Patent US5784499A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5784499A
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Method for reducing noise in image signals and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-18
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Granted: 1998-07-21
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Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract In an image data including tone information, a level of an attentional picture element in an image and a level of an adjacent picture element located adjacent to the attentional picture element are smoothed to create a first substitution level, and by internally dividing the level of the attentional picture element and the first substitution level with a predetermined internal division ratio to obtain a second substitution level which finally substitutes the level of the attentional picture element.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhiro Kuwahara
- 👤 Haruo Yamashita
- 👤 Tsumoru Fukushima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/21; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for reducing noise in image signals, comprising the steps of: smoothing in plural directions a level of an attentional picture element in an image and each of levels of adjacent picture elements located adjacent to said attentional picture element in said plural directions to create first substitution levels respectively in said plural directions; determining internal division ratios respectively in said plural directions by referring to said level of the attentional picture element and each of said levels of the adjacent picture elements, said internal division ratio being limited to 1 when a level of difference between an attentional picture element and an adjacent picture element is larger than a predetermined level difference; creating second substitution levels respectively in said plural directions by internally dividing between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said first substitution levels; composing said second substitution levels together to obtain a composite substitution level; and replacing said level of the attentional picture element by said composite substitution level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for reducing noise in image signals, comprising the steps of: smoothing in plural directions a level of an attentional picture element in an image and each of levels of adjacent picture elements located adjacent to said attentional picture element in said plural directions to create first substitution levels respectively in said plural directions; determining internal division ratios respectively in said plural directions by referring to said level of the attentional picture element and each of said levels of the adjacent picture elements, said internal division ratio being limited to 1 when a level of difference between an attentional picture element and an adjacent picture element is larger than a predetermined level difference; creating second substitution levels respectively in said plural directions by internally dividing between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said first substitution levels; composing said second substitution levels together to obtain a composite substitution level; and replacing said level of the attentional picture element by said composite substitution level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said composite substitution level is obtained by composing said second substitution levels with respective weights given thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of smoothing is to obtain a mean value of said level of the attentional picture element and said level of the adjacent picture element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step of smoothing is to obtain a mean value of said level of the attentional picture element and said level of the adjacent picture element.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for reducing noise in image signals, comprising: smoothing means for smoothing in plural directions a level of an attentional picture element in an image and levels of adjacent picture elements located adjacent to said attentional picture element in said plural directions to create first substitution levels respectively in said plural directions; signal correction means for respectively correcting said first substitution levels into second substitution levels with respect to said plural directions, each of said second substitution levels corresponding to a level for internally dividing between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said first substitution levels on the basis of an internal division ratio derived from correlation between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said levels of the adjacent picture elements, said internal division ratio being limited to 1 when a level of difference between an attentional picture element and an adjacent picture element is larger than a predetermined level difference; and substitution-signal composing means for composing said second substitution levels together to obtain a composite substitution level for replacing therewith said level of the attentional picture element.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for reducing noise in image signals, comprising: smoothing means for smoothing in plural directions a level of an attentional picture element in an image and levels of adjacent picture elements located adjacent to said attentional picture element in said plural directions to create first substitution levels respectively in said plural directions; signal correction means for respectively correcting said first substitution levels into second substitution levels with respect to said plural directions, each of said second substitution levels corresponding to a level for internally dividing between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said first substitution levels on the basis of an internal division ratio derived from correlation between said level of the attentional picture element and each of said levels of the adjacent picture elements, said internal division ratio being limited to 1 when a level of difference between an attentional picture element and an adjacent picture element is larger than a predetermined level difference; and substitution-signal composing means for composing said second substitution levels together to obtain a composite substitution level for replacing therewith said level of the attentional picture element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said composite substitution level is obtained by composing said second substitution levels with respective weights given thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said smoothing means is to obtain a mean value of said level of the attentional picture element and said level of the adjacent picture element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said signal correction means creates a correction signal by converting a level difference between said level of the attentional picture element and said level of the adjacent picture element through a predetermined function and adds said correction signal to said first substitution level to thereby obtain said second substitution level, and said function is a continuous function by which said second substitution level comes close to said first substitution level in response to decrease of said level difference and comes close to said level of the attentional picture element in response to increase of said level difference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said signal correction means obtains said second substitution level by internally dividing said level of the attentional picture element and said first substitution level with said internal division ratio derived by converting a level difference between said level of the attentional picture element and said level of the adjacent picture element through a predetermined function which has a characteristic such that said second substitution level comes close to said first substitution level in response to decrease of said level difference and comes close to said level of the attentional picture element in response to increase of said level difference.
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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) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |