Patent US6418241B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6418241B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for determining row correction values for a digital image converter

Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
•
Filing: 1998-10-06
•
Granted: 2002-07-09
•
Expires: 2018-10-06
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In a method for determining row correction values for a digital image converter, with image points arranged in a matrix in rows and columns, in which a small part is protected against radiation by a covering, in order to form a dark reference zone, row correction values are formed by determining the differences of the image points in the dark reference zone in relation to their environment with defective pixels in the dark reference zone being determined and are suppressed in the determination of the row correction value.

Inventors

  • 👤 Horst Schreiner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 06:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/68; H04N23/00; H04N23/30; H04N25/63; H04N25/67; H04N25/671

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 95 words
A method for determining row correction values for a digital image converter having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns in a matrix, said matrix having a dark reference zone comprising a portion of said matrix protected against incident radiation by a covering, said method comprising the steps of: averaging differences between respective image points in said dark reference zone in relation to their environment to obtain a row correction value; and identifying and suppressing defective pixels in said dark reference zone during said averaging of said differences in said dark reference zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 95 words
A method for determining row correction values for a digital image converter having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns in a matrix, said matrix having a dark reference zone comprising a portion of said matrix protected against incident radiation by a covering, said method comprising the steps of: averaging differences between respective image points in said dark reference zone in relation to their environment to obtain a row correction value; and identifying and suppressing defective pixels in said dark reference zone during said averaging of said differences in said dark reference zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional step of: high-pass filtering pixel values from said dark reference zone for eliminating low frequencies in said values before determining said row correction value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said columns have a column direction associated therewith, and wherein the step of high-pass filtering comprises high-pass filtering pixel values in said dark reference zone in said column direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of high-pass filtering comprises high-pass filtering pixel values in said dark reference zone using a filter with a filter width of 31.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising the additional step of: upon identifying a defective pixel within a column environment of said dark reference zone, in addition to suppressing said defective pixel, suppressing another pixel in said dark reference zone located symmetrically relative to said defective pixel during averaging in said column environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 65 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of forming said row correction value comprises: calculating an average value of an environment of each pixel in said dark reference zone within the column containing each pixel; forming differences between each pixel and average values of the environment of said pixel; and forming the average value of said differences as said row correction value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 116 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of determining said row correction value includes filtering said pixels in said dark reference zone and applying the following equation to all non-defective pixels in said dark reference zone: k y = 1 l  ∑ x = 1 l   ( p x   y - 1 2  h + 1  ∑ i = y - h y + h   p x   i ) wherein p xy identifies a pixel in column x and row y, wherein l is a length of said dark reference zone, and wherein h is a filtering level associated with said filtering.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4649430A Cited
EP0424111A2 Cited
US5528043A Cited
US5617461A Cited
US5648660A Cited
US5969360A Cited
US6101287A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-07-08 2006-01-07 2006-07-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-07-08 2010-01-07 2010-07-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-07-08 2014-01-07 2014-07-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag