US6160579A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus and method
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-30
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Granted: 2000-12-12
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Expires: 2016-07-30
Abstract
Abstract In converting image sensing data into image data, a plurality of image sensing data meeting a predetermined condition are processed as a group of image sensing data. An image reproduction parameter is obtained from this image sensing data group, and each image sensing data of the image sensing data group is converted into image data by using the image reproduction parameter. Accordingly, an image reproduction parameter for obtaining an optimum reproduced image can be accurately set from the image sensing data group. Also, since a reproduction luminance level (range) is determined from the image sensing data group, the correlation between the luminances of image planes is not lost. This allows an easy comparison of reproduced images and prevents the boundaries of luminances from becoming unnatural when the reproduced images are synthesized.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
- 👤 Yoshiro Udagawa
- 👤 Kenji Takahashi
- 👤 Eiichiro Ikeda
- 👤 Yumiko Hidaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6083; H04N1/6086; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; H04N1/603; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An image processing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pictures, comprising: designating means for designating a selection condition for selecting a plurality of pictures which are stored in a memory and which meet the selection condition; selecting means for selecting said plurality of pictures which are stored in the memory and which meet the selection condition designated by said designating means; holding means for reading the plurality of pictures selected by said selecting means into the memory, and holding the read plurality of pictures in said holding means; setting means for setting an image reproduction parameter based on information in the plurality of pictures held by said holding means; and reproducing means for reproducing a plurality of reproduced pictures from the plurality of pictures held by said holding means by using the image reproduction parameter set by said setting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image processing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of pictures, comprising: designating means for designating a selection condition for selecting a plurality of pictures which are stored in a memory and which meet the selection condition; selecting means for selecting said plurality of pictures which are stored in the memory and which meet the selection condition designated by said designating means; holding means for reading the plurality of pictures selected by said selecting means into the memory, and holding the read plurality of pictures in said holding means; setting means for setting an image reproduction parameter based on information in the plurality of pictures held by said holding means; and reproducing means for reproducing a plurality of reproduced pictures from the plurality of pictures held by said holding means by using the image reproduction parameter set by said setting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reproduction parameter relates to white balance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection condition includes at least one of a photographing time, a photographing date, a photographing place, a photographing mode, an EV value, a shutter speed, an aperture value, an object distance, the use/nonuse of an electronic flash, and the use/nonuse of an optical filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of image data selected on the basis of the selection condition forms a synthetic picture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selecting means selects the plurality of image data for forming a synthetic picture on the basis of information added to the plurality of image data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating means designates a selection condition from among a group consisting of color temperature information, composition of an object, photographing time, photographing mode, photographing place, EV value, aperture value, object distance, shutter speed, use/nonuse of an electronic flash, or the use/nonuse of an optical low-pass filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image processing method for reproducing a plurality of pictures, comprising the steps of: designating a selection condition for selecting a plurality of pictures which are stored in a memory and which meet the selection condition; selecting said plurality of pictures which are stored in the memory and which meet the selection condition designated in said designation step; reading the plurality of pictures selected in said selecting step into the memory and causing hold as to hold the read plurality of pictures; setting an image reproduction parameter based on information in the plurality of pictures held by the holding means; and reproducing a plurality of reproduced pictures from the plurality of pictures held by the holding means by using the image reproduction parameter set in said setting step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image processing method for reproducing a plurality of pictures, comprising the steps of: designating a selection condition for selecting a plurality of pictures which are stored in a memory and which meet the selection condition; selecting said plurality of pictures which are stored in the memory and which meet the selection condition designated in said designation step; reading the plurality of pictures selected in said selecting step into the memory and causing hold as to hold the read plurality of pictures; setting an image reproduction parameter based on information in the plurality of pictures held by the holding means; and reproducing a plurality of reproduced pictures from the plurality of pictures held by the holding means by using the image reproduction parameter set in said setting step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the designating step designates a selection condition from among a group consisting of color temperature information, composition of an object, photographing time, photographing mode, photographing place, EV value, aperture value, object distance, shutter speed, use/nonuse of an electronic flash, or the use/nonuse of an optical low-pass filter.
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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) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |