Patent US6330076B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6330076B1
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US
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Image processing apparatus
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-10-31
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2017-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus has a data conversion unit which converts RGB image data of a document to luminance component and chromaticity component, an optimization process unit which converts the distribution state of the luminance component data and chromaticity component data so as to achieve a distribution from a minimum value to a maximum value of the data within a color space, an encoding process unit which encodes data of each pixel as code data obtained by quantization at a gradient level less than the data within a range of gradient distribution based on mean value information, a memory which stores mean value information, gradient range exponent, and code data of each block obtained by the encoding process in the encoding unit, a decoding process unit which decodes code data in block units based on the mean value information and gradient range exponent stored in the memory, and reverse optimization process unit which returns the distribution state of data of the luminance component and chromaticty component decoded in the decoding process unit to a state prior to conversion in the optimization process unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Shoji Imaizumi
- 👤 Kazuomi Sakatani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T9/00; G06T9/005; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/64; H04N1/646
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving image data that include a predetermined number of bits; means for detecting an actual range of the received image data; and means for converting the received image data into converted image data so that a range of the converted image data corresponds to a full range enabled by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving image data that include a predetermined number of bits; means for detecting an actual range of the received image data; and means for converting the received image data into converted image data so that a range of the converted image data corresponds to a full range enabled by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of bits is capable of expressing a predetermined number of data values and a difference between a minimum value of the converted image data and a maximum value of the converted image data equals the predetermined number of data values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a minimum value of the converted image data is set to zero and a maximum value of the converted image data is set to a maximum value expressable by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the image data is luminance data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image data is one of luminance data and chromaticity data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for encoding the converted image data into encoded image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the encoding means uses a BGTC type encoding process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising: means for decoding the encoded image data into decoded image data; and means for restoring a range of the decoded image data into the actual range of the received image data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined number of bits is eight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving color image data; means for setting a first range of color data values; and means for converting the color image data within the first color range into converted color image data having a second range of color data values that is greater than the first range of color data values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving color image data; means for setting a first range of color data values; and means for converting the color image data within the first color range into converted color image data having a second range of color data values that is greater than the first range of color data values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the image data is expressed by a predetermined number of bits and the second range of color data values is a maximum range of values enabled by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined number of bits is eight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising means for converting the received color image data that is not within the first range into converted image data having a gradation lower than a gradation of the converted color image data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising means for encoding all of the converted image data into encoded data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the encoding means uses a GBTC type encoding process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising: means for decoding the encoded image data into decoded image data; and means for restoring a range of the decoded image data into the first range of the received image data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving image data having a first range of data values; means for setting a minimum set value and a maximum set value of the received image data; means for selecting the received image data that is equal to or between the minimum set value and the maximum set value; and means for converting the selected image data into converted image data having a second range of data values that is greater than the first range of data values.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for receiving image data having a first range of data values; means for setting a minimum set value and a maximum set value of the received image data; means for selecting the received image data that is equal to or between the minimum set value and the maximum set value; and means for converting the selected image data into converted image data having a second range of data values that is greater than the first range of data values.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the image data is expressed by a predetermined number of bits and the second range of data values is a maximum range of values enabled by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising means for converting the received image data that was not selected into converted image data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the minimum set value and the maximum set value are determined by luminance and chromaticity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the minimum set value and the maximum set value define a range of skin tone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving color image data; first means for converting the color image data into luminance data and first chromaticity data; and second means for converting first the chromaticity data from a first range into converted chromaticity data having a second range of values that is greater than the first range.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving color image data; first means for converting the color image data into luminance data and first chromaticity data; and second means for converting first the chromaticity data from a first range into converted chromaticity data having a second range of values that is greater than the first range.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising means for encoding the amended image data into encoded image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the encoding means uses a GBTC type encoding process.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising: means for decoding the encoded image data into decoded image data; and means for restoring a range of the decoded image data into the actual range of the received color image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the converted chromaticity data is expressed by a predetermined number of bits and the second range of values is a maximum range of values enabled by the predetermined number of bits.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus of claim 26 , wherein at each level of luminance data there is a corresponding range of chromaticity data, and the second converting means converts each of the corresponding ranges of chromaticity data into the second range.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving image data that include a predetermined number of bits; means for detecting an actual range of the received image data; and means for converting the received image data into converted image data having a second range that is greater than the actual range.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving image data that include a predetermined number of bits; means for detecting an actual range of the received image data; and means for converting the received image data into converted image data having a second range that is greater than the actual range.
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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) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |