Raising Or Lowering The Image Resolution (e.g., Subpixel Accuracy) Patents (Class 382/299)
  • Patent number: 8315451
    Abstract: A method and computer program for segmentation of an MRI image of tissue in presence of partial volume effects, include storing the MRI image in K-space representation as raw dataset, reconstructing N images, each represented by N sets of voxels and N sets of light intensity values, dividing each voxel into a fixed number of subvoxels equal in size, assigning the light intensity value of the voxel to its subvoxels, classifying each subvoxel according to light intensity value, identifying a totality of subvoxels classified with equal probability for a totality of tissue types, labeling the subvoxels as partial volume subvoxels, shifting N?1 images starting with the second image by one subvoxel relatively to the preceding image and gene-rating a new set of overlay subvoxels, determining a new set of probability values for the new set of overlay subvoxels and creating an overlay image of the new set of overlaid subvoxels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunnar Krüger, Bénédicte Mortamet
  • Patent number: 8315480
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to include a plurality of line sensors to read image data having a plurality of channels; a correcting unit configured to correct the image data read by the sensor unit to obtain a plurality of frames of image data in which reading positions on an original image by adjacent line sensors among the plurality of line sensors are shifted by less than a pixel in a main scanning direction or/and a sub-scanning direction; and a high-resolution converting unit configured to perform interpolation by using the plurality of frames of image data obtained by the correcting unit so as to obtain monochrome image data having resolution higher than resolution of the line sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8315481
    Abstract: An image transmitting apparatus includes a region detecting unit detecting, in an image, a region of interest matching a predetermined condition; a resolution converting unit selecting, for reducing resolution of the image, an image passed through a low-pass filter as an image outside the detected region of interest and an image not passed through the low-pass filter as an image inside the region of interest; and a transmitting unit transmitting the image with reduced resolution and positional information of the region of interest. An image receiving apparatus includes a resolution restoring unit performing image quality improvement processing on the region of interest obtained from the positional information and included in the image transmitted from the image transmitting apparatus so as to increase resolution in the region of interest; and a combining unit combining the image inside the processed region of interest with the image outside the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8311915
    Abstract: Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Noregin Assets, N.V., LLC
    Inventors: David J. P. Baar, Ali Solehdin
  • Patent number: 8306362
    Abstract: A method for reading out pixel values for a two dimensional array, the method includes the steps of periodically combining at least two pixel values of a same first color in a first dimension of the two dimensional array; reading out the combined pixel values of the first color; and reading out pixels of a second color in the first dimension of the two dimensional array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Compton
  • Patent number: 8306363
    Abstract: A controller for scaling an input image is provided. The controller selects a pixel neighborhood that includes a plurality of pixels neighboring a pixel. The controller compares at least part of the pixel neighborhood to a pattern. If the pattern is present in the pixel neighborhood, the controller applies a scaling algorithm to at least a portion of the pixel neighborhood in order to obtain a scaled image. The controller also selects another pixel neighborhood that includes a plurality of pixels neighboring a pixel in the scaled image, and compares at least part of the another pixel neighborhood to another pixel pattern. If the another pixel pattern is present in the another pixel neighborhood, the controller applies a correction algorithm to at least a portion of the another pixel neighborhood in order to obtain a processed scaled image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Keithley, David A. Bartle
  • Patent number: 8300986
    Abstract: A measurement processing block obtains a plurality of first images of the object to be measured, taken with very small movements in the imaging area. A feature extraction processing block extracts an approximate feature portion of the object from the first images obtained by the measurement processing block. A partial-image creation processing block creates a plurality of first partial images by grouping the plurality of first images obtained by the measurement processing block in the vicinity of the approximate feature portion extracted by the feature extraction processing block. A super-resolution-image creation processing block creates a super-resolution image from the plurality of first partial images created by the partial-image creation processing block. Thus, detailed features of the object are measured precisely and easily even when the object is located far away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Nobuo Kochi, Tetsuharu Anai, Hitoshi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8300971
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for image processing, and more particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing image data generated by bioanalytical devices, such as DNA sequencers. An object of the present invention is to remove artifacts such as noise, blur, background, non-uniform illumination, lack of registration, and extract pixel signals back to DNA-beads in a way that de-mixes pixels that contain contributions from nearby beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: LevelSet Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Osher, Bin Dong, Barry Lynn Merriman
  • Patent number: 8300908
    Abstract: A device for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms. Said device comprises means for detecting a contour line that surrounds an object area of the mammogram, which is defined by an object. The device also comprises a means for positioning and scaling the mammogram. The device is configured to determine the contour line of the object area of the mammogram and to automatically position and scale the mammogram based on the contour line. A method for the computer-assisted analysis of mammograms is also disclosed. The disclosed device and method make it easier for a doctor to comparatively analyze and diagnose mammograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Image Diagnost International GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schneider, Peter Heinlein, Marco Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 8300980
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a high resolution texture within an image, comprising means to receive texture information contained within a low resolution image and to generate at least a first and a second signal based on the received texture information, wherein the first signal comprises high frequency parts of the received texture information, means to resynthesize the first signal by inserting a plurality of parts of the low resolution image into the high resolution image in an appropriate combination, means to interpolate the second generated signal and means to combine the resynthesized first signal with the interpolated second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sebastian Lenke
  • Patent number: 8300987
    Abstract: An upscaler is disclosed that upscales each of a maximum value map, a minimum value map and an average value map to a destination resolution. A blending module generates a detail-enhanced upscaled image of the source image having the destination resolution by blending corresponding pixel values from an upscaled image of the source image with at least one of: the upscaled maximum value map and the upscaled minimum value map. The blending may be based on the strength of detected edges in the source image and further based on a comparison of each pixel value in the upscaled image with a corresponding pixel value in an average value map. A source image characteristic calculator may generate the maximum value map, the minimum value map and the average value map based on the intensity values of a source image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Jeff X. Wei
  • Publication number: 20120269457
    Abstract: A virtual image is synthesized from a reduced resolution depth image storing depth values at each pixel location. The reduced resolution depth image is scaled up to produce an up-scaled depth image. Then, at least one filter is applied to the up-scaled depth image to produce a reconstructed depth image, and the virtual image is synthesized using the reconstructed depth image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Anthony Vetro, Sehoon Yea, Kwan-Jun Oh
  • Publication number: 20120269458
    Abstract: A method interpolates and filters a depth image with reduced resolution to recover a high resolution depth image using edge information, wherein each depth image includes an array of pixels at locations and wherein each pixel has a depth. The reduced depth image is first up-sampled, interpolating the missing positions by repeating the nearest-neighboring depth value. Next, a moving window is applied to the pixels in the up-sampled depth image. The window covers a set of pixels centred at each pixel. The pixels covered by the window are selected according to their relative offset to the depth edge, and only pixels that are within the same side of the depth edge of the centre pixel are used for the filtering procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Danillo B. Graziosi, Dong Tian, Anthony Vetro
  • Patent number: 8295646
    Abstract: A resolution converting method for converting a resolution of a binary image to an integral multiple resolution, includes: representing a density of an arbitrary position of the input image as an interpolation value; overlapping the output image on the input image in a setting that a pixel of an edge section of the output image is shifted by a minutely small quantity from a pixel position of the input image in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; and allotting an area of a pixel to each pixel of an output image which overlaps an area of the input image, integrating interpolation values of the area of the input image, normalizing an value obtained by the integrating the area of the pixel, and determining a binary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Kawabe
  • Patent number: 8295647
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for retargeting an image, comprising determining a total block structure energy of an input image content. A compressibility rate of the input image content is determined based on the total block structure energy. An optimal scaling factor of the input image content is obtained. The input image content is warped by using a new coordinate matrices and uniformly scaling the input image content to a target image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Shu-Fan Wang, Shang-Hong Lai
  • Publication number: 20120263398
    Abstract: A method for authoring and sending from a network element and receiving at a mobile device, rich media, the sending having the steps of checking whether the rich media includes discrete content; if yes, sending a low resolution version of the discrete content with the rich media; and subsequently sending a higher resolution version of the rich media. The receiving having the steps of receiving a low resolution version of the discrete content in the rich media; rendering the rich media; receiving a higher resolution fragment of the discrete content; and incrementally applying the higher resolution fragments to the low resolution version of the discrete content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Gaelle MARTIN-COCHER, Suresh CHITTURI
  • Patent number: 8290308
    Abstract: According to a program, a computer determine an interpolation method for interpolating respective pixel values of plural pixels not existing in an input image and positioned on a straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shohei Nakagata, Kohji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8290309
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a super-resolution method for image display. The method comprises: receiving a low resolution image; dividing the low resolution image into a plurality of regions; finding high resolution patches in a pre-trained database; pasting the high resolution patches back to the plurality of regions by puzzle-form process or oblique-form process and computing the compatibility utilizing a two-dimensional hidden Markov model process; and generating a super-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Chiung Hsieh, Po-Han Chuan, Meng-Chao Kao
  • Patent number: 8285080
    Abstract: An image scanner using an area sensor having a tilt reads a plurality of low-resolution image data having phase shifts from each other, and the low-resolution image data are converted into those on an orthogonal coordinate system by affine transformation. The number of data to be used is decided based on one of these low-resolution image data. The low-resolution image data as many as the designated number of data are saved, and high-resolution image data is generated by executing super-resolution processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitake Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8284255
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a feature quantity extraction part for extracting a feature quantity of a subject from video captured by plural cameras, an In/Out point extraction part for extracting In/Out points indicating points in which a subject appears and disappears in each video captured, an In/Out region formation part for forming In/Out regions based on the In/Out points extracted, a correlation value calculation part for calculating a correlation value by obtaining the total sum of similarities every feature quantity of the subject in each of the plural combinations of In/Out points included in the In/Out regions, a frequency histogram creation part for creating a frequency histogram based on the correlation value, and a link relation information generation part for extracting a peak of the frequency histogram and estimating the presence or absence of a link relation between the plural cameras and generating link relation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Sumio Yokomitsu
  • Patent number: 8285067
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component determines the degree of artifacts and whether to inform the user that the image is blurred by identifying at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 8284446
    Abstract: Consumable reduction is achieved for a printing device by utilizing a processor (32), memory (34) and software for receiving input information representative of an image to be printed and generating output information representative of a reduced consumable image in response to consumable smear, spatial relationship between adjacent dots and an image quality degradation. Factors such as print medium characteristics, heat or humidity and composure of the consumable are considered in performing the consumable reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Pretone Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Eizenberg, Yishai Brafman, Boaz Katz, Raphael Salamon
  • Publication number: 20120249824
    Abstract: A method of k*k subsampling, where k is an integer greater than one, a full frame readout on a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each pixel belonging to one of at least two sets, a first set configured to sense a first value of an image parameter and a second set configured to sense a second value of the image parameter, the method including sampling signals of k pixels of at least one set in a first row to output subsampled signals, converting the subsampled signals into digital signals having a lower resolution than the full frame readout, repeating sampling and converting for k rows, and adding digital signals for the first to kth rows within the at least one set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Yong LIM, Kyoung Min Koh, Soo Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 8280194
    Abstract: An imaging system generates a picture depth map from a pair of reduced resolution images. The system captures two full resolution images, receives image reduction image information and creates two reduced resolution images. The system computes a blur difference between the two reduced resolution images at different image locations. The system calculates the depth map based on the blur difference between the two reduced resolution images at different image locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Quong Wong, Pingshan Li, Soroj Triteyaprasert, Hidenori Kushida, Makibi Nakamura, Yoshihiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 8279341
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, a process relating to the creation of a high-resolution video from a low-resolution video. In a particular embodiment, the process receives as input a sequence of low-resolution video frames. The process first determines a matching score for consecutive frames in the sequence, where the matching score is based on a preliminary global transformation between consecutive frames. From the matching scores, the process determines a set of matching windows and relative-motion estimates and then uses the set and estimates to calculate more thorough global transformations and any residual relative-motion which can be explained using independent object motion and/or optical flow. The process uses the latter global transformation and any independent object motion and/or optical flow to create motion trajectories and to generate high-resolution frames by interpolating low-resolution frames at trajectory-defined points, using regular-to-irregular spatio-temporal interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: MotionDSP, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikola Bozinovic
  • Patent number: 8275219
    Abstract: To acquire a high-resolution frame from a plurality of frames sampled from a video image, it is necessary to obtain a high-resolution frame with reduced picture quality degradation regardless of motion of a subject included in the frame. Because of this, between a plurality of contiguous frames FrN and FrN+1, there is estimated a correspondent relationship. Based on the correspondent relationship, the frames FrN+1 and FrN are interposed to obtain first and second interpolated frames FrH1 and FrH2. Based on the correspondent relationship, the coordinates of the frame FrN+1 are transformed, and from a correlation value with the frame FrN, there is obtained a weighting coefficient ? (x?, y?) that makes the weight of the first interpolated frame FrH1 greater as a correlation becomes greater. With the weighting coefficient, the first and second interpolated frames are weighted and added to acquire a synthesized frame FrG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kameyama, Wataru Ito
  • Patent number: 8275218
    Abstract: A forward and backward image resizing method is used for resizing a low-resolution image into a high-resolution image. In the method, the low-resolution image is obtained first, and then a forward and backward image resizing process is performed, so as to resize the low-resolution image into the high-resolution image with an integral multiple resolution. The forward and backward image resizing process includes: resizing the low-resolution image by the integral multiple, so as to generate a first-resizing image with the integral multiple resolution; further increasing the resolution of the first-resizing image by 2-fold, so as to generate a second-resizing image; and reducing the resolution of the second-resizing image by 2-fold, thereby obtaining the high-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Hsiang Lin, Pei-Chi Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8270774
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: an interpolation unit configured to perform interpolation along each of a plurality of directions in a neighbor region of a predetermined pixel of interest in an input image, and generate interpolation values for each; a chroma signal alias intensity calculating unit configured to calculate alias intensities of chroma signals from interpolation values of each of the plurality of directions from the interpolation unit; and a direction evaluation unit configured to generate evaluation values corresponding to each of the plurality of directions, based on the alias intensity of each of the chroma signals of the plurality of directions from the chroma signal alias intensity calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihito Yasuma, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Patent number: 8270773
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a super-resolution converter, a reducing module, and a restoring module. The super-resolution converter estimates, upon receipt of a first image signal with first resolution, an original pixel value from the first image signal and increases pixels to obtain a second image signal with second resolution higher than the first resolution. The first image signal and the second image signal include a combination of a luminance signal and a color difference signal. The reducing module reduces a first quantization bit rate of the color difference signal in the first image signal to be input to the super-resolution converter to a second quantization bit rate. The restoring module restores the second quantization bit rate of the color difference signal in the second image signal to the first quantization bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shugo Konishi
  • Patent number: 8270771
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for iterative seam selection in an image resizing system utilizing a seam carving technique. In one embodiment, an importance map is generated for a received source image. Seams are carved through the image from one edge to an opposite edge. An energy is computed for each seam based on pixel importance values. A distance is computed from each seam to a previously selected seam. A weighting for each seam is computed using a defined weighting function and the calculated seam distances. The weighting is applied to the energy of each seam produce a revised energy for each seam. A seam is selected based on the produced revised energy. The image is resized at a location of the selected seam. The process repeats until the image has been resized to a desired target output dimension. In such a manner, unnatural image resizing results are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Claude S. Fillion, Vishal Monga, Ramesh Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 8270751
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component determines the degree of artefacts and whether to inform the user that the image is blurred by identifying at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 8264586
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus that can output images with a plurality of resolutions is provided. The imaging apparatus comprises an imaging section (101) for imaging a subject using an imaging device (103) to generate an image signal and a resolution conversion section (110) for converting a resolution of the image signal captured by the imaging section (101) and outputting it. The resolution conversion section (110) reduces the image inputted from the imaging section (101) to a plurality of images of different sizes and outputs an embedded image in which the size-reduced images of different sizes are embedded in the input image size from the imaging section (101). Thereby, images of a plurality of image sizes can be outputted at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8265426
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processor comprises an image converter and a controller. The image converter is configured to convert a first video signal of a first resolution to a second video signal of a second resolution higher than the first resolution. The conversion is based on a parameter indicating a ratio of high-frequency component pixels of the first video signal to be interpolated and pixels forming the first video signal to be interpolated. The controller is configured to change the parameter based on a type of broadcast wave of the first video signal. The type of broadcast wave may include, but is not limited or restricted to satellite broadcasting or terrestrial broadcasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Munehiro Terada, Kenichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8260088
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to include a plurality of line sensors to read image data having a plurality of channels; a correcting unit configured to correct the image data read by the sensor unit to obtain a plurality of frames of image data in which reading positions on an original image by adjacent line sensors among the plurality of line sensors are shifted by less than a pixel in a main scanning direction or/and a sub-scanning direction; and a high-resolution converting unit configured to perform interpolation by using the plurality of frames of image data obtained by the correcting unit so as to obtain monochrome image data having resolution higher than resolution of the line sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8260087
    Abstract: An upscaling (upsampling) technique for digital images and video for presentation on a display. An image at a first resolution may be separated into a plurality of channels. Each channel may be upsampled to a higher resolution. The plurality of channels may then be combined to form an image at the higher resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Messing, M. Ibrahim Sezan, Scott J. Daly
  • Patent number: 8260086
    Abstract: A method for processing imagery includes receiving data for a first image associated with a first spectral band and second images associated with second spectral bands. The method also includes obtaining first reflectance functions for pixels in the second images, generating a second reflectance function for pixels in the first image based on the first reflectance functions, and obtaining a third reflectance function for pixels in the first image based on the second reflectance function, the imagery data for the first image, and at least one facet orientation constraint. The method further includes modifying the first reflectance functions to generate fourth reflectance functions for pixels in the second images based on a difference between the second and the third reflectance functions, and computing imagery data defining third images associated with the second spectral bands and having the first spatial resolution based on the fourth reflectance functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Riley, Tariq Bakir, Eric Spellman, Robert Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8253856
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a first control signal, a second control signal and a third control signal in response to a first interlaced video signal. The second circuit may be configured to generate a second interlaced video signal in response to the first interlaced video signal, the first control signal, the second control signal and the third control signal. The second circuit may be further configured to vertically scale the first interlaced video signal in an extended vertical domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: José R. Alvarez, Simon Butler
  • Patent number: 8254725
    Abstract: A device, methods and system for improving the contrast ratio of an image of an optical code captured by an image capture device. A command implemented by the image capture device of the form “shift and add” causes the image capture device to generate a modified row of pixel data having improved contrast from a plurality of pixel rows in the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Sik Piu Kwan
  • Patent number: 8253763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, a storage medium, and a program for performing high-quality enlargement processing. Of input image data, a data buffer 32 holds data of target-pixel neighborhood data necessary for the enlargement processing. A data-position swapping unit 33 swaps the data positions of the target-pixel neighborhood data, as needed. A pixel priority determining unit 34 determines background color or foreground color with respect to each pixel of the target-pixel neighborhood data whose data positions were sapped. A data-selection-flag determining unit 36 determines a data selection flag of the target-pixel neighborhood data, the data selection flag being supplied from the pixel priority determining unit 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8253733
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) image generator and 3D image generation method scale a depth map or a two-dimensional (2D) image, perform a cross filtering to sharpen a blurred region on the depth map based on location information of the depth map and 2D image, and thus obtain a clearer depth map and provide a more graphical 3D image using the depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Won Kim, Yong Ju Jung, Aron Baik, Du-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 8254726
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that converts an input image having first resolution into an output image having second resolution higher than the first resolution includes a super-resolution processing unit that converts the input image into an SR image having the second resolution through motion compensation, a motion mask generating unit that generates a motion mask indicating an accuracy of estimation, an edge direction information generating unit that generates edge direction information indicating an edge direction of each area of the input image, a weight map generating unit that generates a weight map indicating likelihood of the edge direction of each of the areas, an interpolation processing unit that converts the input image into an interpolated image having the second resolution, a weight computing unit that computes a weight, and an image generating unit that generates the output image by constructing a weighted sum of the SR image and interpolated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ichihashi, Takefumi Nagumo, Michel Xavier, Hiroshi Oryoji
  • Patent number: 8243996
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 8243160
    Abstract: An imaging and processing device includes: an optical element; a single imager with a color filter array of a plurality of colors attached thereto for outputting a value according to an amount of light which has been guided by the optical element and transmitted through the color filter array, thereby enabling to obtain separate images of the plurality of colors for every frame time point; a first adder section for adding together values, associated with a first color of the plurality of colors, of different images obtained over a plurality of frame time points; a second adder section for adding together a plurality of values, associated with a second color of the plurality of colors other than the first color, of an image captured at a single frame time point; and an image restoring section for restoring an image including a plurality of colors at each frame time point from an image based on the first color which has been subjected to the addition by the first adder section, and an image based on the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Azuma, Hiroyoshi Komobuchi, Taro Imagawa
  • Patent number: 8244053
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing, invoking subsequent image captures and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and initiates a subsequent capture if determined that the motion blur exceeds a certain threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 8244034
    Abstract: An image processing method adopted to remove noise present in an image, includes: an image input step in which an original image constituted of a plurality of pixels is input; a multiple resolution image generation step in which a plurality of low-frequency images with resolutions decreasing in sequence and a plurality of high-frequency images with the resolutions decreasing in sequence are generated by decomposing the input original image; a noise removal processing step in which noise removal processing is individually executed on the low-frequency images and the high-frequency images; and an image acquisition step in which a noise-free image of the original image is obtained based upon both the low-frequency images and the high-frequency images having undergone the noise removal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Ishiga
  • Patent number: 8244072
    Abstract: A method and a system are used for determining color value of a pixel for an image processing operation, including steps of: providing a reference depth value representing a level of motion of the pixel; providing a plurality of color values and corresponding depth values of the pixel at a plurality of levels of motion; and selecting a target color value of the pixel among the plurality of color values according to the reference depth value and the plurality of depth values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Yi-Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8238695
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the data-rate when processing video, particularly wide-angle video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Grandeye, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Kenneth Davey, Paul Chernett, Yavuz Ahiska, Bartu Ahiska
  • Patent number: 8237858
    Abstract: An interpolation processing section determines a pixel value of an interpolation-target pixel by a diagonal interpolation process. An interpolation value limiting section compensates the pixel value determined by the interpolation processing section such that it becomes a value between pixel values of two adjacent pixels above and below the interpolation-target pixel. An intersection area detecting section judges whether or not the interpolation-target pixel is located in, when the horizontal axis represents a horizontal position and the vertical axis represents a pixel value, an area in proximity of a horizontal position where a curve line, representing pixel values of pixels on the scanning line above the interpolation-target pixel, and a curve line, representing pixel values of pixels on the scanning line below the interpolation-target pixel, intersects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 8238682
    Abstract: A thinned output image is generated from an input image. Values of pixels surrounding a pixel of interest in the input image are determined, and first and second neighboring pixel patterns surrounding the pixel of interest are established based on the values of the pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. The first neighboring pixel pattern may be compared to each of a set of purge patterns to determine whether to eliminate the pixel, and the second neighboring pixel pattern may be compared to each of a set of conservation patterns to determine whether to conserve the pixel. The comparisons to the purge and conservation patterns are performed for each pixel independently, and in parallel for all pixels of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manoj Mathew, Keiichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8237741
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that displays, on a display region having a first number of pixels, an image represented by gigantic image data that is recorded in a recording medium and has a second number of pixels that is significantly greater than the first number of pixels, including: a reproducing unit configured to read image data from the recording medium; an output unit configured to output the image data, which is read by the reproducing unit from the recording medium, in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal; and a control unit configured to control the reproducing unit and the output unit. The control unit performs control to extract and read a region corresponding to the display region from the gigantic image data recorded in the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Shimada, Naomasa Takahashi, Jun Hirai, Yukio Takeyari, Makoto Tsukamoto