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US6075902A
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Area recognizing device for image signals
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1998-11-06
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Granted: 2000-06-13
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Expires: 2018-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A first converting circuit converts I-level image data, and suppresses a diffusion range of data by an N-level converting circuit. The N-level converting circuit converts a K-level image into an N-level gradation image (K>N). An image memory stores the N-level gradation image. An estimating circuit converts the N-level gradation image into an M-level gradation image (N<M). A second converting circuit returns the M-level gradation image into the form before the conversion according to a conversion amount from the first converting circuit. Accordingly, density ripple can be suppressed even in a small scanning aperture. A control circuit sets a conversion table to the first converting circuit and the second converting circuit according to a setting signal from a control panel, and outputs a control signal to the estimating, circuit, so that processing mode is set in response to different images, and image quality is adjusted.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Kojima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An area recognizing device for recognizing an edge area and a non-edge area of an image which is expressed by an N gradation level, said area recognizing device comprising: at least two edge detecting filters, each of which detects an edge component of a pixel in concern as referring to a plurality of pixels within an area including said pixel in concern and outputs an edge component value as a detecting result, wherein each of said edge detecting filters is placed to target a different pixel in said N-level gradation image as said pixel in concern; at least two comparing means, each of which corresponds to one of said edge detecting filters to have a one-to-one relation, compares said edge component value outputted from a corresponding edge detecting filter with a certain value, and judges said edge component value to be valid when said edge component value is equal to or greater than said certain value; an adding means for summing up each edge component value judged to be valid; and a judging means for judging a summed up result obtained from said adding means at a certain judgment level, and outputting a certain judgment result, wherein said edge area and said non-edge area of said N-level gradation image is recognized by said certain judgment result.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An area recognizing device for recognizing an edge area and a non-edge area of an image which is expressed by an N gradation level, said area recognizing device comprising: at least two edge detecting filters, each of which detects an edge component of a pixel in concern as referring to a plurality of pixels within an area including said pixel in concern and outputs an edge component value as a detecting result, wherein each of said edge detecting filters is placed to target a different pixel in said N-level gradation image as said pixel in concern; at least two comparing means, each of which corresponds to one of said edge detecting filters to have a one-to-one relation, compares said edge component value outputted from a corresponding edge detecting filter with a certain value, and judges said edge component value to be valid when said edge component value is equal to or greater than said certain value; an adding means for summing up each edge component value judged to be valid; and a judging means for judging a summed up result obtained from said adding means at a certain judgment level, and outputting a certain judgment result, wherein said edge area and said non-edge area of said N-level gradation image is recognized by said certain judgment result.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 1, wherein each of said edge detecting filters has an identical edge detecting characteristic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 1, wherein said certain value is changeable to adjust a level at which said edge component is judged to be valid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 1, wherein said certain judgment level, which represents a boundary of said edge area and said non-edge area, is adjustable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 1 further comprises a setting means for setting either of a plurality of processing modes and a plurality of image quality adjustment values, wherein said certain judgment level is controlled according to either of said plurality of processing modes and said plurality of image quality adjustment values set by said setting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 5, wherein N of said N-level gradation image is 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
An area recognizing device for recognizing an edge area and a non-edge area of an image which is expressed by an N gradation level, said area recognizing device comprising: at least two edge detecting filters, each of which detects an edge component of a pixel in concern as referring to a plurality of pixels within an area including said pixel in concern and outputs an edge component value as a detecting result, wherein each of said edge detecting filters has a different spatial frequency characteristic for detecting said edge component; and at least two judging means, each of which corresponds to one of said edge detecting filters to have a one-to-one relation and judges said edge component value outputted from a corresponding edge detecting filter at a certain judgment level and outputs a certain judgment result, wherein said edge area and said non-edge area of said N-level gradation image are recognized by said certain judgment result obtained from each of said judging means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
An area recognizing device for recognizing an edge area and a non-edge area of an image which is expressed by an N gradation level, said area recognizing device comprising: at least two edge detecting filters, each of which detects an edge component of a pixel in concern as referring to a plurality of pixels within an area including said pixel in concern and outputs an edge component value as a detecting result, wherein each of said edge detecting filters has a different spatial frequency characteristic for detecting said edge component; and at least two judging means, each of which corresponds to one of said edge detecting filters to have a one-to-one relation and judges said edge component value outputted from a corresponding edge detecting filter at a certain judgment level and outputs a certain judgment result, wherein said edge area and said non-edge area of said N-level gradation image are recognized by said certain judgment result obtained from each of said judging means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 7, wherein each certain judgment result, obtained from each of said judging means and corresponding to one of said edge detecting filters, is processed separately to be one of valid and invalid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 8 further comprises a setting means for setting either of a plurality of processing modes and a plurality of image quality adjustment values, wherein each certain judgment result which corresponds to one of said edge detecting filters is processed to be one of valid and invalid according to either of said plurality of processing modes and said plurality of image quality adjustment values set by said setting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The area recognizing device defined in claim 9, wherein N of said N-level gradation image is 2.
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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) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-12-13 | 2004-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-13 | 2007-12-13 | 2008-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-13 | 2011-12-13 | 2012-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |