Patent US5832112A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5832112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus capable of detecting specific originals
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-16
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Granted: 1998-11-03
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Expires: 2014-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A color image processing apparatus that prevents counterfeiting by detecting specific originals with high precision. Although general banknotes have graphic patterns drawn on uniform density portions, the tonality percepted by human eye is the mixture of the tonality of a graphic portion and the tonality of a uniform density portion. In consideration of the mixed tonality sensed by human eye, the apparatus smoothes a read image signal to generate mixed tonality for judgment, thus improves judgment precision. The total judgment of existence/absence of specific original is made by performing m judgments on m (m>n) judging conditions using the tonality data of pre-registered n (n: positive integer) specific originals.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Funada
- 👤 Katsuyoshi Maeshima
- 👤 Masanori Yamada
- 👤 Yasumichi Suzuki
- 👤 Yoichi Takaragi
- 👤 Takeshi Aoyagi
- 👤 Koichi Ishimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00848; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00864; H04N1/00875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information which represents an image; first discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; smoothing means for producing smoothed color image information by smoothing the color image information; second discriminating means for discriminating, based on the smoothed color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated by the second discriminating means is the same predetermined image discriminated by the first discriminating means; and judging means for judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating means, the predetermined image judged by the judging means being the same predetermined image discriminated by the first and second discriminating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information which represents an image; first discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; smoothing means for producing smoothed color image information by smoothing the color image information; second discriminating means for discriminating, based on the smoothed color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated by the second discriminating means is the same predetermined image discriminated by the first discriminating means; and judging means for judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating means, the predetermined image judged by the judging means being the same predetermined image discriminated by the first and second discriminating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second discriminating means performs discrimination based on a color distribution of the predetermined image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said smoothing means performs smoothing on a pixel of interest in the color image information using a plurality of pixels adjacent to the pixel of interest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: extracting means for extracting an edge portion of the image represented by the color image information; and third discriminating means for discriminating whether the image is the predetermined image based on the edge portion extracted by said extracting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information which represents an image; a first discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; a smoothing step for producing smoothed color image information by smoothing the color image information; a second discriminating step of discriminating, based on the smoothed color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated in the second discriminating step is the same predetermined image discriminated in the first discriminating step; and a judging step of judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating steps, the predetermined image judged in the judging step being the same predetermined image discriminated in the first and second discriminating steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information which represents an image; a first discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; a smoothing step for producing smoothed color image information by smoothing the color image information; a second discriminating step of discriminating, based on the smoothed color image information, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated in the second discriminating step is the same predetermined image discriminated in the first discriminating step; and a judging step of judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating steps, the predetermined image judged in the judging step being the same predetermined image discriminated in the first and second discriminating steps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information which represents an image, the color image information having a first resolution; first discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information having the first resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; converting means for converting the color image information having the first resolution into color image information having a second resolution; second discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information having the second resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated by the second discriminating means is the same predetermined image discriminated by the first discriminating means; and judging means for judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating means, the predetermined image judged by the judging means being the same predetermined image discriminated by the first and second discriminating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information which represents an image, the color image information having a first resolution; first discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information having the first resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; converting means for converting the color image information having the first resolution into color image information having a second resolution; second discriminating means for discriminating, based on the color image information having the second resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated by the second discriminating means is the same predetermined image discriminated by the first discriminating means; and judging means for judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating means, the predetermined image judged by the judging means being the same predetermined image discriminated by the first and second discriminating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second discriminating means perform discrimination based on a color distribution of the predetermined image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conversion performed by said converting means comprises smoothing performed by sub-sampling the color image information having the first resolution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: extracting means for extracting an edge portion of the image represented by the color image information having the first resolution; and third discriminating means for discriminating whether the image is the predetermined image based on the edge portion extracted by said extracting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
176 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information which represents an image, the color image information having a first resolution; a first discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information having the first resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; a converting step of converting the color image information having the first resolution into color image information having a second resolution; a second discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information having the second resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated in the second discriminating step is the same predetermined image discriminated in the first discriminating step; and a judging step of judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating steps, the predetermined image judged in the judging step being the same predetermined image discriminated in the first and second discriminating steps.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information which represents an image, the color image information having a first resolution; a first discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information having the first resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image; a converting step of converting the color image information having the first resolution into color image information having a second resolution; a second discriminating step of discriminating, based on the color image information having the second resolution, whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image, wherein the predetermined image discriminated in the second discriminating step is the same predetermined image discriminated in the first discriminating step; and a judging step of judging whether the image represented by the color image information is the predetermined image based on discrimination results from said first and second discriminating steps, the predetermined image judged in the judging step being the same predetermined image discriminated in the first and second discriminating steps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information, the color image information representing an image and having a screen component; removing means for removing the screen component of the color image information; and discriminating means for discriminating whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image based on the color image information in which the screen component has been removed by said removing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting color image information, the color image information representing an image and having a screen component; removing means for removing the screen component of the color image information; and discriminating means for discriminating whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image based on the color image information in which the screen component has been removed by said removing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said discriminating means performs discrimination based on a color distribution of the predetermined image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said removing means includes: detecting means for detecting a two-dimensional density gradient in the image represented by the color image information; and smoothing means for smoothing the color image information in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the density gradient detected by said detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information, the color image information representing an image and having a screen component; a removing step of removing the screen component of the color image information; and a discriminating step of discriminating whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image based on the color image information in which the screen component has been removed in said removing step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting color image information, the color image information representing an image and having a screen component; a removing step of removing the screen component of the color image information; and a discriminating step of discriminating whether the image represented by the color image information is a predetermined image based on the color image information in which the screen component has been removed in said removing step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
206 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting attribute information from a two-dimensional image signal; addition means for adding the attribute information detected by said detecting means to an area of an image comprising m pixels by n lines; delayed attribute signal generating means for delaying the attribute information by the n lines to obtain a delayed attribute signal; first subtraction means for obtaining first difference information by performing subtraction between the attribute information detected by said detecting means and the delayed attribute signal generated by said delayed attribute signal generating means; delayed difference information generating means for delaying the first difference information obtained by said first subtraction means by the m pixels to obtain delayed difference information; second subtraction means for obtaining a second difference by performing subtraction between the first difference information obtained by said first subtraction means and the delayed difference information generated by said delayed difference information generating means; and line memory means for storing data for one line, wherein said addition means includes updating means for updating a content of said line memory means by adding the second difference information to a content of said line memory means and writing a result of the adding into said line memory means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
206 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting attribute information from a two-dimensional image signal; addition means for adding the attribute information detected by said detecting means to an area of an image comprising m pixels by n lines; delayed attribute signal generating means for delaying the attribute information by the n lines to obtain a delayed attribute signal; first subtraction means for obtaining first difference information by performing subtraction between the attribute information detected by said detecting means and the delayed attribute signal generated by said delayed attribute signal generating means; delayed difference information generating means for delaying the first difference information obtained by said first subtraction means by the m pixels to obtain delayed difference information; second subtraction means for obtaining a second difference by performing subtraction between the first difference information obtained by said first subtraction means and the delayed difference information generated by said delayed difference information generating means; and line memory means for storing data for one line, wherein said addition means includes updating means for updating a content of said line memory means by adding the second difference information to a content of said line memory means and writing a result of the adding into said line memory means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image processing apparatus which is capable of adding image information to an image in both a main direction and a sub-scanning direction, comprising: main-scanning addition means for obtaining first added information for each of a plurality of color components by adding image information of the plurality of color components in the main-scanning direction; parallel/serial conversion means for parallel/serial converting the first added information obtained by said main-scanning addition means; line memory means for delaying an output of said parallel/serial conversion means by one line of image information; serial/parallel conversion means for serial/parallel converting an output from said line memory means; and sub-scanning addition means for obtaining second added information by adding an output of said serial/parallel conversion means to image information in the sub-scanning direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image processing apparatus which is capable of adding image information to an image in both a main direction and a sub-scanning direction, comprising: main-scanning addition means for obtaining first added information for each of a plurality of color components by adding image information of the plurality of color components in the main-scanning direction; parallel/serial conversion means for parallel/serial converting the first added information obtained by said main-scanning addition means; line memory means for delaying an output of said parallel/serial conversion means by one line of image information; serial/parallel conversion means for serial/parallel converting an output from said line memory means; and sub-scanning addition means for obtaining second added information by adding an output of said serial/parallel conversion means to image information in the sub-scanning direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing first tonality information which represents a tonality of a specific image, the first tonality information comprising a plurality of color components, and second tonality information obtained from adding/subtracting data to/from each of the plurality of color components representing the first tonality information; input means for inputting image data of an original image; comparing means for comparing the image data input by said input means with both the first and second tonality information stored in said storage means; and judging means for judging whether the image data input by said input means represents the specific image based on comparison results from said comparing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing first tonality information which represents a tonality of a specific image, the first tonality information comprising a plurality of color components, and second tonality information obtained from adding/subtracting data to/from each of the plurality of color components representing the first tonality information; input means for inputting image data of an original image; comparing means for comparing the image data input by said input means with both the first and second tonality information stored in said storage means; and judging means for judging whether the image data input by said input means represents the specific image based on comparison results from said comparing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of ROMs for storing the first and second tonality information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the specific image includes images representing banknotes and securities.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said input means is an optical scanner, and wherein the data added/subtracted to/from each of the plurality of color components represents margins obtained from variations of input sensitivity of the optical scanner and/or variations of tonality unique to the specific image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the comparison result from said comparison means is obtained by comparing the image data input by said input means with the first tonality information to produce a first comparison result, comparing the image data input by said input means with the second tonality information to produce a second comparison result, and logically adding the first and second comparison results.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the comparison result from said comparison means is obtained by comparing the image data input by said input means with the first tonality information produce a first comparison result, comparing the image data input by said input means with the second tonality information to produce a second comparison result, and logically multiplying the first and second comparison results.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
118 words
An image processing method comprising: a storage step of storing first tonality information which represents a tonality of a specific image, the first tonality information comprising a plurality of color components, and of storing second tonality information obtained from adding/subtracting data to/from each of the plurality of color components representing the first tonality information; an input step of inputting image data of an original image; a comparing step of comparing the image data input in said input step with both the first and second tonality information stored in said storage step; and a judging step of judging whether the image data input in said input step represents the specific image based on comparison results from said comparing step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
118 words
An image processing method comprising: a storage step of storing first tonality information which represents a tonality of a specific image, the first tonality information comprising a plurality of color components, and of storing second tonality information obtained from adding/subtracting data to/from each of the plurality of color components representing the first tonality information; an input step of inputting image data of an original image; a comparing step of comparing the image data input in said input step with both the first and second tonality information stored in said storage step; and a judging step of judging whether the image data input in said input step represents the specific image based on comparison results from said comparing step.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-05-04 | 2006-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-02 | 2010-05-04 | 2010-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |