Color Image Processing Patents (Class 382/162)
  • Patent number: 8787653
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for determining an orientation direction of a color edge at a given pixel location in a binary color image. The orientation direction of the color edge is determined from eight pixel counts with each pixel count being a total number of pixels in each of eight regions of a window centered about a candidate pixel which resides along the color edge. The eight regions are associated with 8 compass points. The orientation of the edge is determined by a 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier control bits which are based upon the pixel counts of each region. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier control bits collectively form a 3-bit word. The 3-bit word defines the orientation direction. The teachings hereof provide an efficient way of performing binary edge orientation detection by making uses of intermediate results to simultaneously encode the edge orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Li, Meng Yao, Barbara L. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20140198981
    Abstract: Embodiments of a processing systems and methods can unbend an image of facing pages of a bound book. An exemplary processing system can comprise an edge-detection unit, a keystone-correction unit, a flattening unit, and a conversion unit. After an image is received by the processing system, the image can be processed in turn by each unit. The edge-detection unit can identify edges of a document in the image. The keystone-correction unit can reduce or remove keystoning in the image, thereby correcting horizontal distortion of the document. The flattening unit can flatten or straighten text or objects in the image, thereby correcting vertical distortion of the document. The conversion unit can convert the image to a desired color profile. Accordingly, the processing system can process an original image into a more easily readable and digitally manipulable image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: POLYVISION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott E. Wilson, Peter W. Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 8781219
    Abstract: An improved method of high accuracy beam placement for local area navigation in the field of semiconductor chip manufacturing. Preferred embodiments of the present invention can also be used to rapidly navigate to one single bit cell in a memory array or similar structure, for example to characterize or correct a defect in that individual bit cell. High-resolution scanning is used to scan only a “strip” of cells on the one edge of the array (along either the X axis and the Y axis) to locate a row containing the desired cell followed by a similar high-speed scan along the located row (in the remaining direction) until the desired cell location is reached. This allows pattern-recognition tools to be used to automatically “count” the cells necessary to navigate to the desired cell, without the large expenditure of time required to image the entire array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Reinier Louis Warschauer, Richard J. Young, Chad Rue, Peter D. Carleson
  • Patent number: 8780408
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data including first data corresponding to an output color of an output device and a plurality of second data of respective spot colors. The image processing apparatus includes a conversion section and a storage section. The conversion section calculates a device color value for a spot color or a spot color combination among the spot colors, referring to a first table, to generate a second table. In the second table, spot color identification information on the spot color or the spot color combination is correlated with the device color value. The conversion section also generates third data based on the plurality of second data. In the third data, each pixel is represented by the spot color identification information. The storage section stores the first data, the second table and the third data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masatsugu Kouguchi
  • Patent number: 8781223
    Abstract: An image processing system and an image processing method are provided. The image processing method includes following steps. Transformation matrixes between color channel images are obtained according to feature points in the color channel images. A transformation matrix having the minimum distortion is selected to determine a shift datum color channel image. The other color channel images are transformed according to the transformation matrixes corresponding to the shift datum color channel image. The shift datum color channel image and the transformed color channel images are combined to obtain a shift calibrated image. Thereby, the dispersion problem is resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Fei Zhu, Chu-Yang Hong, Guo-Feng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8780424
    Abstract: In the image processing device, the color conversion part converts the input value to an output value by using a color profile. The correction part corrects the output value to a corrected value by using a correction table. The update part updates the correction table based on a density patch. The first and second amount is an estimated amount of the color material to be consumed when corrected image data corrected by either using the updated correction table or using an initial correction table, respectively, is printed. When the amount determining part determines that the first amount is greater than the second amount, the modifying part modifies the color profile such that the output value in the modified color profile specifies a less amount of color material than an amount of color material specified by the output value in the unmodified color profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8781222
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for automatically detecting persons and/or other objects in a video signal. Automatic color compensation is applied to the video signal based on measured color of a reference area of the video signal. Generally the reference area is an area of the video signal that does not change often over time. The color compensated video signal is then analyzed for the appearance of objects and persons. In some instances the persons are identified using facial or other type of recognition. Counters or other trackers may provide real-time information, such as how many people are currently on a particular floor of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8781220
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising accessing a first pixel that is neighboring to a second pixel of an image, the first pixel including a plurality of color fields, each color field of the plurality of color fields associated with a respective color plane, wherein the second pixel is to be processed as a target pixel; quantizing the plurality of color fields to generate a corresponding plurality of quantized color fields, wherein said quantizing the plurality of color fields is based on a contribution of individual color planes of the plurality of color planes towards an intensity of the image; and processing the target pixel based at least in part on the plurality of quantized color fields. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian S. Watson, Jay McDougal
  • Publication number: 20140193068
    Abstract: Techniques for using infrared imaging to create digital images for use in product customization are described. In an embodiment, an infrared photograph of a product with imprinted markup is received and a visible light photograph of the product with the imprinted markup is received. The imprinted markup is visible in the visible light photograph but is not visible in the infrared photograph. Instructions for rendering a customization image of the product depicting a particular customization are determined based in part on the infrared photograph and visible light photograph, where the particular customization is not in the infrared photograph or the visible light photograph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ZAZZLE.COM, INC
    Inventor: ZAZZLE.COM, INC
  • Patent number: 8773741
    Abstract: A cell interior point group of a first lattice is determined by determining at least one interior point for each of cells defined based on the first lattice points. Colorimetric values for device values of second lattice points are predicted based on device values and colorimetric values corresponding to the first lattice points, as well as device values and colorimetric values corresponding to the cell interior point group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shuhei Horita
  • Patent number: 8773724
    Abstract: A method of superimposing a first image onto a second image, wherein each image is defined by a plurality of pixels is disclosed. The method includes changing target pixels of the second image corresponding in position to pixels of the first image to be superimposed on the second image. Changing target pixels of the second image includes changing the values of some of these target pixels of the second image to respective new values. Each new value is based on the original value of at least one pixel of the second image. A personalization method including such an image superimposing method and a data carrier thereby personalized are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Gemalto Oy
    Inventors: Jorma Kautto, Toni Kaskiala
  • Patent number: 8774500
    Abstract: A printed information device includes a region of interest in an image, and at least two channels assigned to the region of interest by different means of logical partitioning. The region of interest represents a physical area of the image. Each of the channels has a different error tolerance. Continuous and/or cyclic information is independently encoded in each of the at least two channels. The deterrent is configured to be read substantially simultaneously by at least two distinct reading strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven J. Simske, Malgorzata M. Sturgill, Jason S. Aronoff
  • Publication number: 20140183855
    Abstract: Method for the production of an iridescent image (II) from a reference image (IR) is described. The iridescent image (II) comprises an optical selector (SO) selected from an array of cylindrical lenses, an array of spherical lenses and a parallax barrier. The method includes creating a period adapted to the optical selector (SO) and to the reproduction system used; creating a periodic image (IP) filled in a repetitive manner according to said period; creating a dispersed image by applying a dispersion filter to the periodic image (IP), in which the geometric position of the pixels of the periodic image (IP) is modified as function of the values of the corresponding pixels in the reference image (IR); and associating the created dispersed image (ID) with the optical selector (SO). The invention also relates to the iridescent dispersed images obtained using the method, a device comprising said images and an associated program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Christophe Lanfranchi
  • Publication number: 20140185927
    Abstract: A measurement system is capable of accurately aligning the corresponding measurement points of a plurality of measurement targets to evaluate the measurement targets from measurement results. A measurement system includes a measuring instrument and a PC, the measuring instrument includes a spectroscopic unit that measures a measurement point of a measurement target and a camera that images surroundings in real-time. The PC displays an evaluation image of continuous image information, which is imaged and displayed by the camera on a display screen so as to be superimposed on a reference image of still image information, which has been imaged and stored in memory. By comparing the data obtained by measuring the measurement point in the evaluation image when both images overlap each other and the measurement data of the point in the reference image, it is possible to perform positioning easily and compare the measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: PROSPER CREATIVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kawabata, Akira Kijima
  • Patent number: 8768055
    Abstract: An image sensor apparatus is disclosed. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating pixel data corresponding to a scene under a scene illuminant and a processor. The processor includes an illuminant estimation module for receiving a subset of the pixel data associated with a subset of a color space and finding a chromaticity trend in the pixel data subset to estimate the scene illuminant. A white balance and color correction module in the processor applies white balance and color correction coefficients to the pixel data according to the estimated scene illuminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhaojian Li
  • Patent number: 8768090
    Abstract: An image adjustment method includes the steps of: a) configuring a weight-value generator to receive first image data and specified data and to generate an adaptive weight value according to the first image data and the specified data; and b) configuring an image blender to receive the first image data and second image data, and to generate adjusted image data by blending the first image data and the second image data with reference to the adaptive weight value. The adaptive weight value has a magnitude that corresponds to a difference between the first image data and the specified data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Yu, Chun-Hsing Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8766999
    Abstract: This is generally directed to systems and methods for local tone mapping of high dynamic range (“HDR”) images. For example, a HDR image can have its larger dynamic range mapped into the smaller dynamic range of a display device. In some embodiments, to perform the local tone mapping, a RGB to Y converter can be used to convert the input image signal to a luminance signal in the YCgCo color space, a shape adaptive filter can be used to separate the luminance signal into its illumination and reflectance components, contrast compression can be applied to the illumination component, image sharpening can be applied to the reflectance component, and the processed illumination and reflection components can be used to calculate a processed RGB signal. The dynamic range of the processed RGB signal can then be mapped into the dynamic range of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Peng Lin
  • Patent number: 8768067
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for accelerating bitmap remoting by extracting patterns from source bitmaps. A server takes a source image, and performs an edge-detection operation on it. From this edge-detected image, connected segments of the image are determined by executing multiple iterations of a small operation upon the image in parallel—for instance, by assigning each non-white pixel a unique value, then assigning each pixel the minimum value among itself and its neighbors until no pixel is assigned a new value in an iteration. Executing these operations in parallel greatly reduces the time required to identify the connected segments. When the segments are identified, they may be cached by the client so that they do not need to be re-sent to the client when re-encountered by the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nadim Y. Abdo, Voicu Anton Albu, Charles Lawrence Zitnick, III, Max Alan McMullen
  • Patent number: 8768025
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a color mapping for a dental object. The method includes generating a transformation matrix according to a set of spectral reflectance data for a statistically valid sampling of teeth. Illumination is directed toward the dental object over at least a first, a second, and a third wavelength band, one wavelength band at a time. For each of a plurality of pixels in an imaging array, an image data value is obtained, corresponding to each of the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The transformation matrix is applied to form the color mapping by generating a set of visual color values for each of the plurality of pixels according to the obtained image data values and according to image data values obtained from a reference object at the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The color mapping can be stored in an electronic memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor C. Wong, James R. Milch, Lawrence A. Ray, Peter D. Burns
  • Publication number: 20140177952
    Abstract: In a color name determination device, a color receiver receives input of a color, a document retriever retrieves for documents in which images relating to the received color are disposed, a key word extractor extracts key word character strings appearing in the retrieved documents, an image retriever retrieves for images relating to the extracted key word character strings, a degree acquirer represents, with a predetermined accuracy, colors appearing in the images as a retrieval result and acquires degrees at which the colors appear in the images, a color determiner determines color indicated by the received character string on the basis of the acquired degrees, and a color naming determiner determines, if the received color and the determined color are the same or similar, the a key word character string corresponding to the determined color is a color name character string indicating the received color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventor: Soh Masuko
  • Patent number: 8761542
    Abstract: A method of removing blemishes from an image. The method receives a selection of an area of an image, divides the area into at least two interior sub-areas, and replaces the colors of each sub-area independently from each other sub-area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Weiss
  • Patent number: 8761504
    Abstract: Presented are new alternatives to the Bayer pattern for spatial subsampling in color imaging. One aspect relates to a new design paradigm for spatio-spectral sampling The proposed scheme offers the potential to significantly reduce hardware complexity in a wide variety of applications, while at the same time improving output color image quality. In some embodiments, a framework for CFA design in presented. In one embodiment the physical characteristics of the CFA are generated so that the spectral radii of luminance and chrominance channels are maximized. The physical characteristics of CFA design are constrained to require physically realizable CFA(s). Alternatively, certain physical characteristics can be emphasized to generate easier to manufacture CFA(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Keigo Hirakawa, Patrick J. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8761539
    Abstract: A system for improving content visibility on a display under low-contrast viewing conditions using an image process technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Joseph Kerofsky, Xinyu Xu
  • Patent number: 8760719
    Abstract: Systems are provided for determining toner color having a processor that generates a fluorescent toner color image that when printed using a corresponding fluorescent toner will generate a diffuse fluorescent color light that reduces the extent to which noise induced variations in density in a noise evident portion of a toner print are observable. The processor further adjusts reflective toner color images used to form the toner print so that the reflective toner color images combine with the fluorescent color image to form a target color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dinesh Tyagi, Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 8760720
    Abstract: A pixel extracting unit extracts pixels belonging to a previously designated color range from the image data of a correction object. A target color selection receiving unit receives a selection of one target color by a user, from among a plurality of target colors stored in a target color storage unit. A color correction executing unit executes color correction on correction object image data, based on the color of the pixel extracted by the pixel extracting unit and the target color selected through the target color selection receiving unit. A target color extracting unit extracts the target color of a registration object from target color registration image data stored in a registration image storage unit. A target color registration unit registers the target color of the registration object extracted by the target color extracting unit in the target color storage unit to be associated with a previously designated color range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuko Nishiura
  • Patent number: 8761537
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for adaptive edge enhancement of a video signal includes a transient improvement module. The transient improvement module is configured to generate a first adjusted pixel value based on a window of pixel values for pixels surrounding a pixel-of-interest initially having an input pixel value. The apparatus includes an adaptive peaking module configured to generate a second adjusted pixel value based on the first adjusted pixel value and the input pixel value. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the adaptive peaking module comprises a high-pass filter configured to generate a pixel adjustment based on the first adjusted pixel value. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the adaptive peaking module further comprises a gain path configured to apply at least one adaptive gain value to the pixel adjustment to generate an adaptive adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ViXS Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Arthur Wallace
  • Patent number: 8761535
    Abstract: A technique is provided for enhancing the background of an original document image. In the case of a black-and-white image, the background color of the original document image is detected, the desired enhanced background color of the original document image is determined from a background pixel value Pb that is in the center of the background color range, and the original document image is enhanced to the desired enhanced background color. However, if the background of the original document image is in color, the technique further includes obtaining color image histograms of red, blue and green colors of the original document image, smoothing the histograms, and comparing the histograms to determine if they have the same shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Neat Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Huanfeng Ma
  • Patent number: 8760534
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus to be employed at an imaging device. An image acquisition section acquires data of an image. An input operation receiving section receives an operation for selection of an image region of the image data acquired by the image acquisition section. An image quality processing choosing section chooses image quality processing to be applied to the image data acquired by the image acquisition section in accordance with the image region received by the input operation receiving section. An image quality processing information presentation section presents information relating to the image quality processing chosen by the image quality processing decision section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Imamura
  • Publication number: 20140169666
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for creating a blended image by receiving an overlay image frame in a device (105) implemented by electronic circuitry, the overlay image frame having multiple pixels, and determining a blending factor with the device (105) for each pixel in the overlay image frame. The blending factor is based on the color saturation surrounding the pixel such that an amount by which the pixel contributes to a blended image of the overlay image frame with an underlying image frame is based on the blending factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Wei Hong
  • Patent number: 8754944
    Abstract: A device and method for converting one stereoscopic format into another. A software-enabled matrix is used to set forth predefined relationships between one type of format as an input image and another type of format as an output image. The matrix can then be used as a look-up table that defines a correspondence between input pixels and output pixels for the desired format conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Lenny G. Lipton, Mark H. Feldman
  • Patent number: 8755597
    Abstract: A method combines two digital images, one in the visible range and the other in the infrared range. The combined image provides an intensity band of pixels and shows detected warm objects that are superimposed on the intensity band of pixels. A user of the present invention may (1) view increased detail in the fused image of a scene and (2) have high confidence that an object in the scene is warm or hot. Hot objects collected by the infrared channel, but not visible in the visible channel may also be seen by the viewer in the fused image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Anthony Tantalo, Kenneth Michael Brodeur, Eric August Woodward, Timothy Paul Hahm, Angela Marie D'Orazio
  • Patent number: 8755598
    Abstract: A method and system including capturing a video stream including embedded data, segmenting the video stream into a plurality of video frames included therein, locating a color mass, denoted C?, for each color element of every individual video frame of the plurality of video frames by summing color value coordinates for a given color element included in the individual video frame, locating a color mass, denoted C, for each color element of a corresponding individual video frame, the corresponding individual video frame corresponding a video frame which does not include embedded data, subtracting C from C?, and deriving, from a result of the subtraction, a value of a first coordinate and a second coordinate, the first coordinate and the second coordinate including coordinates of a vector, the vector corresponding to a string of bits including information embedded in the individual video frame. Related apparatus, methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zeev Geyzel, Leonid Dorrendorf
  • Patent number: 8755837
    Abstract: Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to data driven imaging architectures, in which a cell phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing, such as filtering and edge detection—and even some simpler template matching operations—may be performed on the cell phone. Other operations are referred out to remote service providers. The remote service providers can be identified using techniques such as a reverse auction, though which they compete for processing tasks. Other aspects of the disclosed technologies relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8754957
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which performs recovery processing of correcting a degradation in image due to an aberration in an optical imaging system, with respect to image data of a plurality of colors, comprising: a separation unit configured to separate image data into image data of the respective colors, and further separate image data of a color whose spatial frequency characteristic is higher than that of another color due to an arrangement of color filters of the plurality of colors into a plurality of image data of same color so as to have the same spatial frequency characteristic as that of the other color; a plurality of image processing units configured to perform recovery processing by filter processing for each of the separated image data; and an interpolation processing unit configured to perform color interpolation processing of each pixel for the image data having undergone the recovery processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kano
  • Publication number: 20140161349
    Abstract: To detect a straight line using the Hough transform taking into consideration not only the number of points but also other properties of the straight line, the Hough transform unit performs a Hough transform on contour-enhanced binary image data. The Hough table stores a count after the Hough transform. The adjustment unit adjusts the count. The straight line detection unit detects a straight line based on the adjusted count. Additionally, to detect a straight line, independent of its direction or location in the image, for each straight line in the binary image data, the straight line calculation unit determines the intersections where that straight line cuts up the binary image data to calculate the intersection distance. The normalization unit divides the count stored in the Hough table by the intersection distance to normalize the count. The straight line detection unit detects a straight line based on the normalized count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20140161348
    Abstract: Disclosed is a software routine which determines which photographs in a corpus are similar, groups the similar photographs, and which then determines which photographs within a group meet criteria of “better” photographs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: REALNETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Alastair SUTHERLAND, Kadir RATHNAVELU, Ed SMITH
  • Patent number: 8750612
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus includes a generating unit, a calculating unit, a receiving unit, and a changing unit. The generating unit generates a plurality of histograms of images with respect to each color based on an input image. The calculating unit calculates a plurality of first image densities of the images from the histograms. The receiving unit receives a content of image quality adjustment performed on the input image. The changing unit changes one of the histograms based on the content of the image quality adjustment. The one of the histogram corresponds to one of the images on which the image quality adjustment is performed. The calculating unit calculates a second image density corresponding to the one the images based on the one of the histogram changed by the changing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Une, Kouji Yorimoto, Yasuo Komatsu, Takumi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 8749845
    Abstract: Systems for determining toner colors to be combined to form a target color at a location on a receiver. In one aspect, a system has a processor that determines a fluorescent toner color to be provided at the location based upon the density and hue angle of the target color and that determines one or more reflective toner colors to be provided with the determined fluorescent toner color at the location to form the target color in which the amount of the fluorescent toner color is decreased as the target color density increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Dinesh Tyagi
  • Patent number: 8749842
    Abstract: A converting unit executes a color conversion process for image data according to a normal profile when a determining unit determines that a prescribed setting is not set for the image data. The converting unit executes the color conversion process for the image data according to a colorant-saving profile configured such that an amount of colorant to be used in the colorant-saving profile is smaller than that in the normal profile when the determining unit determines that the prescribed setting is set for the image data. One of a plurality of input color values of the image data is converted to one of the plurality of output color values according to the colorant-saving profile in the color conversion process. The one of the plurality of input color values has a first hue. The one of the plurality of output color values has a second hue different from the first hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8750606
    Abstract: A device link profile creation method including: storing a plurality of device link profiles in a storage unit with information about a first device profile which is used to create one of the plurality of device link profiles, for each of the plurality of device link profiles; storing the first device profile in the storage unit; and performing control by a control unit to: when the first device profile is updated to be a second device profile, detect the second device profile; detect a first device link profile which is created by using the first device profile, as a device link profile to be updated; automatically create a second device link profile by using the second device profile; and update the detected device link profile to be updated by replacing the device link profile to be updated with the created second device link profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sugita
  • Patent number: 8750372
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques for treating video information are described. In one implementation, a method includes receiving video information, classifying one or more frames in the received video information as a scene, adjusting one or more coding parameters based on the classification of the frames, and coding the video information in accordance with the adjusted coding parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Athanasios Leontaris, Alexandros Tourapis
  • Patent number: 8750605
    Abstract: A searchable color encoded file composing method having a step of converting a plurality of document files etc. to color image files based on information replacement type color conversion processing, a step of storing a plurality of color image files prepared by the color conversion processing in a hard disk, a step of searching through the plurality of color image files stored in the hard disk by a color key, and a step of preparing a list of the color image files hit by the search. Due to this, key search technology is added in coding technology utilizing color and therefore the storage and handling of color encoded files are eased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Tani Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Okie Tani
  • Patent number: 8749574
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for color matching during compositing. In one embodiment of the invention, a set of one or more un-color matched pixels are stored and associated with a first color profile. A fragment program is generated based on the first color profile and a second color profile associated with a display. During compositing of the set of un-color matched pixels, the fragment program is applied to the set of un-color matched pixels to match colors of those pixels with the display. The color matched pixels are written to the display. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Assana Fard
  • Patent number: 8749575
    Abstract: A display controller is configured for creating a translucency effect for a target image area of a source image containing image data expressed in a first color model. The display controller has a first color model converter adapted for color model transformation of the image data from the first color model to a second color model based upon a first predefined set of transformation coefficients, as well as a second color model converter adapted for color model transformation of the image data from the first color model to the second color model based upon a second predefined set of transformation coefficients. The display controller is controllable to produce a destination image by selecting transformed image data from the second color model converter for the target image area and by selecting transformed image data from the first color model converter for other image area(s) of the source image than the target image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericssson (publ)
    Inventor: Maria Lovén Svensson
  • Patent number: 8749843
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to the field of printing, and other processes based on the continuous deposition of material, including industrial molding or extrusion processes, and more particularly to techniques for grouping object quality anomalies in a specified region of an object based on context-specific characterization and shared descriptive profile features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Juan Liu, Robert Price, Eric S. Hamby
  • Publication number: 20140153821
    Abstract: In a color determination device (101) that determines a correspondence relationship between a character string indicating a color and the color indicated by the character string, a character string receiver (102) receives input of a character string; an image retriever (103) retrieves for an image relating to the received character string and obtains a plurality of images as a result of the image retrieval; a degree acquirer (104) represents, with a predetermined accuracy, colors appearing in the plurality of respective images and acquires degrees at which the colors represented with the predetermined accuracy appear in the plurality of images; and a color determiner (105) determines a color indicated by the received character string from the colors represented with the predetermined accuracy on the basis of the acquired degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: RAKUTEN, INC.
    Inventors: Soh Masuko, Satoshi Sekine
  • Publication number: 20140153820
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that can effectively display an image by using an optimized dynamic range compression technique and a method of processing an image by using the same. The method includes: obtaining a first blurred image and a second blurred image from the input image; estimating illuminance of the input image by combining the first blurred image and the second blurred image; generating a dark region amplified image from the input image; generating a bright region conserved image from the input image; applying weights to the dark region amplified image and the bright region conserved image, respectively, according to the estimated illuminance; and combining the weighted dark region amplified image and the weighted bright region conserved image to generate a final image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Chang-min LEE, Moon-Gi KANG, Hee KANG
  • Patent number: 8743422
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an area specifying unit for specifying a text area including a text with an achromatic color and a background with an achromatic color, in an image to be output; an inversion processing unit for inverting the brightness of achromatic colors only for the specified text area; and an output unit for outputting an image including the text area where the brightness of achromatic colors is inverted. With respect to a gray-level achromatic color configuring a text in the specified text area, the inversion processing unit changes the color to be brighter than the case where the brightness is inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshie Imai
  • Patent number: 8744120
    Abstract: This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites, in a watermark encoder, a method of encoding auxiliary information in an image or video comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, computing a change in an attribute of an image or video sample to encode auxiliary information in the image or video; and changing color values of the image or video sample to effect the change in the attribute, in which changes to color values are determined based at least in part on both: i) visibility of the changes, and ii) anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims are provided too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Ravi K. Sharma, Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8744180
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for identifying the Main Colors and the matching colors of a visual object, and then viewing on a mobile device select items comprising the matching colors, such as from a merchant's catalogue. A visual object is analyzed for color content, and the results are stored on a system database located on the device or on a remote server. The color analysis of the objects comprise advanced image processing techniques, such as Main Color extraction using color space transformation comprising HSV, RGB and CYMK to map between pixels in the image. The user can subsequently view a display on their mobile identifying the visual object's Main Colors and at least one Harmonic Color; and then select and view all items (i.e. products in a database) comprising one Harmonic Color, and/or all items of a specific type and Harmonic Color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventors: Alon Atsmon, Atsmon Dan