Highpass Filter (i.e., For Sharpening Or Enhancing Details) Patents (Class 382/263)
  • Patent number: 8284314
    Abstract: A video processing device includes an input to receive pixel values for a set of pixels comprising a pixel window substantially centered around a select pixel that initially has a first pixel value. The video processing device further includes a first filter unit to determine a horizontal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a horizontal direction, a second filter unit to determine a vertical transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a vertical direction, a third filter unit to determine a first diagonal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a first diagonal direction, and a fourth filter unit to determine a second diagonal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a second diagonal direction that is perpendicular to the first diagonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Vixs Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Arthur Wallace, James Christopher Lynch
  • Publication number: 20120250993
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an image estimation unit that estimates an image prior to the jaggedness occurrence from a jaggedness-occurring image and generates an estimated image prior to the jaggedness occurrence, and a weighting/adding unit that selects a jaggedness-occurring area as a processing target area in the estimated image prior to the jaggedness occurrence, detects a similar area that is a pixel area and similar to the processing target area, and then computes a weight according to the degree of similarity of each detected similar area to the processing target area, and detects a corresponding area in the jaggedness-occurring image to the processing target area and the similar area, and then computes a corrected pixel value of the processing target area of the jaggedness-occurring image through a weighting/adding process to which the weight of a pixel value of the detected corresponding area is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Daisuke ISO, Tappei Kurita, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Patent number: 8279932
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a synthesis filter unit configured to execute synthesis filtering for coefficient data of each subband, obtained by decoding a code stream of a reversibly-encoded image and performing band division, in each predetermined number of lines or in each predetermined block to obtain baseband image data on a line basis; a storage unit configured to store the baseband image data obtained by the synthesis filter unit; an analysis filter unit configured to read the baseband image data stored in the storage unit and execute analysis filtering for the image data to divide the image data up to a predetermined division level; and a control unit configured to control the analysis filter unit to execute analysis filtering as soon as the amount of the baseband image data stored in the storage unit reaches a data amount allowing analysis filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Fukuhara, Katsutoshi Ando, Junya Araki
  • Patent number: 8279347
    Abstract: A system of edge direction detection for comb filter includes a buffer, first and second filters, first and second oblique detectors, and a comparator. The buffer receives and stores a composite signal. The first filter performs filtering operation on the composite signal to produce a first filter signal. The second filter performs filtering operation on the composite signal to produce a second filter signal. The first oblique detector detects an oblique in the first filter signal to produce a first oblique indication signal and a first oblique direction signal and output a first minimum oblique difference. The second oblique detector detects an oblique in the second filter signal to produce a second oblique indication signal and a second oblique direction signal and output a second minimum oblique difference. The comparator compares the first and second oblique indication signals and the first and second oblique direction signals to produce edge information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung Han Chiang
  • Patent number: 8279346
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, degradation of edges of stationary subjects can be suppressed in a moving image obtained by converting moving image data having F frames per unit time into moving image data having 2F sub frames per the unit time. For this purpose, pixel data is inputted in order of raster scanning into an input terminal. Then three contiguous pixel data X1 to X3 are obtained by the input terminal and two delay circuits. A differentiator calculates a difference d1 (=X1?X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X1 and a difference d2 (=X3?X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X3. A multiplier coefficient for low-pass filter calculation is determined based on the differences d1 and d2, and pixel data X2? is calculated as pixel data after filter-processing of the pixel data of interest X2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8279240
    Abstract: A video scaler is disclosed. A polyphase filter can be used to generate interpolated pixels. The values of pixels adjacent an interpolated pixel are examined to determine variation in values among the adjacent pixels to determine minimum and maximum value variations. The value of the interpolated pixel is limited based on the minimum and maximum value variations. Ringing artifacts can be reduced by limiting the color range of an interpolated pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Sreenath Kurupati
  • Publication number: 20120242707
    Abstract: A scaler is provided and includes filters each receiving input pixel data and scaling the input pixel data using a scaling factor to generate a scaled pixel value, and a plurality of mixers, less than the plurality of filters. A first mixer performs a first blending operation on a first scaled pixel value and a second scaled pixel value provided by different filters. A second mixer performs a second blending operation on the blended result of the first mixer and a third scaled pixel value provided by anther filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Woo Song, Jong Ho Roh, Byoung Jin Ahn, Ho June Leu
  • Patent number: 8270749
    Abstract: A method is presented for processing an image of a two-dimensional (2D) matrix symbol having a plurality of data modules and a discontinuous finder pattern, each distorted by “donut effects”. A resulting processed image contains an image of the 2D matrix symbol having a continuous finder pattern suitable for conventional 2D matrix symbol locating techniques, and having a plurality of data modules, each data module having a center more truly representative of intended data, and suitable for conventional 2D matrix symbol sampling and decoding. The method includes sharpening the distorted image of the 2D matrix symbol to increase a difference between low frequency and high frequency image feature magnitudes, thereby providing a sharpened image, and smoothing the sharpened image using a moving window over the sharpened image so as to provide a smoothed image, the moving window and a module of the 2D matrix code being of substantially similar size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Sateesh Nadabar, Xiangyun Ye
  • Patent number: 8265416
    Abstract: In a method, apparatus and integrated circuit for improving image sharpness, the method includes the following steps: (a) labeling each of pixels in an image as one of an edge/texture type and a non-edge/texture type; (b) classifying each of the pixels that are labeled as the edge/texture type into one of a border point type, a transition point type, and a peak point type; and (c) using a shrinking/expanding filter to filter the pixels of the border point type, and subsequently using a high boost filter to first filter the pixels of the peak point type and then filter the pixels of the transition point type to sharpen the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Jung Lin, Pei-Lin Hou
  • Patent number: 8248662
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of using the same, the image forming apparatus including: a detection unit to detect an edge of an input image; a categorization unit to categorize the detected edge, according to a gray value and line width; and a compensation unit to compensate the gray value according to the categorized edge type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeon-seok Seo
  • Patent number: 8249395
    Abstract: System, method, and computer program product to adaptively blend the interpolation results from an 8-tap Lanczos filter and the interpolation results from a bilinear filter, according to the local transitions of the input content. Artifacts may occur, which may be identified as such and corrected. Pixels that represent artifacts in the blended image may be replaced with the pixel for that location taken from the bilinear interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ya-Ti Peng, Yi-Jen Chiu
  • Patent number: 8237689
    Abstract: An image encoding device includes a dynamic range generator for outputting dynamic range data Dd1 of block image data Dc1, an average value generator for outputting average value data De1 of the block image data Dc1, a number-of-pixel reducing unit 20 for decreasing number of pixels of the block image data by reduction-number of pixels to generate reduced-number-of-pixel block image data Dc1?, an encoding parameter generator 18 for generating encoding parameter pa1 specifying a quantization bit rate and the reduction-number of pixels in accordance with the dynamic range data Dd1, a quantization threshold generator 19 for generating a quantization threshold value tb1, and an image data quantizer 21 for generating quantized image data Df1 from the reduced-number-of-pixel block image data Dc1? with use of the quantization threshold value tb1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Nagase, Jun Someya, Noritaka Okuda
  • Patent number: 8237822
    Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus may effectively reduce noise in an image which represents an object photographed by a photographing apparatus. The method may include extracting a first low-frequency component and a first high-frequency component from first image data, and applying a noise reduction filter to the first low-frequency component and to the first high-frequency component to obtain a second low-frequency component and a second high-frequency component, respectively. The method may also include obtaining edge data from the second low-frequency component, and amplifying a portion of the second high-frequency component that corresponds to the edge data to obtain a third high-frequency component. The method may further include combining the second low-frequency component with the third high-frequency component to obtain second image data, and controlling the second image data representing the photographed object to be output to at least one of a storage medium and a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-keun Chang, Jin-pyo Gwak
  • Publication number: 20120195521
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for processing image data where row data is received corresponding to a target row of pixels and to one or more reference rows of pixels. A target row average is generated based on the target row data and a reference row average is generated for each of the one or more reference rows based on each reference row's respective row data. A row correction value is generated based on the target row average of the target row and the reference row average of the one or more reference rows. Corrected target row data is generated by applying the row correction value to the target row data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Myers, Jeffery Beck, Christopher Silsby
  • Patent number: 8223230
    Abstract: Descriptions are provided of various implementations of an automated tuning process configured to optimize a procedure for post-processing images captured by a camera sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Victor H. Chan, Narayana S. Ravirala
  • Patent number: 8218622
    Abstract: System and method for processing videos and images to a determined quality level. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for enhancing video. The method includes providing a first video element that is uncompressed. The method also includes determining motion information associated with the video element. The method further includes providing a second video element by removing at least a defect from the first video element. The second video element includes a color luminance and a luminance. In addition, the method includes de-interlacing the second video element using the motion information. Furthermore, the method includes scaling the second video element. Also, the method includes providing a third video element by enhancing the chrominance and enhancing the luminance of the second video element. The method additionally includes outputting the third video element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ipera Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Xie
  • Publication number: 20120170863
    Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for reducing noise in a digital image capable of reducing noise while preventing damage to an edge of a digital image. The apparatus includes: a high pass filtering unit determining an edge region of an input image; a low pass filtering unit performing low pass filtering on a region of the input image determined not to be the edge region by the high pass filtering unit; and a sigma filtering unit performing sigma filtering on the region of the input image determined not to be the edge region by the high pass filtering unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gyu Won KIM, Kyoung Joong MIN, Ho Seop JEONG, In Taek SONG
  • Patent number: 8213701
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method including executing high-pass filtering in a column direction on the pixel values of original image data read from a flat panel detector to obtain first image data, and subtracting a value obtained by converting each of the pixel values of the first image data in accordance with an absolute value of a statistic calculated from pixel values in the same pixel row of the first image data from the value of a corresponding pixel of the original image data to obtain processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8212900
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for color plane interpolation are provided which interpolates the color values of pixels differently depending on an edge direction and whether a pixel is at an edge within an image. The use of the edge detection during the interpolation of each of the colors present in the color pattern helps reduce some of the disadvantages of the loss of image sharpness abundant in known demosaicing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Igor Subbotin
  • Publication number: 20120162527
    Abstract: A single-ended blur detection probe and method with a local sharpness map for analyzing a video image sequence uses two sets of edge filters, one for “fast edges” and the other for “slow edges.” Each set of edge filters includes a horizontal bandpass filter, a vertical bandpass filter and a pair of orthogonal diagonal filters where the frequency response of the fast edge filters overlap the frequency response of the slow edge filters. The video image sequence is input to each filter of each set, and the output absolute values are combined with weighting factors to produce a slow edge weighted sum array and a fast edge weighted sum arra. The respective weighted sum arrays are then decimated to produce a slow edge decimated array and a fast edge decimated array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventor: DANIEL G. BAKER
  • Patent number: 8208753
    Abstract: A system determines the noise level of image data by high pass filtering image data. Absolutes values of the high pass filtered image data are determined. Thereafter, multiple mean values for absolute values less than a predetermined number of threshold values are determined. Based upon the determined mean values, a plurality of estimated mean values is calculated, each estimated mean value being calculated from a combination of two determined mean values. The noise of the image is determined from a combination of the minimum estimated mean value and the maximum estimated mean value. This noise can be optionally used by a sigma filter, at Step S740, to sigma filter the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart A. Schweid
  • Patent number: 8208171
    Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Nobuhiro Mishima
  • Patent number: 8204328
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously optimizing a digital image taken in or through a scattering medium and obtaining information regarding optical properties of the scattering medium is provided. Data of the digital image is received by a computer. The digital image is evaluated according to an objective image quality metric and a resulting image quality value is compared to a previously stored image quality value for the image. A revised optical transfer function is derived by modeling the optical properties of the medium to be used to generate a restored digital image, which is derived from the original image and the revised optical transfer function. The restored digital image is evaluated according to the objective image quality metric and an optimized restored image is identified. The optical properties associated with the optical transfer function producing the optimized restored image are retrieved and represent a close approximation of the true optical properties of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Wellin Hou, Alan Weidemann
  • Patent number: 8204108
    Abstract: In a device and a method for detecting a letter box for an MPEG decoder, the method includes performing processing area filtering for selecting a processing area of an image used to detect the letter box; performing intra-macroblock filtering for determining the letter box area based on a change level of pixels in macroblocks in one line of the image from the processing area; performing impulse data filtering for excluding the line being detected a high frequency component from the determined letter box area; performing inter-macroblock filtering for determining the letter box area based on a change level of lines between macroblocks of the image; performing inter-line filtering for determining a boundary of the letter box based on an average of the pixel values of the lines; and performing inter-picture filtering for outputting a boundary value of the letter box that has the highest frequency number as the boundary of the letter box in successive images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Young Jang
  • Patent number: 8194160
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a frequency decomposition unit adapted to decompose an image signal into a high frequency component and a low frequency component, a high frequency separation unit adapted to separate the high frequency component into an invalid component caused by noise and other valid component, a conversion characteristic calculation unit adapted to calculate a conversion characteristic on the basis of the low frequency component, a gradation processing unit adapted to perform a gradation processing on the low frequency component and the valid component on the basis of the calculated conversion characteristic, and a frequency synthesis unit adapted to generate an image signal on which a gradation conversion has been performed by synthesizing the low frequency component on which the gradation conversion has been performed, the valid component on which a gradation conversion has been performed and the invalid component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8194074
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing a rendered drawing or rendering from a detailed image of an object (e.g. photograph) resulting in a rendering that is photogrammetric and that preserves detail in the said image of said object. The combination of the metric nature and image detail preservation in a rendering resulting from the process enhances the usefulness of the rendering to users. The invention is useful in particular for large format renderings such as wire frame style drawings used for blueprints in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC industry) when used for existing structures. The processes combine graphic arts techniques with photogrammetric techniques to preserve, fully or partially, information about an object as captured in image detail of said object and to present said information in photogrammetrically correct rendering, which rendering may be incorporated into drawings useful to and/or familiar to end users of said drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Battle M. Brown
  • Patent number: 8189943
    Abstract: A method up-samples images in a reduced resolution video, wherein each image I(x, y) stores depths d at pixel locations (x, y). each depth image is scaled up to produce a corresponding up-scaled image. Then, image dilation, a median filter, image erosion, and a min-max filter are applied in order to produce a corresponding up-sampled image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sehoon Yea, Kwan-Jun Oh, Anthony Vetro
  • Patent number: 8184922
    Abstract: A digital filter configuration for the filtration of a digital video signal, wherein the functions of a zoom filter, in the form of a low-pass filter, which is a polyphase filter, and of at least one peaking filter, in the form of a high-pass filter, are realized, wherein the functions of the two filters are realized in a combined filter (1-17) in an integrated circuit in a manner such that, for each phase of the zoom filter to be set, combined filter coefficients are calculated from filter coefficients stored for this phase of the zoom filter and from filter coefficients stored for the peaking filter, which combined filter coefficients are applied to the video data to be filtered in a filtration process, so that both filtration functions are executed with the combined filter coefficients in this filtration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Trident Microsystems (Far East) Ltd.
    Inventor: Frank Matschullat
  • Patent number: 8180180
    Abstract: This invention is a method applicable to an image processing device, which includes the steps of providing a preprocess module for extracting a high-frequency portion of an image inputted into the device, extracting a gradient of the image and decomposing the image into plane and edge regions according to a predetermined fixed threshold, and providing a composite up-scaling module for executing the magnification processes on the image and the high-frequency portion thereof respectively, wherein the magnification process of plane regions of the image and the high-frequency portion is based on a simple interpolation while the edge regions of the image and the high-frequency portion is based on both a smart interpolation and the simple interpolation. The magnification results of the image and the high-frequency portion are then processed by a fusion process, so as to output an image having sharp but not blocky edges, rich details and strong contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: ArcSoft Hangzhou Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaqi Zhang, Ding Wang, Jin Wang
  • Patent number: 8180169
    Abstract: A first sigma filtering circuit sigma filters an image to produce a filtered image. An analysis circuit processes the sigma filtered image to produce an approximation part and a detail part. A second sigma filter circuit filters the approximation part to produce a sigma filtered approximation part. Another analysis circuit process the sigma filtered approximation part to produce a second approximation part and a second detail part. A third sigma filter circuit sigma filters the second approximation part to produce a sigma filtered second filtered approximation part. A first synthesizer synthesizes the sigma filtered second filtered approximation part and the second detailed part to produce a first reconstructed image, and a second synthesizer synthesizes the first reconstructed image and the first detail part to produce a final filtered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart A. Schweid
  • Publication number: 20120114264
    Abstract: A method for producing high-quality photographic images in in low-light conditions and in the absence of large-aperture optics. The method includes, upon photographing, first obtaining a plurality of frames of the image with exposures which either partially overlap in time or with an insignificant pause between them. The best result can be obtained in the case when the pause between the exposures represents less than 1/20 of the overall exposure time. The method further includes separating out the initial images from a group of exposures and filtering the images having the smallest exposure interval using the images having the largest exposure interval. The final image is obtained by combining initial images having different exposure intervals from the same group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Dmitry Valerievich Shmunk, Eugene Alexandrovich Panich
  • Publication number: 20120099801
    Abstract: A method for enhancing sharpness for a digital image follows this sequence: (a) in a display of a computerized appliance, selecting an image to be enhanced in sharpness; (b) downsizing the selected image by a downsizing algorithm executing on the computerized appliance to produce an image 0 at resolution substantially less than resolution of the original image selected in step (a); (c) applying a convolution filter to image 0 to produce an image n with enhanced sharpness, where n is an integer; (d) subtracting pixel values for pixels of image n from corresponding pixels for image 0, saving the differences; (e) dividing the differences in step (d) by integer n, and saving the quotients; (f) adding the quotients from step (e) to values for corresponding pixels in image 0 to produce an image 1, then to values of pixels for image 1 to produce an image 2, and repeating until an image n-1 is produced; (g) presenting images 0 through n to a user for selection of a best image for sharpness; and (h) upsizing the user-
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Rodney Shaw
  • Patent number: 8165383
    Abstract: A method for edge detection, the method includes: obtaining an image of an area of a lithographic mask; wherein the image is generated by an optical system that is partially coherent; calculating a gradient of the image and a second derivative of the image in a direction of the gradient of the image; calculating a function that is proportional to the second derivative of the image in the direction of the gradient of the image and is inversely proportional to a ratio between a square of the gradient of the image and the image; and detecting at least one edge of at least one feature of the area in response to values of the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Lev Faivishevsky
  • Patent number: 8155434
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for image enhancement. Some embodiments comprise color detection, color mapping and differential processing based on color characteristics. Some embodiments comprise tonescale processing. Some embodiments comprise application of dither pattern noise to an image to reduce contouring artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Kerofsky, Xiao-Fan Feng, Hao Pan, Scott J. Daly
  • Patent number: 8150134
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing blood vessels in angiography images. The method incorporates the use of linear directional features present in an image, extracted by a Directional Filter Bank, to obtain more precise Hessian analysis in noisy environment and thus can correctly reveal small and thin vessels. Also, the directional image decomposition helps to avoid junction suppression, which in turn, yields continuous vessel tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Kyung Hee University
    Inventors: Sungyoung Lee, Tae-Seong Kim, Young-Koo Lee, Phan Tran Ho Truc
  • Patent number: 8150197
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of obtaining a high-resolution image are provided. The apparatus of obtaining a high-resolution image may generate a high frequency component of an output image using a high frequency component of an input image, synthesize the input image and the generated high frequency component of the output image, and thereby may obtain a sharpness-enhanced high-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu Young Hwang, Ho Young Lee, Du-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 8150200
    Abstract: A method for reducing image noise with edge tracking comprises receiving input of an object image data for conversion and a size data of a matrix, namely, a conversion area of the image data; calculating a statistical difference value between each pixel of the image data and a pixel adjacent to the pixel in a predetermined direction and calculating edge map data obtained from the calculation in each predetermined direction; and converting an object pixel for conversion of the image data using calculation pixels located in the matrix of the image data, wherein the conversion step outputs main calculation pixels, namely, calculation pixels having a statistical difference value below a predetermined level with a value of the object pixel among the calculation pixels based on the edge map data, and converts the object pixel using a statistical calculation value of the main calculation pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Core Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Sin Lee
  • Publication number: 20120076430
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for image enhancement, wherein an input image may be separated into two images: a first image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be sharpened; and a second image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be attenuated. One aspect of the present invention relates to determining a value for a noise-control parameter that controls the amount of attenuation applied to the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher A. Segall
  • Patent number: 8145006
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a decoder, an acquisition module, a sharpening module, and a controller. The decoder decodes an encoded image to obtain a decoded image. The acquisition module acquires quantization information indicating the accuracy of quantization upon generating the encoded image. The sharpening module performs sharpening on the decoded image. The controller controls the effect of the sharpening based on the quantization information such that the effect of the sharpening is reduced as the accuracy decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Muto
  • Patent number: 8144252
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an input image signal is passed through a plurality of first high pass filters having different passing frequency band to generate level histograms. High frequency component noise reduction processing is applied to the output of one of the first high pass filters selected based on one of the generated histograms that satisfies a predetermined threshold, low frequency component noise reduction processing is applied to a result obtained by subtracting the output of the selected first high pass filter from the input image signal, and outputs obtained by both the noise reduction processing are added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Himio Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120070098
    Abstract: A signal processing device first decomposes an input signal into a plurality of frequency components in different frequency ranges, then causes a higher harmonic wave generating section to generate a higher harmonic for each of a part or all of frequency components obtained by removing a frequency component in the lowest frequency range from frequency components obtained by the decomposition, and finally composes (i) the higher harmonic thus generated and (ii) a frequency component for which no higher harmonic has been generated. The higher harmonic wave generating section adds the frequency component and a nonlinear process signal (i) in which positive and negative signs of a frequency component for which the higher harmonic is to be generated are retained and (ii) which broadly monotonically increases nonlinearly with respect to the frequency component when the frequency component is located at least in the vicinity of zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiichi Gohshi
  • Patent number: 8131084
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for improving the sharpness of an image. The apparatus includes an edge detector, an effective edge judging unit, an effective edge classifying unit, an isolated edge judging unit, and a 2-D HPF applying unit. The edge detector calculates an edge value using brightness relation with neighboring pixels with respect to each of pixels of an input image. The effective edge judging unit determines effective edge pixels. The effective edge classifying unit determines weak edge pixels and strong edge pixels. The isolated edge judging unit judges an isolated edge pixel included in an isolated edge. The 2-D HPF applying unit applies a first 2-D HPF to the weak edge pixels, and applies a second 2-D HPF to the strong edge pixels to generate edge strengthening values. The edge strengthening value applying unit adds the edge strengthening values to brightness values of the respective pixels of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Hyun Kim, Bong Soon Kang, Hyun Soo Kim, Won Woo Jang, Kyung Rin Kim, Won Tae Choi, Boo Dong Kwak
  • Patent number: 8131117
    Abstract: This invention is a method applicable to an image processing device, which includes the steps of providing a preprocess module for extracting a high-frequency portion of an image inputted into the device, extracting a gradient of the image and decomposing the image into plane and edge regions according to a predetermined fixed threshold, and providing a composite up-scaling module for executing the magnification processes on the image and the high-frequency portion thereof respectively, wherein the magnification process of plane regions of the image and the high-frequency portion is based on a simple interpolation while the edge regions of the image and the high-frequency portion is based on both a smart interpolation and the simple interpolation. The magnification results of the image and the high-frequency portion are then processed by a fusion process, so as to output an image having sharp but not blocky edges, rich details and strong contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Arcsoft Hangzhou Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai Wei, Hao Huang, Pengfei Li, Jin Wang
  • Publication number: 20120051660
    Abstract: A method of detecting multi-surfaces of an object includes providing an imaging system capable of detecting surfaces of the object. After system parameters are set up, two-dimensional images of the object at multiple Z steps can be acquired. Each surface of the object can then be extracted using two steps. In a first step, the surface can be constructed based on a confidence threshold. In a second step, the surface can be enhanced using an interpolation filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Zeta Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kinsun Lee, Ronny Soetarman, Zhen Hou, James Jianguo Xu, Rusmin Kudinar, Vamsi Mohan Velidandia, Ben Garland
  • Patent number: 8126287
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus (20, 44) includes an array (22) of optical sensing elements (24), characterized by a pitch, which is adapted to generate a signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the elements. Objective optics (26, 46), which have an optical axis (134) and are characterized by a cylindrical symmetry about the axis, are arranged to focus the optical radiation from an object onto the array with a point spread function (PSF) having an extent greater than twice the pitch of the array at an optimal focus of the objective optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation International
    Inventors: Alex Alon, Irina Alon
  • Patent number: 8120679
    Abstract: An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Ishiga
  • Publication number: 20120039544
    Abstract: An image processing method and to an arrangement for implementing the method. The method includes filtering the original image with a low-pass filter for forming a low-pass filtered image, creating a high-pass filtered image by subtracting the low-pass filtered image from the original image, forming intermediate values from the created high-pass filtered image based on column-wise selection of pixel values in the suppression of column noise and row-wise selection of pixel values in the suppression of row noise, and subtracting formed intermediate values column-by-column and row-by-row from the original image. The arrangement includes a non-linear, one-dimensional digital finite impulse response filter, a computing unit for column-wise or row-wise formation of intermediate values, an image storage unit and a subtraction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Flir System AB
    Inventors: Stefan Olsson, Emanuel Johansson
  • Publication number: 20120033885
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for improving the sharpness of an image, which may prevent occurrence of distortion of an image in an edge enhancement process of the image by applying an active weight in accordance with a two-dimensional (2D) high pass filtering value of the image. The apparatus may include: a 2D high pass filter outputting a high frequency element value for the luminance values of pixels of an input image; a weight generating unit generating a weight changed depending on a magnitude of the high frequency element value; a weight applying unit applying the weight to the high frequency element value; and an edge enhancement image generating unit adding, to the luminance values of the pixels of the input image, the high frequency element value to which the weight is applied to thereby output an image of which an edge is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicants: Dong-A University Research Foundation For Industry-Academy Cooperation, SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo Young HA, Won Tae CHOI, Bong Soon KANG, Byung Hyun KIM, Joo Hyun KIM, Sun Mi SIN, Won Woo JANG, Hak Yong HAN, Gi Dong LEE
  • Patent number: 8107746
    Abstract: A decoding unit includes a first processing unit including ND decoding units and decoding a group of Normal Data, a second processing unit decoding a group of Flex Bits, and a selector. The ND decoding units perform decoding of the group of Normal Data, stepwise varying a start position of decoding in the data stream, concurrently with decoding of the group of Flex Bits by the second processing unit. The selector selects one ND decoding unit with a start position of decoding being set at a position immediately following an end position of the group of Flex Bits, from the ND decoding units, based on a result of decoding of the group of Flex Bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Daian, Yujiro Tani, Yusuke Mizuno, Nobuhiro Minami, Masahiro Moriyama, Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8098951
    Abstract: A sharpening technique for digital images for presentation on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yeping Su, Christopher A. Segall