Patent US3582655A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5801710A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5801710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer program product for defining a soft edge in a digital mask
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC
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Filing: 1996-08-19
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A computer program product for creating a soft edge in digital images comprises a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; independently receiving a desired position of a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; receiving a function of the soft edge which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the hard-edged boundary and function.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Cok
- 👤 Barry Hendy
- 👤 Michael A. Inchalik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20004; G06T2207/20012; G06T2207/20092; G06T2207/20104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A computer program product for creating a soft edge in digital images, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) independently receiving a desired position of a transition width relative to a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) receiving a profile function which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the transition width and profile function, wherein the absolute profile is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU2## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels: w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A computer program product for creating a soft edge in digital images, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: (a) independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) independently receiving a desired position of a transition width relative to a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) receiving a profile function which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the transition width and profile function, wherein the absolute profile is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU2## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels: w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product as in claim 1 further comprising generating the hard edge boundary from the computer interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product as in claim 2 further comprising receiving either a revised transition width or position of the hard edge, and re-calculating the absolute profile without re-drawing the hard edge.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for creating a soft edge in digital images comprising: a) means for independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) means for independently receiving a desired position of a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) means for receiving a profile function of the soft edge which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) means for calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the hard-edged boundary and function, wherein said absolute profile means is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU3## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels; w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for creating a soft edge in digital images comprising: a) means for independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) means for independently receiving a desired position of a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) means for receiving a profile function of the soft edge which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) means for calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the hard-edged boundary and function, wherein said absolute profile means is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU3## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels; w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for generating the hard edge boundary from the computer interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising means for receiving either a revised transition width or position of the hard edge, and re-calculating the profile without re-drawing the hard edge.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for creating a soft edge in digital images, comprising the steps of: (a) independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) independently receiving a desired position of a transition width relative to a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) receiving a profile function which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the transition width and profile function, wherein the absolute profile is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU4## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels; w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for creating a soft edge in digital images, comprising the steps of: (a) independently receiving a transition width that indicates the width of the soft edge from a computer interface; (b) independently receiving a desired position of a transition width relative to a hard-edged boundary from the computer interface; (c) receiving a profile function which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a scaled pixel location in the digital image from the computer interface; and (d) calculating an absolute profile of the soft edge, which uniquely corresponds a pixel value to a pixel location in the digital image, from the received transition width, position of the transition width and profile function, wherein the absolute profile is calculated substantially by the equation: ##EQU4## where d is the distance of the pixel from the hard edge in the digital image measured in pixels; w is the width of the transition; p is the position of the soft-edged boundary in the digital image relative to the hard-edged boundary, scaled by the transition width; F is the absolute profile as a function of the distance from the hard edge; and f is the profile function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating the hard edge boundary from the computer interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 8 further comprising the step of receiving either a revised transition width or position of the hard edge, and re-calculating the absolute profile without re-drawing the hard edge.
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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) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |