Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of establishing a reference point on a gradation correction curve employed in gradation correction of image data, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing image data representing density values of a plurality of basic colors with respect to each pixel in an original; (b) averaging said density values of respective basic colors with respect to each pixel to obtain an average density D M of each pixel; (c) generating a histogram representing average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a number of pixels N p ; (d) generating a cumulative histogram representing said average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a cumulative number of pixels RN; (e) finding a reference average density D Mrf corresponding to a prescribed value of a reference cumulative number of pixels RN rf on said cumulative histogram; (f) selecting one of two terminal density values D Mn at which said cumulative histogram saturates and which is closer to said reference average density; (g) finding a set of pixels having said average density in a range essentially between said reference average density D Mrf and a selected terminal density value D Mm ; (h) averaging said density values of said plurality of basic colors for said set of pixels with respect to each of said plurality of basic colors, to thereby obtain reference color density values D rf for respective basic colors; and (i) establishing said reference point on the basis of said reference color density values D rf .
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of establishing a reference point on a gradation correction curve employed in gradation correction of image data, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing image data representing density values of a plurality of basic colors with respect to each pixel in an original; (b) averaging said density values of respective basic colors with respect to each pixel to obtain an average density D M of each pixel; (c) generating a histogram representing average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a number of pixels N p ; (d) generating a cumulative histogram representing said average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a cumulative number of pixels RN; (e) finding a reference average density D Mrf corresponding to a prescribed value of a reference cumulative number of pixels RN rf on said cumulative histogram; (f) selecting one of two terminal density values D Mn at which said cumulative histogram saturates and which is closer to said reference average density; (g) finding a set of pixels having said average density in a range essentially between said reference average density D Mrf and a selected terminal density value D Mm ; (h) averaging said density values of said plurality of basic colors for said set of pixels with respect to each of said plurality of basic colors, to thereby obtain reference color density values D rf for respective basic colors; and (i) establishing said reference point on the basis of said reference color density values D rf .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said gradation correction curve is defined on a coordinate plane whose first coordinate represents a first density DI before gradation correction and whose second coordinate represents a second density DO after gradation correction; and said gradation correction curve is drawn through said reference point specified with one of said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate and a prescribed value DO rf as said second coordinate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said gradation correction curve is generated for each of said plurality of basic colors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said plurality of basic colors essentially consist of primary colors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said reference point is either of a highlight point or a shadow point; and at least one of said highlight point and said shadow point is established by said steps (a) through (i).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said reference point for each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with one of said reference color density values D rf for a corresponding color as said first coordinate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said reference point for each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with the largest value among said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said reference point for each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with the smallest value among said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for establishing a reference point on a gradation correction curve employed in gradation correction of image data, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for preparing image data representing density values of a plurality of basic colors with respect to each pixel in an original; (b) means for averaging said density values of respective basic colors with respect to each pixel to obtain an average density D M of each pixel; (c) means for generating a histogram representing average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a number of pixels Np; (d) means for generating a cumulative histogram representing said average density in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a cumulative number of pixels RN; (e) means for finding a reference average density D Mrf corresponding to a prescribed value of a reference cumulative number of pixels RN rf on said cumulative histogram; (f) means for selecting one of two terminal density values D Mm at which said cumulative histogram saturates and which is closer to said reference average density; (g) means for finding a set of pixels having said average density in a range essentially between said reference average density D Mrf and a selected terminal density value D Mm ; (h) means for averaging said density values of said plurality of basic colors for said set of pixels with respect to each of said plurality of basic colors to thereby obtain reference color density values D rf for respective basic colors; and (i) means for establishing said reference point on the basis of said reference color density values D rf .
Claim 11
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for establishing a reference point on a gradation correction curve employed in gradation correction of image data, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for preparing image data representing density values of a plurality of basic colors with respect to each pixel in an original; (b) means for averaging said density values of respective basic colors with respect to each pixel to obtain an average density D M of each pixel; (c) means for generating a histogram representing average density distribution in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a number of pixels Np; (d) means for generating a cumulative histogram representing said average density in the form of a relation between said average density D M and a cumulative number of pixels RN; (e) means for finding a reference average density D Mrf corresponding to a prescribed value of a reference cumulative number of pixels RN rf on said cumulative histogram; (f) means for selecting one of two terminal density values D Mm at which said cumulative histogram saturates and which is closer to said reference average density; (g) means for finding a set of pixels having said average density in a range essentially between said reference average density D Mrf and a selected terminal density value D Mm ; (h) means for averaging said density values of said plurality of basic colors for said set of pixels with respect to each of said plurality of basic colors to thereby obtain reference color density values D rf for respective basic colors; and (i) means for establishing said reference point on the basis of said reference color density values D rf .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein: said gradation correction curve is defined on a coordinate plane whose first coordinate represents a first density DI before gradation correction and whose second coordinate represents a second density DO after gradation correction; and said gradation correction curve is drawn through said reference point specified with one of said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate and a prescribed value DO rf as said second coordinate.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim wherein said gradation correction curve is generated for each of said plurality of basic colors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said plurality of basic colors essentially consist of primary colors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said reference point for each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with one of said reference color density values D rf for a corresponding color as said first coordinate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said reference point for each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with the largest value among said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said reference point of each of said plurality of basic colors is specified with the smallest value among said reference color density values D rf as said first coordinate.