Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for correcting the gradation of an image comprising the steps of: preparing a standard gradation correction curve expressing an arbitrarily defined gradation correction rule; receiving a image data obtained by reading an image of an original with a photoelectric scanning mechanism; statistically obtaining a density distribution curve of said image on the basis of said image data; obtaining a first gradation correction curve on the basis of a said standard gradation correction curve; obtaining a second gradation correction curve on the basis of said density distribution curve of said image; obtaining a third gradation correction curve by composing said first and second gradation correction curves at an arbitrary ratio; and correcting said gradation of said image through said third gradation correction curve to obtain a gradation corrected image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for correcting the gradation of an image comprising the steps of: preparing a standard gradation correction curve expressing an arbitrarily defined gradation correction rule; receiving a image data obtained by reading an image of an original with a photoelectric scanning mechanism; statistically obtaining a density distribution curve of said image on the basis of said image data; obtaining a first gradation correction curve on the basis of a said standard gradation correction curve; obtaining a second gradation correction curve on the basis of said density distribution curve of said image; obtaining a third gradation correction curve by composing said first and second gradation correction curves at an arbitrary ratio; and correcting said gradation of said image through said third gradation correction curve to obtain a gradation corrected image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first gradation correction curve is obtained by modifying said standard gradation correction curve to pass through a first group of coordinate points provided arbitrarily on a gradation correction coordinate plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second gradation correction curve is obtained by modifying said density distribution curve to pass through a second group of coordinate points provided arbitrarily on said gradation correction coordinate plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said density distribution curve is an accumulated density histogram curve of said image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said first group of coordinate points are determined on the basis of arbitrarily designated upper and lower limits of the density range of said gradation corrected image and highlight and shadow points density levels of said image to be respectively corrected to said upper and lower limits through said first gradation correction curve, said highlight and shadow points density levels being determined by converting arbitrarily densignated values through said accumulated density histogram curve used as a conversion curve.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for correcting the gradation of an image represented by image data, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a previously prepared standard gradation correction curve; counting means for counting the frequency of occurrences of density levels in said image data thereby to obtain statistical data statistically expressing a density distribution of said image; first gradation correction curve generating means for generating a first gradation correction curve on the basis of said standard gradation correction curve; second gradation correction curve generating means for generating a second gradation correction curve on the basis of said statistic data; composing means for composing said first and second gradation correction curves at an arbitrary ratio to give a third gradation correction curve; and gradation correction means for correcting the gradation of said image on the basis of said third gradation correction curve to generate a gradation corrected image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for correcting the gradation of an image represented by image data, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a previously prepared standard gradation correction curve; counting means for counting the frequency of occurrences of density levels in said image data thereby to obtain statistical data statistically expressing a density distribution of said image; first gradation correction curve generating means for generating a first gradation correction curve on the basis of said standard gradation correction curve; second gradation correction curve generating means for generating a second gradation correction curve on the basis of said statistic data; composing means for composing said first and second gradation correction curves at an arbitrary ratio to give a third gradation correction curve; and gradation correction means for correcting the gradation of said image on the basis of said third gradation correction curve to generate a gradation corrected image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first gradation correction curve generating means includes: means for modifying said standard gradation correction curve to pass through a first group of coordinate points provided arbitrarily on a gradation correction coordinate plane thereby to obtain said first gradation correction curve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said statistical data are expressed in the form of an accumulated density histogram curve, said second gradation correction curve generating means including means for modifying said accumulated density histogram curve to pass through a second group of coordinate points provided arbitrarily on said gradation correction plane thereby to obtain said second gradation correction curve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said counting means includes means for counting the frequency of occurrences of density levels in said image data for each density region having a prescribed density width to obtain a density histogram of said image, and means for accumulating said density histogram to obtain said accumulated density historgram curve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first group of coordinate points are determined on the basis of arbitrarily designated upper and lower limits of the density range of said gradation corrected image and highlight and shadow points density levels to be respectively corrected to said upper and lower limits through said first gradation correction curve, said highlight and shadow points density levels being determined by converting arbitrarily designated values through said accumulated density histogram curve used as a conversion curve.