US6204881B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image data processing apparatus which can combine a plurality of images at different exposures into an image with a wider dynamic range
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1998-01-20
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2018-01-20
Abstract
Abstract An image data processing apparatus includes a controller which matches a dynamic range of image data to be outputted to an output unit to a dynamic range of data and/or to an output characteristic of the output unit so that the data may be processed in the output unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Eiichiro Ikeda
- 👤 Kenichi Kondo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/20; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/741; H04N2209/00; H04N2209/04; H04N2209/041; H04N2209/048; H04N2209/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: conversion means for digitally converting a plurality of images obtained by sensing an object with different exposure amounts; level adjusting means for calculating average luminance levels respectively for said plurality of images using the digitized image data except for digitized image data which satisfy conditions predetermined for each of said plurality of images and adjusting luminance levels of said image data of said plurality of images on the basis of the average luminance levels; and image combining means for combining the level adjusted image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An image sensing apparatus comprising: conversion means for digitally converting a plurality of images obtained by sensing an object with different exposure amounts; level adjusting means for calculating average luminance levels respectively for said plurality of images using the digitized image data except for digitized image data which satisfy conditions predetermined for each of said plurality of images and adjusting luminance levels of said image data of said plurality of images on the basis of the average luminance levels; and image combining means for combining the level adjusted image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said level adjusting means performs level adjustment by extracting areas from the plurality of images which have commonly small luminance change and by comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said level adjusting means performs level adjustment by extracting areas close to white and comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said level adjusting means performs level adjustment by extracting arbitrary areas of the image data and comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas other than saturated portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image combining means generates a combined image by combining any combinations of: lower luminance image data obtained by sensing with an exposure larger than standard exposure; higher luminance image data obtained by sensing with the standard exposure; and ultra higher luminance image data obtained by sensing with a exposure less than the standard exposure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said image combining means generates image data with a fixed value, the image data being put at pixels where the images to be combined overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said image combining means generates a plurality of image data which have variable mixture ratios of a lower luminance image data and a higher luminance image data, the plurality of image data being put at pixels where the images to be combined overlap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the mixture ratio changes linearly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the mixture ratio changes substantially in accordance with a cosine curve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: converting a plurality of image data which have been obtained by simultaneously or continuously sensing an object with different exposures into digital data; calculating average luminance levels respectively for said plurality of images using the digitized image data except for digitized image data which satisfy conditions predetermined for each of said plurality of images; adjusting luminance levels of said image data of said plurality of images on the basis of the average luminance levels; and combining the level adjusted image data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: converting a plurality of image data which have been obtained by simultaneously or continuously sensing an object with different exposures into digital data; calculating average luminance levels respectively for said plurality of images using the digitized image data except for digitized image data which satisfy conditions predetermined for each of said plurality of images; adjusting luminance levels of said image data of said plurality of images on the basis of the average luminance levels; and combining the level adjusted image data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said luminance level adjusting step performs level adjustment by extracting areas from the plurality of images which have commonly small luminance change and by comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said luminance level adjusting step performs level adjustment by extracting areas close to white and comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said luminance level adjusting step performs level adjustment by extracting arbitrary areas of the image data and comparing average luminance levels of the extracted areas other than saturated portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said image combining step generates a combined image by combining any combinations of: lower luminance image data obtained by sensing with an exposure larger than standard exposure; higher luminance image data obtained by sensing with the standard exposure; and ultra higher luminance image data obtained by sensing with an exposure less than the standard exposure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein said image combining step generates image data with a fixed value, the image data being put at pixels where the images to be combined overlap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein said image combining step generates a plurality of image data which have variable mixture ratios of a lower luminance image data and higher luminance image data, the plurality of image data being put at pixels where the images to be combined overlap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein the mixture ratio changes linearly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein the mixture ratio changes substantially in accordance with a cosine curve.
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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) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |