US20030179935A1 — Image processing apparatus, image processing meth…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

1 . An image processing apparatus for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing apparatus comprising: an edge direction estimation section for estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; an edge pattern selection section for selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; an image enhancement section for enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; an enlarged image area generation section for generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern selected by said edge pattern selection section and the pixel value of the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement means; and an image placement section for placing the enlarged image area generated by said enlarged image area generation section according to a predetermined method.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

1 . An image processing apparatus for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing apparatus comprising: an edge direction estimation section for estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; an edge pattern selection section for selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; an image enhancement section for enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; an enlarged image area generation section for generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern selected by said edge pattern selection section and the pixel value of the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement means; and an image placement section for placing the enlarged image area generated by said enlarged image area generation section according to a predetermined method.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 69 words

2 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said edge direction estimation section calculates each edge angle based on the pixel value difference for the first image area containing the notable pixel and an image area on the periphery of the first image area, and estimates the edge direction information in the first image area containing the notable pixel from the calculated edge angles.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

3 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said edge direction estimation section selects the image area used for estimating the edge direction information in the first image area containing the notable pixel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

4 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the edge direction information estimated by said edge direction estimation section is normalized in a determined number of directions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

5 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said edge direction estimation section calculates edge strength information in the first image area.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

6 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said edge direction estimation section selects a color space data piece from among color space data pieces in accordance with the edge strength information and estimates the edge direction information using the selected color space data piece.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

7 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said edge pattern selection section selects the edge shape pattern from among a plurality of edge shape patterns for specific edge direction information.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 65 words

8 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when two or more edge shape patterns are selectable for specific edge direction information, said edge pattern selection section converts the pixels in the first image area into a binary pattern and executes pattern matching between the binary pattern and each of the edge shape patterns to select the edge shape pattern.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

9 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said edge pattern selection section selects the edge shape pattern from among a plurality of edge shape patterns different in size corresponding to the first image area, each edge shape pattern being provided in a correspondence with different size.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 57 words

10 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said image enhancement section selects a enhancement kernel in response to an enlargement ratio from among a plurality of enhancement kernels different in kernel elements and element-to-element distance and applies the selected enhancement kernel to enhancing the pixel values of the first image area.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

11 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said enlarged image area generation section comprises first enlarged image area generation section and second enlarged image area generation section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 78 words

12 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first enlarged image area generation section enlarges the first image area to generate a first enlarged image area for each of the edge shape patterns by using the pixel value in the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement section or by using a value calculated using two or more pixel values in the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 72 words

13 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second enlarged image area generation section comprises a plurality of enlargement unit that enlarges the first enlarged image area by using different process; and the second enlarged image area generation section selects a enlargement unit to use from among the plurality of enlargement unit in accordance with the edge direction information estimated by said edge direction estimation section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

14 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein one of the enlargement unit generates a second enlarged image area by predetermined calculation using the pixel value in the first enlarged image area and the pixel value in the periphery of the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement section.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 44 words

15 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein one of the enlargement unit selects the pixel value in the periphery of the first image area in accordance with the edge direction information estimated by said edge direction estimation section.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 50 words

16 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein one of the enlargement unit generates a second enlarged image area using a value resulting from converting the pixel value in the periphery of the first image area enhanced by said image enhancement section by predetermined calculation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

17 . The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said image placement section places the enlarged image areas generated by said enlarged image area generation section sequentially so as to overlap the each enlarged image areas.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 72 words

18 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an image data obtaining means for obtaining an image data; a pattern data storing means for storing a pattern data; and an image replacing means for replacing an area image data corresponding to a specific area of an image contained in the image data and having smaller area size than the area image data with the pattern data having similarity to the area image data.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 72 words

18 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an image data obtaining means for obtaining an image data; a pattern data storing means for storing a pattern data; and an image replacing means for replacing an area image data corresponding to a specific area of an image contained in the image data and having smaller area size than the area image data with the pattern data having similarity to the area image data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 110 words

19 . An image processing method for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing method comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 110 words

19 . An image processing method for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing method comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 110 words

20 . An image processing program for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing program comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 110 words

20 . An image processing program for performing image enlargement processing, said image processing program comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 106 words

21 . A computer-readable record medium recording an image processing program comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 106 words

21 . A computer-readable record medium recording an image processing program comprising the steps of: estimating edge direction information for a first image area containing a notable pixel; selecting an edge shape pattern corresponding to the first image area corresponding to an edge direction indicated by the edge direction information based on the edge direction information and a pixel value in the first image area; enhancing the pixel value of the first image area; generating an enlarged image area by using the edge shape pattern and the enhanced pixel value of the first image area; and placing the enlarged image area according to a predetermined method.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and computer-readable record medium storing image processing program

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