US6349153B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for composition images
Assignee: Hanger Solutions LLC
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Filing: 2000-04-04
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Granted: 2002-02-19
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Expires: 2020-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for composition of two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including adjusting the pixel color values of at least one of the digital images so as to produce resulting digital images including at least one modified digital image, and combining the resulting digital images in the overlapping pixel region by taking weighted averages of their pixel color values. There is also described a method for feathering two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including aligning the digital images so as to approximately register them in the overlapping pixel region, determining three curves, one of which is a leftmost curve, another of which is a middle curve and another of which is a rightmost curve, and at least one of which is not a straight vertical line, the curves extending from the top to the bottom of the overlapping pixel region and lying within the overlapping pixel region, and the middle curve lying between the leftmost and the rightmost curve, and combining the digital images by taking a weighted average of the pixel color values, in such a way that the weights used are a value above 50% of image A and a value below 50% of image B to the left of the leftmost curve, 50% of image A and 50% of image B along the middle curve, and a value below 50% of image A and a value above 50% of image B to the right of the rightmost curve. Systems for carrying out the methods are also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick Teo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/14; G06T3/153; G06T5/00; G06T5/50; G06T5/90; H04N1/387; H04N1/3876; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for aligning a first digital image with a second digital image which overlaps with it in an overlapping pixel region, comprising: determining a two-dimensional table of strictly vertical pixel displacements for each pixel location in said first image, wherein the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location, P, is constrained so as not to be more than one unit smaller than the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location that is one unit directly below P; and replacing the color value in said first image at each pixel location in said first image with the color value of a pixel displaced from said pixel location by said strictly vertical pixel displacement for said pixel location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for aligning a first digital image with a second digital image which overlaps with it in an overlapping pixel region, comprising: determining a two-dimensional table of strictly vertical pixel displacements for each pixel location in said first image, wherein the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location, P, is constrained so as not to be more than one unit smaller than the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location that is one unit directly below P; and replacing the color value in said first image at each pixel location in said first image with the color value of a pixel displaced from said pixel location by said strictly vertical pixel displacement for said pixel location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 and wherein said strictly vertical pixel displacements are constrained to be zero at at least one side of said first image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 and wherein said determining comprises: calculating strictly vertical pixel displacements along multiple vertical lines of pixel locations within said overlapping pixel region; and interpolating horizontally to calculate pixel displacements at pixel locations not situated on said vertical lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 and wherein said strictly vertical pixel displacements are determined by using a dynamic programming optimization algorithm.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for aligning a first digital image with a second digital image which overlaps with it in an overlapping pixel region, comprising: a processor determining a two-dimensional table of strictly vertical pixel displacements for each pixel location in said first image, wherein the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location, P, is constrained so as not to be more than one unit smaller than the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location that is one unit directly below P; and an image writer replacing the color value in said first image at each pixel location in said first image with the color value of a pixel displaced from said pixel location by said strictly vertical pixel displacement for said pixel location.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for aligning a first digital image with a second digital image which overlaps with it in an overlapping pixel region, comprising: a processor determining a two-dimensional table of strictly vertical pixel displacements for each pixel location in said first image, wherein the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location, P, is constrained so as not to be more than one unit smaller than the strictly vertical pixel displacement for a pixel location that is one unit directly below P; and an image writer replacing the color value in said first image at each pixel location in said first image with the color value of a pixel displaced from said pixel location by said strictly vertical pixel displacement for said pixel location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 5 and wherein said strictly vertical pixel displacements are constrained to be zero at at least one side of said first image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 5 and wherein said processor comprises: a calculator calculating strictly vertical pixel displacements along multiple vertical lines of pixel locations within said overlapping pixel region; and an interpolator interpolating horizontally to calculate pixel displacements at pixel locations not situated on said vertical lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 5 and wherein said processor operates by using a dynamic programming optimization algorithm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising calculating, at each pixel location in the first image, for each candidate displacement for a strictly vertical displacement for the pixel location, a measure of correlation between the first image shifted by the candidate displacement and the second image, in a neighborhood of the pixel location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said determining is based on luminance values at pixel locations of the first and second digital images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 5 further comprising a calculator calculating, at each pixel location in the first image, for each candidate displacement for a strictly vertical displacement for the pixel location, a measure of correlation between the first image shifted by the candidate displacement and the second image, in a neighborhood of the pixel location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said processor determines strictly vertical pixel displacements based on luminance values at pixel locations of the first and second digital images.
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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) | 2005-02-18 | 2005-08-20 | 2006-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-18 | 2009-08-20 | 2010-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-18 | 2013-08-20 | 2014-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |