US5726772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for halftone rendering of a gray scale image using a blue noise mask
Assignee: Research Corp Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1995-10-06
•
Granted: 1998-03-10
•
Expires: 2015-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Parker
- 👤 Theophano Mitsa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40075; G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/4084; H04N1/405; H04N1/4051; H04N1/41; H04N1/4105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 90
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising at least one array, said at least one array, when thresholded at a number of levels produces a number of dot profiles, a plurality of said number of dot profiles each having a power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum for the level at which such dot profile is produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising at least one array, said at least one array, when thresholded at a number of levels produces a number of dot profiles, a plurality of said number of dot profiles each having a power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum for the level at which such dot profile is produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein a majority of said number of dot profiles have a power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum for the level at which such dot profile is produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein substantially all of said number of dot profiles have a power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum for the level at which such dot profile is produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein the power spectra are modified by human visual response.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and comparator responsive to said dither matrix, said dither matrix comprising at least one thresholdable array designed to produce a plurality of locally aperiodic dot profiles with wraparound properties.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and comparator responsive to said dither matrix, said dither matrix comprising at least one thresholdable array designed to produce a plurality of locally aperiodic dot profiles with wraparound properties.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein said array comprises a multibit array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein each of said dot profiles is associated with a respective threshold level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein said array comprises a cumulative array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein each of said dot profiles is visually pleasing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein said comparator is further responsive to information derived from said image information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein said image comprises a color image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 6, wherein each dot profile is matched to a blue noise power spectrum modified by human visual response.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for a halftoning process and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a thresholdable multibit array, said multibit array, when thresholded at a number of levels, producing a plurality of substantially blue noise dot profiles, each dot profile appropriate for the respective level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for a halftoning process and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a thresholdable multibit array, said multibit array, when thresholded at a number of levels, producing a plurality of substantially blue noise dot profiles, each dot profile appropriate for the respective level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein said multibit array comprises a two-dimensional array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 17, wherein said computer memory comprises a read only memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein said computer readable storage device is incorporated into a digital computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein the dot profiles are matched to respective blue noise power spectra modified by human visual response.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein said multibit array, when thresholded at a number of levels, produces a majority of substantially blue noise dot profiles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 15, wherein said multibit array, when thresholded at a number of levels, produces substantially all substantially blue noise dot profiles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for a halftoning process and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a thresholdable array that, when thresholded at a number of levels, produces a number of dot profiles, a plurality of said dot profiles being visually pleasing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for a halftoning process and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a thresholdable array that, when thresholded at a number of levels, produces a number of dot profiles, a plurality of said dot profiles being visually pleasing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein a plurality of said number of dot profiles are respectively locally aperiodic and substantially isotropic dot profiles having small low-frequency components.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The machine of claim 24, wherein said dot profiles each have a power spectrum characterized by a respective principal frequency, said small low-frequency components being below the principal frequency, and at least a plurality of said dot profiles each having high-frequency components above the respective principal frequency, at least some of said high-frequency components being larger than said low-frequency components.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 25, wherein each of said plurality of levels is associated with a respective level, and said principal frequency varies with said level.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 26, wherein said principal frequency varies with said level according to a nonlinear function.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein the dot profiles are matched to respective power spectra modified by human visual response.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein a plurality of said number of dot profiles are substantially isotropic.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein a majority of said number of dot profiles are visually pleasing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 31, wherein said majority of said number of said dot profiles are respectively locally aperiodic and substantially isotropic dot profiles having small low-frequency components.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 23, wherein substantially all of said number of dot profiles are visually pleasing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 33, wherein substantially all of said number of said dot profiles are respectively locally aperiodic and substantially isotropic dot profiles having small low-frequency components.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for use in halftoning an image, said apparatus comprising a dither matrix stored in a computer readable storage device and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a multibit array that can be thresholded, said multibit array, when thresholded at a plurality of respective levels, producing a plurality of substantially blue noise dot profiles, each dot profile appropriate for the respective level.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for use in halftoning an image, said apparatus comprising a dither matrix stored in a computer readable storage device and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising a multibit array that can be thresholded, said multibit array, when thresholded at a plurality of respective levels, producing a plurality of substantially blue noise dot profiles, each dot profile appropriate for the respective level.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a display device responsive to said comparator, said display device receiving a halftoned array output from said comparator and producing a halftoned output image.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the dot profiles are matched to respective power spectra modified by human visual response.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer readable memory device comprising a thresholdable halftoning mask, said halftoning mask producing a plurality of dot profiles when thresholded at respective levels, and at least a plurality of said dot profiles having a substantially blue noise power spectrum appropriate for the respective level and a comparator responsive to said computer readable memory device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer readable memory device comprising a thresholdable halftoning mask, said halftoning mask producing a plurality of dot profiles when thresholded at respective levels, and at least a plurality of said dot profiles having a substantially blue noise power spectrum appropriate for the respective level and a comparator responsive to said computer readable memory device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 39, wherein said mask is stored as an array.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 40, wherein said array comprises a plurality of storage elements, each storage element containing a respective multibit data value.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination of a printing device and the computer readable memory device of claim 41.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 42, wherein said printing device comprises at least one of a laser printer, an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, a thermal wax printer, a dye-sublimation printer and a bubble jet printer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination of a comparator and the computer readable memory device of claim 43, said comparator having a first input, a second input, and an output, said first input responsive to said memory device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 44, further comprising a scanner for digitizing an input image and generating an image array, said image array comprising a plurality of values, and wherein said second input is responsive to said scanner.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 45, wherein said comparator performs a comparison between signals appearing on said first and second inputs.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 46, further comprising a display responsive to said comparator.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 47, wherein said display comprises a binary display.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination of a recording device and the computer readable memory device of claim 41.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
In combination, a facsimile machine and the computer readable memory device of claim 39.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The memory device of claim 39, wherein the power spectra are modified by human visual response.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising at least one thresholdable array designed to produce a plurality of locally aperiodic, non-white noise dot profiles when thresholded at respective levels.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores a dither matrix for use in halftoning image information and a comparator responsive to said computer readable storage device, said dither matrix comprising at least one thresholdable array designed to produce a plurality of locally aperiodic, non-white noise dot profiles when thresholded at respective levels.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 52, wherein the dot profiles are substantially blue noise dot profiles.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of 52, wherein each of the dot profiles has a respective power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of 52, wherein each of the dot profiles has a respective power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 52, wherein the dot profiles have small low-frequency components.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 52, wherein the dot profiles have smaller low-frequency components than mid-range or high-frequency components.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer readable memory device comprising a thresholdable halftoning mask, said halftoning mask designed to produce a plurality of visually pleasing dot profiles when thresholded at a number of levels and a comparator responsive to said computer readable memory device.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer readable memory device comprising a thresholdable halftoning mask, said halftoning mask designed to produce a plurality of visually pleasing dot profiles when thresholded at a number of levels and a comparator responsive to said computer readable memory device.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
16 words
The memory device of claim 57, wherein the dot profiles are substantially blue noise dot profiles.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
25 words
The memory device of claim 57, wherein each of the dot profiles has a respective power spectrum substantially characteristic of a blue noise power spectrum.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
14 words
The memory device of claim 57, wherein the dot profiles have small low-frequency components.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 57, wherein said visually pleasing dot profiles are locally aperiodic, non-white noise dot profiles.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 57, wherein said halftoning mask is designed to produce a majority of visually pleasing dot profiles when thresholded at a number of levels.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 57, wherein said halftoning mask is designed to produce substantially all visually pleasing dot profiles when thresholded at a number of levels.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 63, wherein said visually pleasing dot profiles are locally aperiodic, non-white noise dot profiles.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 64, wherein said visually pleasing dot profiles are locally aperiodic, non-white noise dot profiles.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores an array for use in halftoning image information, said array comprising a non-white noise, locally aperiodic, thresholdable dither matrix and a comparator responsive to said dither matrix.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores an array for use in halftoning image information, said array comprising a non-white noise, locally aperiodic, thresholdable dither matrix and a comparator responsive to said dither matrix.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said array comprises a blue-noise, locally aperiodic thresholdable matrix.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said array comprises a multibit array.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said array produces a plurality of locally aperiodic dot profiles with wraparound properties, each of said dot profiles being associated with a respective threshold level.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said array comprises a cumulative array.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said dither matrix is designed to produce a plurality of locally aperiodic dot profiles, and wherein each of said dot profiles is visually pleasing.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said comparator is further responsive to information derived from an image.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 72, wherein said image comprises a color image.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 66, wherein said computer readable storage device comprises a computer memory.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores an array for use in halftoning image information, said array comprising a non-white noise, non-ordered thresholdable dither matrix and a comparator responsive to said dither matrix.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine comprising a computer readable storage device which stores an array for use in halftoning image information, said array comprising a non-white noise, non-ordered thresholdable dither matrix and a comparator responsive to said dither matrix.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 75, wherein said array comprises a blue noise, non-ordered thresholdable dither matrix.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for generating a modified blue noise mask array in which said modified blue noise mask array may be used to generate a more pleasing halftoned image than a non-modified blue noise mask array, comprising: a) a reading device for reading each of the values of the blue noise mask array to be modified: b) a receiving device for receiving maximum and minimum predetermined values input by a user; c) a modifying device for modifying each value of said blue noise mask array using at least one of said maximum and minimum predetermined values and a direct value mapping function; d) a first comparing device for comparing each of said values of said modified blue noise mask array to said maximum predetermined value and replacing said value if it exceeds said maximum predetermined value; and e) a second comparing device for comparing each of said values of said modified blue noise mask array to said minimum predetermined value and replacing said value if it is less than said minimum predetermined value; wherein said maximum and minimum predetermined values input by said user and said direct value mapping function are selected to compensate for characteristics of at least one of printer and display devices used by said user so as to form a more pleasing halftoned image.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
216 words
Apparatus for generating a modified blue noise mask array in which said modified blue noise mask array may be used to generate a more pleasing halftoned image than a non-modified blue noise mask array, comprising: a) a reading device for reading each of the values of the blue noise mask array to be modified: b) a receiving device for receiving maximum and minimum predetermined values input by a user; c) a modifying device for modifying each value of said blue noise mask array using at least one of said maximum and minimum predetermined values and a direct value mapping function; d) a first comparing device for comparing each of said values of said modified blue noise mask array to said maximum predetermined value and replacing said value if it exceeds said maximum predetermined value; and e) a second comparing device for comparing each of said values of said modified blue noise mask array to said minimum predetermined value and replacing said value if it is less than said minimum predetermined value; wherein said maximum and minimum predetermined values input by said user and said direct value mapping function are selected to compensate for characteristics of at least one of printer and display devices used by said user so as to form a more pleasing halftoned image.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 77, further including a memory for storing said modified blue noise mask array.
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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) | 2001-03-09 | 2001-09-08 | 2002-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-09 | 2005-09-08 | 2006-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-09 | 2009-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |