EP0256816A1
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EP
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Method and apparatus for interactively modifying images
Assignee: Crosfield Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1987-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the colour content of pixels of the image at a first resolution. The apparatus comprises a first store (4;12) for storing the digital data of the pixels at the first resolution; a monitor (9); a digitising table (5); and an image processor (6;13,15). The image processor (6;13,15) is responsive to signals from the digitising table (5) to select a modification algorithm and a portion of the image stored in the first store (4;12) to which the algorithm is to be applied. The image processor is further adapted to modify a subset of pixels of the image portion in accordance with the selected algorithm and to cause the modified image portion to be displayed on a monitor (9) at a second, lower resolution under the control of the modified pixels, and to modify and display successive subsets of the high resolution pixels while the same image portion and algorithm are selected and until all the high resolution pixels within the selected portion have been modified.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Clive Mayne
- 👤 Robert Charles Wilson
- 👤 Lindsay William Macdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/62; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the colour content of pixels of the image at a first resolution, the method comprising i) selecting a modification algorithm and a portion of the image to which the algorithm is to be applied; ii) modifying a first subset of pixels of the image portion in accordance with the selected algorithm; iii) displaying the modified image portion on a monitor (9) at a second, lower resolution under the control of the modified pixels; and, iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) on further subsets of the high resolution pixels while the same image portion and algorithm are selected and until all the high resolution pixels within the selected portion have been modified.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the colour content of pixels of the image at a first resolution, the method comprising i) selecting a modification algorithm and a portion of the image to which the algorithm is to be applied; ii) modifying a first subset of pixels of the image portion in accordance with the selected algorithm; iii) displaying the modified image portion on a monitor (9) at a second, lower resolution under the control of the modified pixels; and, iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) on further subsets of the high resolution pixels while the same image portion and algorithm are selected and until all the high resolution pixels within the selected portion have been modified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting an image portion comprises viewing the image defined by the original digital data on the monitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein step ii) is carried out within the frame rate of the monitor (9).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each iteration of step ii) is carried out while a partially modified image portion is being displayed on the monitor during the previous step iii).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pixels in each subset are regularly spaced throughout the image portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the first subset of pixels is defined by alternate pixels on alternate lines of the original image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the colour content of pixels of the image at a first resolution, the apparatus comprising a first store (4;12) for storing the original digital data; a monitor (9); operator adjustable control means (5); and image processing means (6;13;15) responsive to signals from the operator adjustable control means to select a modification algorithm and a portion of the image stored in the first store to which the algorithm is to be applied, the image processing means being further adapted to modify a subset of pixels of the image portion in accordance with the selected algorithm and to cause the modified image portion to be displayed on the monitor (9) at a second, lower resolution under the control of the modified pixels, and to modify and display further subsets of the high resolution pixels while the same image portion and algorithm are selected, until all the high resolution pixels within the selected portion have been modified.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the colour content of pixels of the image at a first resolution, the apparatus comprising a first store (4;12) for storing the original digital data; a monitor (9); operator adjustable control means (5); and image processing means (6;13;15) responsive to signals from the operator adjustable control means to select a modification algorithm and a portion of the image stored in the first store to which the algorithm is to be applied, the image processing means being further adapted to modify a subset of pixels of the image portion in accordance with the selected algorithm and to cause the modified image portion to be displayed on the monitor (9) at a second, lower resolution under the control of the modified pixels, and to modify and display further subsets of the high resolution pixels while the same image portion and algorithm are selected, until all the high resolution pixels within the selected portion have been modified.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing means comprises a processor (6) for reading selected subsets of data from the first store (4) and for modifying the selected data in accordance with the selected algorithm; a second store (8) defining the colour content of monitor pixels on a one-to-one basis, the second store (8) being loaded with modified data by the processor; and a video controller (10) for controlling the monitor in response to the data in the second store.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image processing means comprises a processor (15) for modifying the selected subsets of data in the first store (12); and a video controller for reading data for the modified pixels from the first store (12) and for controlling the monitor (9) in response to the read data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0142994A2
Cited
EP0185498A2
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