Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus (12) for converting a plurality of pixel colors of an
image into a plurality of representative colors in a color pattern, the color
pattern being renderable by a limited set of display colors, the display colors
defining a color space, the apparatus comprising: a processor (16); and processor memory (18) encoded with a plurality of executable
instructions (22), the instructions (22), when executed, instructing the
processor (16) to select an (N-1)-dimensional simplex in the color space for
each pixel color, each selected simplex being defined by N display colors that
can render a solid color patch of a corresporiding pixel color, where N is an
integer greater than two and less than the number of display colors in the
limited set; for each selected simplex, the processor (16) being further instructed to
perform a point operation to select one of the vertices and thereby select a
representative color as the color corresponding to the selected vertex; whereby a solid patch of each pixel color can be rendered by a dot
pattern having no more than N different colors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor memory (18) is
encoded with at least one dither matrix (22) of thresholds; and wherein
the instructions (22) instruct the processor (16) to perform the point operations
by partitioning each selected simplex into a plurality of partitions; and locating
the thresholds inside the partitions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor memory (18) is
encoded with at least one dither matrix (22); and wherein the
instructions (22) instruct the processor (16) to perform the point operation by
comparing barycentric coordinates of the pixel colors to barycentric
coordinates of thresholds in the dither matrix (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the thresholds have a uniform
threshold distribution for each selected simplex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions (22) instruct
the processor (16) to compare the barycentric coordinates by taking ratios of
pixel colors to thresholds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions (22) instruct
the processor (16) to compare the barycentric coordinates by performing
bubble sorts of the barycentric coordinate ratios of the pixel colors and the
thresholds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions (22) instruct
the processor (16) to perform the point operation by comparing barycentric
coordinates of the color to a plurality of Cartesian thresholds, whereby
Cartesian thresholding in a simplex is performed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein N=4, whereby the processor
(16) is instructed to select one of the vertices of each selected tetrahedron.