Error Diffusion Or Dispersion Patents (Class 382/252)
  • Patent number: 8600184
    Abstract: A system and method of the present disclosure provides a block, or region, based error diffusion process for reducing artifacts in images. The system and method allows for the generation and the control of the spatial frequency of a masking signal, e.g., noise, in a way that it can be easily passed through the compression process. The system and method provides for selecting a block size of pixels of the image, adding a masking signal to the image, determining a quantization error for at least one block in the image, and distributing the quantization error to neighboring blocks in the image to mask artifacts in the image. An output image is then encoded with a compression function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Ju Guo, Marco Antonio Vasquez
  • Patent number: 8582908
    Abstract: Quantization for oversampled signals with an error minimization searches based upon clusters of possible sampling vectors where the clusters have minimal correlation and thereby decrease reconstruction error as a function of oversampling (redundancy) ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Mohamed Mansour
  • Patent number: 8577162
    Abstract: An output apparatus determines pixels that form an area equal to or greater than a predetermined size and whose pixel values are not different from pixel values of neighboring pixels, and pixels that form an area not equal to or greater than the predetermined size. The apparatus reduces the pixel values of the determined pixels and outputs a binary image formed by the determined pixels with the reduced pixel values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shouichi Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 8576447
    Abstract: Error diffusion halftoning includes using a quantizer having an input and an output; and using a system having a bandpass characteristic to modify the quantizer input without feeding the quantizer output directly into the quantizer input. The error diffusion halftoning can produce clustered pixel halftone patterns that can be reliably reproduced by laser printers and other electro-photographic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Niranjan Damera-Venkata
  • Patent number: 8559760
    Abstract: Methods for reducing dimensionality of hyperspectral image data having a number of spatial pixels, each associated with a number of spectral dimensions, include receiving sets of coefficients associated with each pixel of the hyperspectral image data, a set of basis vectors utilized to generate the sets of coefficients, and either a maximum error value or a maximum data size. The methods also include calculating, using a processor, a first set of errors for each pixel associated with the set of basis vectors, and one or more additional sets of errors for each pixel associated with one or more subsets of the set of basis vectors. Utilizing such errors calculations, an optimum size of the set of basis vectors may be ascertained, allowing for either a minimum amount of error within the maximum data size, or a minimum data size within the maximum error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ian S. Robinson, Bradley A. Flanders
  • Patent number: 8554006
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and method of controlling same for detecting, in pixel units, an edge that exists prior to encoding, thereby protecting an edge that exists prior to encoding and reducing noise produced by encoding. To accomplish this, the image processing apparatus compares a threshold value generated from quantization information of each pixel when decoding is performed, and the absolute values of differences between a pixel of interest and pixel peripherals thereto, detects, in pixel units, an edge that existed prior to encoding, and corrects only noise produced by encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8538183
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for approximating a diffusion profile utilizing gathered lighting information associated with an occluded portion of an object. In use, the present technique gathers information associated with an occluded portion of an object that is illuminated with a two-dimensional pattern of light including an edge which defines an illuminated portion and the occluded portion of the object. To this end, a diffusion profile of the object is approximated, utilizing such information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene J. d'Eon, David Patrick Luebke
  • Patent number: 8509313
    Abstract: Error concealment for video with a scene change detection based on inter-coded macroblock energy, spatial concealment for scene changes, and temporal concealment with predicted motion vectors as the global motion vector of the prior frame when half of the current frame macroblocks are corrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Manisha Agrawal
  • Patent number: 8482801
    Abstract: A method and system for processing image data in an image processing device for a plurality of pixel positions within a plurality of scanlines. The method and system includes storing a starting stamp value and a plurality of delta stamp values for the scanline. The stored values being used to generate a pixel stamp value for an input pixel in the scanline, by adding a starting value or previous pixel stamp value and the stored delta stamp value for the input pixel. Further includes receiving an input pixel intensity value for the input pixel and determining an output pixel intensity value. Subsequently, if the output pixel intensity value for the input pixel is equal to a value for a dot or hole the delta stamp values for at least one pixel having a location previous or subsequent to the input pixel can be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen Mantell, John Adam Handwork, David Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 8483502
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an input unit which inputs a pixel value of a multi-level notice pixel, a first add unit which acids an error value to the input value, a second add unit which adds a green noise value to the input value, a threshold processing unit which outputs an binarized output values a green noise calculation unit which calculates the green noise value, a subtract unit which calculates an error value due to binarization, an error diffusion unit which diffuses the calculated error value to an untreated pixel which is not yet binarized and a correction processing unit which adds a positive first offset to the error value to perform a correction and outputs the corrected error value to the first add unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8463063
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first calculating unit configured to add a pixel value and an output of a filter unit, a first quantizing unit configured to quantize an output of the first calculating unit and output a quantized value serving as ?? modulation data, a second calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between the output of the first calculating unit and the quantized value, thereby obtaining the quantization error, a second quantizing unit configured to quantize a portion of the quantization error and output compensating data, a third calculating unit configured to add the ?? modulation data and the compensating data, thereby generating time-integration-effect-using error diffusion data, a fourth calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between the quantization error and the compensating data, the difference serving as a ?? modulation error, and the filter unit configured to perform filtering in space directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8451499
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit storing an image and a processing unit performing image processing in each segment of the stored image to obtain a value of each pixel in a predetermined order using calculation results for peripheral pixels processed. At least one segment is a quadrangular area. Two sides of the quadrangular area extend from a first vertex of two opposite vertices of the area toward two of subsequent pixels after a first pixel at the first vertex so that the area includes the subsequent pixels whose values are obtained using a calculation result for the first pixel. The other two sides extend from a second vertex of the two vertices toward two of previous pixels before a second pixel at the second vertex so that the area includes the previous pixels for which a value of the second pixel is calculated using calculation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Osada
  • Patent number: 8441687
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which may include a grayscale modulator forming a ?? modulator. The modulator may include an adder that adds the pixel value of an image and an output of a feedback arithmetic unit, a quantizing unit that quantizes an output of the adder and outputs a quantized value including a quantization error as the result of ?? modulation, a subtractor that calculates the quantization error, and the feedback arithmetic unit that filters the quantization error and outputs the filtering result to the adder. The filter coefficient of filtering by the feedback arithmetic unit may be determined such that the amplitude characteristics of noise shaping by the ?? modulator in a frequency band that is equal to or more than an intermediate frequency band are the inverse characteristics of the spatial frequency characteristics of the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tsukamoto, Jun Hirai, Ayataka Nishio, Naomasa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8437046
    Abstract: This presents an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which print and output image data subjected to halftone processing with an appropriate density characteristic. The image processing apparatus generates a halftone image from a multi-value image using a threshold value arrangement, and generates a difference image between the generated halftone image and a second halftone image having the density characteristic different from that of the generated halftone image. The image processing apparatus stores the generated halftone image and the generated difference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8427706
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and configurations for error diffusion halftoning of an image including receiving a signal that indicates selection of a first implementation or a second implementation of determining a threshold perturbation value for error diffusion halftoning of an image, and determining the threshold perturbation value using a table of programmable values according to the selected one of the first implementation or the second implementation, wherein the second implementation provides fewer threshold perturbation values for a larger region of the image than the first implementation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Kiethley, Randall D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 8422079
    Abstract: It is determined whether the pixel of interest in image data to be processed belongs to area 1 not close to a scan line changing point where a scan line changing process is done (S101). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 1, an error diffusion process is performed using an error diffusion matrix for area 1 (S102). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 2 close to the scan line changing point, the error diffusion process is performing using an error diffusion matrix for downward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to a lower line, or an error diffusion matrix for upward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to an upper line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8416256
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD) driver circuit, harmonizing a pixel inversion pattern and a dither pattern is disclosed. The pixel inversion pattern and the cooperating dither pattern interact with each other in such a way that there is substantially no discernable video artifacts generated. The cooperating dither pattern can be selected from a plurality of dither patterns using a programmable dither block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Neal, Dinesh Shedge
  • Publication number: 20130064466
    Abstract: A computerized method for independent disjoint block-level recompression of a first image generated by independent coding of disjoint blocks in a precursor image, the first image having at least one first quantization matrix associated there-with, the method comprising performing at least one independent disjoint block-level compression operation, using a processor on the first image, thereby to generate a re-compressed second image including generating a new quantization matrix and using the new quantization matrix for the independent disjoint block-level compression, including computing a rounding error created by the quantization process utilizing the new quantization matrix and, if needed, adjusting at least one value of the new quantization matrix to reduce a rounding error created by the quantization process utilizing the new quantization matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: I.C.V.T. LTD
    Inventors: Sharon Carmel, Dror Gill, Tamar Shoham
  • Patent number: 8396314
    Abstract: Provided are method and apparatus for inverse quantizing an image, the method including: determining a quantization step correction value for reducing a quantization error, which is a difference between an inverse quantization coefficient, obtained by inverse quantizing a quantization coefficient, and an original value of the transformation coefficient; and inverse quantizing the quantization coefficient using a second quantization step value, the second quantization step value being obtained by correcting a first quantization step value used for inverse quantizing the quantization coefficient using the determined quantization step correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Alshin, Elena Alshina, Ekaterina Nesterova
  • Patent number: 8391624
    Abstract: The value of a diffusing error for an interest pixel is added to image data of the interest pixel, and is calculated from error data occurred in quantization of pixels adjacent to the interest pixel. The image data, to which the value of the diffusing error is added, is quantized using a quantization threshold. Error data of the interest pixel is calculated from the result of the quantization and the image data to which the value of the diffusing error is added. Pixels which are adjacent to the interest pixel and have quantization results corresponding to the image data of the interest pixel are detected, and information between pixels is calculated based on differences between the image data and quantization results of adjacent pixels which fall within ranges corresponding to the detected adjacent pixels. The quantization threshold for the interest pixel is set based on the information between pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoei Moribe
  • Patent number: 8363718
    Abstract: Where a quantized data value is produced by a first quantization of an input data value, followed by a first inverse quantization and subsequently by a second quantization and the first quantization has first quantization intervals and the second quantization has second quantization intervals, third quantization intervals are generated by displacing interval boundaries of the second quantization intervals, respectively, to the next interval boundaries of the first quantization intervals. A third reconstruction value is determined for the third quantization intervals such that the third reconstruction value lies within the associated third quantization intervals. A corrected data value is generated by a third inverse quantization of the quantized data value and the third inverse quantization is affirmed by the third quantization intervals containing the associated third reconstruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens-Günter Bialkowski, Andrë Kaup
  • Patent number: 8363889
    Abstract: An image data processing system includes an image input module, a bit map generation module and an encoding module. The image input module receives an image and secret information and obtains at least one gray-level image according to image. The bit map generation module generates a bit map image according to gray-level image and generates an ordered dithering block truncation coding (ODBTC) image according to bit map image and gray-level image. The encoding module generates an encoded gray-level image according to bit map image and secret information, wherein the encoding module divides gray-level image into image blocks, finds candidate blocks with close black and white pixel numbers among the image blocks, selects high frequency blocks belong to the high frequency region of the image from candidate blocks, and randomly embeds secret information into high frequency blocks to generate encoded gray-level image with secret information embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jing-Ming Guo, Jia-Jin Tsai
  • Patent number: 8363278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of generating frequency-modulation halftone dots in high speed and belongs to the field of the digital image halftone. In the prior art, read-write operation is usually carried out many times in error rows during processing each pixel so that halftone dots are generated in low speed. In the method according to the present invention, the error generated by the current pixel is buffered in a register file and the final accumulated error values are written in the error rows only after all of the relative pixels are processed. Thus, read-write operation is carried out only once in the error rows for processing each pixel. The present invention also provides an apparatus to implement the method. The apparatus comprises an error row memory, an error buffer register file, a gray generation circuit, a threshold comparison circuit, an error generation circuit, an error buffer register file control circuit, and an error row control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Peking University Founder Group Co., Ltd., Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd., Peking University
    Inventors: Zhihong Liu, Feng Chen, Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 8363279
    Abstract: A disclosed method for setting multiple tones in a halftone process upon recording an image using ink includes the steps of: dividing the image into plural dot areas; and setting the multiple tones such that at least one dot area to which the ink is not attached is present between dot areas to which the ink is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kikuchi, Takashi Kimura, Takahiro Ike
  • Patent number: 8355176
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including: a screen processor for determining each pixel value of a screen processing application unit region composed of a plurality of pixels to which a threshold matrix is applied, in an inputted image; and for carrying out a screen processing by applying one threshold matrix among a plurality of threshold matrices in which applied positions of the threshold values are different from each other, to the plurality of pixels in the screen processing application unit region based on each determined pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kosuke Toura
  • Patent number: 8346001
    Abstract: This invention is directed to efficiently compressing data used in an image process for an unprocessed line adjacent to a process line in an image data process for each line, and reducing the memory band. To accomplish this, processed image data is compressed, and it is determined whether the process direction of image data of the next line is the first direction or the second direction opposite to the first direction. The data organization of the compressed image data is changed in accordance with the determination result. A memory stores the compressed image data whose data organization has been changed. The compressed image data stored in the memory is read out and decompressed. An image process is performed using the decompressed image data and image data of a line adjacent to the line of the processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Ichimura
  • Patent number: 8339673
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisuke Akahori
  • Patent number: 8320694
    Abstract: Machine-enabled methods of, and system, and processor readable media, embodiments for, tone quantization error diffusion, comprising a first stage process and a second stage process, where the quantization and error diffusion steps may be completed for lines scanned according to the first stage, and the quantized pixels may be tested to determine the actual output halftone pattern of the pixels. The quantized pixels may be tested to determine their actual output halftone pattern and threshold levels may be determined by measuring dot intensities for the output device, e.g., a multi-functional peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 8305387
    Abstract: Adaptive pulse-width modulated sequences for sequential color display systems and methods. A method for displaying an image comprises receiving the image, computing a duty cycle for the image, generating a color sequence based on the computed duty cycle, and displaying the image using the color sequence. The generating comprises assigning a color cycle order to display time blocks in the color sequence, and assigning bitplane states for each display time block in the color sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, David Foster Lieb, Jeffrey Matthew Kempf
  • Patent number: 8294952
    Abstract: A halftoning process includes: receiving CMYK input pixel data in terms of continuous tone input data values for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors converting the CMYK input pixel data to modified CMYKRGB* pixel data that define the input pixel in terms of error-adjusted continuous tone data values quantizing the modified CMYKRGB* pixel data to derive intermediate output CMYKRGB pixel data in which the cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, and blue colors are each defined by either a first quantized value that represents no color or a second quantized pixel value that represents full color converting the intermediate output CMYKRGB pixel data to CMYK output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Zhigang Fan, Zhen He
  • Patent number: 8284452
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for screening color separations of a lenticular image with a lenticular frequency of the lenticular lenses needed for viewing the lenticular image. An amplitude-modulated halftone image is calculated for each of the color separations at a screen angle and at a screen frequency, the tangent of the screen angle being a rational number. For a specific color separation, a screen angle relating to the direction perpendicular to the image strips of the lenticular image is defined, a pair of whole numbers whose ratio is equal to the tangent of the screen angle is determined, and the screen frequency of the color separation is calculated as the product of the lenticular frequency and the square root of the sum of the squares of the two whole numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Dietrich Blum
  • Patent number: 8274705
    Abstract: Machine-enabled methods of, and system, and processor readable media, embodiments for, tone quantization error diffusion comprising a first stage process and a second stage process. where pre-calibrated index tables may be applied by which quantized pixels may be expressed according to halftones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 8270746
    Abstract: An image compression method and a device thereof are provided. In the image compression method, a block image having a plurality of pixels is received. In the block image, an adjusted value of a first pixel is compared with a threshold value, and the adjusted value of the first pixel is accordingly quantized as a first parameter value or a second parameter value so as to obtain a quantized value of the first pixel. Next, an error value between the adjusted value of the first pixel and the quantized value of the first pixel is distributed to at least one second pixel adjacent to the first pixel according to an error diffusion kernel. The first pixel and the second pixel are respectively one of the above pixels. Therefore, the quality of the compressed image is improved and the influence of the blocking effect is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Jing-Ming Guo
  • Patent number: 8259358
    Abstract: A method for eliminating moire in scanned digital image comprises the steps of using an average circuit for taking weighted average and error diffusing a gray level difference between an error diffusion pixel Gij and neighbor pixels to neighbor to obtain output image pixel Y?ij; using a second adder for subtracting the error diffusion pixel Gij from the output image pixel Y?ij to obtain a neighbor image error dij; using a error filter H(z) to process the neighbor image error dij to obtain a corrected pixel error H(d(i,j)); and using a first adder for adding the corrected pixel error H(d(i,j)) and the input image pixel Yij to obtain the corrected error diffusion pixel Gij, and then jumping to first step until all pixels being processed. The method provides real time treatment for eliminating moire and provide smooth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Muller Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Chen-Chung Chen, Cheng-Huei Chiang
  • Patent number: 8248660
    Abstract: Diffusion dithering can be performed efficiently by applying a set of diffusion filter weights with one or more shift, add, and/or subtract operations. An existing diffusion filter can be approximated with dyadic rationals, thereby allowing division operations in applying the filter weights to be performed with bit-shifting operations. An algorithm is identified to calculate the product of a set of filter weights and a pixel error, where the algorithm performs the calculations using one or more shift, add, or subtract operations. An exhaustive search of the combinations of operations can be made to find an efficient algorithm to calculate the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Yuriy Reznik
  • Patent number: 8208543
    Abstract: Alpha images are efficiently encoded for inclusion in video bitstreams. During encoding, alpha image data is quantized as a first step before differential encoding. The quantized alpha image data is then differential encoded and represented in a modulo domain before entropy encoding to take advantage of certain distribution features of typical alpha image data. During decoding, a decoder performs differential decoding of encoded alpha image data before dequantization. During differential decoding, the data is converted from a modulo domain to a continuous domain. Dequantization is performed using a technique which results in reconstructed alpha image values which include 0 and maximal values within the acceptable alpha image data range so that the process preserves these values for reconstructed alpha images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Sridhar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8208172
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resolution conversion unit that integrates n pixels that are contiguous in the sub-scanning direction, and that determines an average value of pixel values of the n pixels as a pixel value of integrated pixels, a quantization unit that quantizes the pixel value of the integrated pixels to N levels, an image analysis unit that performs first determination processing for determining whether the difference between the pixel values of the n input pixels exceeds a threshold value set in advance, and second determination processing for determining whether a direction in which the pixel values of the n input pixels becomes greater is a forward direction of the sub-scanning direction or an opposite direction, and a pixel selection unit that determines n output pixels, based on the results, from a quantization result of the integrated pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuji Takayama, Hisashi Ishikawa, Tomoyuki Saiki, Go Araki
  • Patent number: 8194995
    Abstract: A camera auto-focuses using computed blur differences between images of a three-dimensional scene. The camera computes the blur difference between two images of the scene acquired at two different picture numbers. The camera uses the computed blur difference to predict a third picture number, where the camera uses the third picture number to auto-focus a camera lens on the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Quong Wong, Makibi Nakamura, Hidenori Kushida, Soroj Triteyaprasert, Yoshihiro Murakami, Pingshan Li, Mamoru Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20120121201
    Abstract: M-value image data is inputted; a value of a pixel of interest in the inputted image data is quantized to N(N>M) value by an error diffusion method; it is determined whether both of a value of the pixel of interest to be quantized and an error value to be added to the pixel of interest are zero; and if it is determined that the value of the pixel of interest and the error value are zero, zero is outputted as a quantization result without performing quantization by the error diffusion method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Ichimura
  • Patent number: 8175149
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling a bit-rates in which an amount of generated bits is adjusted according to the complexity of each frame, and a bit-rate within a frame can be further effectively adjusted by applying different quantization parameter (QP) values to respective macro blocks. In the apparatus for controlling a bit-rate, a motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTP) operation is performed for each group of pictures (GOP) in an input scalable layer, and thereafter bits are allocated to respective frames in consideration of frame type and frame complexity. Furthermore, a QP is adaptively determined in the unit of a macro block on the basis of the allocated bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dong-San Jun, Jae Gon Kim, Jin Woo Hong, Jong-Ki Han, Nae-ri Park
  • Patent number: 8169665
    Abstract: A tone dependent green-noise error diffusion method includes setting a first threshold and a second threshold, and determining a two-level value of a color level of an input image according to the first threshold and the second threshold; subtracting the two-level value from the color level value to generate an error value; performing an error diffusion on the error value to generate an error diffusion accumulation value; adjusting the color level according to the error diffusion accumulation value; performing a hysteresis filtering on the two-level value to generate an output dependent feedback value; and adjusting the color level according to the output dependent feedback value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Chian Wong, Chen-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 8169663
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes (i) a repulsive force generating section for setting repulsive force values RVa and RVu of a quantized pixel according to an output pixel value of the quantized pixel, (ii) a repulsive force calculating section for calculating a repulsive force value RVC to be used in quantizing a quantization-target pixel by attenuating, according to a distance between the quantized pixel and the quantization-target pixel, the repulsive force values RVa and RVu set for the quantized pixel; and (iii) a threshold value correcting section for correcting a threshold value T used in quantizing the quantization-target pixel according to the repulsive force value RVC. This makes it possible to prevent an increase in the number of processing steps and amount of processing when an image is processed with an error diffusion method. At the same time, it is possible to prevent decrease in image uniformity and formation of a pattern unique to the error diffusion method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8170357
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method generate a coded block pattern (CBP) of an alpha channel image. An apparatus and a method encode or decode the alpha channel image using the method. The alpha channel image encoding apparatus includes a CBP generator generating a CBP of a first block corresponding to an encoding unit in the alpha channel image by allocating CBPs to a plurality of second blocks that includes the first block; and a bitstream generator generating a bitstream by encoding the CBP or the CBP and pixel values of the second blocks based on the CBP of each of second blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wooshik Kim, Hyun Mun Kim, Daesung Cho, Jinhyung Park
  • Publication number: 20120093430
    Abstract: An image processing method includes the step of generating an error diffusion value; detecting an edge at a current pixel of an image; and adding the pixel value of the current pixel with the error diffusion value or an error diffusion seed according to the detecting result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Naoki SUMI, Yoshikazu Matsui, Satoshi Kawata, Masahiro Yoshiga
  • Patent number: 8154777
    Abstract: A color correction method includes for each of a plurality of color separations of a digital image, establishing a tone reproduction curve in the form of a vector. The vector is a function of a plurality of basis vectors. The basis vectors account for colorant interactions between a primary colorant with which the color separation is to be rendered and at least one secondary colorant with which at least a second of the plurality of color separations is to be rendered. The vector includes modified input values corresponding to input values for the color separation which vary, depending on the input values of at least the second color separation. For a pixel of interest in the digital image, a modified input value for the color separation which corresponds to the input value of the given color separation is identified from the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Yeqing Zhang, Robert P. Loce, Raja Bala
  • Patent number: 8155445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomotoshi Kanatsu
  • Publication number: 20120070095
    Abstract: In a method of compressing image data which include a plurality of pixel values which are associated with a respective pixel, the pixel values are coded for at least some pixels in accordance with the following steps: determining an estimated pixel value of the respective pixel in dependence on the pixel value of at least one predetermined other pixel while using an estimation rule; and forming a difference value of the respective pixel which corresponds to a predefined relation between the pixel value and the estimated pixel value of the respective pixel and quantization of the difference value in accordance with a difference value quantization rule. The quantized difference values of the pixels are compressed in accordance with a compression rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co., Betriebs KG
    Inventors: Michael CIESLINSKI, Stefano ANDRIANI
  • Patent number: 8139066
    Abstract: Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, Geraldine Wade, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20120051659
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of dividing an m-value image into a plurality of divided images and performing quantization into an n-value image (2?n<m) for each divided image includes a first quantization unit for quantizing a first region in the divided image similarly to a region to be joined, and a second quantization unit for sequentially quantizing a second region in the divided image including the first region. If the second quantization unit quantizes the first region, parameters for the quantization processing is corrected using a quantization result in the first quantization unit such that the quantization result approaches the quantization result in the first quantization unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jumpei Ashida
  • Patent number: 8107537
    Abstract: A one-pass picture-layer rate control (RC) method and system for controlling a video encoder: The bit allocation and determination of quantization parameter (QP) in this rate control method and system are based on a Rate-Quantization (R-Q) scale model. The R-Q model is a linear one, wherein the number of bits per picture is in reverse ratio of quantization scale for that picture. A conversion of exponential-based QP to linear-scaled QP is taken in the calculation of complexity model and determination of QP. The conversion is integer-based and is consistent with the quantization array defined in the H.264 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Zhou, Shijun Sun