The processing unit implements the functions of: detecting, from the image represented by the electronic data, a first pattern having a first size and shape that is attached to the image; measuring a degree of degradation by measuring an amount of displacement of the size of the detected first pattern from the first size; and correcting the image represented by the electronic data to reduce the degree of degradation.

Abstract: An image processing method generally includes: obtaining a vanishing point on a curved surface in a two-dimension image; extracting all the straight line segments between a top contour line and a bottom contour line of the curved surface by the vanishing point; removing a perspective distortion to get parallel straight line segments; obtaining the lengths of the straight line segments, obtaining the true width of each of the straight line segments in a three-dimension space and the depth increment of the straight line segments according to the lengths; obtaining the expanded width of each straight line segment according to the true width and the depth increment; obtaining the total expanded width of the curved surface to transform it into a flat surface; transforming image contents on the curved surface onto the flat surface.

Abstract: Provided are a noise reduction apparatus having an edge enhancement function and a method thereof, in which edges in an input image can be prevented from being blurred when reducing noise in the input image and a clear output image can be obtained by reducing edge discontinuities. The noise reduction apparatus includes a window setting module which sets a portion of an input image as a window, an edge-information detection module which detects edge information regarding the window, an image processing module which performs an image processing operation on the window, and an output-image generation module which generates an output image by reflecting the edge information into one or more windows obtained by the image processing operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing a low resolution image by performing a high resolution edge segment extraction on the low resolution image; performing an image super resolution on each edge segment; performing reconstruction constraint reinforcement; and generating a high quality image from the low quality image.

Abstract: A 2-pixel averaging unit (101) halves an input image in the subscanning direction, and a multi-level error diffusion unit (102) performs multi-level error diffusion processing. A 2-pixel reconstruction unit (103) replaces each pixel with two pixels adjacent in the subscanning direction. A density value exchange unit (104) exchanges pixel values adjacent in the subscanning direction in each of 2×2 pixel blocks arranged in a checkered pattern in the image after replacement. High-density blocks each serving as a set of high-density dots and low-density blocks each serving as a set of low-density dots can be generated as 2×2 pixel blocks. The exposure region can be concentrated in PWM conversion.

Abstract: A test pattern containing plurality of patches recorded using small dot patterns and large dot patterns is printed. The dot sizes arranged in the patches are different between patches. Then the test patterns are read. The detection rate and average density of additional information embedded in each large dot pattern are obtained. A large dot pattern whose detection rate and average density fall within a reference range and are closest to ideal values is determined. The average density of each small dot pattern is obtained. A small dot pattern whose average density falls within a reference range and is closest to the average density of the determined large dot pattern is determined. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated using these dot patterns and combined with a print target image.

Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for detecting and correcting for In-Line-Spectrophotometer (ILS) measurements of constant value patches in the presence of banding in multi-function document reproduction systems. The present system analyzes the ILS data stream to identify structured noise components due to banding. An FFT is performed on each L*a*b* component in the ILS stream for a single test page. The peak frequencies from the FFT of the L* a* and b* channels are compared. Common frequencies in all 3 channels indicate a banding component. Once the banding frequencies and the banding wavelength are known, the color patch target can be adjusted to ensure the color patches are synchronized to the banding wavelength. By running a series of synchronized patches and averaging results, structured noise can be eliminated. In such a manner, a reduction of banding effects on color calibration can be effectuated.

Abstract: A method for performing binary image reduction on binary image data includes receiving binary input image data; determining a conversion factor to scale (i) an input resolution to an output resolution and/or (ii) an input size to an output size; applying the conversion factor to the input image data to obtain intermediate data, where each intermediate data corresponds to at least one input pixel and at least a portion of another input pixel; obtaining a binary output image data comprising a plurality of output pixels by thresholding the corresponding intermediate data; determining an error value for each output pixel, the error value is a non-integer value obtained as a result of thresholding the intermediate data corresponding to the output pixel; and propagating the obtained error value to an adjacent output pixel in a scanline, where the output image data is scaled to the output resolution and/or the output size.

Abstract: An example hard imaging device includes an interface to access image data corresponding to images to be formed using the hard imaging device. The example hard imaging device further includes processing circuitry in communication with the interface to access the image data, to access correction data corresponding to a geometric distortion of a scan lens of an optical scanning system of the hard imaging device, and to modify the image data according to the correction data to reduce image errors introduced during optical scanning of the image data using the optical scanning system.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a built-in hard disk drive configured to operate as a mass storage device. The printing apparatus includes an HDD control unit configured to store print image data into the hard disk drive; a secondary storage unit configured to store the print image data; an HDD state detection unit configured to detect a state of the hard disk drive; and a storage method changing unit configured to change a storage method of the print image data based on the state of the hard disk drive detected by the HDD state detection unit.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing variations in components or subsystems in an image printing system is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of image quality defects printed by the image printing system by a controller, said image quality defects each occurring with an associated frequency and each being associated with a component or subsystem of the image printing system; determining a phase difference of the image quality defects by the controller; and adjusting operation of each component or subsystem associated with the image quality defects, such that image quality defects are in phase.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording section that stores an image to be processed and a past image corresponding to the image to be processed, a pixel extraction section that extracts a first predetermined region including a target pixel in the image to be processed and a second predetermined region of the past image corresponding to the target pixel, a noise amount estimation section that estimates an amount of noise corresponding to the target pixel, a similitude calculating section that calculates a first similitude between the target pixel in the first predetermined region and pixels peripheral thereto and a second similitude between the target pixel in the first predetermined region and a pixel in the second predetermined region, a similitude feature value calculating section that calculates a feature value according to the similitude, a similitude correcting section that corrects the similitude based on the feature value, a filter coefficient calculating