Enhancement Control In Image Reproduction (e.g., Smoothing Or Sharpening Edges) Patents (Class 358/3.27)
  • Patent number: 8102570
    Abstract: A method of controlling a color image forming apparatus, the method including: reducing the C, M, and Y channels from the boundary area of the composite black text, thereby allowing only the K channel to be left on the outermost boundary of the composite black text; and compensating for the K channel by the density of the reduced C, M, and Y areas, so that image distortion generated at the boundary of the composite black text is compensated for, resulting in increased image quality of the printed image of the composite black text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Youn Shin
  • Patent number: 8103121
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating an image filter is described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first plurality of images captured by an at least one camera with a same setting as a first camera. The method further includes creating an averaged image from the plurality of captured images, wherein the averaged image comprises a measurement value of intensity for each pixel in the averaged image. The method also includes determining an image imperfection in the averaged image. The method further includes creating the image filter to reduce the image imperfection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Aseem Agarwala, Daniel R. Goldman, Sujit Kuthirummal
  • Patent number: 8098405
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a memory configured to store image data representing an image. The printing system comprises a processor configured to perform a first digital halftone process on a first portion of the image and a second digital halftone process on a second portion of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas Gene Keithley, Jay R. Shoen
  • Patent number: 8098949
    Abstract: An imaging system and method are presented for use in imaging with zoom. The system comprises a pixel detector array (PDA), an optical focusing arrangement, and a spatial filter configured and operable to selectively switch between at least two transmitting states. Distributions of an optical resolution of the optical focusing arrangement and of a geometrical resolution of the PDA define an aliasing window along an at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Xceed Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Zeev Zalevsky, Alex Zlotnik
  • Patent number: 8089639
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image acquisition portion that acquires image data on an image including a character. A character-periphery detector detects the peripheral part of the character in the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion. An outline emphasis portion sets the density of the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion, so that the density of the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector becomes higher than the density indicated by this image data. A density changer sets the density of the image data so that this density gradually becomes lower from the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector toward the inside thereof. An image former forms an image on a sheet of recording paper on the basis of the image data whose density is set by the outline emphasis portion and the density changer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kimakura
  • Patent number: 8089670
    Abstract: A method of forming a multidimensional upsampled table, which includes a plurality of upsampled contents and a plurality of upsampled columns and a plurality of upsampled rows, includes reading a multidimensional unsampled table having a plurality of unsampled content values. The multidimensional unsampled table has a plurality of unsampled columns and a plurality of unsampled rows. The multidimensional unsampled table is monotonic in the plurality of unsampled columns and is monotonic in the plurality of unsampled rows. The method further includes performing a Piecewise Cubic Hermite Interpolating Polynomial (PCHIP) interpolation to upsample the multidimensional unsampled table and to create the multidimensional upsampled table, and storing the multidimensional upsampled table. The PCHIP interpolation is independent of an order of interpolation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart Alan Schweid
  • Patent number: 8085442
    Abstract: In a method of producing a tiled print product, the print product is composed of a plurality of print substrates that are printed separately and are disposed adjacent to one another in at least one row. Each substrate is printed by means of a print process that creates a gloss gradient in a characteristic direction of production that is parallel to the row. The characteristic direction of production is inverted for every second substrate in the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelis A. De Waal
  • Patent number: 8086059
    Abstract: Sub-raster registration errors are compensated for through non-redundant overwriting. Data from adjacent rasters is written to a particular output raster so that the adjacent rasters share an influence at a point actually written to by a rendering device, thereby compensating for a sub-raster component of a registration error associated with writing to the particular point. If two writing passes per raster are used and the writing passes have equal influence (e.g., are written with equal power), then writing data from a first raster during a first pass and writing data from a second raster adjacent to the first raster during a second pass compensates for a sub-raster registration error of half a raster spacing. If two writing passes are associated with different influence (e.g., are written with ? and ? power respectively) and/or if additional writing passes are used, then addition sub-raster positions can be compensated for or emulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jess R. Gentner, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 8072648
    Abstract: The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model and stored, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for the printer 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. With the “true average” tone response curve, the “predicted tone response curve”, and the “average predicted tone response curve”, an estimate of the true tone response curve for the color channel can then be mathematically obtained, wherein the true tone response curve defines a predicted actual response for the printer for each addressable print location in the spatial range. The “predicted” and “average” tone response curves are obtained using the 2×2 binary printer model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vishal Monga, Shen-Ge Wang, Raja Bala
  • Patent number: 8073288
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for rendering a mask are disclosed. A method of rendering a mask may comprise: providing an initial mask design for a photolithographic process, the initial mask design including polygons; initially rendering the initial mask design as a coarse mask representation in a pixel based image calculation; identifying an overhang portion; and rendering the overhang portion using a set of subpixels whose artifacts from spatial-localization lie outside a practical resolution of a pseudo lens having a numerical aperture larger than that of a projection lens used in the photolithographic process; and updating the initial rendering based on the overhang portion rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Lavin, Maharaj Mukherjee, Alan E. Rosenbluth
  • Patent number: 8072644
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for stitching images printed by a multi-head printer in a manner that is relatively insensitive to misregistration of the image segments. When a pair of overlapping print heads print a pair of adjacent image segments which meet in a stitching region, printing at each location in the stitching region is accomplished by both print heads with a weighting that depends on the location being printed within the stitching region. In one embodiment, for example, the output of each print head is weighted by a linear function of horizontal pixel position. Techniques are also disclosed for selecting screening patterns for use when stitching is performed with variable-dot printers. Such screening patterns are selected to minimize variations in density that may arise as the result of cross-web and/or down-web misregistration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Zink Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Suhail S. Saquib, William T. Vetterling
  • Publication number: 20110292452
    Abstract: A method of adjusting line data is provided, where a dot pattern for one line is represented by dot data indicative of dot formation and blank data indicative of no dot formation. The method includes: determining whether X or more blank data are arranged consecutively, the X or more blank data including adjacent blank data adjacent to dot data on at least one side of the dot data, where X is an integer greater than or equal to one (X?1); and converting Y consecutive blank data including the adjacent blank data into dot data if it is determined that the X or more blank data are arranged consecutively in the determining step, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to X (X?Y?1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru FUJISHIRO
  • Patent number: 8068250
    Abstract: A system for enabling user interaction is disclosed. The system includes a printer for printing print data on a form. The print data is indicative of a plurality of marks. Each mark has a predetermined pattern common to all marks and coded data. The predetermined pattern includes a rotationally invariant pattern. A sensing device is also included for sensing the marks when moved relative to the form, for using the rotationally invariant pattern to correct for perspective distortion of the marks, for decoding the coded data of the marks, and for generating indicating data indicative of movement of the sensing device relative to the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8064086
    Abstract: A system for electronically capturing information is disclosed. The system includes a user input device movable by a user relative to a first interface surface provided on a first document. The first interface surface has visual information and coded data disposed thereon. The coded data encodes an identity of the first document and coordinates of a plurality of locations of the first interface surface. The user input device includes an image sensor for sensing at least some of the coded data and for generating movement data from the coordinates encoded in sensed coded data. The system further includes a computer system arranged to receive the movement data from the user input device and for generating print data in response to the movement data. The system also includes a printer for receiving the print data from the computer system and for printing a second document using the print data. The second document is printed with a second interface surface thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 8059915
    Abstract: A method of processing an image includes the steps of computing a plurality of line averages for a first image; identifying a set of pairs of line averages having high edge strengths; identifying a set of maximal pairs of line averages from among the set of line averages having high edge strength; expanding each of the maximal pairs of line averages into line stacks to form a set of line stacks; applying the set of line stacks to a second image so as to compute lines averages for the second image; shifting the line stacks to center the stacks on areas of highest edge strength and computing a distance between line stacks of the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Videosurf, Inc.
    Inventors: Eitan Sharon, Achiezer Brandt
  • Patent number: 8054506
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides enhancement of image quality. The image forming apparatus includes a window generating unit to generate a main window of a predetermined size using a Lines Per Inch (LPI) and an angle of a dithering mask, and to generate a plurality of subwindows within the generated main window, a determining unit to determine the presence of an edge area by applying the plurality of generated subwindows to a binary image and according to pixel values of the binary image that correspond to the subwindows, and a control unit to determine a dot size of a central reference pixel at the center of the main window, according to the presence and absence of the edge area. Because image quality is enhanced adaptively according to edge and smooth areas, print quality improves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-youn Shin
  • Patent number: 8055089
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for and method of restoring an image, by which when the focus of an image is blurred, an image can be restored using the characteristic of a lens. The apparatus includes: an estimation unit estimating field information and focus blur of an input signal, a weight applying unit applying a plurality of weights according to the optical characteristic of a lens to the input image, and a generation unit generating an output image using the input image to which the plurality of weights are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-wook Ok, Joo-young Kang, Seong-deok Lee, Hyun-hwa Oh, Kang-eui Lee
  • Publication number: 20110267655
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus to perform an edge intensifying processing of an image includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit. The obtaining unit obtains image data composed of pixels aligned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The calculating unit obtains an edge direction of an image and a variation amount indicating a magnitude of change in a luminance value. The setting unit sets an intensity of the edge intensifying processing. The processing unit performs the edge intensifying processing. In a case where the image data resolution in the sub-scanning direction is higher than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets the intensity of the edge intensifying processing to an amount that is higher when the edge direction is the sub-scanning direction than when the edge direction is the main scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Tetsuya Suwa, Fumihiro Goto, Yusuke Hashii, Masao Kato, Kentaro Yano
  • Patent number: 8041152
    Abstract: An image resolution increasing method include setting a first block which is included in a low resolution image and is located at a first position, and a second block which is included in a high resolution image and is located at a second position, and setting, as an increasing resolution block of the first block, a third block expressed by a second vector obtained by projecting a first vector representing the second block to a linear manifold as a set of vectors that indicate fourth blocks of the second block size, the fourth blocks becoming the first block due to reduced resolution, in a Euclidean space having, as the number of dimensions, a product of the number of pixels arranged vertically in the second block size and the number of pixels arranged horizontally in the second block size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasunori Taguchi, Takashi Ida, Toshimitsu Kaneko, Nobuyuki Matsumoto, Takeshi Mita, Hidenori Takeshima, Toshiyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 8041142
    Abstract: A method for reconstruction of an image function (r), which represents an object function (ƒ) of an object (1) imaged with periodically structured illumination, from optical section images (gc, gs), which are formed following convolution operations on the object function (ƒ) with a modified illumination point spread function (hI), comprises the steps of generating (S1) corrected optical section images (gc?, gs?), wherein predetermined filter operators are applied to the optical section images (gc, gs), said filter operators being the inverse of the convolution operations, and demodulation (S2) of the corrected optical section images (gc?, gs?) in order to generate the image function (r). In addition, an imaging method and an imaging apparatus are described, by means of which the aforementioned reconstruction method is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Imaging Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Schäfer, Dietwald Schuster
  • Patent number: 8040565
    Abstract: An image processing device including an image signal reception unit configured to receive an image signal of an image to be processed; a density reduction area detector configured to detect a density reduction area satisfying predetermined image density reduction requirements in the image to be processed based on the image signal; a specific image area detector configured to detect a specific image area satisfying predetermined specific image requirements different from the predetermined image density reduction requirements in the image to be processed based on the image signal; and a density controller configured to reduce density of the density reduction area detected by the density reduction area detector in a non-specific image area other than the specific image area detected by the specific image area detector, and to not reduce density of the density reduction area in the specific image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibaki, Noriko Miyagi
  • Patent number: 8040569
    Abstract: This invention allows printing an image with less image deterioration with respect to a document including both text and an image. An image processing apparatus includes a pixel value acquisition unit which acquires a pixel value of a pixel as a target in an input digital image, and a pixel value correction/modification processing unit which executes a correction/modification process based on the pixel value of the pixel acquired by the pixel value acquisition unit. The pixel value correction/modification processing unit includes a contrast correcting unit which executes contrast correction based on information representing a brightness value corresponding to the pixel value of the pixel, and an intermediate color removing unit which removes intermediate color in the digital image by replacing the pixel value of the pixel by pixel values of pixels around that pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Hashii, Fumihiro Goto, Masao Kato, Akitoshi Yamada, Tetsuya Suwa, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Arata Miyagi
  • Patent number: 8036480
    Abstract: An image processing system for restoring a resolution of a pixel-mixed image represented by a mixed-pixel signal which is acquired when a plurality of pixel signals in an image pickup device are mixed and are read out includes a shooting situation acquiring section, a restoration matrix generating section, and a restoration processing section. The shooting situation acquiring section acquires a shooting situation when the mixed-pixel signal is acquired. The restoration matrix generating section generates a pixel mixture restoration matrix based on the shooting situation acquired by the shooting situation acquiring section. The restoration processing section restores a resolution of the pixel-mixed image using the mixed-pixel signal and the pixel mixture restoration matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Yano
  • Patent number: 8035862
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a fax decoding/re-encoding system for transferring fax images between a sending fax machine and a receiving fax machine includes a decoder responsive to an encoded fax image defined by rows of scan lines. The decoder decodes the scan lines of the encoded fax image and generates run-length representation of the encoded fax image. A scanline manipulation device is responsive to the run-length representation for manipulating the same and generating a manipulated fax image without generating a bitmap of the encoded fax image. The fax decoding/re-encoding system further including a re-encoder responsive to the manipulated fax image and adaptive to generate a re-encoded fax image that is substantially the same as the encoded fax image, wherein the fax decoding/re-encoding system avoids the need for a bitmap for generating a re-encoded fax image thereby substantially reducing re-encoding time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Alexandrovich Gurevich
  • Patent number: 8036487
    Abstract: An image processing method, comprises: an input step of inputting a color digital image; a white balance correction step of correcting white balance of the inputted digital image; an exposure correction step of correcting exposure of the digital image having the corrected white balance; a determination step of determining a pixel in which an output pixel value is saturated without being corrected to be underexposed by the exposure correction, among respective pixels in the digital image having the corrected white balance; and a pixel value correction step of setting only the determined pixel to be saturated as a correction target pixel and correcting the pixel value of the correction target pixel to be more than or equal to the pixel value. Thereby, the color attachment with respect to the blown-out highlight portion can be prevented at the time of the desensitization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20110242610
    Abstract: An image processing system such as a multi-function device (MFD) with an “e-reader” mode is disclosed. The e-reader mode can be activated by a user from the MFD user interface, or automatically detected by the system if the mode is set to “auto.” Once in e-reader mode, the system automatically locates the area corresponding to the e-reader screen, crops it, de-skews it when necessary, and enhances the image. In addition, N-Up (printing several pages of content on one physical page) may be applied if users desire. The enhancement adjusts background color, boosts the contrast, and de-blurs the image when necessary. Two embodiments of enhancement are presented. The first one performs Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) adjustment and possible de-blurring on the entire screen area. The second one segments the screen area into three kinds of objects (text/picture/background). Different TRCs are applied to enhance the objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhigang Fan, Tonya L. Love
  • Patent number: 8031962
    Abstract: The disclosed implementations relate generally to improved workflows for color correcting digital images. In some implementations, a method of correcting images includes: presenting a user interface on a display device, the user interface including a display area; presenting a digital image in the display area; overlaying a correction interface on the digital image; and performing a correction operation on at least a portion of the digital image in response to a user interaction with the correction interface, where the correction operation is performed with real-time responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Pettigrew, Jean-Pierre Mouilleseaux, Dan Candela
  • Patent number: 8031975
    Abstract: Systems and methods image zooming with intensity preservation is disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of minimizing energy levels over a set of high-resolution image pixels of a high-resolution image via total variational filtering to obtain the high-resolution image from at least a portion of a low-resolution image; the low-resolution image having a first energy level, the high resolution image having a second energy level, and the first energy level to be substantially similar in value as the second energy level. One embodiment can include, determining a pixel value of a particular high-resolution image pixel based on the pixel values of a plurality of pixels of the at least a portion of the low-resolution image and the pixel values of the high-resolution image pixels not including the particular high-resolution image pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Digital Domain Productions, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Roble, Nafees Bin Zafar
  • Patent number: 8027066
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Hong Li, Joseph S. Czyszczewski, James T. Smith, II
  • Publication number: 20110228343
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an image data acquisition unit, a filter setting unit and a filtering processor are provided. The image data acquisition unit acquires pixel data of first image data of an erect image obtained by a line sensor comprising a plurality of light receiving elements. The erect image is formed by a plurality of gradient index lenses of a lens array. The filter setting unit sets sharpening filter coefficients of a filter to be applied to the pixel data of the first image data corresponding to the respective light receiving elements, according to remainder values obtained respectively by dividing positions of the light receiving elements on the line sensor by an interval of a lens arrangement of the lens array. The filtering processor generates second image data sharpened by applying the obtained sharpening filter coefficients to the respective pixel data of the first image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kenzo Isogawa, Yasunori Taguchi, Nao Mishima, Nobuyuki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110228344
    Abstract: An image processing method to cause a computer executing includes reading ideal image data including correction history information of a parameter for original image data and acquiring an ideal correction parameter, calculating an initial ink use amount when printing the ideal image data, calculating a relation between each correction value of the ideal correction parameter and the ink use amount on the basis of the initial ink use amount, calculating a proper correction value approximating a target ink use amount input by a user in the relation between each correction value of the ideal correction parameter and the ink use amount, and creating correction image data in which the ideal correction parameter of the ideal image data is set by the proper correction value and displaying the correction image data on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Takeo
  • Patent number: 8023763
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for enhancing an image by optimizing exposure and grayscale. The apparatus includes a component-extracting unit separating luminance signals and color signals from input image signals; a luminance-enhancing unit enhancing the luminance of the luminance signals; and a contrast-enhancing unit dividing the luminance signal having the enhanced luminance into one or more local areas, and enhancing the contrast of the luminance signal having the enhanced luminance for each local area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-hyun Kwon, Seong-deok Lee, Dae-su Chung, Won-hee Choe, Young-jin Yoo
  • Publication number: 20110222128
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a base value setting unit and a correction value calculating unit. The base value setting unit sets a base value of an image process condition on the basis of the area ratio of an image to be formed. The correction value calculating unit calculates a correction value obtained by correcting the base value set by the base value setting unit on the basis of at least the pattern of the image. The image is formed based on the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Yuji WADA
  • Publication number: 20110222127
    Abstract: An image processing system, apparatus and method are disclosed for corner enhancing a digital image for rendering on an image output device. According to one exemplary method, pixels associated with corner regions of the digital image are determined using a plurality of vector windows. Subsequently, one or more corner pixels are modified to sharpen the rendering of the digital image on the image output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Edgar A. Bernal
  • Patent number: 8018624
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Hong Li, Joseph S. Czyszczewski, James T. Smith, II
  • Patent number: 8014034
    Abstract: A method for contrast enhancement for digital images, including filtering an original image having original color values, to generate a first filtered image corresponding to bright color values, and a second filtered image corresponding to dark color values, deriving local highlight multipliers by applying a highlight response curve to the first filtered image, the highlight response curve being a function of color value that increases from a response value of one, corresponding to a color value of zero, to a response value greater than one, corresponding to a maximum color value, deriving local shadow multipliers by applying a shadow response curve to the second filtered image, the shadow response curve being a function of color value that decreases from a response value greater than one, corresponding to a color value of zero, to a response value of one, corresponding to a maximum color value, deriving local offset values by applying an offset curve to the first filtered image, and processing the original i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: ACD Systems International Inc.
    Inventor: David Sheldon Hooper
  • Patent number: 8014030
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a contour pixel extraction unit configured to extract a contour pixel component from a bit plane. The bit plane is a set of bits, the number of which is equal to the number of pixels, and each of which is 1 bit of a plurality of bits representing an intensity of each of pixels. Also provided is a connectedness detection unit configured to detect equivalent bits adjacent to each other in a window including a bit corresponding to a target pixel on the bit plane. Also provided is a filter unit configured to reduce an intensity of the target pixel by a reduction amount determined in accordance with the contour pixel component extracted by the contour pixel extraction unit and the equivalent bits adjacent to each other detected by the connectedness detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20110211231
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a formation unit configured to form marks for measurement of a positional deviation on a relatively moving object; an optical sensor having a detection region on the object, and configured to output a light receiving signal depending on existence of the marks within the detection region; a removing unit configured to perform a noise removing process, including a first noise removing process and a second noise removing process which use different removing methods for removing noises included in the light receiving signal so as to generate a noise removing result; and a measurement unit configured to measure a positional deviation amount of image formed by the formation unit, based on the noise removing result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro MURAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8009317
    Abstract: The present invention prevents necessary image data from deviating from a print medium and thereby executes a good printing operation without a loss of necessary image data. For this purpose, when performing a so-called marginless printing, in which ink is applied also to an area overrunning from the print medium to form an image without leaving a blank margin at edges of the print medium, the overrunning widths of the area are made adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouji Nagata
  • Patent number: 8005311
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a filter processing unit configured to perform filter processing that emphasizes high-frequency components of an input image, a value limit calculation unit configured to calculate value limits that define a range of pixel values for converting a gradation in the image using a result of the filter processing, a limitation unit configured to limit the filter-processed pixel values based on the value limits, and a conversion unit configured to convert the pixel values so that the image having pixel values limited by the limitation unit is adjusted to a converted gradation of different graduation level than the input image. An image processing method and program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8004722
    Abstract: A system for printing a second document by interacting with a first document. The system includes: a first document having visible textual information and first coded data; a handheld optically imaging sensor which generates indicating data indicative of the position of the sensor relative to the first document using sensed coded data; and a printer for printing the second document in response to interpretation of the indicating data by a computer system. The second printed document includes visible textual information and second coded data in the form of a plurality of tags, each tag defining unique coded data identifying the second document and a position of that tag on the second document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8000549
    Abstract: A digital image processing method is disclosed, which comprises the steps of: (A) capturing a digital image; (B) selecting at least a target pixel within the digital image according to a predetermined rule; (C) performing a first filtering on a graphic region including the target pixel and its neighboring pixels within the digital image, to generate a set of first filtered values; and (D) performing a second filtering on the set of first filtered values to generate a set of second filtered values, and performing a digital image adjustment process on the digital image according to the set of second filtered values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporation
    Inventors: Chuan-Hsin Lee, Tzu-Yi Chao, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 7999972
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to apply correction processing to image data having sharpness varying depending on an alignment direction of pixels. The image processing apparatus detects a feature quantity in an edge direction of the image data. The image processing apparatus sets an intensity of the correction processing based on correction intensity which is predetermined based on the sharpness varying depending on the alignment direction of the pixels, according to the detected feature quantity in the edge direction of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Tetsuya Suwa, Fumihiro Goto, Yusuke Hashii, Masao Kato, Kentaro Yano
  • Patent number: 7995243
    Abstract: The invention distinguishes not only character areas and halftone dot areas in an image, but also makes highly accurate decisions concerning characters present in halftone dot areas. A decision signal generating unit generates a decision signal having luminance as a main component from a signal indicating inputted image data, and supplies the decision signal to a character decision unit, a halftone dot decision unit, and a character-in-halftone dot decision unit. The character decision unit generates data indicating whether a pixel of interest is inside a character image area. The halftone dot decision unit generates data indicating whether a pixel of interest is inside a halftone dot area. The character-in-halftone dot decision unit generates data indicating whether there is a character image inside the halftone dot area. Based on these three signals, an attribute flag generating unit generates attribute data of the pixel of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sakaue
  • Patent number: 7991239
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses that provide improved row-wise digital correction in an imager. During image processing, row-wise noise is corrected by applying a fractional portion of a maximum digital correction to the pixels. The maximum digital correction is determined from light shielded reference pixels in each row. During imager calibration, a preferred digital correction fraction is determined and used for correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Novikov
  • Patent number: 7990579
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an acceptance section; an edge detection section; and a screen processing section, wherein the edge detection section includes: a first edge determination section that subjects a pixel of interest to edge determination by reference to information about a density of the pixel of interest and information about densities of pixels around the pixel of interest determined by an edge detection window; and a second edge determination section that compares minimum density information among the information about densities of pixels determined by the edge detection window with a predetermined background threshold value, and that redetermines the pixel of interest, which is determined to belong to an edge portion by the first edge determination section, as belonging to anon-edge portion in cases where the minimum density is equal to or greater than the background threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Misaizu, Kazuo Asano, Takeshi Saito, Kouta Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7986855
    Abstract: A block noise detector has a spatial difference calculator that calculates differences between values of adjacent pixels. A spatial difference comparator detects edges by comparing the calculated differences. Eight counters count edges detected at different groups of positions spaced eight pixels apart in each horizontal line. The maximum count and the group of positions at which it occurs are detected at the end of each horizontal line to detect block noise and the positions of the block boundaries. The block noise detector is small in size because it only has to count edges in one line at a time, and detects edges accurately by comparing the difference at a given position separately with differences to the left and differences to the right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Namiki, Akihiro Nagase, Hideki Yoshii, Shuichi Kagawa, Jun Someya, Hiroaki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7982928
    Abstract: A colour quality control device adapted for use in a system for colour correction of an image to be reproduced on at least one reproduction device that is calibrated by a reproduction forward transform. The system also comprises a colour correction device adapted to correct at least one colour in the image. The colour quality control device comprises a false contour detection unit that uses information from the reproduction forward transform to decide if a contour in the image is a false contour introduced by the transform. This facilitates the operator's work during colour correction. A system and a method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jürgen Stauder, Laurent Blondé, Philippe Robert
  • Patent number: 7983501
    Abstract: A method of filtering noise from a picture may include determining a set of pixel noise metrics for a set of selected pixels in the picture based solely on information from the set of selected pixels in the picture. The method may also designate as valid a subset of pixel noise metrics in the set of pixel noise metrics those associated pixels are not located at an edge or are not located in a complicated area of the picture. A set of block noise metrics may be calculated from the valid subset of pixel noise metrics, and a global noise metric for the picture may be ascertained from the set of block noise metrics. The picture may be filtered using the global noise metric to generate a filtered picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Yi-Jen Chiu
  • Patent number: 7983506
    Abstract: A method, medium and system processing an image signal. The system includes an edge detection module to detect a pixel belonging to an edge in an input image, a period determination module to determine a period of change in pixel values based on a first value of the pixel belonging to the edge and a second value of a pixel that is adjacent to the pixel belonging to the edge, and a signal correction module to correct one or more sub-pixels of the pixel belonging to the edge using a weight allocated according to a result of the determination performed by the period determination module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-hee Choe, Chang-yeong Kim, Du-sik Park