Compression Of Color Images Patents (Class 382/166)
  • Patent number: 8600160
    Abstract: Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ko Ishimoto, Koichiro Kakinuma, Takehiro Nakatsue, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Shuichi Haga, Hiroshi Takizuka, Yoshiki Shirochi, Naoya Katoh, Hiroshi Yamashita, Koichi Oura, Yoshihiro Kosugi, Junichi Iwai, Kazuji Uemura, Shigeo Kubota, Hideo Morita
  • Publication number: 20130315481
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for block based image compression with multiple non-uniform block encodings. In one embodiment, an image is divided into blocks of pixels. In one embodiment the blocks are four pixels by four pixels, but other block sizes are used in other embodiments. In one embodiment, a block of pixels in the original image is compressed using two different methods to produce a first and second compressed block. Thus, each block in the original image is represented by two, typically different, compressed blocks. In one embodiment, color associated with a pixel is determined by combining the compressed information about the pixel in the first compressed block with information about the pixel in the second compressed block. In another embodiment, global information about the image is combined with the information in the first and second compressed blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Konstantine Iourcha, Andrew S.C. Pomianowski, Raja Koduri
  • Patent number: 8594441
    Abstract: Image-based data, such as a block of texel data, is accessed. The data includes sets of color component values. A luminance value is computed for each set of color components values, generating a range of luminance values. A first set and a second set of color component values that correspond to the minimum and maximum luminance values are selected from the sets of color component values. A third set of color component values can be mapped to an index that identifies how the color component values of the third set can be decoded using the color component values of the first and second sets. The index value is selected by determining where the luminance value for the third set lies in the range of luminance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Gary C. King, Edward A. Hutchins, Michael J. M. Toksvig
  • Patent number: 8582906
    Abstract: Compression and decompression of image data, including a first image of an object. The first image may be divided into portions. For each portion, it may be determined whether the portion includes a part of the object. The image data may be compressed based on said determining. If a threshold ratio of portions that do not include a part of the object is reached, portions including a part of the object may be compressed according to a first compression method and portions not including a part of the object may not be compressed, where background information is stored for the portions not including a part of the object. If the threshold ratio of portions that do not include a part of the object is not reached, each portion of the object may be compressed according to the first compression method. The compressed data may be decompressed in a reverse fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AOD Technology Marketing, LLC
    Inventors: Wai C. Chu, David J. Pattridge
  • Patent number: 8582876
    Abstract: One or more portions of a compound image may be classified as picture portions and at least one remaining portion of the compound image may be classified as a non-picture portion. A first layer of a layered image may be generated based on the picture portions of the compound image. The first layer may be compliant with a first image format. A second layer of the layered image may be generated based on the non-picture portion. The second layer may be compliant with a second image format that is different from the first image format. The first layer and the second layer may be sent to a web browser. The first format and the second format may be supported by the web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Huifeng Shen, Zhaotai Pan, Yan Lu, Shipeng Li
  • Patent number: 8582902
    Abstract: A compressed pixel block (400) is decompressed by defining multiple available property values. At least one reference point relative the pixel block (300) is identified based on a reference codeword (410) of the compressed pixel block (400). Pixel indices of the pixels (310) are determined based on the respective positions of pixels (310) in the pixel block (300) relative the at least one reference point. These pixel indices are used for selecting among the multiple defined property values. The selected property values are then assigned to pixels (310) to be decompressed based on their determined pixel indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Jacob Strom, Per Wennersten
  • Publication number: 20130293738
    Abstract: An imaging system may be provided haying an image sensor and a fixed-rate codec for encoding image data from the image sensor into a fixed-rate bitstream. The image sensor may include an array of image pixels with a corresponding Bayer pattern array of color filter elements. The codec may include circuits for partitioning the image data into fixed-size blocks of image data and compressing the image data in each fixed-size block based on the image content in that block using, a logarithm-based quantization of selected transform coefficients. The available bits for each block. may be allocated to various components such as color components of the data based on the complexity of the image content in each component. The bitstream may include header information with pointers to coefficient locations within each block. The header information may be compressed prior to insertion into the bitstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Prajit Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20130294689
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to encode and decode image data comprising a tone mapped (TM) image with HDR reconstruction data in the form of luminance ratios and color residual values. In an example embodiment, luminance ratio values and residual values in color channels of a color space are generated on an individual pixel basis based on a high dynamic range (HDR) image and a derivative tone-mapped (TM) image that comprises one or more color alterations that would not be recoverable from the TM image with a luminance ratio image. The TM image with HDR reconstruction data derived from the luminance ratio values and the color-channel residual values may be outputted in an image file to a downstream device, for example, for decoding, rendering, and/or storing. The image file may be decoded to generate a restored HDR image free of the color alterations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Wenhui Jia, Ajit Ninan, Arkady Ten, Gregory John Ward
  • Patent number: 8577169
    Abstract: Algorithms for improving the quality of images tone mapped using the bilateral filter are presented. The algorithms involve a localized operator applied to the tone mapping compression factor which enhances apparent image contrast in the low dynamic range output of the tone mapping. At least one embodiment of the present invention is related to circuitry configured to perform at least a portion of related calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Andrus, Jon H. Bechtel, Tom B. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8576244
    Abstract: Provided is a video signal generation apparatus and method that may minimize crosstalk between a luminance signal and color difference signals. The video signal generation apparatus may generate the luminance signal using a nonlinear Y signal and then generate color difference signals using a nonlinear XYZ signal to maximize a de-correlation characteristic between the luminance signal and the color difference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seo Young Choi, Ho Young Lee, Yun-Tae Kim, Du-Sik Park, Ji Young Hong
  • Publication number: 20130287295
    Abstract: In an image-encoding scheme, an input image is decomposed into several image blocks comprising multiple image elements. The image blocks are encoded into encoded block representations. In this encoding, color weights are assigned to the image elements in the block based on their relative positions in the block. At least two color codeword are determined, at least partly based on the color weights. These codewords are representations of at least two color values. The original colors of the image elements are represented by color representations derivable from combinations of the at least two color values weighted by the assigned color weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventor: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • Patent number: 8570593
    Abstract: In a preflight process for digital print systems, color data from print data are analyzed and the results presented in a report. The color data are individually altered in regard to not only a color profile, in which they are encoded, but also in regard to their color values, using a graphic user interface. Results of the alterations are displayed using corresponding screened document pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Anthony Parkhurst, Jose La Rosa Ducato, Werner Engrocks
  • Patent number: 8571311
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which a raster graphics image file (e.g., a PNG) containing pixels having color component data and alpha channel data (e.g., RGBA data) is transcoded into a smaller Palette Indexed format with non-noticeable and/or virtually no loss. Hextrees are used to represent the pixels of the image, such as one hextree for each subset (segment) of the image's pixels, where alpha channel data distribution may be used to determine each segment. A palette containing sets of alpha and color values is generated from the hextrees, with the transcoded image data provided by representing the pixel data as indexes to the palette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yisheng Yao, Ke-Cheng Huang, Emmanuel Papirakis
  • Patent number: 8570341
    Abstract: Method and system for enhancing color saturation. According to an embodiment the present invention provides a method for enhancing color saturation. The method includes providing a color image characterized by a luminance component and two chrominance components, the color image including a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel being characterized at least by a luminance value, a first chrominance value, and a second chrominance value. The method also includes processing the first chrominance value and the second chrominance value. The method further includes determining a saturation level using based on the first chrominance value and the second chrominance value. Moreover, the method includes providing a factor for adjusting the first chrominance value and the second chrominance value, the factor being based on the saturation level. Furthermore, the method includes adjusting the first chrominance value and the second chrominance value using the factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ipera Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Xie
  • Patent number: 8570340
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for demoting color data associated with at least one entity, wherein the entity comprises at least one sub-entity. The at least one sub-entity may be marked as demotable, if the color data associated with the at least one sub-entity is demotable. The at least one entity may be marked as demotable, if all sub-entities enclosed in the at least one entity are demotable. The color data of at least one marked rasterizable entity may be demoted, wherein the at least one marked rasterizable entity may be selected from a set comprising of marked entities and marked sub-entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt Nathan Nordback
  • Patent number: 8571336
    Abstract: An image processor includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder includes a frequency transform unit, a pre-filter, and a color conversion unit that converts a pixel signal of a first color space inputted from outside into a pixel signal of a second color space including a luminance signal and chrominance signals. The decoder includes a frequency inverse transform unit, a post-filter, and a color inverse conversion unit that inversely converts a pixel signal of the second color space into a pixel signal of the first color space. The pre-filter performs prefiltering on one or plural specific signals among the luminance and chrominance signals. The post-filter does not perform postfiltering on the above specific signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Uchiyama, Yujiro Tani, Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20130279804
    Abstract: A system and method for compression of video data uses digital processors to transform the data to a more compressed format. After preprocessing, a KL (Karhunan-Loève) transform is used to treat an array of pixels as a series of vectors transformed to a new set of basis vectors selected so that the data vectors (now represented by coordinates with respect to the transformed axes) lie closest to the transformed axes. A number of the axes lying closest to the data is selected, and the vectors are projected onto the subspace spanned by those axes. Those components extending into the orthogonal subspace are retained as a separate (second) data set, and a second GS (“Gram-Schmidt) compression is applied to those components. By suppressing portions of the data generated in the GS transformation, lossy transformations are efficiently accomplished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel KILBANK
  • Patent number: 8564838
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus quantizes multi-level image data of n colors, where n?2, by performing an error diffusion processing. The image processing apparatus includes: a dot arrangement determining unit that determines either one of an essential dot count and an essential recording material amount when the multi-level image data of n colors is converted into multi-level image data of m colors, where n>m?1, by the error diffusion processing; and a color arrangement determining unit that performs the error diffusion processing on each color component of the multi-level image data of n colors, calculates either one of a dot count and a recording material amount for each color component, and determines an arrangement of either one of the dot count and the recording material amount for each color component within a range of a corresponding one of the essential dot count and the essential recording material amount determined by the dot arrangement determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Arata Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Sagae, Takashi Kimura, Masakazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8565540
    Abstract: A multi-functional digital imaging system is described that controls, manages and automates digital image compression and decompression methods. The digital image file is compressed and decompressed in a seven step modular user-adjustable lossless process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Neal Solomon
  • Publication number: 20130272604
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding an image are provided. The image decoding method includes (a) decoding luma blocks according to a predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks, and (b) decoding chroma blocks according to the predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Dae-Sung CHO, Woo-Shik KIM, Dmitri BIRINOV, Hyun-Mun KIM
  • Patent number: 8559709
    Abstract: A method for encoding a text image. In one embodiment the method comprises determining a background color of an image; dividing the image into text pixels and background pixels, each of the background pixels comprising the background color; determining a text color based on colors of the text pixels; determining a text attribute comprising a luminance profile describing a contour of luminance of a set of the text pixels; generating a binary text mask based on position and luminance of each of the text pixels and the luminance profile; and generating, by a computer, an encoded image comprising the background color, the text color, the binary text mask, and the text attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Teradici Corporation
    Inventor: David Victor Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8553977
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for converting an unsupported continuous tone image file with an opacity layer to an application supported image. An opacity mask is created from an extracted alpha channel portion of the unsupported image file, where the alpha channel comprises transparency (opacity) information for the image. The unsupported image file can comprise an eight-bit alpha channel that indicates transparency for one or more portions of the image. The remaining channels of the unsupported image, after the alpha channel is extracted, can be used to create an image, which is combined with the opacity mask, to generate a supported image with a transparency layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Raman Narayanan, Radoslav Petrov Nickolov, Ming Liu, Rajendra Vishnumurthy
  • Patent number: 8553974
    Abstract: A signal correcting method and a circuit thereof are provided. In the method, first, the values of a plurality of input signals are clamped to generate a plurality of corresponding clamping signals according to a plurality of adjustable predetermined values. Then, a combined multiplication operation is performed to the clamping signals according to the coefficients in a matrix obtained by multiplying the coefficients in at least two predetermined correcting matrixes, so as to output a plurality of results. Next, the results are respectively clamped according to a plurality of corresponding predetermined thresholds so as to output the corrected input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Feng Chiang
  • Patent number: 8554005
    Abstract: A method and system of digital image enhancement provide controllable emboldening and thinning of image features. The method includes providing an input image, creating an edge map image from the input image, and combining the edge map image with the input image using local clamping to produce an output image. Features of the output image are one of emboldened and thinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Peter Majewicz
  • Patent number: 8554007
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage that stores, therein, edge position data indicating the position of a first edge image that represents a first edge of a first object image representing an object in a first image, a determination portion that detects a second edge image based on the edge position data and a specific scaling factor, the second edge image representing a second edge of a second object image that represents the object in a second image, the second image being obtained by modifying the size or the resolution of the first image by increasing the number of pixels by ? times (?>1) corresponding to the scaling factor, the second edge having a width equal to that of the first edge, and a removal portion that performs a process for deleting an edge of an inner area surrounded by the second edge image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8548233
    Abstract: An input image is divided into a plurality of predetermined sized image pieces, and code data indicating an arrangement pattern of color data included in each image piece and color data for the number of colors included in each image piece are output as first output data. When the first output data has a size greater than or equal to a predetermined data size, according to the number of image pieces by counted number of colors and priority of a pattern for color reduction, a pattern for color reduction relating the plurality of image pieces is determined. Among the divided image pieces, color-reduction processing is performed on an image piece corresponding to the determined pattern. Then, code data indicating an arrangement pattern of color data included in each image piece and code data for the number of colors included in each image piece are output as second output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tateki Narita
  • Patent number: 8548234
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for simultaneously reducing various kinds of noises in an image output from an image sensor equipped to a camera. The image noise reducing method includes: determining a color reference value, which corresponds to a corrected value of the color value of a current pixel, based on the difference values between the color value of the current pixel among pixels of an image and the color values of neighboring pixels around the current pixel; determining unified filter kernel coefficients, which represent the weights of the current pixel and the neighboring pixels, based on the similarities between the determined color reference value and the color values of the neighboring pixels; and reducing a noise in the color value of the current pixel by weighted-averaging the color value of the current pixel and the color values of the neighboring pixels using the unified filter kernel coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-su Moon, Si-hwa Lee, Ho-lin Lee, Young-jin Yoo
  • Publication number: 20130251256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of compressing an image to be stored in a memory to satisfy a memory requirement. A size of a region having a uniform colour in the image is determined. The determined size of the region is compared with the candidate values of the region size threshold. A value is selected from the candidate values as the region size threshold based on the comparison between the estimated data amounts to satisfy the region size threshold and the memory requirement. The edges constituting the region which satisfy the selected value of the region size threshold are compressed losslessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Dixon De Sheng Deng, Wen Tao Lu
  • Publication number: 20130251255
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, it is provided that an image compressor includes an image data controller, first to third encoders and an encoded data generator. The image data controller extracts first to third pixels. The first encoder encodes a target first pixel and generates a first encoded pixel. The second encoder encodes a target second pixel and generates a second encoded pixel. The third encoder encodes a target third pixel and generates a third encoded pixel. The encoded data generator combines the first to third encoded pixels and generates encoded data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Keiri NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20130251257
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image encoding device that can balance encoding at a high compression ratio and restoration of a high-quality image by decoding in a short processing time. Compression mode determination means 3 determines a compression mode to be one of DPCM and PCM based on target pixel data inputted from a terminal 21 and predicted data calculated by a predetermined method. For the DPCM, DPCM compression means 5 compresses a difference value between the target pixel data and the predicted data to DPCM encoded data having a predetermined DPCM code length. For the PCM, PCM compression means 7 compresses the target pixel data to PCM encoded data having a PCM code length determined by PCM code length determination means 9. The PCM code length determination means 9 calculates the PCM code length for each piece of target pixel data such that a total of post-encoding code lengths becomes an allowable value or less in a unit of predetermined pixel group among the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhisa Ohnishi, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Takahiro Morishita
  • Patent number: 8542402
    Abstract: Determining a spectral gamut of a device by designating a spanning set of samples which span the spectral gamut. A first crude spanning set of samples is established by specifying one or more corresponding device values in a device color space. The first crude spanning set is refined by processing a plurality of new samples in a predetermined order. The processing includes, for each new sample, determining if the new sample differs in an objective function value by more than a predetermined threshold from all samples in the first crude spanning set and adding the new sample to the first crude spanning set if the new sample differs in the objective function value by more than the predetermined threshold. The resulting first crude spanning set is designated as the spanning set of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Patent number: 8542246
    Abstract: A color conversion device generates color data in a second color gamut based on first converted color data and input color data, which are obtained from input color data in a first color gamut, and outputs the color data in the second color gamut. The color conversion device includes a first color mapping unit which generates the first converted color data by mapping the input color data into the second color gamut; a color mixing unit which generates color data by mixing the first converted color data and second converted color data at a ratio corresponding to the first color gamut and the second color gamut; and a color data output unit which outputs the color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuo Saigo, Hiroshi Miyai, Hisakazu Hitomi, Masanobu Inoe, Masahiro Kawashima, Akihiro Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20130243315
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image encode controller includes a chroma component adjuster, a difference generator, a quantizer, an inverse-quantizer, and a variable codeword length encoder. The chroma component adjuster adjusts an original color component in accordance with a quantization coefficient to generate an adjusted chroma component. The difference generator generates a difference pixel component. The quantizer quantizes an output of the difference generator based on the quantization coefficient. The inverse-quantizer inversely quantizes an output of the quantizer based on the quantization coefficient. The variable codeword length encoder performs variable codeword length encoding with respect to an output of the quantizer to generate encoded data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Keiri NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20130243316
    Abstract: A method of compressing a digital image defined by a plurality of pixel values in each of one or more channels includes adjusting each pixel value in each of the one or more channels by an average pixel value for that channel. The method further includes splitting each adjusted channel into one or more image blocks, and converting each image block into a frequency block that is a frequency-domain representation of that image block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Zsolt Mathe
  • Patent number: 8537171
    Abstract: Nonlinear compression of high precision image data (e.g., 12-bits per subpixel) conventionally calls for a large sized lookup table (LUT). A smaller sized and tunable circuit that performs compression with piecewise linear compressing segments is disclosed. The piecewise linear data compressing process is organized so that lumping together of plural ‘used’ high precision value points into one corresponding low precision data value point is avoided or at least minimized. In one embodiment, the compressed data is image defining data being processed for display on a nonconventional display screen where the piecewise linearly compressed data can be stored adjacent to other image data in a frame buffer where a composite image is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Francis Higgins, Candice Hellen Brown Elliot
  • Patent number: 8537898
    Abstract: Methods, medium, and machines which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decode, decompress and display digital video images. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including, but not limited to, the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. In a Doppler improvement aspect of the invention, Doppler velocity scales are incorporated into grayscale compression methods using two bits. Variable formats may be selected and Doppler encoding can be turned on and off based on the image content. Frames or sets of pixels may be distinguished by automated analysis of the characteristics of an image, such as the presence of Doppler enhanced pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Zin Stai Pte. IN, LLC
    Inventor: Kendyl A. Roman
  • Patent number: 8538143
    Abstract: A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Woodman Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Newman
  • Publication number: 20130235231
    Abstract: A method of coding High Definition (HD) color pictures is described. The method divides the HD picture into individual bit planes of the three colors. The method then interleaves the bit planes such that bit planes of the three colors having the same significance are coded together. The method codes a block of the picture based on the bit distribution in corresponding groups of the corresponding bit planes of the three colors. The method performs a first level grouping of bits in a bit plane of an image and a second level grouping of the first level grouping bits of different color components within a group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Mohammad Gharavi-Alkhansari
  • Publication number: 20130230242
    Abstract: High depth grayscale images, (e.g. <8 bits per pixel) are losslessly cross channel encoded to multi-channel image formats for transformation and display by display devices not capable of displaying high depth grayscale. DICOM and other images may be encoded and provided to web browser based client image viewers that leverage native code for handling multi-channel images. Transformations are applied to reconstitute the high depth grayscale images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Steven Andrew RANKIN
  • Publication number: 20130230241
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating/decoding an animated image code, and a method thereof. The animated image code frame includes an image code frame which is divided into code cells expressing minimum unit data, and in which the minimum unit data is expressed in an area located inside the code cells and is formed by combining one or more color, gradation, and patterns; and a design layer which is formed by combining color or gradation used in the image code frame and color or gradation distinguishable on the basis of a threshold value, and which is displayed by overlapping the frame image. By utilizing changes in respective animated frames, an animated image code can be generated and decoded in which motion can be expressed by using a display medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicants: Colorzip Technology Co., Ltd., Colorzip Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheol Ho CHEONG, Sang Yong LEE
  • Patent number: 8526720
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an imaging terminal operative for decoding of bar codes. In one embodiment the terminal can include a color imaging assembly having a color image sensor array. The terminal can be operative for capture of a color frame of image data. Responsively to the capture of the color frame of image data the terminal can convert the color image data to monochrome image data while maintaining the color image data. The terminal can utilize the monochrome image data to search for a color bar code finder pattern. The terminal can be operative so that if the color bar code pattern is found utilizing the monochrome image data the terminal can utilize the color image data for attempting to decode a color bar code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Taylor Smith
  • Patent number: 8526726
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic image data, and in particular texture data. The compressed data comprises at least two sets of reduced size data, modulation data and modulation and discontinuity flags. The modulation and discontinuity flags determine how the modulation data is used, in combination with the reduced size data sets, in a decompression process. The invention allows for data decompression of textures including large color discontinuities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies, Limited
    Inventor: Simon Fenney
  • Patent number: 8526062
    Abstract: A technique to compress multidimensional color look-up tables by computing an inexpensive fit to the contents of the tables is provided. At each node of the table, the difference between the result of evaluating the fit and the original value at that node are completed. In one form, the parameters of the fit and the differences are stored and compressed, possibly losslessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: R. Victor Klassen
  • Patent number: 8520943
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for block based image compression with multiple non-uniform block encodings. In one embodiment, an image is divided into blocks of pixels. In one embodiment the blocks are four pixels by four pixels, but other block sizes are used in other embodiments. In one embodiment, a block of pixels in the original image is compressed using two different methods to produce a first and second compressed block. Thus, each block in the original image is represented by two, typically different, compressed blocks. In one embodiment, color associated with a pixel is determined by combining the compressed information about the pixel in the first compressed block with information about the pixel in the second compressed block. In another embodiment, global information about the image is combined with the information in the first and second compressed blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Konstantine Iourcha, Andrew S. C. Pomianowski, Raja Koduri
  • Publication number: 20130216133
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a motion vector detection device includes a reference image encoder, a cutoff module, a reference image decoder, and a block matching module. The reference image encoder is configured to generate a plurality of encoded components. The cutoff module is configured to select, according to a predetermined priority, one or a plurality of encoded components so that a data length is equal to or less than a predetermined fixed length. The reference image decoder is configured to decode the selected one or the plurality of encoded components to reproduce one or a plurality of image components. The block matching module is configured to detect, based on a motion-detection target block in an input image and the reproduced one or the plurality of image components of a matching-target block of the reference image corresponding to the motion-detection target block, a motion vector of the motion-detection target block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Hajime MATSUI
  • Patent number: 8515161
    Abstract: A method for identifying anti aliased images of two or three colors makes use of the fact that in most anti-aliasing techniques, the color values of the source images are known with sub-pixel accuracy, e.g., the boundaries of text characters are described with arbitrary high precision and averaging ensures that the destination pixel values are interpolations of the two source colors so that all of the color values of the image lie on a single line, or a single plane, in 3-dimensional color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. O'Neill, Richard G. Fell
  • Patent number: 8515168
    Abstract: When image data that contains objects varying in resolution is expanded into bitmap data having a higher print resolution and further compressed in resolution conversion, the compression rate is improved. The resolution and the rendering position of an object are taken into consideration to shift the rendering position of the object so that the boundary of an interpolated area extended from one pixel in the expansion of the object into the bitmap data matches the boundary of a compression rectangular area for use in the resolution compression. Thus, the compression rate of the resolution compression is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tateki Narita
  • Patent number: 8515166
    Abstract: A method of compressing a 2×2 block based binary image is provided. The method includes: determining whether pixels included in a block are included in existing patterns; generating the number N of the pixels included in the existing patterns (N is a natural number); when N is more than a predetermined value, compressing the block with a binary bit stream comprising information about patterns of the pixels included in the existing patterns and color information about the pixels having a new pattern. The method of compressing a 2×2 block based binary image reduces information damage which may occur during compression and restoration of the binary pattern so that the difference in picture quality between an original image and the restored image can be visibly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hoon Ha, Sang-jo Lee
  • Patent number: 8515167
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to receiving original image data, decomposing the original image data into layers, compressing a dynamic range of each of layers, and integrating compressed layers to form a final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Peking University
    Inventors: Xiaoru Yuan, Peihong Guo
  • Publication number: 20130208981
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a wireless handheld device for determining image hue, which relate to the field of image processing. The method includes: obtaining color information of a part or all of pixels of an image including hue values, brightness values and saturation values; determining a pixel whose hue value needs to be compared according to the obtained color information, and comparing the pixel, whose hue value needs to be compared, with hue values of preset multiple candidate colors, determining a closest candidate color, and accumulating a weight value of the pixel whose hue value needs to be compared to a weight value of the closest candidate color; and using hue of a candidate color with the highest weight value as hue of the image. The device includes: a color obtaining module, a pixel determination module, a weight value accumulation module and a hue determination module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.