US5977981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Softstroking of edges for computer graphics
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-11
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2016-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A method for rendering or compositing image components, where at least one of the image components has an edge. The edge is rendered or composited a plurality of times, the repetitions being performed with different values of the edge thickness (i.e., the thickness of the line) and with different opacities. This makes it possible to create in this way an opacity gradient or the like, so that the edge may be given a softer and less abrupt appearance, if such is desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Matthew Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of softstroking at least one component of an image to render said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding opacity value each different from a preceding corresponding thickness value and opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out overlapping the previously rendered or composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of softstroking at least one component of an image to render said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding opacity value each different from a preceding corresponding thickness value and opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out overlapping the previously rendered or composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, low value to a second, high value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, high value to a second, low value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a center of said edge corresponds with a narrow thickness value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opacity value is rendered to an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opacity value is composited onto an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value,s aid method comprising the step of: compositing said edge with a first preselected edge thickness value and a corresponding first preselected opacity value; and repeating said compositing step a plurality of times using a progressively narrower thickness value and corresponding opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing is carried out overlapping the previously composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value,s aid method comprising the step of: compositing said edge with a first preselected edge thickness value and a corresponding first preselected opacity value; and repeating said compositing step a plurality of times using a progressively narrower thickness value and corresponding opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing is carried out overlapping the previously composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein for said repeating step, the opacity value is higher than the immediately preceding opacity value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein for said repeating step, the opacity value is lower than the immediately preceding opacity value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and means for repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding opacity value each different from a preceding corresponding thickness value and opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out overlapping the previously rendered or composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and means for repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding opacity value each different from a preceding corresponding thickness value and opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out overlapping the previously rendered or composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, low value, to a second, high value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, high value, to a second, low value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a center of said edge corresponds with a narrow thickness value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said opacity value is rendered to an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said opacity value is composited onto an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing said edge with a first preselected edge thickness value and a corresponding first preselected opacity value; and means for repeating said compositing step a plurality of times using a progressively narrower thickness value and corresponding opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing is carried out overlapping the previously composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for softstroking at least one component of an image to render said image, said component including at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing said edge with a first preselected edge thickness value and a corresponding first preselected opacity value; and means for repeating said compositing step a plurality of times using a progressively narrower thickness value and corresponding opacity value, wherein said repeated compositing is carried out overlapping the previously composited edge so as to achieve softstroking of said at least one component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein for said repeating means, the opacity value is higher than the immediately preceding opacity value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein for the repeating means, the opacity value is lower than the immediately preceding opacity value.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of performing a process of making a plurality of areas of an image in the vicinity of at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value and rendering each of the areas in a manner slightly different from another, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and repeating said compositing or rendering at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding value each different from a proceeding corresponding thickness value nd opacity value, wherein the repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composite edge so as to achieve the compositing or rendering of each of the areas in a slightly different manner.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of performing a process of making a plurality of areas of an image in the vicinity of at least one edge having an opacity value and a thickness value and rendering each of the areas in a manner slightly different from another, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering the at least one edge with a corresponding thickness value and a corresponding opacity value; and repeating said compositing or rendering at least once with a thickness value and a corresponding value each different from a proceeding corresponding thickness value nd opacity value, wherein the repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composite edge so as to achieve the compositing or rendering of each of the areas in a slightly different manner.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of creating an image in which at least one component includes at least one edge, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering a portion of the component, said portion having associated therewith a thickness value and an opacity value; repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with thickness and opacity values different from preceding thickness and opacity values, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composited portion whereby a plurality of areas in a vicinity of the edge are formed having an opacity slightly different from one another.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of creating an image in which at least one component includes at least one edge, said method comprising the steps of: compositing or rendering a portion of the component, said portion having associated therewith a thickness value and an opacity value; repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with thickness and opacity values different from preceding thickness and opacity values, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composited portion whereby a plurality of areas in a vicinity of the edge are formed having an opacity slightly different from one another.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, low value, to a second, high value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claims in claim 20 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, high value, to a second, low value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein a center of said edge corresponds with a narrow thickness value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said opacity value is rendered to an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said opacity value is composited onto an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for creating an image in which at least one component includes at least one edge, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing or rendering a portion of the component, said portion having associated therewith a thickness value and an opacity value; means for repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with thickness and opacity values different from preceding thickness and opacity values, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composited portion whereby a plurality of areas in a vicinity of the edge are formed having an opacity slightly different from one another.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for creating an image in which at least one component includes at least one edge, said apparatus comprising: means for compositing or rendering a portion of the component, said portion having associated therewith a thickness value and an opacity value; means for repeating said compositing or rendering step at least once with thickness and opacity values different from preceding thickness and opacity values, wherein said repeated compositing or rendering is carried out by overlapping the previously rendered or composited portion whereby a plurality of areas in a vicinity of the edge are formed having an opacity slightly different from one another.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, low value, to a second, high value.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the thickness value has a range from a first, wide value, to a second, narrow value, and the corresponding opacity value has a range from a first, high value to a second, low value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein a center of said edge corresponds with a narrow thickness value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said opacity value is rendered to an opacity plane of said image.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said opacity value is composited onto an opacity plane of said image.
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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) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |