US4953227A — Image mosaic-processing method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: dividing an original image into plural areas each composed of plural pixels, wherein image data of each of the plural pixels is multi-level image data representing an image density; changing a shape of the area in accordance with a contrast of the original image; and conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of a predetermined pixel within each area as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the area into said representative value.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 86 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: dividing an original image into plural areas each composed of plural pixels, wherein image data of each of the plural pixels is multi-level image data representing an image density; changing a shape of the area in accordance with a contrast of the original image; and conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of a predetermined pixel within each area as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the area into said representative value.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the contrast is detected from the difference between maximum and minimum values of the image data within a predetermined image area.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the size of said areas is made smaller as said contrast becomes larger.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the areas are produced at random in one image plane of the original image.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the image data consists of plural color data for one pixel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method according to claim 5, wherein said conversion processing is performed on the plural color data, and at that time the shape of the area is left unchanged even if the color data is changed.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 83 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting features relating to the form of an image, from image data of plural areas in an image; defining blocks according to said features; and converting all the pixel data in each of said blocks to a predetermined representative value, wherein, in said extracting step, the distance between the maximum and minimum values of the image in the area is detected, and wherein the vertical-to-lateral ratio of said block is determined according to said distance.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 83 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting features relating to the form of an image, from image data of plural areas in an image; defining blocks according to said features; and converting all the pixel data in each of said blocks to a predetermined representative value, wherein, in said extracting step, the distance between the maximum and minimum values of the image in the area is detected, and wherein the vertical-to-lateral ratio of said block is determined according to said distance.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 80 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting features relating to the form of an image, from image data of plural areas in an image; defining blocks according to said features; and converting all the pixel data in each of said blocks to a predetermined representative value, wherein, in said extracting step, the distance between the maximum and minimum values of the image in the area is detected, and wherein said distance is detected in two mutually perpendicular directions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 80 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting features relating to the form of an image, from image data of plural areas in an image; defining blocks according to said features; and converting all the pixel data in each of said blocks to a predetermined representative value, wherein, in said extracting step, the distance between the maximum and minimum values of the image in the area is detected, and wherein said distance is detected in two mutually perpendicular directions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: detecting changes in image data of an image frame; defining plural blocks of sizes according to said changes; and converting all the image data in each of said blocks into a predetermined representative value, wherein said detecting step is adapted to detect whether the difference of data between neighboring pixels exceeds a predetermined value or not, and wherein the boundary of said block is defined where said difference not exceeding said predetermined value is detected consecutively for a predetermined number of times.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: detecting changes in image data of an image frame; defining plural blocks of sizes according to said changes; and converting all the image data in each of said blocks into a predetermined representative value, wherein said detecting step is adapted to detect whether the difference of data between neighboring pixels exceeds a predetermined value or not, and wherein the boundary of said block is defined where said difference not exceeding said predetermined value is detected consecutively for a predetermined number of times.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 103 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: dividing an original image into plural areas each composed of plural pixels, wherein image data of each of the plural pixels is multi-level image data representing an image density, and wherein the areas are produced at random in one image plane of the original image; changing a shape of the area in accordance with a spatial frequency of the original image; and conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within each area as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the area into the representative value.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 103 words

An image processing method comprising the steps of: dividing an original image into plural areas each composed of plural pixels, wherein image data of each of the plural pixels is multi-level image data representing an image density, and wherein the areas are produced at random in one image plane of the original image; changing a shape of the area in accordance with a spatial frequency of the original image; and conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within each area as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the area into the representative value.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method according to claim 10, wherein the spatial frequency is detected from information on positions of maximum and minimum values of the original image data within a predetermined image area.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 10, wherein the sizes of the areas are made smaller as the spatial frequency becomes higher.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 10, wherein the image data consists of plural color data for one pixel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method according to claim 13, wherein said conversion processing is performed on the plural color data, and at that time the shape of the area is left unchanged even if the color data is changed.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 126 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: random signal generation means for generating a random signal which represents a desired position within one image plane of an original image; block setting means for setting a block consisting of plural multi-level image data, on the basis of the random signal generated by said random signal generation means; and process means for conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of a predetermined pixel within the block as a representative value, the image data of plural pixels within the block into the representative value, wherein said random signal generation means generates plural random signals and said block setting means sets within one image plane the plural blocks to be conversion-processed by said process means based on the plural random signals.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 126 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: random signal generation means for generating a random signal which represents a desired position within one image plane of an original image; block setting means for setting a block consisting of plural multi-level image data, on the basis of the random signal generated by said random signal generation means; and process means for conversion processing, including defining the multi-level image data of a predetermined pixel within the block as a representative value, the image data of plural pixels within the block into the representative value, wherein said random signal generation means generates plural random signals and said block setting means sets within one image plane the plural blocks to be conversion-processed by said process means based on the plural random signals.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising input means for inputting a number of the blocks set by said block setting means, and said random signal generation means generates the random signals corresponding to the number input by said input means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising detection means for detecting a feature of the image data of the original image, and wherein said block setting means sets the block of different size according to the feature detected by said detection means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 112 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: block setting means for setting a block consisting of image data of plural pixels of an original image, wherein the image data is multi-level image data representing a density of the original image; and process means for converting, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within the block set by said block setting means as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the block into the representative value to be mosaic-processed, wherein said block setting means sets first and second plural blocks within one image plane and longitudinal-to-lateral ratios of the first and second blocks are different from each other.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 112 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: block setting means for setting a block consisting of image data of plural pixels of an original image, wherein the image data is multi-level image data representing a density of the original image; and process means for converting, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within the block set by said block setting means as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the block into the representative value to be mosaic-processed, wherein said block setting means sets first and second plural blocks within one image plane and longitudinal-to-lateral ratios of the first and second blocks are different from each other.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the image data consists of plural color data for one pixel.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said process means performs the mosaic process for plural color data, and at that time said process means does not change a shape of the block even if the color data is changed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 134 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: block setting means for setting a block consisting of image data of plural pixels of an original image, wherein the image data is multi-level image data representing a density of the original image; and process means for converting, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within the block set by said block setting means as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the block into the representative value to be mosaic-processed, wherein said block setting means sets first and second plural blocks within one image plane, longitudinal-to-lateral ratios of the first and second blocks are different from each other, the image data consists of plural color data for one pixel, and said process means performs the mosaic process for plural color data.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 134 words

An image processing apparatus comprising: block setting means for setting a block consisting of image data of plural pixels of an original image, wherein the image data is multi-level image data representing a density of the original image; and process means for converting, including defining the multi-level image data of the predetermined pixel within the block set by said block setting means as a representative value, the image data of the plural pixels within the block into the representative value to be mosaic-processed, wherein said block setting means sets first and second plural blocks within one image plane, longitudinal-to-lateral ratios of the first and second blocks are different from each other, the image data consists of plural color data for one pixel, and said process means performs the mosaic process for plural color data.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-08-27	1994-02-26	1994-08-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-08-27	1998-02-26	1998-08-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-08-27	2002-02-26	2002-08-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image mosaic-processing method and apparatus

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