Gray Level To Binary Coding Patents (Class 382/237)
  • Patent number: 11755565
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer-program product embodiments for generating a paged and in-memory representation of a database object. An embodiment operates by maintaining in-memory and paged form primitives unique to the database object or a substructure thereof in a database such that the in-memory and paged form primitives are capable of providing the in-memory and paged representations of the database objects, respectively. Thereafter, a load configuration for the database object is determined. Based on the load configuration, the in-memory and/or paged representations of the database object are generated using the in-memory form primitive or the paged form primitive unique to the database object, respectively. Subsequently, the in-memory and/or paged representations of the database object are stored in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Colin Florendo, Mihnea Andrei, Amit Pathak, Robert Schulze, Adrian Dragusanu, Reza Sherkat, Sebastian Seifert, Christian Lemke
  • Patent number: 11177817
    Abstract: Provided are a random number generating device and a method of operating the same. The random number generating device includes a source detector, a pulse generator, a counter, and a verification circuit. The source detector detects particles emitted from a source to generate a detection signal. The pulse generator generates pulses corresponding to the detected particles, based on the detection signal. The counter measures time intervals among the pulses and generates binary count values respectively corresponding to the time intervals. The verification circuit determines an output of the binary count values, based on the number of 0 values and the number of 1 values included in the binary count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seong Mo Park, Kyung Hwan Park, Tae Wook Kang, Byounggun Choi
  • Patent number: 11100355
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and system to reduce visual background noise in an image, especially in images of document pages, without destroying and/or deteriorating the content of that image. In particular, natural images, filled and stroked vector graphics, and text are protected from being destroyed and/or deteriorated by the noise removal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Prebble
  • Patent number: 11082581
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first binarization unit configured to generate binary image data by performing halftone processing on the image data generated by the reading unit, a smoothing unit configured to perform smoothing processing on a character region of the binary image data, a second binarization unit configured to perform binarization processing on the character region having been subjected to the smoothing processing by the smoothing unit, and a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition processing on the character region having been subjected to the binarization processing by the second binarization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Reiji Misawa
  • Patent number: 10878596
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing the number of colors per pixel present in an image to increase the ability to detect objects or anomalies in the image. A final number of colors per pixel to reduce the image to is determined, wherein the final number of colors is a number of colors less than the number of colors per pixel in the original image. A corresponding threshold value for each of the final number of colors is identified, such that the corresponding threshold values optimize an arithmetic combination of separation score functions applied to the plurality of pixels and the threshold values. The image is reduced to the final number of colors per pixel, by creating an output image where a value of each output pixel is equal to the number of threshold values that are less than the value of the corresponding input pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Aviad Zlotnick
  • Patent number: 10769827
    Abstract: An online system presents a user with a content item including an image and text. The online system overlays the text on the image if it predicts doing so will not render the text unreadable. To predict whether the overlay will render the text unreadable, the online system computes values describing various visual characteristics of a segment of the image on which the text may be overlaid and compares the values to corresponding threshold values. Based on the comparison, the online system predicts a readability of the text if overlaid on the segment. If the predicted readability is at least a threshold readability, the online system overlays the text on the segment of the image and presents the content item to the user with the text overlaid on the image. Otherwise, the online system presents the content item to the user with the text not overlaid on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Amerige, Thomas Reese, Christopher Joseph Welch
  • Patent number: 10714003
    Abstract: An image processing system comprising: a gray level analyzing circuit, configured to analyze a gray level distribution of an input image and to calculate quantities for pixels having different gray levels in the input image; and a processor, coupled to the gray level analyzing circuit, configured to set first pixel gains for the pixels according to the gray levels and the quantities, and to process the input image with the first pixel gains to generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Tung-Ying Wu
  • Patent number: 10416681
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an imaging system having a memory with a historical localization dictionary database having geo-located driving image sequences, such that each reference image is applied to a threshold to produce a binary representation. A sensor to acquire a sequence of input images of a dynamic scene. An encoder to determine, for each input image in the sequence, a histogram of each input image indicating a number of vertical edges at each bin of the input image and to threshold the histogram to produce a binary representation of the input image. A visual odometer to compare the binary representations of each input image and each reference image, by matching an input image against a reference image. Wherein the visual odometer determines a location of the input image based on a match between the input image and the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Teng-Yok Lee, Srikumar Ramalingam, Yuichi Taguchi, Sonali Patil
  • Patent number: 10388004
    Abstract: The provided is an image processing method, which includes: converting a to-be-processed image into a gray image; performing Gaussian blur processing having a predefined blur radius on the gray image, and obtaining a reference image; and according to gray values of reference pixels of the reference image, decreasing a pixel value of a pixel of the to-be-processed image corresponding to a reference pixel whose gray value is larger than a gray threshold, increasing a pixel value of a pixel of the to-be-processed image corresponding to a reference pixel whose gray value is smaller than the gray threshold, and obtaining an adjusted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Deqiang Jiang
  • Patent number: 10176402
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to categorize a pixel (or other element) in an image into one of a number of different categories are described. In general, techniques are disclosed for using properties (e.g., statistics) of the regions being categorized to determine the appropriate size of window around a target pixel (element) and, when necessary, the manner in which the window may be changed if the current size is inappropriate. More particularly, adaptive window size selection techniques are disclosed for use when categorizing an image's pixels into one of two categories (e.g., black or white). Statistics of the selected region may be cascaded to determine whether the current evaluation window is acceptable and, if it is not, an appropriate factor by which to change the currently selected window's size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lejing Wang, Daniel Ulbricht, Lorenz Kern, Sebastian Lieberknecht, Tobias Hall
  • Patent number: 9930218
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for content aware digital image enhancement. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods analyze content of a digital image portraying a document with graphics and/or text and generate a cleaning confidence map. Specifically, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate a cleaning confidence map indicating a likelihood that each pixel in the digital image portrays text or a graphic. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods utilize the cleaning confidence map as a reflection of how aggressively to modify digital images. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods utilize the cleaning confidence map to remove shadows, identify and clean background pixels, and correct contrast in relation to the digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ram Bhushan Agrawal, Anuj Shara, Abhijeet Gaiha
  • Patent number: 9710945
    Abstract: A method for cutting out, from a gray-scale image generated by capturing an image of a character string, each character in the character string for recognition, includes a first step of repeating projection processing for projecting a highest or lowest gray level in a line along a direction crossing the character string in the gray-scale image, onto an axis along the character string, with the lowest gray level selected when a character in the gray-scale image is darker than a background, the highest gray level selected when the character in the gray-scale image is brighter than the background, and a projection target position moved along the character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Fujieda
  • Patent number: 9646858
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10?6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 9563961
    Abstract: A method and an application server are provided for processing an image. The application server comprising an image processing unit processes an image by segmenting into first segmented layer and a second segmented layer. The image processing unit identifies one or more regions in the first segmented layer and for a coordinate in the identified region a vicinity check condition is performed in the second segmented layer. The image processing unit compares a first size of identified region with at least an average size of the set of text components in the second segmented layer. Further, the image processing unit merges the identified region with the second segmented layer to get a processed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Rajasekar Kanagasabai, Sainarayanan Gopalakrishnan, Xing Li, Clara Cuciurean-Zapan, Sudhagar Subbaian
  • Patent number: 9305239
    Abstract: A method for recognizing small-font sized text including receiving digital media of a natural scene, the digital media having at least one frame that includes the small-font sized text; generating input maps having values that reflect local properties of corresponding regions in the at least one frame; and detecting regions of the at least one frame that contain the small-font sized text by integrating information from the input maps. The integrated information may include information located between border lines having active pixels therebetween and gaps having a high ratio of non-ink pixels located below a bottom border line and above a top border line in relation to a dominant direction of the text. The active pixels may be pixels having dense changes in character stroke directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shai Litvak
  • Patent number: 9025897
    Abstract: Bi-level pixel values are generated from a set of input pixel values corresponding to an image. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for applications with limited computational capability and/or limited available resources to be used for performing image processing. Corresponding to an individual input pixel being processed, a plurality of windows including the pixel are evaluated to determine statistics including a variance for each window. Based upon the determined variances, one of a plurality of binarization threshold generation functions is selected. A binarization threshold for the input pixel is determined using the selected binarization threshold generation function. A bi-level pixel value is generated based on a comparison of the input pixel value to the generated binarization threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Accusoft Corporation
    Inventors: John H Elton, Stephen A Martucci
  • Patent number: 8995780
    Abstract: A method for creating a binary mask image from an inputted digital image of a scanned document, including the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, including the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: I.R.I.S.
    Inventors: Michel Dauw, Pierre De Muelenaere
  • Patent number: 8977065
    Abstract: A first set of reconstruction data includes a symbol specifying an attribute setting of a parent element in a rendition of the signal at a first level of quality. The attribute setting can be one of multiple attribute settings of the parent element indicating how to configure the parent element for the rendition of the signal at a first level of quality. A signal processor divides the parent element into multiple sub-elements to reconstruct the signal at a second, higher level of quality. The signal processor utilizes the rendition of the signal at the first level of quality and the attribute setting of the parent element as specified by the symbol (at the first level of quality) to produce a default attribute setting for one or more respective sub-elements (into which the parent element is divided) unless reconstruction data to reconstruct the signal at a higher level of quality specifies a different attribute setting for the respective sub-elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Luca Rossato, Guido Meardi
  • Patent number: 8958653
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for decoding last position information indicating a horizontal position and a vertical position of a last non-zero coefficient in a predetermined order within a current block to be decoded, the current block being included in a picture and including a plurality of coefficients. The apparatus includes one or more processors, a communication unit, and storage coupled to the one or more processors and the communication unit. The communication unit is configured to transmit a request for a bitstream to an external system, and receive the bitstream from the external system. The one or more processors are configured to obtain the bitstream, perform first arithmetic decoding, perform second arithmetic decoding, derive a horizontal component of the last position information, and derive a vertical component of the last position. A system for decoding and a displaying method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Toshiyasu Sugio, Kyoko Tanikawa, Toru Matsunobu, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 8950872
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image projecting device, including a projecting part configured to project an image for calibration onto a projection object, an image capturing part configured to capture an image of an area including the projection object with a projected image for calibration, a binary image producing part configured to calculate plural first thresholds corresponding to plural first divided areas provided by dividing the area, based on a captured image, and to produce a binary image of the captured image, based on the first thresholds, and a corresponding point sampling part configured to sample corresponding points between the image for calibration and the binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hasegawa, Shinichi Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8934669
    Abstract: A self-adaptive image-based obstacle detection method comprises steps: capturing an original image; transforming the original image to an HSV color space, and retrieving a hue component (H) and a saturation component (S) of the HSV color space to form an HS-based image; dividing the HS-based image into image blocks; selecting one image block as a background block; using an obstacle recognition equation to determine whether each of the image blocks is similar to the background block; if no, deleting the image block; if yes, preserving the image block to form a binary obstacle image; and overlaying the binary obstacle image on the original image to filter out the background and obtain an initial ambit of an obstacle image. Then, three orderly movement flow equations are used to determine whether it is an obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Test Center
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Yang, Li-You Hsu
  • Patent number: 8923634
    Abstract: A decoding method decodes last position information indicating horizontal and vertical positions of a last non-zero coefficient in a predetermined order within a current block to be decoded, the current block including plural coefficients. The decoding includes obtaining a bitstream including first, second, third and fourth partial signals, in this order, performing first arithmetic decoding on the first and the third partial signals respectively to obtain decoded first and decoded third partial signals, performing second arithmetic decoding on the second and the fourth partial signals respectively to obtain decoded second and decoded fourth partial signals, the second arithmetic decoding being different from the first arithmetic decoding, deriving a horizontal component of the last position information from the decoded first and decoded third partial signals, and deriving a vertical component of the last position information from the decoded second and decoded fourth partial signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Toshiyasu Sugio, Kyoko Tanikawa, Toru Matsunobu, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 8903194
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a probability conversion unit, a processor, and a threshold conversion unit. The probability conversion unit receives an initial pattern and converts it into a probability distribution space. The processor performs weighting on a density distribution space indicating a density of pixels determined to be dotted using the probability distribution space, determines pixels to be dotted and an order of the dotting in the weighted density distribution space, updates the probability distribution space until the order for all pixels in the initial pattern is determined, and repeats the determination using the updated probability distribution space. The threshold conversion unit converts the order of dotting into thresholds to obtain a threshold matrix. The probability conversion unit uses a threshold matrix preliminarily created to form a halftone dot as the initial pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8885221
    Abstract: Error diffusion processing is performed for each pixel in each region of an image divided into a plurality of regions, by scanning in both the first and second directions different to each other. A diffusion coefficient set for diffusing, to the pixel of interest to be processed, a quantization error generated upon quantizing a pixel near the pixel of interest is set in accordance with the position of the pixel of interest in scanning in the first direction in the region of interest. The pixel of interest to which an error has been diffused from a pixel position referring to the set diffusion coefficient set is quantized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8872841
    Abstract: A method of producing a bit-map including rendering a bit-map of a first image using a first stochastic half-tone screen set, rendering a bit-map of a second image using a second stochastic half-tone screen set, wherein the first half-tone screen set and the second half-tone screen set have respectively associated stochastic half-tone screens, and wherein each half-tone screen of the second half-tone screen set is less than 100 percent correlated with, and not an inverse of, the associated half-tone screen of the first half-tone screen set; and merging the bit-map of the first image with the bit-map of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Meng Yao
  • Patent number: 8861878
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing method and device and an image processing program that are able to perform gradation conversion—that achieves a favorable saturation reproduction when exchanging and reproducing images between devices or between color spaces having different dynamic ranges—by element of having: a first gradation conversion that, when converting gradation characteristics of image data of an image, converts first gradation characteristics using a one-dimensional first lookup table corresponding to the RGB pixel data of the image; and a second gradation conversion that converts the RGB pixel data of the image to chromaticity data and luminescence data or lightness data, and that converts second gradation characteristics of the converted luminescence data or lightness data using a one-dimensional second lookup table corresponding to the luminescence data or lightness data; and then weighting the first gradation conversion and the second gradation conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8855206
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for coding a sequence of images. The method includes a step of coding at least one block of a current image of the sequence, implementing a prediction associating the block with at least one corresponding block in a reference image. The prediction includes the following steps, for at least one given block of the current image or of the reference image: determination of a plurality of control vectors for the block; at least one splitting of the block into sub-blocks; determination of a plurality of control vectors for the sub-blocks; and determination of a prediction value for at least one point of the current image. Moreover, the method includes a step of inserting, into a signal representative of the sequence, information regarding reconstruction of the control vectors for the given block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Stéphane Pateux, Isabelle Amonou, Nathalie Cammas, Sylvain Kervadec
  • Patent number: 8842925
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image is provided. An image coding unit, including a region that deviates from a boundary of a current picture, is divided to obtain a coding unit having a smaller size than the size of the image coding unit, and encoding is performed only in a region that does not deviate from the boundary of the current picture. A method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by the method and apparatus for encoding an image is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-su Cheon
  • Patent number: 8842926
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image is provided. An image coding unit, including a region that deviates from a boundary of a current picture, is divided to obtain a coding unit having a smaller size than the size of the image coding unit, and encoding is performed only in a region that does not deviate from the boundary of the current picture. A method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by the method and apparatus for encoding an image is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-su Cheon
  • Patent number: 8842922
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image is provided. An image coding unit, including a region that deviates from a boundary of a current picture, is divided to obtain a coding unit having a smaller size than the size of the image coding unit, and encoding is performed only in a region that does not deviate from the boundary of the current picture. A method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by the method and apparatus for encoding an image is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-su Cheon
  • Patent number: 8837844
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing method and image processing apparatus using least significant bits (LSBs). The image processing method includes generating first binary codes by converting pixel values of an input image into a binary code format; converting the first binary codes into gray codes and determining a predetermined number of sequential LSBs from among the gray codes; and generating second binary codes by converting the determined LSBs of the gray codes into the binary code format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-bum Choi, Woo-sung Shim, Sung-bum Park, Young-ho Moon, Dai-Woong Choi, Jae-won Yoon
  • Patent number: 8837593
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an input moving image including a plurality of access units arranged every first period. The image processing apparatus includes a motion vector calculation unit which calculates a motion vector of an object included in the input moving image every second period, a motion vector conversion unit which converts the motion vector by multiplying the calculated motion vector by a predetermined gain, and a gain calculation unit which calculates the predetermined gain in accordance with a brightness in a user environment and supplies the predetermined gain to the motion vector conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Nishi, Kazuhiko Ueda, Mitsuyasu Asano
  • Patent number: 8811758
    Abstract: A method for compressing a cloud of points with imposed error constraints at each point is disclosed. Surfaces are constructed that approach each point to within the constraint specified at that point, and from the plurality of surfaces that satisfy the constraints at all points, a surface is chosen which minimizes the amount of memory required to store the surface on a digital computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Numerica Corporation
    Inventors: Randy C. Paffenroth, Ryan Nong, Woody D. Leed, Scott M. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8805103
    Abstract: A method for processing image data comprises determining a set of parameters based on a binary digital image) such that said set of parameters comprises information about the density of white and/or black pixels of a first group of pixels of said binary digital image), and information about the density of white and/or black pixels of a second group of pixels of said binary digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jarmo Antero Nikula, Samu Tapani Koskinen, Tero Pekka Rissa
  • Patent number: 8804835
    Abstract: Scalable Video Coding is recently attracting attentions due to its high flexibility. The current H.264/AVC scalable extension has adopted the Motion Compensated Temporal Filter (MCTF) framework to provide temporal scalability. In this paper, described is another fast motion estimation (ME) algorithm based on the MCTF framework. Simulation results show that the herein described algorithm can reduce the encoding complexity significantly while maintaining similar bit rate and PSNR, comparing with existing fast ME algorithms implemented in the reference software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Tsai Sheng Group LLC
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Sui Yuk Lam
  • Patent number: 8797599
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device which converts multi-gradation pixels configuring a multi-gradation image of image data to be used in a color image forming apparatus, into unit dither patterns. The image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members on which developer images are formed by supplying developer to electrostatic latent images, and an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive members. The developer images on the photosensitive members are transferred to a transferred medium which is moved while contacting the photosensitive members. The image processing device includes a processing unit which converts a multi-gradation pixel of a first color into unit dither patterns, each unit dither pattern consisting of a first line extending in a predetermined direction and a second line extending in a direction intersecting with the first line when a gradation value of the multi-gradation pixel is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Furukawa, Yuichi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8787690
    Abstract: The invention provides various methods and techniques for binarizing an image, generally in advance of further processing such as optical character recognition (OCR). One step includes establishing boundaries of image objects of an image and classifying each image object as either suspect or non-suspect. Another step includes creating a local binarization threshold map that may include or store threshold binarization values associated with image objects classified as non-suspect. Yet another step includes expanding the local binarization threshold map to cover the entire image thereby creating a global binarization threshold map for the entire image. The methods and techniques are capable of identifying and working with separation objects and incuts in images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABBYY Development LLC
    Inventor: Olga Kacher
  • Patent number: 8780413
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising processing a first pixel of a continuous tone image to generate a first error, the first error representative of a difference between an input level and an output level associated with the first pixel; and in response to processing the first pixel, assigning a random error to a second pixel that is neighboring the first pixel, wherein the assigned random error is independent of the first error. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard I. Klaus, Randall D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 8781229
    Abstract: A method and system to localize data fields of a form. An image of a form is received, where the form includes data fields. Word boxes of the image are identified. The word boxes are grouped into candidate zones, where each of the candidate zones includes one or more of the word boxes. Hypotheses are formed from the data fields and the candidate zones, where each hypothesis assigns one of the candidate zones to one of the data fields or a null data field. A constrained optimization search of the hypotheses is performed for an optimal set of hypotheses. The optimal set of hypotheses assigns word box groups to corresponding data fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Saund
  • Patent number: 8723881
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device for tactile feedback are provided. An original image is input and converted to a binary image which includes a first grayscale value and a second grayscale value. The original image is converted to a grayscale image at least including a third grayscale value between the first grayscale value and the second grayscale value. An index map is generated according to the binary image and the grayscale image. The index map includes a plurality of index values indicative of different strengths for tactile feedback. A touch input on a touch panel is detected when the original image is displayed on a display panel. In response to the detected touch input, a tactile activation unit is driven to generate tactile feedback according to the index map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Shih, Jung-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 8724697
    Abstract: An apparatus performs efficient coding techniques to more efficiently locate motion vector data within neighboring video data units. The apparatus comprises a motion vector (MV) location unit that includes a look-up table (LUT), where the MV location unit obtains video data defining a plurality of video data units and processes the plurality of video data units. The apparatus further includes a geometric resolution unit that determines, while processing a current one of the plurality of video data units, which of the plurality of video data units neighbor the current video data unit. The MV location unit then accesses, for each of the neighboring video data units, the LUT to determine a location of a motion vector within a section of the video data to which the neighboring video data unit is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yen-Chi Lee, Yiliang Bao
  • Patent number: 8711436
    Abstract: A image generation device generates, on a print medium, an image including a first image portion and a second image portion. The device has a first screen processing unit which generates image data by an area modulation screen having a first screen ruling, for pixels of the first image portion; and a second screen processing unit which generates image data by an area modulation screen or a density modulation screen having a second screen ruling which is higher than the first screen ruling for pixels of the second image portion. And the first screen processing unit generates a halftone dot at a center of gravity position of an image of the first image portion in a cell corresponding to a halftone dot formation area in the area modulation screen processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Nobuhiro Karito
  • Patent number: 8693058
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which receives print data, a rendering unit which converts the received print data into a bitmap image by rendering, a binarization unit which generates binary data by carrying out halftoning with respect to the bitmap image, a data combining unit which generates multi-bit data by combining a plurality of successive binary data of the generated binary data, and a print engine which forms an image on a print paper using the generated multi-bit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyeong-man Kim
  • Patent number: 8670625
    Abstract: An image coding method including: binarizing a first component and a second component which are included in last position information, to generate a first binary signal and a second binary signal, respectively; coding, by first arithmetic coding, a first partial signal which is a part of the first binary signal and a second partial signal which a part of the second binary signal, and coding, by second arithmetic coding, a third partial signal which is another part of the first binary signal and a fourth partial signal which is another part of the second binary signal; and placing the coded first through fourth partial signals in a bit stream, wherein in the placing, (i) the coded second partial signal is placed next to the coded first partial signal, or (ii) the coded fourth partial signal is placed next to the coded third partial signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Toshiyasu Sugio, Kyoko Tanikawa, Toru Matsunobu, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 8666185
    Abstract: A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for creating a binary mask image from an a inputted digital image of a scanned document, comprising the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, comprising the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: I.R.I.S.
    Inventors: Michel Dauw, Pierre Demuelenaere
  • Patent number: 8660176
    Abstract: An apparatus performs efficient coding techniques to more efficiently resolve geometric relationships between video data units and thereby determine neighboring video data units for a current video data unit. The apparatus comprises a geometric resolution unit that obtains video data defining a plurality of video data units, and determines, for the current one of the plurality of video data units to be processed, a partition width and a video unit number of the current video data unit. The geometric resolution unit accesses, using the determined partition width and video unit number, a plurality of look-up tables (LUTs) to output one or more indices identifying one or more of the plurality of video data units that neighbor the current video data unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yen-Chi Lee, Yiliang Bao
  • Patent number: 8659790
    Abstract: A manuscript reading apparatus capable of reading manuscript through a proper scan resolution without performing troublesome operation by user is supplied. In the image reading apparatus, a setting section 102 sets a scan resolution; an image reading section 103 reads manuscript through the set scan resolution; a storing section 104 stores the read image data; and an image processing section 106 determines a recommended resolution with respect to the scan resolution according to a continuous number of the same pixel in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8605787
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing system that can uniquely identify a motion vector for each pixel of an interpolation frame and accurately identify a motion vector. A motion vector candidate selection unit (301) sequentially selects predetermined motion vector candidates in an interpolation frame. A differential image generation unit (302), a binary image generation unit (303) and an area image generation unit (304) generate a differential image, a binary image and an area image, respectively, based on a selected motion vector candidate. For each pixel of the interpolation frame, a motion vector determination unit (305) identifies a motion vector candidate with which a pixel value of a pixel in the area image corresponding to the pixel is the largest as a motion vector. A pixel value determination unit (306) determines each pixel value of the interpolation frame by using the motion vector identified for each pixel, thereby generating an interpolation frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Iketani
  • Patent number: 8605820
    Abstract: The method includes generating coded bits by encoding information bits, dividing the coded bits into a first bit-stream and a second bit-stream, generating a first data symbol by performing anti-gray mapping on the first bit-stream, generating a second data symbol by performing gray mapping on the second bit-stream, and transmitting the first data symbol and the second data symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Soo Choi, Bin Chul Ihm, Min Seok Oh, Jae Hoon Chung, Wook Bong Lee, Seung Hyun Kang
  • Patent number: 8600158
    Abstract: A method and system operative to process color image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can comprise the steps of receiving color image data, determining the color ranges to be applied to the color image data, assigning each of the pixel positions in the image data a color range, assigning a different spatial binary pattern to each color range, and assigning each of the pixel positions a binary output pixel value that corresponds to the spatial binary pattern assigned to the color range assigned to that pixel position. The resulting binary image data can be written to a file for subsequent storage, transmission, processing, or retrieval and rendering. In other embodiments, a system can be made operative to accomplish the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingquan Li, Stephen Patrick Deloge