Abstract: In an image processor, a data corrector corrects input image data, a determining unit determines an output tone value of a target pixel from the corrected image data and threshold, and a calculator calculates a difference between the output tone value and the corrected image data as an error value. The threshold is set in such manner that a rate of change of the mean error of the error values with respect to a change in the input tone value is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method includes calculating a mean of a plurality of pixels of a motion window, calculating a pixel amount of pixels similar to a center pixel, calculating a variance of the pixels, determining whether a difference between the center pixel and the mean is greater than a first predetermined value, determining whether the pixel amount similar to the center pixel is greater than a second predetermined value if the difference between the center pixel and the mean is not greater than the first predetermined value, determining whether the variance is smaller than a threshold value if the pixel amount similar to the center pixel is not greater than the second predetermined value, and filtering the center pixel according to a result of determining whether the variance is smaller than the threshold value. Finally, temporal weighted mean filters involving motion estimation are used for motion compensation in images after spatial filtering.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an ultrasound image is provided, wherein the ultrasound image is segmented into a feature region and a non-feature region, while sufficiently utilizing features contained in the ultrasound image, in particular including some inconspicuous features. The enhanced image according to present invention is not susceptive of the image segmentation and avoid dependence of the enhancement effect on the segmentation template, so as not to produce an evident artificial boundary between the feature region and the non-feature region but to highlight some special information in the image and to remove or mitigate invalid information. Thus the enhanced ultrasound image is particularly suitable for the visual system of the human beings.

Abstract: A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colors for the group of images and deriving a dominant color representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant color values.

Abstract: A method includes making a first determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a mosquito noise artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the first determination. In addition, or alternatively, a method includes making a second determination as to whether a current pixel has a value which reflects a ringing artifact, and determining whether to apply a filtering process at the current pixel based on a result of the second determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for electronically trapping a selected digital color image pixel. A plurality of pixels that surround the selected pixel are identified, a colorant value of each of the surrounding pixels is compared with a corresponding colorant value of the selected pixel, one of the surrounding pixels is identified to control trapping of the selected pixel, and the selected pixel is trapped based on a relationship between a colorant value of the selected pixel and a corresponding colorant value of the identified controlling pixel.

Abstract: A method is for correcting inhomogeneities in an image that is recorded from an examination object. The method includes recording an image to be corrected, calculating a correction image from the image to be corrected and correcting the recorded image with the aid of the correction image in order to produce a normalized image by multiplying the correction image by the image to be corrected. When calculating the correction images, the pixels in the vicinity of the imaged examination object are identified with the aid of a signal intensity that is lower than a limiting value. Further, these pixels are allocated signal intensities that in each case are a function of the signal intensity of the pixels in the respective neighborhood.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately auto focusing a lens of an imaging device. In an exemplary embodiment, an imaged scene is split into an array of zones. The minimum and maximum sharpness score for each zone is determined over a plurality of lens positions. A histogram of the lens positions of the corresponding maximum sharpness score for each zone is created. The peak of the histogram is determined to be the best focus position for a given scene.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a CPU divides a multi-valued image into blocks and selects object blocks, which are to be the object of processing. A CCD outputs luminance values of the multi-valued image. A low luminance threshold value setter sets low luminance threshold values on the basis of mean luminance values of blocks adjacent to the object block. A mean luminance value calculator calculates mean luminance values using luminance values from which luminance values that do not reach the low luminance threshold value in a block have been removed. A binarization threshold value setting circuit sets a binarization threshold value of the block based on the mean luminance values. A binarizer then binarizes the multi-valued image in the block on the basis of the binarization threshold values.

Abstract: Sub-pixel rendering with gamma adjustment allows the luminance of the sub-pixel arrangement to match the non-linear gamma response of the human eye's luminance channel. For each of a subset of input sampled data indicating a region of an input image, a gamma-adjusted data value is generated for each input image data value in the subset using a local average of at least two input image data values. A sub-pixel rendering operation uses the subset of gamma-adjusted data values and the subset of input image data values to produce an output data value for each sub-pixel element on the display panel. A plurality of output data values collectively indicates an output image. The gamma adjustment allows the sub-pixel rendering to operate independently of the actual gamma of a display device. The sub-pixel rendering techniques with gamma adjustment may improve image contrast in high spatial frequency portions of an image.

Abstract: A post-processing manager provides reconstructed block based picture post-processing that is uncoupled from picture decoding by dividing a reconstructed image that was encoded using block based processing into non-overlapping blocks, creating a DC image by computing the DC value of each block, creating a zero mean image by subtracting the DC value of each block from the corresponding pixels of that block, filtering the DC image and adding the filtered DC image to the zero mean image. A weak filtering operation can be applied to reduce blocking artifacts, and a strong filtering operation can be applied to smooth luminance transitions.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display device, and a signal processing circuit. In at least one case where an image is displayed by a first image signal which designates a first image having a first region of a predetermined color and a predetermined brightness, the first region has a first width in a predetermined direction, and in at least one case where an image is displayed by a second image signal which designates a second image, which is an image in which average luminance of an entire image is the same as that of the first image, having a second region of the predetermined color and the predetermined brightness, the second region has a second width larger than the first width in the predetermined direction. The brightness of the first region in the image which is displayed by the first image signal is brighter than that of the second region in the image which is displayed by the second image signal, by the signal processing in the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the broadband noise content of a digital image comprising the following: a means of automatically identifying regions of originally constant color in the image by analysis of the variance of pixel values of regions of the image; a means of automatically detecting and discarding regions deemed to be unrepresentative of the true noise content of an image, including under- and over- exposed regions; a means of allowing the user to manually select some or all required constant color regions if desired; and, a means of analyzing such constant color regions to generate a parametric or non-parametric model of the noise in the image, including frequency characteristic within and between channels and other characteristics such as phase which might describe structured noise.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for processing an image signal, luminance signals are generated for an object pixel and local pixels. A luminance dispersion value is then generated for the object pixel from the luminance signals of the object and local pixels. A control factor is determined from the luminance dispersion value, and at least one image signal of the object pixel is low-pass filtered according to the control factor.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a Single-Instruction/Multiple-Data (SIMD) averaging instruction is used to process pixels of image data. The averaging instruction generates a set of four-pixel averages, where each average is generated from two pixels in a first source register and two pixels in a second source register. The first source register contains a plurality of pixels from a first row of pixels and the second source register contains a plurality of pixels from a second row. In one embodiment, the first and second rows are adjacent rows in an image and the averaging instruction is used, for example, to down-scale an image, perform color conversion, and the like. In another embodiment, the first and second rows are from different images and the averaging instruction is used, for example, in motion estimation for video encoding, in motion compensation for video decoding, and the like.

Abstract: A digital image tone remapping method is disclosed. The method includes computing an average luminance value of a digital image; generating a preliminary tone mapping function according to the average luminance value; generating a luminance statistic of the digital image; determining new remapped values for a plurality of skeleton luminance values according to the preliminary tone mapping function and the luminance statistic; generating a final tone mapping function according to the new remapped values and the plurality of skeleton luminance values; and remapping the digital image through the final tone mapping function. The present invention also discloses an apparatus performing the method.

Abstract: A method for processing image data includes estimating initial factor images from image data, transforming the estimated initial factor images by a transformation variable to obtain transformed factor images, providing an objective function that is a function of the transformed factor images, and minimizing the objective function to obtain unique factor images from the estimated initial factor images.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for calculating an optimal Average Picture Level (APL) in a plasma display of asymmetric cell configuration wherein each red, green and blue cell has asymmetric size and a plasma display using the same.

Abstract: A method for reducing the row noise from complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by using a local offset correction is disclosed. The method operates on sensor with and without a Color Filter Array (CFA) before any interpolation is applied and estimates the local offset by comparing the rows in a local window. The method also reduces the pixel-to-pixel noise while reducing the row noise.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that removes noise from an image. During operation, the system first identifies blobs in the image, wherein a blob is a set of contiguous pixels which possibly represents a character or a portion of a character in the image. Next, the system analyzes the blobs to dynamically determine a “noise threshold” for the blobs. The system then removes blobs from the image which are below the noise threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately auto focusing a lens of an imaging device. An imaged scene is split into an array of zones. The minimum and maximum sharpness score for each zone is determined over a plurality of lens positions. A histogram of the lens positions of the corresponding maximum weighted sharpness score for each zone is created. The peak of the histogram is determined to be the best focus position for a given scene.

Abstract: A method of inserting an object into an image, the method comprising the steps of assessing the homogeneity of the image; identifying one or more areas of the image having similar homogeneity according to the assessed homogeneity; and selecting a homogeneous area in which to insert the object.

Abstract: A method for interpolating image data captured by an electronic imaging device having a Bayer arrangement, by pixel interpolation involving interpolating interpolation pixel X33 (a green pixel), determining the average value of the neighboring pixels situated peripherally to the interpolation pixel X33 by equation (1), and determining the median values of the green pixels in the horizontal direction, the oblique direction and the reverse oblique direction including the interpolation pixel X33 by equations (2), (3) and (4), respectively: ave=(G22+G24+G42+G44)/4; ??(1) horiz=median(G31, (G22+G42)/2, (G24+G44)/2, G35); ??(2) Slash=median(G15, G24, G42, G51); and ??(3) Bslash=median(G11, G22, G44, G55). ??(4) The value of these median values having the smallest differential with respect to the average value is taken to be the pixel data for the green pixel situated at the position of X33.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus inputs an image obtained by sensing an optical image by an image sensing system, compensates an omitted color component, and outputs a color image. A weight setting unit sets a weight Wk in each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) of a plurality of directions S1, S2, . . . , Sn (n is an integer of not less than 1) starting from a pixel of interest in a predetermined neighborhood of the pixel of interest. An average value calculation unit calculates a weighted average of pixel values Vk of pixels having a specific color component and located on each direction Sk (k is an integer from 1 to n) in the predetermined neighborhood by using weights W1 to Wn of the pixel values V1 to Vn. An restoration unit causes the average calculation unit to calculate weighted averages of a plurality of types of color components and restores a value of an omitted color component of the pixel of interest on the basis of the weighted average result and the pixel value of the pixel of interest.

Abstract: A method of blending a pair of images, each image comprising a plurality of pixels having an intensity. A blending edge is determined for each image, each blending edge comprising at least one group of pixels, with each pixel at a pixel position, and an average intensity of pixels of the blending edges is determined at each pixel position. The method includes determining a scaling factor based on a relationship between the average intensity and the intensity of the pixel of the at least one group of pixels of the blending edge at each pixel position of each image. A blending area is determined for each image, each blending area comprising at least one group of pixels having a pixel at each of the pixel positions. The intensity of the pixel at each pixel position of the at least one group of pixels of the blending area of each image is scaled with the corresponding scaling factor.

Abstract: Methods of identifying the location and dimensions of a contaminant particle on a calibration strip comprise imaging a calibration strip comprising a plurality of channels and a plurality of pixel columns. The method also includes generating a normalized local average pixel intensity value and locating a contaminant particle in a pixel column by comparing the intensity of an individual pixel in the pixel column to the normalized local average pixel intensity value. An intensity value of an individual pixel less than a predefined limit set below the normalized local average pixel intensity value corresponds to a location of a contaminant particle. The method further includes identifying the number of adjacent pixels in a pixel column less than a predefined limit set below the normalized local average pixel intensity value.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer includes an at least partially coherent light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a navigation sensor for generating digital images based on the reflected images, performing a movement computation based on the digital images, generating movement data based on the movement computation that is indicative of relative motion between the imaging surface and the apparatus, wherein the movement computation includes attenuating fixed pattern noise in the digital images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the reference image of an image sensor comprising a matrix of detector pixels. The method comprises the acquisition of a black image IN and two images I1 and I2 acquired in linear detection zones of the sensor. The reference image is written: IR1=(Rm* I1?I2)/(Rm?1) with I R ? ? 1 = ( R m × I 1 - I 2 ) / ( R m - 1 ) ? with ? ? Rm = 1 N ? ? i , j ? I 2 ? ( i , j ) - I N ? ( i , j ) I 1 ? ( i , j ) - I N ? ( i , j ) , wherein IK (i,j) represents the value of the pixel of the image IK detected by the pixel detector situated at the intersection of the row i and the column j of the detector pixel matrix, and N represents the total number of pixels in the matrix.

Abstract: A method for multi-level halftoning an input digital image to form an output digital image which includes a multi-level error diffusion halftoning process incorporating periodic dither signals whose amplitudes are adjusted as a function of the error-diffusion texture characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a computed digital image of a scene, which can be illuminated with different luminous intensities at a first illumination angle by a first light source. An image sensor records a number of individual images of the scene under different lighting conditions, and these images are set against one another in a pixel-by-pixel manner in a data processing device in order to generate a resulting image. The invention is characterized in that at least one additional light source is provided by means of which the scene can be illuminated at an illumination angle that is different from the illumination angle of the first light source. The different lighting conditions when recording the individual images are obtained by various combinations of luminous intensities of the first and of the at least one other additional light source. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for automatic aspect ratio detection and may comprise scanning lines in at least a selected portion of an image and locating a first reference pixel in one of the scanned lines. A corresponding sliding sum and a sliding number may be generated starting from the first reference pixel and a white edge determined based on the generated sliding sum and/or the generated sliding number. The first reference pixel may be a non-black pixel and a value which corresponds to and defines non-black may be variably defined. The sliding sum and the sliding number may utilize m bins, where m is greater than one (1). A luma sum threshold may be compared with the generated sliding sum to locate the white edge for aspect ratio detection.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of an image display system achieve mapping of high dynamic range image data to render on a lower dynamic range display device a corresponding image characterized by stable global intensity levels and visually perceptible local area detail. The high dynamic range image data include representations of relatively low intensity contrast, high spatial frequency details and relatively low spatial frequency intensities. Data derived from the high dynamic range image data are applied to a nonlinear intensity transform. The nonlinear intensity transform preserves or enhances the low intensity contrast, high spatial frequency details and maintains a visually perceptible representation of the relatively low spatial frequency intensities to thereby provide visually perceptible local area detail. An exemplary embodiment derives high dynamic range image data from a thermal infrared camera for use with aircraft.

Abstract: In one respect, provided are systems, methods and techniques in which local regions within an image are processed to provide fuzzy classification scores, which are calculated by determining changes in pixel values along a number of different directions. The resulting fuzzy classification scores are then used to detect or identify edge-containing or texture-containing regions, or to otherwise process the image regions differentially according to their fuzzy classification score. In another respect, provided are systems, methods and techniques for differential processing of different areas in an image. The differential processing in this case is based on calculated measures of local activity, which indicate features in corresponding local regions, and also based on calculated measures of local pixel-value variations, which indicate an amount of variation in pixel values across the corresponding local regions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for recognizing text in images are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for recognizing text in an image is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of images. The method also includes processing the images to detect a corresponding set of regions of the images, each image having a region corresponding to each other image region, as potentially containing text. The method further includes combining the regions to generate an enhanced region image and performing optical character recognition on the enhanced region image.

Abstract: Diminished intensity defects occur in electrostatic printing between image regions having grey levels, i.e., different electrostatic potential and toner densities. Such defects occur when higher density regions “steal” toner from lower density regions. The system and methods according to this invention compensate for these defects by modifying the input image data. The input image data in lighter regions that precede or occur near a light-to-dark transition to a dark region are raised above the input image values. Thus, when printed, the printed image intensity values in such regions are higher than the corresponding image intensity values. As a result, when the higher density regions steal the extra toner provided due to the raised values, the gray level of the printed image corresponds to the desired gray level. The magnitude of these defects is periodically measured with a calibration pattern to generate and/or update compensation factors used in the compensation process.

Abstract: A method for structuring video by probabilistic merging of video segments includes the steps of obtaining a plurality of frames of unstructured video; generating video segments from the unstructured video by detecting shot boundaries based on color dissimilarity between consecutive frames; extracting a feature set by processing pairs of segments for visual dissimilarity and their temporal relationship, thereby generating an inter-segment visual dissimilarity feature and an inter-segment temporal relationship feature; and merging video segments with a merging criterion that applies a probabilistic analysis to the feature set, thereby generating a merging sequence representing the video structure. The probabilistic analysis follows a Bayesian formulation and the merging sequence is represented in a hierarchical tree structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for block quantization for color halftoning is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises dividing an input image and an output image into blocks, wherein each block in the output image corresponds to one block in the input image. The method also includes dividing each block into subblocks if an edge exists in said each block, calculating a color average of each input block, and calculating a set of output colors for each block in the output image to match the color average of its corresponding block in the input image.

Abstract: A method of displaying an image with a display device includes receiving image data for the image. A first sub-frame and a second sub-frame are generated based on combinations of pixel values from the image data. The method includes alternating between displaying the first sub-frame in a first position and displaying the second sub-frame in a second position spatially offset from the first position.

Abstract: A method of interpolating a given output pixel value when upconverting interlaced video to progressive video includes the step of determining averages for vertically adjacent pixels, left diagonally adjacent pixels, and right diagonally adjacent pixels respectively for the given output pixel and the step of determining differences between the vertically adjacent pixels, the left diagonally adjacent pixels, and the right diagonally adjacent pixels respectively. The method further selects as an interpolated value for the given output pixel among the averages based on a minimal difference of an absolute value among the differences respectively and further constrains the interpolated value to the value of the average of the vertically adjacent pixels if a value of the given output pixel is not between a range of values defined by adjacent pixels above and below the given output pixel or if the selected minimal difference is not unique.

Abstract: This present invention discloses a system and method for enhancing images of barcodes and other similar objects taken by the digital camera connected to or embedded in a mobile device. This filter works by converting the image into its equivalent gray scale. The algorithm then computes the mean pixel intensity value of a row of pixels in the image. The row is divided into sections and the mean pixel intensity of each section is also calculated. The pixels in each section are processed according to the relation of the relative mean intensities of the row and the section. Once each pixel has been processed, the image is reassembled from its divided sections.

Abstract: This present invention discloses a system and method for enhancing images of barcodes and other similar objects taken by the digital camera connected to or embedded in a mobile device. This filter works by converting the image into its equivalent gray scale. The algorithm then computes the mean pixel intensity value of a row of pixels in the image. The row is divided into sections and the mean pixel intensity of each section is also calculated. The pixels in each section are processed according to the relation of the relative mean intensities of the row and the section. Once each pixel has been processed, the image is reassembled from its divided sections.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for binary-coding images considering the brightness of a current pixel and a difference in brightness between pixels. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting a local adaptive critical value for a pixel according to a regional characteristic of the pixel in the image, and a comparator for comparing the local adaptive critical value with the value of the pixel and outputting a binary-coded pixel value corresponding to the pixel. In detecting the local adaptive critical value, a local average parameter FLoc related to high frequency elements is supplied after being controlled according to a locally windowed region. Frequencies for converting from black pixels to white pixels or from white pixels to black pixels are reduced in a binary-coded output image so that an image with a reduced number of high frequency elements can be obtained to improve the compressibility of the binary-coded output image.

Abstract: The gamma adjustment allows the luminance for the sub-pixel arrangement to match the non-linear gamma response of the human eye's luminance channel, while the chrominance can match the linear response of the human eye's chrominance channels. The gamma correction allows the algorithms to operate independently of the actual gamma of a display device. The sub-pixel rendering techniques disclosed with gamma adjustment can be optimized for a display device gamma to improve response time, dot inversion balance, and contrast because gamma correction and compensation of the sub-pixel rendering algorithm provides the desired gamma through sub-pixel rendering. These techniques can adhere to any specified gamma transfer curve.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spatial filtering unit which applies spatial filtering to input image data to generate filtered image data such that the spatial filtering provides a broader dynamic range for outputs than for inputs, and a high-resolution conversion unit which interpolates the filtered image data in a first direction by an average of values of two pixels adjacent in the first direction, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by an average of values of two pixels adjacent in the second direction, and in a direction diagonal to the first and second directions by an average of four pixels surrounding a pixel of interest, thereby converting the filtered image data into high-resolution image data.

Abstract: The present invention accurately reproduces an image pattern by referring to neighboring pixels upon determining the threshold value of a target pixel so that a delay in dot generation can be prevented while emphasizing an image transition portion so that both graininess and sharpness are improved in the image. To this end, a neighboring pixel density difference detection part obtains an absolute value of the density difference between a target pixel and its neighboring pixels and selects the density of a neighboring pixel with a large absolute value as a reference pixel density. Further, a threshold value quantity determination part determines a threshold value corresponding to the density selected by the neighboring pixel density difference detection part. Then, a quantization part outputs an output value based on a comparison between the threshold value and a corrected value obtained by adding a pre-calculated error value of neighboring pixels to an input value.

Abstract: The probability of a chromaticity being a white point of image scene illumination is estimated by convolving a chromaticity histogram with a function of log probability distribution of chromaticities under an illuminant.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering a non-zero thickness line on a pixel-limited output device such that aliasing of the line is reduced. The edges defining a line segment are expanded to insure that any pixel touched by the line segment has its center included in the bounds of the line segment. The area of any pixel partially or fully covered by the expanded line is determined. If one edge of the line traverses the pixel, the area is determined according to whether a triangular or triangular plus parallelogram area is covered. If more than one edge of the line segment traverses a pixel, the area covered is computed based on the single edge case. With the area covered by the line segment known, the color or shading of the pixel is determined by linear interpolation between the line and the background.

Abstract: The first image processing apparatus that converts a first image having a plurality of pixels and expressed in a first calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components with each of the pixels corresponding to one of the color components to a second image expressed in a second calorimetric system constituted of a plurality of color components which are different from the first calorimetric system, comprises: a similarity decision-making device that determines levels of similarity manifesting at a processing object pixel in the first image along a plurality of directions; and a new component generating device that generates color information representing at least one of the color components constituting the second calorimetric system at a pixel in the second image corresponding to the processing object pixel through a weighted addition executed by using predetermined coefficients to add together a plurality of sets of color information selected from color information present at the processing

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for optically reading an image comprises an LED for lighting a predetermined region including an object to be read, an image pickup element for receiving reflected light from the predetermined region lit by the LED and outputting an corresponding image pickup signal, a CPU for controlling an amount of light emitted by the LED in a predetermined range such that the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element is at the proper level, and a dark image pickup detecting circuit for determining a dark image pickup state on the basis of the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element. When the dark image pickup detecting circuit determines the dark image pickup state, the CPU controls an amount of light emitted by the LED to be low.