Minimize Discontinuities In Dot-matrix Image Data (i.e., Connecting Or Merging The Dots) Patents (Class 382/267)
  • Patent number: 11269453
    Abstract: Aspects for resolving failed user-interface functionality are described. One or more processors are configured for detecting a first user input having a first input magnitude at user-selectable elements displayed on a local device user-interface, determining that the local device user-interface is not responsive to the first user input; detecting a second user input having a second input magnitude that is greater than the first input magnitude at the user-selectable elements, wherein the first user input and the second user input are by the user; determining that the local device user-interface is not responsive to the second user input; transmitting first data corresponding to a user-interface offload prompt to a mobile device associated with the user, wherein the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the local device user-interface; and receiving second data corresponding to a plurality of mobile device user inputs from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary A. Silverstein, Robert Huntington Grant, Jacob Thomas Covell, Alvin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11003345
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing control-article-based control of a user interface are provided. For instance, a presence of a control article can be detected in a first proximity zone proximate a user device. Responsive to detecting the presence of the control article, presentation data corresponding to a presentation mode of a user interface associated with the user computing device can be provided for display. A presence of the control article can be detected in a second proximity zone proximate the user computing device. The second proximity zone can define a separate physical area than the first proximity zone. Responsive to detecting the presence of the control article in the second proximity zone, interactive data corresponding to an interactive mode of the user interface can be provided for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev, Carsten C. Schwesig, Jack Schulze, Timo Arnall
  • Patent number: 10930251
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable a smartphone-based radar system for facilitating awareness of user presence and orientation. The techniques and systems use a radar field to accurately determine a user's location and physical orientation with respect to an electronic device, such as a smartphone. The radar field also enables the device to receive 3D gestures from the user to interact with the device. The techniques allow the device to provide functionality based on the user's presence and orientation, and to appropriately adjust the timing, content, and format of the device's interactions with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo Giusti, Ivan Poupyrev, Brandon Barbello, Patrick M. Amihood
  • Patent number: 10878279
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for generating and/or adapting automated assistant content according to a distance of a user relative to an automated assistant interface that renders the automated assistant content. For instance, the automated assistant can provide data for a client device to render. The client device can request additional data when the user relocates closer to, or further from, the client device. In some implementations, a request for additional data can identify a distance between the user and the client device. In this way, the additional data can be generated or selected according to the distance in the request. Other implementations can allow an automated assistant to determine an active user from a group of users in an environment, and determine a distance between the active user and the client device in order that any rendered content can be tailored for the active user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Nguyen, Kenneth Mixter, Yuan Yuan
  • Patent number: 10176399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical character recognition of dot text in an image are described. A plurality of dots that satisfy dot selection criteria are extracted from an image. A transformation is performed on the plurality of dots based on a first candidate distance between adjacent dots along a first orientation and on a second candidate distance between adjacent dots along a second orientation to obtain a transformed image including stroked characters. Model based character matching is performed on the transformed image to output a candidate string of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: MATROX ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Dominique Rivard
  • Patent number: 9646574
    Abstract: Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user's head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Quin C. Hoellwarth
  • Patent number: 9595237
    Abstract: Head-mounted display systems and methods of operation that allow users to couple and decouple a portable electronic device such as a handheld portable electronic device with a separate head-mounted device (e.g., temporarily integrates the separate devices into a single unit) are disclosed. The portable electronic may be physically coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device can be worn on the user's head. The portable electronic device may be operatively coupled to the head-mounted device such that the portable electronic device and head mounted device can communicate and operate with one another. Each device may be allowed to extend its features and/or services to the other device for the purpose of enhancing, increasing and/or eliminating redundant functions between the head-mounted device and the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Quin C. Hoellwarth
  • Patent number: 9041508
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary inventory control system or method utilizes a highly efficient and economical approach to apply suitable imaging parameters for capturing images of a storage drawer being accessed by a user, or for manipulating the captured images of the drawer. An inventory condition of the drawer is determined based on the captured images or manipulated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen L. Glickman, David A. Jackson, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston Phillips, David C. Fly, Jason L. Weeks
  • Patent number: 8982407
    Abstract: The prior art has such a problem that image quality degrades because dots are conspicuous in the case where the size of each dot is not so small and the black or white dots are regularly aligned, in particular, in a bright part close to white or in a dark part close to black. It is determined whether a black or white pixel exists at a point-symmetric position with respect to a notice pixel using pattern matching for a binarized image and in the case where a pixel exists at the point-symmetric position, the notice pixel is replaced with a specific output pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michihiko Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140314334
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing controlling a thin line growth are disclosed. For example, the method receives an image in a first resolution, wherein each pixel of a plurality of pixels within the image is marked with a first tag and a second tag, wherein the first tag determines whether each pixel is on or off in the image and the second tag determines whether a thin line growth for each pixel is on or off in the image and produces a second image in a second resolution based upon the image in the first resolution, wherein the thin line is grown by turning on each pixel in a sub-line that is adjacent to a different pixel from a different sub-line having the first tag on and the second tag of the each pixel in the sub-line is on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: XING LI
  • Patent number: 8797600
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus (100) creates a toner pattern on intermediate transfer belt (11) as a preprocessing of gradation correction, and calculates a cycle at which density unevenness is largest. Then, a toner image for gradation correction is formed so as to cancel cyclic unevenness at a cycle at which the largest density unevenness occurs. As a result of this, it becomes possible to suppress the deterioration of density detection accuracy and perform a highly accurate gradation correction even if density unevenness of any cycle occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Harashima, Hideaki Tanaka, Katsuyuki Hirata, Toru Yamaguchi, Takaaki Kooriya
  • Patent number: 8767266
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus which can suppress degradation of an image quality in a recording material save mode processing and obtain an effect of consumption amount reduction of recording material desired by a user at low costs. A recording material consumption amount at the time of applying first color conversion processing unit is predicted corresponding to inputted image data. The setting of a second color conversion processing is changed from a prediction value and a target value of the recording material consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nagai
  • Patent number: 8630017
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus that improves the visibility of a character and its background in different colors or of outline characters is provided. Specifically, outline character bold data is inverted and each of the pixels in the data is expanded to adjacent eight pixels. Then, the expanded outline character is processed into expanded inverted data. The logical AND of the inverted expanded data and K data on a background image is then calculated to generate K data with the outline character expanded. This results in an image with the outline character expanded. That is, the present invention enables characters with improved visibility and free from blurredness to be printed while preventing the adverse effect of bleeding on the outline character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigoro Kanematsu, Mitsutoshi Nagamura, Tomomi Furuichi, Masaharu Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 8619094
    Abstract: Morphological anti-aliasing (MLAA) of a re-projection of a two-dimensional image can be implemented in a way that produces a better result while using fewer processor resources. One or more discontinuities between each neighboring pixel of the two-dimensional image are determined. One or more pre-defined patterns formed by the one or more discontinuities are identified. A blend amount is calculated for each pixel neighboring the identified pre-defined patterns. A re-projection is applied to the two-dimensional image and to the blend amount for each pixel thereby generating re-projected blend amounts. The neighboring pixels of the re-projection are then blended according to the re-projected blend amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Barry M Genova, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 8577178
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a transformation ratio calculation unit which calculates transformation ratio of an image after transformation, the image after transformation being obtained by transforming an original image under predetermined rule; a filter coefficient calculation unit which calculates filter coefficients based on the transformation ratio; and a pixel value calculation unit which calculates the pixel value of each pixel in the image after transformation using the filter coefficients and outputs the pixel value of the image after transformation as image data after transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tamura
  • Patent number: 8559749
    Abstract: A system for processing video data to improve image quality at low data rates comprising an encoder generating an entropy signal representing the relative entropy of the video data and a plurality of filters each receiving the entropy signal and a threshold setting and filtering the video data if the entropy signal is greater than the threshold setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Streaming Appliances, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Reams
  • Patent number: 8547599
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus which includes image forming units forming images, each for each color component, and superimposes the images of the color components on one another to form a color image. The image forming apparatus includes a scan line changing unit shifting the position of each pixel in a sub scanning direction for each color component of halftone image data to be processed so as to cancel a shift amount of a scan line on an image carrier in each of the image forming units in the sub scanning direction; an interpolation inhibited area determining unit determining an interpolation inhibited area in the image data; and an interpolation unit applying an interpolation process for smoothing a pixel-level shift caused by shifting of image data by the scan line changing unit to the image data excluding the interpolation inhibited area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoko Ido
  • Patent number: 8454175
    Abstract: In a method for adjusting projected images of a projector, a first image of a projection area is captured using an image capturing unit, and a second image of the projection area is capture after a predetermined interval. A background area of the second image is determined if the projected image of the projection area is determined as a static image by comparing the first image with the second image. The second image is divided into M pixel blocks, and brightness value of each pixel block is adjusted if a color of the pixel block is approximative to a color of the background area. A projection image is generated using the adjusted image of the second image, and the generated image is projected on the projection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guang-Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 8428382
    Abstract: A hair image display method comprises the steps of: selecting a hair area from a hair image; performing an edge detection on the hair area to calculate an edge image; performing representation processing on the edge image to calculate a representative value image; calculating direction differences between the edge image and the representative value image; and rendering the direction differences of respective pixels in color or grayscale to display a direction difference image, or rendering the correlation lengths of respective pixels in an edge direction image in color or grayscale to display a bundle width image, or determining the curvatures of the respective pixels in the edge direction image to form a curvature image. This makes it possible to display directions straying from a flow, bundles of hairs in the same flow, and the state of curls in hair styling clearly, and to facilitate evaluations of the hair styling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventor: Hirayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8428389
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional empirical mode decomposition method is provided. The method can be applied in image texture analysis, such as medical image analysis. The method can adaptively decompose a three-dimensional image into a number of characteristic image layers and extract characteristic images showing more noticeable textures from the layers. The method uses the physical concept of field to perform the data mode decomposition to obtain envelope and tendency estimation of multi-dimensional data. The method can also be applied in time and frequency analysis of two-dimensional data or multi-channel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Sun-Hua Pao, Yio-Wha Shau, Ming-Chien Yu, Chien-Lun Tseng
  • Patent number: 8358844
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether text within an image includes unwanted data, utilizing a matrix. In operation, a matrix corresponding to an image is generated. Additionally, text within the image is identified utilizing the matrix. Furthermore, it is determined whether the text includes unwanted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventor: Udhayakumar Lakshmi Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8358868
    Abstract: Even when an enlarged image is deteriorated due to a block noise or color mixture, the contour in the enlarged image is sharpened and a quality of the image is improved. A contour extracting unit 103 determines a pixel indicating the contour in an interpolation image, using brightness gradient strength and a brightness gradient direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Iketani
  • Patent number: 8301220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical system comprising a detection device for detecting an object in at least two dimensions by x-rays. The detection device is constructed to detect the object and to produce data comprising a 2D data record or a sequence of 2D data records over time representing the object in a projection through the object in two dimensions and to output the data. The medical system comprises at least one storage device with a data input actively connected to the detection device and which is constructed to receive the data at the input side and to write on a storage medium, in particular a portable storage medium, in such a way that the storage medium represents the data so it can be read out again. The medical system is constructed to digitally transmit the data from the detection device through to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Casso Basterrechea, Rainer Kaltschmidt
  • 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: 8184923
    Abstract: In the case where a digital camera is used for evaluating a display quality of an image display panel, moire is generated due to a shift of a pixel pitch between a pixel of a panel and a pixel of a digital camera, and thus, a great influence is given as measurement deviation. The present invention carries out a panel display quality evaluation at low cost and short time with relieved influence of moire by treating a value, which is obtained by recognizing a coordinate of a panel pixel in a shot image based on an image for detecting a coordinate and positional information thereof with high accuracy and by calculating average luminance by panel pixel unit based on a center position of a coordinate, as representative luminance in each pixel of the panel, in a panel evaluation method of shooting an image display panel with a digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Patent number: 8180152
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether text within an image includes unwanted data, utilizing a matrix. In operation, a matrix corresponding to an image is generated. Additionally, text within the image is identified utilizing the matrix. Furthermore, it is determined whether the text includes unwanted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventor: Udhayakumar Lakshmi Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8169475
    Abstract: An image processing system comprising an image data acquisition unit for acquiring captured image data, with a first image processing unit for performing first image processing relating to color correction and gradation correction on the image data, a second image processing unit for performing second image processing relating to color correction based on a Color Appearance Model on the image data, a parameter calculation unit for calculating an image processing parameter used in the first image processing from the image data before the second image processing and the image data after the second image processing, and a control unit for setting the image processing parameter to the first image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Aizaki
  • Patent number: 8094962
    Abstract: In the case where a digital camera is used for evaluating a display quality of an image display panel, moire is generated due to a shift of a pixel pitch between a pixel of a panel and a pixel of a digital camera, and thus, a great influence is given as measurement deviation. The present invention carries out a panel display quality evaluation at low cost and short time with relieved influence of moire by treating a value, which is obtained by recognizing a coordinate of a panel pixel in a shot image based on an image for detecting a coordinate and positional information thereof with high accuracy and by calculating average luminance by panel pixel unit based on a center position of a coordinate, as representative luminance in each pixel of the panel, in a panel evaluation method of shooting an image display panel with a digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20120001931
    Abstract: A projector includes a body, an input unit for receiving images, a reference image storage unit for storing a reference image, a micro controller unit (MCU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), an optical unit, and a sensing unit. The reference image is processed by the MCU and the GPU, and then projected on a screen to form a projection image by the optical unit. The sensing unit is mounted on a front surface of the body to sense the projection image and transmit data of the projection image to the MCU. The MCU compares the reference image and the projection image to obtain a correction value. The GPU adjusts its calculations according to the correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Chih HSIEH
  • Patent number: 8081837
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for image sensor leakage and dark current compensation are disclosed. In one implementation, a system comprises an imaging device including imaging pixels and two or more dark pixels, processing logic coupled to the imaging device, and an antenna coupled to the processing logic through an input/output (I/O) interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Glenn, Edward S. Milligan
  • Patent number: 8068690
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first enhancement degree calculation unit and a color contour enhancement unit. The first enhancement degree calculation unit calculates a contour intensity of a color component of an input color image and calculates an enhancement degree for a color contour, based on the contour intensity of the color component. The color contour enhancement unit performs an enhance process for a lightness component of the color image in accordance with the enhancement degree for the color contour calculated by the first enhancement degree calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 8014625
    Abstract: A first and a second image are expressed in a common coordinate system by applying a geometric transformation to the second image so as to map a structure in the second image onto a corresponding structure in the first image in a common coordinate system. Starting from initial values, the parameters of the geometric transformation are updated taking into account the result of an evaluation of a cost function. Measurements are performed in the common coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Agfa Healthcare
    Inventor: Piet Dewaele
  • Patent number: 8009327
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to decreasing the required buffer memory capacity while reducing the impact of an arithmetic error in error diffusion processing. A quantization circuit (4) quantizes input image data and outputs an output code. The quantization error generated in the quantization circuit (4) is calculated by an inverse quantization circuit (5) and subtracter (6). The calculated quantization error is stored in a buffer (8). Since the buffer (8) only needs to have a size capable of storing the quantization error, the size can be made smaller than before. A diffusion filter (9) diffuses the quantization error using a quantization error or the like, which is stored in the buffer (8). A latch (3) and bit connector (1) can usefully reduce the impact of an arithmetic error in error diffusion processing on the next input image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8005295
    Abstract: Corresponding points or a motion vector is generated with reduced positional error even if incoming images have been shot under different illumination conditions. An image processing apparatus (100, 120) includes an initial corresponding point computing section (113) for computing and outputting multiple sets of corresponding points across multiple images and a corresponding point recomputing section (104), which selects reference corresponding points, consisting of multiple sets of initial corresponding points with small error, from the multiple sets of initial corresponding points by using a photometric constraint equation and a geometric constraint equation, newly computes aimed corresponding points associated with those reference corresponding points, and then outputs the reference corresponding points and the aimed corresponding points as corresponding points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kunio Nobori
  • Patent number: 7999972
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to apply correction processing to image data having sharpness varying depending on an alignment direction of pixels. The image processing apparatus detects a feature quantity in an edge direction of the image data. The image processing apparatus sets an intensity of the correction processing based on correction intensity which is predetermined based on the sharpness varying depending on the alignment direction of the pixels, according to the detected feature quantity in the edge direction of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Tetsuya Suwa, Fumihiro Goto, Yusuke Hashii, Masao Kato, Kentaro Yano
  • Patent number: 7986851
    Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: J. Carl Cooper
  • Patent number: 7970232
    Abstract: In the case where a digital camera is used for evaluating a display quality of an image display panel, moire is generated due to a shift of a pixel pitch between a pixel of a panel and a pixel of a digital camera, and thus, a great influence is given as measurement deviation. The present invention carries out a panel display quality evaluation at low cost and short time with relieved influence of moire by treating a value, which is obtained by recognizing a coordinate of a panel pixel in a shot image based on an image for detecting a coordinate and positional information thereof with high accuracy and by calculating average luminance by panel pixel unit based on a center position of a coordinate, as representative luminance in each pixel of the panel, in a panel evaluation method of shooting an image display panel with a digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Patent number: 7822284
    Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Carl Cooper
  • Patent number: 7738722
    Abstract: Reduction in the blockiness of a simulated film grain block can be achieved either by the use of adaptive downscaling or adaptive deblocking filtering to adjust the intensity of the pixels at the block edge in accordance with at least one film grain block parameter, such as film grain size, intensity and texture. Performing such adaptive downscaling or adaptive deblocking filtering achieves improved performance at lower computational cost by avoiding modification of film grain block pixels in lesser affected areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Cristina Gomila, Joan Lllach, Jeffrey Allen Cooper
  • Patent number: 7650023
    Abstract: A method is for filtering tomographic 3D images of an examination object. The examination object is imaged by using a volume model that divides the volume of the examination object into a multiplicity of three-dimensional image voxels with individual image values, wherein the image value of each voxel reproduces an object-specific property of the examination object in this volume. After the reconstruction of the total volume for each voxel, variances are calculated in a prescribed region or radius R in order to determine contrast jumps and their spatial orientation with their tangential planes T. The image values in the tangential plane T are filtered with a two-dimensional convolution, and subsequently the original voxel data are mixed in weighted fashion with the filtered voxel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengeśellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Thomas Flohr, Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 7613341
    Abstract: A technique for searching for a gap in a drawing is disclosed. The technique includes sweeping an evaluation line across at least a portion of the drawing, detecting on the evaluation line an endpoint of a first segment, determining a distance from the endpoint to a point on the second segment, comparing the distance to a maximum gap distance, and detecting a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael D. Schuster
  • Patent number: 7609269
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assigning color values to pixels based on object structure. For example, when rendering a writing system symbol on an electronic display, a non-color characteristic of the symbol can be measured and the measurement can be used to select a color value for a pixel associated with the symbol. Legibility of open and closed line-based graphical objects can be increased by inferring spatial depth and distance through application of a color assignment model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geraldine Wade, Tanya Matskewich
  • Publication number: 20090263042
    Abstract: Based on an input operation by an operator, a line drawing processor sets a designated region and sets identification points in the designated region to generate first and second identification data, each data representing a colored pixel cluster linked to each of the identification points. The line drawing processor further extracts at least one closed region that is not colored in the second identification data and makes a comparison in area between each closed region and the pixel cluster colored in the second identification data to determine whether the closed region requires coloring or not. For line drawing data, the line drawing processor then applies the same color to the pixel cluster identified in the second identification data and the closed region determined to require coloring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Itaru Furukawa, Tsuyoshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 7542174
    Abstract: An image processing method for reducing jaggy effect, which is applied in an image output device, is provided. Firstly, a continuous tone image is generated, and continuous tone pixels are defined according to a first addressing space. Then, a halftone image is generated. After that, the continuous tone image is low-pass filtered to generate a low-pass filtered image. Next, determine whether a position of the low-pass filtered image whose density is approximate to a pre-determined density. If so, generate a set of second addressing space co-ordinates of a key point corresponding to the position. Then, a moving vector corresponding to the key point is generated so as to regulate the position of a display point of the halftone pixel. Afterward, output the display point according to the position after regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Hui-Jan Chien
  • Patent number: 7415163
    Abstract: An image noise reducing method that can properly reduce both block noise and mosquito noise without deterioration of the image quality is provided. The method includes creating a first luminance component image data with the boundaries of the blocks thereof smoothened, creating a second luminance component image data with its entirety smoothened from the first luminance component image data, creating edge image data by subtracting the second luminance component image data from the first luminance component image data, creating corrected edge image data by applying correction to the edge image data under given conditions, and creating third luminance component image data by adding the corrected edge image data to the second luminance component image data. For color-difference component image data, first color-difference component image data with its entirety smoothened is created from the color-difference component image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Nishi, Hisakazu Kuramoto, Takuma Suzuki, Minoru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7405845
    Abstract: Dot characteristic points are first extracted from M-level image data by the dot characteristic point extracting device. A dot area identifying device subsequently identifies a dot area based on the results of the extraction carried out by the dot characteristic point extracting device. When the image attribute determination is completed, a parameter setting unit sets N-level conversion parameters based on the results of the determination carried out by the dot area identifying device. Consequently, N-level conversion takes place using the N-level conversion parameters appropriate for a dot area. Therefore, N-level conversion in which the occurrence of moire is prevented may be carried out regarding dot areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20080175513
    Abstract: Various embodiments of edge detection systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises receiving an image (602), applying a box-spline based tight wavelet frame to the image to decompose the image into low pass and high pass portions (604), and reconstructing the image from the high pass portions to yield edges of the image (606).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Ming-Jun Lai, Kyunglim Nam
  • Patent number: 7391920
    Abstract: If an edge is detected between each pair of two mutually adjacent pixels among three serially adjacent pixels in a digital image, a candidate pixel selection unit in an intermediate value pixel judgment unit selects a pixel located at the middle among the three pixels as a candidate pixel. A pixel value comparison unit compares the pixel values of the three pixels, which are used for selecting the candidate pixel, with each other. Only if the pixel values of the three pixels monotonically increase or monotonically decrease along the arrangement direction of the pixels, a judgment unit judges that the candidate pixel is an intermediate value pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yuko Abe
  • Patent number: 7382929
    Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignees: Pixel Instruments Corporation, IP Innovation LLC
    Inventor: Carl Cooper
  • Patent number: 7379210
    Abstract: It is intended to provide an image processing apparatus capable of precisely discriminating a halftone dot region and a figure such as a character arranged on the halftone dot region and applying appropriate image processing to the halftone dot region and the character separately. An isolated point discriminating section detects presence of an isolated point and detects a size of the detected isolated point. A temporary halftone dot region discriminating section 42 determines a temporary halftone dot region by counting the number of isolated point signals detected. Thereby, a region where isolated points concentrate is regarded as a temporary halftone dot region. An isolated point magnifying section 43 magnifies the detected isolated point signal to its original size so as to determine a magnified isolated point region. A halftone dot region restricting section 44 takes an AND computation results of the temporary halftone dot region and the magnified isolated point region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Ishiguro