Abstract: To provide an intra prediction apparatus which can circumvent a hazard problem and improve the time reduction effect. An intra prediction apparatus 11 performs intra predictions of a picture. The intra predictions include: second intra predictions of respective second blocks (blocks) which are obtained by dividing a first pixel block; and a first intra prediction of the first block (macroblock) which constitutes the picture. The intra prediction apparatus 11 includes: an intra prediction unit (a prediction unit 113, an orthogonal transform and quantization unit 115, an inverse orthogonal transform and inverse quantization unit 116, and an adder 117) which performs the intra predictions; and a control unit 119 which controls the intra prediction unit to perform in parallel the intra prediction of the macroblock and the intra predictions of the respective pixel blocks.

Abstract: The subpixel rendering component of a display system provides the capability to substitute a second subpixel rendering filter for a first subpixel rendering filter for computing the values of certain subpixels on the display panel when the input image data being rendered indicates an image feature that may give rise to a color balance error at some portion of the displayed output image. An image processing method of correcting for color balance errors detects the location of a subpixel being rendered and for certain subpixels, detects whether the input image data indicates the presence of a particular image feature. When the image feature is detected for particular subpixels being processed, a second subpixel rendering image filter is substituted for a first subpixel rendering image filter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spatially aware sub-pixel rendering are described herein. Embodiments allow graphics rendering systems to convey additional spatial information in displayed graphics by utilizing sub-pixels of displays. An embodiment includes sampling pixels into a buffer, re-sampling the pixels, at sub-pixel level, at different offset positions from their positions in the buffer and displaying the re-sampled pixels. For example, individual red, green and blue sub-pixels can be re-sampled at offset positions from their original positions within pixels. Since embodiments of the invention can control respective positions of each red, green and blue sub-pixel, embodiments can produce sharp graphics with low aliasing. Furthermore, sub-pixels are effectively used for communicating additional spatial information in rendered graphics.

Abstract: An image processing system of this invention includes a variation calculator for calculating a variation in pixel value of each pixel relative to adjacent pixels, and an edge degree calculating device for calculating, for one arbitrary pixel, an edge degree which expresses numerically a probability of the one pixel being an edge, based on variations of a peripheral pixel group consisting of the one pixel and surrounding pixels. According to the image processing system constructed in this way, whether edges or not can be evaluated with high accuracy even when the pixels undergoing noise.

Abstract: In a method to convert color-describing input print data suitable for graphical output with aid of an output apparatus into color-describing output print data, color proportions, defined by the input print data, of at least one region to be inked with at least two color separations, are determined, and a color space value to be generated with aid of the color separations is determined. An association rule is determined to convert the input print data into the output print data while retaining the color space value. A total areal coverage of areal coverages defined by the output print data of the color separations to generate the color space value is reduced relative to areal coverages of the color separations defined by the input print data. The input print data is converted into the output print data with aid of the determined association rule.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for displaying pictures. In one embodiment, there is presented a decoder system for decoding video data. The decoder system comprises a port and a transport processor. The port receives packets carrying encoded video data from a plurality of video streams. The transport processor adds a header to encoded video data from at least one of the packets. The header identifies a particular one of the plurality of video streams, wherein the at least one packet is from the particular one of the plurality of video stream.

Abstract: There is provided a matching method, capable of positioning with higher accuracy at higher speed. The method includes the steps of: constructing a pattern model of a registered image in which a plurality of reference points are set on an extracted contour and a corresponding point search line having a predetermined length and passing through each reference point; acquiring an image and acquiring an initial position corresponding to the registered image to arrange the corresponding point search line of the pattern model; finding a corresponding point on the image corresponding to each reference point with regard to each corresponding point search line at a position along the corresponding point search line on the image; and regarding a relation between each reference point and the corresponding point as an evaluation value and performing fine positioning such that an accumulated value of the evaluation values becomes minimal or maximal.

Abstract: A map encoding module is described for creating a sample map in which sample values are placed within respective cells of an organizing grid structure, as governed, in part, by a Poisson disk distribution. The map encoding module efficiently represents the locations of the samples using respective integer values. A location determination module can determine a location of a sample value within a particular cell using a decoding algorithm. The decoding algorithm receives selection information and uses a cryptographic hashing algorithm to transform the selection information into location information which identifies the location of the sample value within the particular cell. Various graphics applications can use the map encoding module and the location determination module to reduce aliasing in displayed images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing images, in particular for determining the degree of blockiness in coded images.

Abstract: A method includes detecting one of an application access or a file type access, and configuring, in response to detecting the application or file type access, automatically without user interaction, a display system in an image quality configuration for the application or the file type where the image quality configuration is based on providing best image quality with respect to the application or the file type. Configuring the display system in an image quality configuration, may involve determining that a profile associated with the application or associated with the file type is stored in memory, and configuring the display system according to the profile. The method may adjust at least one anti-aliasing parameter or at least one anisotropic filter parameter. The method may monitor an operating system to obtain an indication that an application has been accessed or that a file type has been accessed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for processing character data is provided, which selects a format of the character data to be used for generating print data. When a user instruction for printing character data according to character command data specifying the output of the character data is received, the format of the character data is selected based on the character command data.

Abstract: It is possible to provide an image processing device, a method, and a program which can prevent image degradation which occurs when modifying the image magnification. The image processing device includes: an image input unit (10) which performs an image input; an edge direction calculation unit (24) which detects the edge direction contained in an image inputted by the image input unit (10); and an interpolation position decision unit (26), an interpolation object pixel decision unit (28), a first direction interpolation unit (30), and a second direction interpolation unit (32) which perform an interpolation process in the edge direction detected by the edge direction calculation unit (24) on the image inputted by the image input unit (10).

Abstract: A dual image source display system with an anti-aliased textual foreground and graphic image background, where display information from each source is combined, but only after the intensity level for each given pixel color component in the graphical image background is dimmed by an amount which is equal to the highest intensity level of any pixel color component in the same pixel as the given pixel color component.

Abstract: Converting images to binary image representations is part of an Optical Character Recognition program in a computer system. The method and system is using a relative threshold level to convert the image to its binary image representation.

Abstract: In MR imaging using a multi-coil device, multifrequency interpolation is combined with a convolution such as BOSCO to achieve simultaneous parallel reconstruction and off-resonance correction. The unaliased and deblurred image is calculated for each coil, and the final image is formed from the images for all of the coils.

Abstract: A normal-phase candidate position selection unit designates a pixel on a horizontal or vertical line in a position separated by two lines from a target position of an input image as a normal-phase candidate pixel, which is a candidate for a pixel at which jaggies are in the same phase as a pixel of the target position. A reverse-phase candidate position selection unit designates a pixel between the target position in the input image and the normal-phase candidate pixel as a reverse-phase candidate pixel. The weight value calculation unit calculates a weight value based on a degree of similarity between an image adjacent to the target position and an image adjacent to the normal-phase candidate pixel. The weighted expected value calculation unit performs weighted addition of reverse-phase candidate pixels using the weight value and generates a reverse-phase image by reversing only the phase of the jaggies in the input image.

Abstract: A system and method that adjusts the strength of a de-blocking filter to remove block artifacts in compressed video is disclosed. Block artifacts are associated with the block-based image/video compression techniques. The block artifacts deteriorate the quality of compressed image and video, especially at low bit rates. A de-blocking method estimates the strength of the block artifacts at each block boundary either directly from the MPEG decoder or from a measurement process or both, and adjusts the de-blocking parameters accordingly. An additional block content analysis improves the performance of the overall de-blocking process.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques are provided for performing any one or more of edge-preserving image sharpening, edge-preserving image smoothing, edge-preserving image dynamic range compression, and edge-aware data interpolation on digital images, wherein a pixel prediction module is adapted for coupling to a memory storing pixel data representative of a digital image and extracts from the image predicted pixel values using robust smoothing. The predicted pixels are stored in a memory and respective detail values equal to the difference between respective original and predicted values are computed. A pixel update module computes approximation values by averaging the respective detail values with original pixel values using robust smoothing, and stores the approximation values for subsequent rendering.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method and device for dithering video from a decoder. The method and device provide: selecting a segment of video frames from the video; computing a noise map for the segment of the video, the noise map computed from differences among pixels selected from spatially-distributed sampling patterns in the segment; determining contours of quantization artifacts within the video frame based on the noise map and a histogram of pixel values in the video frame; computing a gradient measurement of pixel values along the contours; identifying regions along the contours of quantization artifacts to apply dithering based on the noise map and the gradient measurement; determining a dithering strength based on the noise map and the gradient measurement; and applying dithering noise to the identified regions at the determined dithering strength.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an edge strength calculating unit that sets, as an input image, a pixel number reduced image obtained by reducing the total number of pixels of an image captured by an imaging element and calculates edge strengths of a plurality of directions in a unit of a pixel block; an interpolated-pixel value calculating unit that calculates interpolated-pixel values as smoothing components of the plurality of directions in the pixel block; a weight calculating unit that calculates weights for the interpolated-pixel values as the smoothing components of the plurality of directions based on the edge strengths; and a blending processing unit that calculates a pixel value of the correction object pixel which is the center pixel of the pixel block by performing a blending process by weighted addition of the interpolated-pixel values, which are the smoothing components of the plurality of directions, and the calculated weights.

Abstract: A method (700) of determining an image value at a sample position of an output image, is disclosed. The method (700) comprises the steps of determining orientation of an isophote (e.g., 1010) passing through the output sample position and determining a period of intensity variation along the isophote (1010). The method (700) determines the image value at the sample position of the output image based on the period of intensity variation and outputs the determined image value at the sample position of the output image.

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.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: A method and system for smooth rasterization of graphics primitives. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a processor, rasterizing the graphics primitive by generating a plurality of fragments related to the graphics primitive, and determining a coverage value for each of the plurality of fragments. If one edge of the graphics primitive lies within a predetermined inter-pixel distance from a pixel center, the one edge is used to calculate the coverage value by using a distance to the pixel center. If two edges of the graphics primitive lie within the predetermined inter-pixel distance from the pixel center, a distance to the pixel center of each edge is used individually to calculate the coverage value. The resulting coverage values for the plurality of fragments are output to a subsequent stage of the processor for rendering.

Abstract: An image processing system utilizes an image type classification circuit to identify inputted image data as picture image data or text/graphics image data. A halftone circuit, operatively connected to the image type classification circuit, converts the inputted image data, identified as picture image data, to halftone image data. Moreover, a tile pattern circuit, operatively connected to the image type classification circuit, to replace the inputted image data, identified as text/graphics image data, with tile patterns. The tile patterns are encoded with a predetermined pattern. A bitmap rendering circuit combines the halftone image data with the encoded tile patterns to render a bitmap, wherein the bitmap can be used by a print engine to reproduce the image.

Abstract: A system renders a primitive of an image to be displayed, for instance in a mobile 3D graphic pipeline, the primitive including a set of pixels. The system locates the pixels in the area of the primitive, generates, for each pixel located in the area, a set of associated sub-pixels, borrows a set of sub-pixels from neighboring pixels, subjects the set of associated sub-pixels and the borrowed set of pixels to adaptive filtering to create an adaptively filtered set of sub-pixels, and further filters the adaptively filtered set of sub-pixels to compute a final pixel for display. Preferably, the set of associated sub-pixels fulfills at least one of the following: the set includes two associated sub-pixels and the set includes associated sub-pixels placed on pixel edges.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed in an image processing apparatus for performing anti-aliasing on input image data including a viewing window setting section which sets a viewing window of a predetermined size which includes a focused pixel, a difference determination section which extracts a plurality of combinations of two predetermined adjacent pixels in the viewing window and determines a difference between input pixel values of the two extracted pixels for each combination, a determination information obtaining section which obtains combination determination information based on a combination of determination results, and a pixel value calculation section which obtains an output pixel value of the focused pixel by carrying out a weighted addition of an input pixel value of the focused pixel and an input pixel value of a predetermined neighboring pixel which is adjacent to the focused pixel based on the combination determination information.

Abstract: Imaging devices and methods that permit the capture of digital images of an original document sequentially illuminated by a plurality of light sources. In one aspect, a first digital image is captured using illumination from a first illumination angle, a second digital image is captured using illumination from a second illumination angle, and the first and second digital images are combined to obtain a composite digital image of the document. The obtained composite digital image is free of reflection artifacts corresponding to the first and second illumination angles.

Abstract: A disclosed pixel interpolation apparatus for converting an image to a predetermined resolution includes a first interpolating part configured to calculate a first interpolation pixel value by performing high order interpolation using pixel values of plural first reference pixels and a distance between the plural first reference pixels and a first interpolation pixel; a second interpolating part configured to calculate a second interpolation pixel value by performing weighted interpolation using pixel values of plural second reference pixels, an edge gradient of the second reference pixels, and the distance between the second reference pixels and a second interpolation pixel; an overshoot area detecting part configured to detect an overshoot area in the image; and an interpolation pixel selecting part configured to determine whether to perform the high order interpolation or the weighted interpolation according to a detection result of the overshoot area detecting part.

Abstract: An image processing system having scaling and sharpness device and method thereof are described. The global frequency detecting unit calculates a vertical frequency level of the input pixels along a vertical direction and a horizontal frequency level along a horizontal direction. The gradient-calculating summation unit calculates a set of gradient brightness levels according to a portion of the input pixels along a set of directions respectively. The threshold-adjusting device adjusts a first threshold and a second threshold based on the relationship of the vertical frequency level and the horizontal frequency level.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing a previous image having first pixels and a present image having second pixels. The image processing apparatus includes: a pixel difference calculating unit which calculates pixel differences between corresponding pairs of the first and second pixels, and outputs pixel difference values; an edge processing unit which detects and compares edge types of the first and second pixels, sums a number of the edge types that are the same, and outputs a sum value; a noise level processing unit which calculates a noise level of the present image according to the sum value and the pixel differences; a blending value determining unit which determines a blending value according to the noise level; and an output unit which adds weights of the present and previous images according to the blending value and outputs an output image. An image processing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A coloring image generating apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires an image; an edge intensity calculating unit that calculates an edge intensity frequency distribution of the image; a threshold value setting unit that sets a threshold value for dividing a coloring image into a contour portion and a blank portion according to distribution characteristics of the edge intensity frequency distribution; and a generating unit that discriminates the contour portion from the blank portion in the image on the basis of the threshold value and generates a coloring image.

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.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus to perform an edge intensifying processing of an image includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit. The obtaining unit obtains image data composed of pixels aligned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The calculating unit obtains an edge direction of an image and a variation amount indicating a magnitude of change in a luminance value. The setting unit sets an intensity of the edge intensifying processing. The processing unit performs the edge intensifying processing. In a case where the image data resolution in the sub-scanning direction is higher than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets the intensity of the edge intensifying processing to an amount that is higher when the edge direction is the sub-scanning direction than when the edge direction is the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, which includes an image processing unit to perform image processing for image data corresponding to an image to be formed on a printable medium; and a compensation unit to performs compensation processing on the image processed image data by increasing, by a compensation amount, a depth of shade of a pixel arranged in a printing direction adjacent to a solid pixel having a depth of shade greater than a predetermined value, so as to compensate for a depth deterioration of the adjacent pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a characteristic parameter indicating the characteristics of a filter process; a detection unit configured to detect, on the basis of the characteristic parameter input by the input unit, a phase shift amount between the image-captured signal and an obtained signal; a first forming unit configured to form a first prediction tap composed of a plurality of obtained pixels used to predict a target image-captured pixel value; a coefficient obtaining unit configured to obtain a first prediction coefficient generated in accordance with the characteristic parameter and the phase shift amount in order to predict the target image-captured pixel value by product-sum computation with the value of the first prediction tap; and a first computation unit configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to the image-captured signal by performing product-sum computation between the first prediction coefficient.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the noise induced in a particular section or level of a signal bandwidth. The section is isolated from the rest of the signal data, by rescaling this data to produce a buffer section adjacent the section with little or no data in it. The signal is then transmitted to the output device where all data is the buffer section is considered to be the result of noise, and is mapped back to the predetermined level. The signal data is inversely rescaled to move data back into the buffer section. In this way, more of the data that was input at the predetermined level, will also be at the predetermined level afterwards, thereby correcting noise induced in that level by noise inducing transmission techniques such as JPEG compression.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an image on a display. The display includes a plurality of pixels from a vector description of a scene. The data is sampled from the vector description to provide data samples at locations defined in relation to the pixels. For example, the locations may include a first and second locations at the edges of the pixels, a third location at the corner of the pixels and a fourth location at the center of the pixels. The data samples are stored in a buffer and processed for each of the pixels to give an averaged data value. The image is then generated the image on the display by applying the averaged data value to each of the pixels. The calculation of the weighted averaged color value is repeated for each of the fragments in the buffer until all of the samples have been averaged.

Abstract: Methods of rendering a view of a scene include steps that specify quality levels of anti-aliasing and texture filtering for predetermined regions of a display, or selected objects within the scene, or both. Methods of processing data for display include steps adapted to process portions of the image according to selected or predetermined anti-aliasing and texture filtering quality levels. Graphics processing equipment includes hardware or software adapted to perform non-uniform anti-aliasing of images according to specified criteria.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a peaking filter for performing peaking processing on an input image signal to generate a peaking image signal; a selection circuit, coupled to the peaking filter, for selecting a plurality of pixels within the peaking image signal; and a median filter, coupled to the selection circuit, for filtering the plurality of pixels within the peaking image signal to generate a filtered image signal.

Abstract: The present invention is an image processing device that certainly restores a non-linearly corrected image. A processing unit 4 restores a non-linearly corrected original image or an original image without being non-linearly corrected from a non-linearly corrected initial image data which has been fluctuated like deterioration and was non-linearly corrected by a predetermined way. The processing unit 4 repeats processing using any of fluctuation-factor information data which becomes a factor of fluctuating an image, the initial image data which is non-linearly corrected and the initial image data without being non-linearly corrected which is not non-linearly corrected and obtained by performing inversely non-linear correction against the non-linearly corrected initial data.

Abstract: A method of adjusting line data is provided, where a dot pattern for one line is represented by dot data indicative of dot formation and blank data indicative of no dot formation. The method includes: determining whether X or more blank data are arranged consecutively, the X or more blank data including adjacent blank data adjacent to dot data on at least one side of the dot data, where X is an integer greater than or equal to one (X?1); and converting Y consecutive blank data including the adjacent blank data into dot data if it is determined that the X or more blank data are arranged consecutively in the determining step, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to X (X?Y?1).

Abstract: Anti-aliased output based on a scene comprising a plurality of objects may be generated. In one embodiment, a number of samples for an anti-aliasing operation is determined. For each of the samples: each of the objects may be translated in space according to jitter values; the objects may be multiplied by a fractional alpha value for the respective sample; a fractional alpha value stored in a buffer may be modified by a transparency value for each transparent object; and the objects may be rendered to the buffer by blending the objects with existing contents of the buffer. The fractional alpha values may vary from sample to sample. In one embodiment, the plurality of objects comprises one or more opaque objects and one or more transparent objects. In one embodiment, the objects may be rendered directly to a screen buffer.

Abstract: A video test tool for diagnosing video processing for interlacing is disclosed along with a video test tool for quantifying “jaggies” in a video display.

Abstract: A method detects border tiles or border pixels of a primitive corresponding to an object to be displayed on a display screen. The detecting includes: calculating the number of border tiles or pixels covered by an edge of the primitive; identifying a plurality of vertices that divide the edge in a plurality of segments of equal length; calculating coordinates of the vertices; and associating a tile or pixel with the coordinates of each vertex. The number of vertices for the edge is greater than or equal to the number of border tiles or pixels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for edge anti-aliasing of vector graphics. The system involves a video driver, which may include commercially available hardware, such as a graphics accelerator card. The method involves identifying the edges of a tessellated image represented by compound shapes, redefining the triangles that have a side shared with one of the edges, and defining a new plurality of triangles, which are added to the redefined triangles. The new plurality of triangles correspond to the edges. By exploiting the style interpolation computational features of most graphics accelerator hardware, the triangles corresponding to the edges are interpolated between the styles on each side of the edges, thereby anti-aliasing the edges.

Abstract: The invention distinguishes not only character areas and halftone dot areas in an image, but also makes highly accurate decisions concerning characters present in halftone dot areas. A decision signal generating unit generates a decision signal having luminance as a main component from a signal indicating inputted image data, and supplies the decision signal to a character decision unit, a halftone dot decision unit, and a character-in-halftone dot decision unit. The character decision unit generates data indicating whether a pixel of interest is inside a character image area. The halftone dot decision unit generates data indicating whether a pixel of interest is inside a halftone dot area. The character-in-halftone dot decision unit generates data indicating whether there is a character image inside the halftone dot area. Based on these three signals, an attribute flag generating unit generates attribute data of the pixel of interest.