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US4931881A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of reducing digital images

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1989-05-01
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2009-05-01
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Abstract

Abstract An image binarization system in which the threshold value used for the binarization process can be adjusted to thereby enable the process to be made more accurate and avoid loss of black areas in characters in the process of digitizing and conversion. The threshold value is based on the average value of pixel density values around the pixels to be binarized, and is corrected downward when the average density value of the surrounding pixels is larger than a specific boundary value, and upward when the average value is smaller than the said boundary value.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nobuhiko Matsui
  • 👤 Kikuo Mita

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/16; G06V30/162

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of reducing a digital image having digital pixels with discrete values corresponding to multiple density values into a binary image having binary pixels with values corresponding to black and white, respectively, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the average value of density values of the digital pixels around each given digital pixel to be reduced; b. comparing such average pixel value with a selected boundary value; c. selecting a threshold value in accordance with an algorithm which is based upon whether the average value is different than the boundary value; and d. comparing the selected threshold value with the given digital pixel value and producing a binary signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of reducing a digital image having digital pixels with discrete values corresponding to multiple density values into a binary image having binary pixels with values corresponding to black and white, respectively, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the average value of density values of the digital pixels around each given digital pixel to be reduced; b. comparing such average pixel value with a selected boundary value; c. selecting a threshold value in accordance with an algorithm which is based upon whether the average value is different than the boundary value; and d. comparing the selected threshold value with the given digital pixel value and producing a binary signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of changing the selected boundary value on the basis of the range of digital pixels around the given digital pixel.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 141 words
A method of reducing a digital image having digital pixels with discrete values corresponding to multiple density values into a binary image having binary pixels with values corresponding to black and white, respectively, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the average value of density values of the digital pixels around each given digital pixel to be reduced; b. comparing such average pixel value with a selected boundary value; c. selecting (i) a threshold value equal to the average value when the average value is equal to the selected boundary value and greater than the average value when the average value is less than the selected boundary value and less than the average value when the average value is greater than the boundary value; and d. comparing the selected threshold value with the given digital pixel value and producing a binary signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 141 words
A method of reducing a digital image having digital pixels with discrete values corresponding to multiple density values into a binary image having binary pixels with values corresponding to black and white, respectively, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the average value of density values of the digital pixels around each given digital pixel to be reduced; b. comparing such average pixel value with a selected boundary value; c. selecting (i) a threshold value equal to the average value when the average value is equal to the selected boundary value and greater than the average value when the average value is less than the selected boundary value and less than the average value when the average value is greater than the boundary value; and d. comparing the selected threshold value with the given digital pixel value and producing a binary signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of changing the selected boundary value on the basis of the range of digital pixels around the given digital pixel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4554593A Cited
US4570186A Cited
US4710822A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-04 1993-12-04 1994-06-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-04 1997-12-04 1998-06-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-04 2001-12-04 2002-06-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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