US5809178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Elimination of visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-11
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and system eliminates visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image. The present invention eliminates visible artifacts by determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data, utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function, and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts. The critical noise/quantizing factor is a constant value found to be a value of 3/8. The present invention further includes deriving inverse coding for the optimum coding to allow processing of the digital image.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric C. Anderson
- 👤 George W. Dalke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/124; H04N19/126; H04N19/134; H04N19/146; H04N19/147; H04N19/154; H04N19/169; H04N19/17; H04N19/172; H04N19/176; H04N19/85; H04N19/86; H04N19/60; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the method comprising: (a) determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; (b) utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function; and (c) deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the method comprising: (a) determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; (b) utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function; and (c) deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the critical noise/quantizing factor is a constant value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the constant value is 3/8.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising deriving inverse coding for the optimum coding to allow processing of the digital image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the utilizing step (b) further comprises the step of (b1) determining the critical noise/quantizing factor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the method comprising: (a) determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; (b) utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function including determining the critical noise/quantizing factor by obtaining an input image of sufficient precision; adding noise to the input image of known distribution; and quantizing the input image into successively larger quantizing intervals until a quantizing artifact becomes visible, wherein the quantizing interval revealing the quantizing artifact is the critical quantizing interval; and (c) deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the method comprising: (a) determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; (b) utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function including determining the critical noise/quantizing factor by obtaining an input image of sufficient precision; adding noise to the input image of known distribution; and quantizing the input image into successively larger quantizing intervals until a quantizing artifact becomes visible, wherein the quantizing interval revealing the quantizing artifact is the critical quantizing interval; and (c) deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of applying a plurality of brightness and contrast transforms before the quantizing step.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the system comprising: a circuit for: determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function; and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the system comprising: a circuit for: determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function; and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the critical noise/quantizing factor is a constant value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the constant value is 3/8.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising deriving inverse coding for the optimum coding to allow processing of the digital image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the input source comprises a digital camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the input source comprises a scanner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein a CRT outputs the digital image produced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein a printer outputs the digital image produced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 wherein utilizing the critical noise/quantizing factor further comprises determining the critical noise/quantizing factor.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the system comprising: a circuit for: determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function including determining the critical noise/quantizing factor by obtaining an input image of sufficient precision; adding noise to the input image of known distribution; and quantizing the input image into successively larger quantizing intervals until a quantizing artifact becomes visible, wherein the quantizing interval revealing the quantizing artifact is the critical quantizing interval; and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for eliminating visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image, the system comprising: a circuit for: determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data; utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function including determining the critical noise/quantizing factor by obtaining an input image of sufficient precision; adding noise to the input image of known distribution; and quantizing the input image into successively larger quantizing intervals until a quantizing artifact becomes visible, wherein the quantizing interval revealing the quantizing artifact is the critical quantizing interval; and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17 further comprising the step of applying an exhaustive variety of brightness and contrast transforms before quantizing the input image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4774574A
Cited
US5654760A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |