US5502793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resolution enhancement system for binary images
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC
•
Filing: 1992-11-30
•
Granted: 1996-03-26
•
Expires: 2012-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An image processing system for providing edge enhancement of low resolution binary image files processes the low resolution bitmap data in sections or windows to determine whether an edge transition or "kink site" occurs within each window. The original bitmap data in the window is then replaced with edge enhanced gray scale data if a kink site is identified. The selection of the correct edge enhanced gray scale data to be used in place of the original bitmap data is based on whether the central pixel contained within the window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located on a single pixel line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to the kink site. The determination of whether the central pixel is a black or white pixel is based on the binary value assigned to the pixel, the determination of the location of the central pixel with respect to the kink site is based on pixel values and gradient magnitudes of surrounding pixel locations, and the determination of whether the central pixel is located on a single pixel line is based on the gradient magnitude of the central pixel and surrounding pixel locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Yee S. Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409; H04N1/4092; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/403; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/004; G06K2215/006; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An image processing system comprising: means for storing a binary bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations; means for determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the binary bitmap image file; means for determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the binary bitmap image file; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the binary bitmap image file and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined templates and generating a look-up-table address if a match occurs; a look-up-table for generating enhanced gray-scale image data in response to the look-up-table address and wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a central pixel of the window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An image processing system comprising: means for storing a binary bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations; means for determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the binary bitmap image file; means for determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the binary bitmap image file; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the binary bitmap image file and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined templates and generating a look-up-table address if a match occurs; a look-up-table for generating enhanced gray-scale image data in response to the look-up-table address and wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a central pixel of the window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 1 in combination with a gray-scale printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 1 in combination with a gray-scale display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
An image processing system for processing an image represented by binary image data to generate modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image, said system comprising: means for storing a bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations with respective pixels defined by binary image data; means for determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; means for determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the bitmap image file of binary image data and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria; and means, responsive to said decision matrix means, for generating modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
An image processing system for processing an image represented by binary image data to generate modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image, said system comprising: means for storing a bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations with respective pixels defined by binary image data; means for determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; means for determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the bitmap image file of binary image data and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria; and means, responsive to said decision matrix means, for generating modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said decision matrix means generates a look-up table address in response to said comparing and said means for generating enhanced gray-scale image data is a look-up table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the decision matrix means includes means for rotating a window of the bitmap image file to a predetermined reference direction in response to the gradient direction information corresponding thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a pixel of a window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a pixel of a window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the decision matrix means includes means for rotating a window of the bitmap image file to a predetermined reference direction in response to the gradient direction information corresponding thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a pixel of a window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a central pixel of a window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a pixel of a window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 4 in combination with a gray-scale printer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 4 in combination with a gray-scale display.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of providing edge enhancement of binary image data comprising the steps of; storing a bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations with respective pixels defined by binary image data; determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data, comparing a window of the binary image file and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria, and in response to the comparing, generating modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of providing edge enhancement of binary image data comprising the steps of; storing a bitmap image file including a plurality of pixel locations with respective pixels defined by binary image data; determining a gradient magnitude corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data; determining a gradient direction corresponding to each pixel location of the bitmap image file wherein a respective pixel is defined by binary image data, comparing a window of the binary image file and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria, and in response to the comparing, generating modified binary image data that is enhanced with gray-scale image data to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 15, and including generating a look-up table address in response to said comparing and generating enhanced gray-scale image data from said look-up table.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 and including the step of rotating a window of the bitmap image file to a predetermined reference direction in response to gradient direction information corresponding thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 and wherein a determination is made of whether a central pixel of a bitmap window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 and wherein a determination is made of whether a pixel of a bitmap window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 and including the step of rotating a bitmap window of the bitmap image file to a predetermined reference direction in response to gradient direction information corresponding thereto.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 and wherein a determination is made of whether a central pixel of the bitmap window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 and wherein a determination is made of whether a pixel of a bitmap window of the bitmap image file is a black or white pixel, whether this pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of this pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 and including the step of printing the enhanced data with a gray-scale printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 and including the step of displaying the enhanced data on a gray-scale display.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image processing system for processing image data representing an image, said system comprising, means for storing image data including binary image: data; means for performing edge enhancement of the binary image data to produce gray-scale enhanced binary image data; wherein said means for performing edge enhancement includes means for determining gradient magnitudes corresponding to pixel locations of the image data; means for determining gradient directions corresponding to pixel locations of the image data; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the image data and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria and generating a look-up table address in response to the comparing; and a look-up table storing data for generating gray-scale enhanced binary image data in response to the look-up table address to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image processing system for processing image data representing an image, said system comprising, means for storing image data including binary image: data; means for performing edge enhancement of the binary image data to produce gray-scale enhanced binary image data; wherein said means for performing edge enhancement includes means for determining gradient magnitudes corresponding to pixel locations of the image data; means for determining gradient directions corresponding to pixel locations of the image data; decision matrix means for comparing a window of the image data and the gradient magnitudes and directions corresponding thereto to predetermined sets of criteria and generating a look-up table address in response to the comparing; and a look-up table storing data for generating gray-scale enhanced binary image data in response to the look-up table address to reduce jaggedness in the image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the decision matrix means includes means for rotating the window to a predetermined reference direction in response to the gradient direction information corresponding thereto.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
51 words
A system as claimed in claims 26, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a central pixel of the window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the decision matrix means determines whether a central pixel of the window is a black or white pixel, whether the central pixel is located in a single pixel width line, and the location of the central pixel with respect to a kink site.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 25 in combination with a gray-scale printer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system of claim 25 in combination with a gray-scale display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4780711A
Cited
EP0199502A2
Cited
EP0234590A2
Cited
US4751585A
Cited
US4707647A
Cited
US4817179A
Cited
US4908872A
Cited
US4847641A
Cited
US5005139A
Cited
CA2015518A1
Cited
US5029108A
Cited
US5327260A
Cited
US5396584A
Cited
US5343309A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |