US6437306B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reducing motion artifacts by joining partial images in multiple scans
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-01
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Granted: 2002-08-20
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Expires: 2019-11-01
Abstract
Abstract In generation of combined image data from first and second scans of an image, artifacts caused by motion between the first and second scans are reduced. Digital pixel data for the first and second scans are stored. A translational second scan is generated using the first and second scans, the translational second scan having new digital pixel data which compensates for motion artifacts between the first and second scans. The combined image data is generated by combining the digital pixel data of the first scan with the new digital pixel data of the translational second scan, with the translational second scan being weighted before it is summed with the digital pixel data of the first scan.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger D. Melen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/50; G06T5/73; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20172; G06T2207/20201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image in order to generate a final image, the method comprising: a) storing digital pixel data for the first scan and the second scan; b) using the first scan and the second scan to generate a translational second scan having new digital pixel data which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and c) combining the digital pixel data of the first scan with the new digital pixel data of the translational second scan in order to generate the final image; wherein the new digital pixel data of the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with the digital pixel data of the first scan.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image in order to generate a final image, the method comprising: a) storing digital pixel data for the first scan and the second scan; b) using the first scan and the second scan to generate a translational second scan having new digital pixel data which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and c) combining the digital pixel data of the first scan with the new digital pixel data of the translational second scan in order to generate the final image; wherein the new digital pixel data of the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with the digital pixel data of the first scan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the translational second scan comprises: a) calculating a translational vector for the second scan; and b) adjusting the second scan by realigning each pixel position in the second scan by a distance equal to the length of the translational vector, thereby generating a translational second scan having new digital pixel data which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of calculating a translational vector for the second scan comprises: a) identifying a first pixel position for a centroid in the first scan; b) identifying a second pixel position for a centroid in the second scan; and c) determining a difference in number of horizontal and vertical pixel positions between the first pixel position and the second pixel position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the translational second scan comprises: a) dividing the first scan into a number of sections and the second scan into an equal number of corresponding sections; b) calculating a translational vector for each corresponding section in the second scan; and c) adjusting the second scan by realigning each pixel position in the second scan by a distance equal to the translational vector calculated for that corresponding section, thereby generating a translational second scan having new digital pixel data which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of calculating a translational vector for each corresponding section in the second scan comprises: a) identifying a first set of pixel positions for centroids in each of the sections of the first scan; b) identifying a second set of pixel positions for centroids in each of the corresponding sections in the second scan; and c) determining a difference in pixel position between the pixel positions of the centroids for each section in the first scan and the pixel positions of the centroids for each corresponding section in the second scan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein each translational vector includes a number of horizontal and vertical pixel locations representing an integral difference in pixel position between the pixel position of a centroid in a section in the first scan and the pixel position of a centroid for a corresponding section in the second scan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of combining is comprised of: a) dividing both the first scan and translational second scan into a plurality of equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage at a point in time when the first or second scan was captured; and b) summing the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the translational second scan, thereby generating a final image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the translational second scan is weighted by multiplying the associated voltage level by a factor which is related to the point in time when the second scan was captured in order to compensate for changes in the associated voltage level attributable to a lapse in time between the point in time when the first scan was captured and the point in time where the second scan was captured.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before generating a final image, the method comprising: a) dividing the first scan into a number of sections and the second scan into an equal number of corresponding sections, wherein each section and corresponding section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage at the time the first and second scans were each captured; and b) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a revised second scan with each pixel position in the revised second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the voltage level of the same pixel position in the first scan at the time the second scan was captured.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before generating a final image, the method comprising: a) dividing the first scan into a number of sections and the second scan into an equal number of corresponding sections, wherein each section and corresponding section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage at the time the first and second scans were each captured; and b) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a revised second scan with each pixel position in the revised second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the voltage level of the same pixel position in the first scan at the time the second scan was captured.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising: c) summing the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the revised second scan, thereby generating the final image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the revised second scan is weighted before it is summed with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising: c) generating a translational second scan using the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the revised second scan, wherein said translational second scan further compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the revised second scan; and d) combining the first scan with the translational second scan in order to generate the final image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of generating a translational second scan comprises: a) identifying a pixel position of a centroid for each of the sections in the first scan; b) identifying a pixel position of a corresponding centroid for each of the corresponding sections in the revised second scan; c) calculating translational vectors between the centroids for each section in the first scan and the corresponding centroids for each section in the revised second scan; and d) using the translational vectors to adjust the position of each pixel in each corresponding section of the revised second scan, thereby generating a translational second scan.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein translational vectors are calculated by: a) determining an integral number of horizontal and vertical pixel locations between the centroid for each section in the first scan image and the corresponding centroid for each corresponding section in the revised second scan; and b) repeating this process for each section such that a translational vector is calculated between the centroids for each section in the first scan and the corresponding centroids for each corresponding section in the revised second scan.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the translational vectors are used to adjust the position of each pixel in each corresponding section of the revised second scan by relocating each pixel in a corresponding section by a distance equal to the integral number of horizontal and vertical pixel locations determined to be between the centroid of the section in the first scan and the corresponding centroid of the corresponding section in the revised second scan.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the first scan and the translational second scan are combined in order to generate the final image by summing the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the translational second scan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image having a number of pixels and a second scan of an image having the same number of pixels, before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the computer readable code executable by a processor and comprising: a) a translational vector generating module for generating a translational second scan, which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and b) a summing module for combining the first scan with the translational second scan, thereby generating the final image; wherein digital pixel data of the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with digital pixel data of the first scan.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image having a number of pixels and a second scan of an image having the same number of pixels, before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the computer readable code executable by a processor and comprising: a) a translational vector generating module for generating a translational second scan, which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and b) a summing module for combining the first scan with the translational second scan, thereby generating the final image; wherein digital pixel data of the translational second scan is weighted before it is summed with digital pixel data of the first scan.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
109 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the translational vector generating module causes the processor to: a) identify a first pixel position of a centroid for the first scan; b) identify a second pixel position of a centroid for the second scan; c) calculate a difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions between the first pixel position of the centroid in the first scan and the second pixel position of the centroid of the second scan; and d) adjust the pixels in the second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions, thereby generating the translational second scan.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the summing module causes the processor to generate the final image by summing voltage levels associated with each pixel in the first scan with voltage levels associated with each adjusted pixel in the translational second scan.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program product of claim 21 , wherein voltage levels associated with each adjusted pixel in the translational second scan are all weighted before they are summed with voltage levels associated with each pixel in the first scan.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
147 words
The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the translational vector generating module causes the processor to: a) divide the first scan into a number of sections and the second scan into an equal number of corresponding sections, wherein each section in the equal number of sections contains a plurality of total pixels; b) identify a pixel position of a centroid for each of the equal number of sections in both the first scan and the second scan; c) calculate a difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions between the centroid of each section in the first scan image and the centroid of each corresponding section in second scan; and d) adjust the plurality of total pixels in each of the sections in the second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions calculated for that section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
97 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein the summing module causes the processor to: a) divide the first scan and translational second scan into a plurality of equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and b) generate the final image by summing the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the translational second scan.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the computer readable code comprising: a voltage compensation module for: i) dividing both the first scan and the second scan into an equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and ii) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a new second scan with each pixel position in the new second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the first scan.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the computer readable code comprising: a voltage compensation module for: i) dividing both the first scan and the second scan into an equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and ii) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a new second scan with each pixel position in the new second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the first scan.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
75 words
The computer program product of claim 25 , wherein the computer readable code further comprises: a translational vector generation module for identifying a pixel position of a centroid for each of the equal number of sections in both the first scan and the new second scan and generating a translational second scan which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the new second scan; and a summing module for generating the final image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
77 words
The computer program product of claim 26 , wherein the translational vector generating module: calculates a difference in the pixel position between the centroid of each section in the first scan image and the centroid of each section in the new second scan; and adjusts the plurality of total pixels in each of the sections in the new second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in pixel position calculated for that section.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer program product of claim 26 , wherein the summing module: adds the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the translational second scan in order to generate new voltage levels for each pixel position in the final image.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image having a number of pixels and a second scan of an image having the same number of pixels, before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the apparatus comprising: a) a translational vector generating module for generating a translational second scan, which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and b) a summing module for combining the first scan with the translational second scan, thereby generating the final image.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image having a number of pixels and a second scan of an image having the same number of pixels, before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the apparatus comprising: a) a translational vector generating module for generating a translational second scan, which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the second scan; and b) a summing module for combining the first scan with the translational second scan, thereby generating the final image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the translational vector generating module: a) identifies a first pixel position of a centroid for the first scan; b) identifies a second pixel position of a centroid for the second scan; c) calculates a difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions between the first pixel position of the centroid in the first scan and the second pixel position of the centroid of the second scan; and d) adjusts the pixels in the second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions, thereby generating the translational second scan.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the summing module generates the final image by summing voltage levels associated with each pixel in the first scan with voltage levels associated with each adjusted pixel in the translational second scan.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein voltage levels associated with each adjusted pixel in the translational second scan are all weighted before they are summed with voltage levels associated with each pixel in the first scan.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
141 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the translational vector generating module: a) divides the first scan into a number of sections and the second scan into an equal number of corresponding sections, wherein each section in the equal number of sections contains a plurality of total pixels; b) identifies a pixel position of a centroid for each of the equal number of sections in both the first scan and the second scan; c) calculates a difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions between the centroid of each section in the first scan image and the centroid of each corresponding section in second scan; and d) adjusts the plurality of total pixels in each of the sections in the second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in horizontal and vertical pixel positions calculated for that section.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the summing module: a) divides the first scan and translational second scan into a plurality of equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and b) generates the final image by summing the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the translational second scan.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the apparatus comprising: a voltage compensation module for: i) dividing both the first scan and the second scan into an equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and ii) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a new second scan with each pixel position in the new second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the first scan.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for reducing motion artifacts between a first scan of an image and a second scan of an image before combining both scans in order to generate a final image, the apparatus comprising: a voltage compensation module for: i) dividing both the first scan and the second scan into an equal number of sections, wherein each section contains an equal number of pixel positions, with each pixel position having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from a reference voltage; and ii) subtracting out the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan from the associated voltage level for each corresponding pixel position in the second scan, thereby creating a new second scan with each pixel position in the new second scan having an associated voltage level which represents a change in voltage from the first scan.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , further comprising: a translational vector generation module for identifying a pixel position of a centroid for each of the equal number of sections in both the first scan and the new second scan and generating a translational second scan which compensates for motion artifacts between the first scan and the new second scan; and a summing module for generating the final image.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the translational vector generating module: calculates a difference in the pixel position between the centroid of each section in the first scan image and the centroid of each section in the new second scan; and adjusts the plurality of total pixels in each of the sections in the new second scan by relocating each pixel a distance equal to the difference in pixel position calculated for that section.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the summing module adds the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the first scan with the associated voltage level for each pixel position in the translational second scan in order to generate new voltage levels for each pixel position in the final image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6081582A
Cited
US6157396A
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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) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |