US6480300B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium on which software for executing the image processing is recorded
Assignee: Fujifilm Corp
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Filing: 1999-04-08
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Granted: 2002-11-12
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Expires: 2019-04-08
Abstract
Abstract The image processing apparatus comprises: section for converting the original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to luminance of a subject, intensity of incident light, or reproducing luminance; section for creating soft-focus processing conversion image signals by subjecting the conversion image signals to preset smoothing processing; and section for inversely converting the soft-focus processing conversion image signals into the digital soft-focusing image signals. The image processing apparatus, the image processing method and the recording media on which software for executing the image processing is recorded that are capable of obtaining a soft-focused image having an effect near to flare, which is obtained in the soft-focusing executed in an analog mode when an image is actually recorded with a camera and capable of obtaining a processed image having an optimum frequency processing effect such as a sharpness-enhanced image, in which the sharpness of the image is enhanced while restricting the deterioration of the graininess of a human skin.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuya Aoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/73; G06T5/75; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409; H04N1/4092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An image processing apparatus for creating digital soft-focusing image signals, which create an soft-focused image, by subjecting digital original image signals to image processing, comprising: means for converting the original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to luminance of a subject, intensity of incident light, or reproducing luminance; means for creating soft-focus processing conversion image signals by subjecting the conversion image signals to preset smoothing processing; and means for inversely converting the soft-focus processing conversion image signals into the digital soft-focusing image signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An image processing apparatus for creating digital soft-focusing image signals, which create an soft-focused image, by subjecting digital original image signals to image processing, comprising: means for converting the original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to luminance of a subject, intensity of incident light, or reproducing luminance; means for creating soft-focus processing conversion image signals by subjecting the conversion image signals to preset smoothing processing; and means for inversely converting the soft-focus processing conversion image signals into the digital soft-focusing image signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said means for creating the soft-focus processing conversion image signals comprises: means for creating unsharp image signals from the conversion image signals; and addition mean for adding the conversion image signals to the unsharp image signals at a preset adding rate to thereby create the soft-focus processing conversion image signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said means for creating the soft-focus processing conversion image signals further comprises gain adjustment means for adjusting at least one of the gains of the medium frequency component and the high frequency component of the conversion image signals, and wherein said adding means adds the conversion image signals, whose gain has been adjusted by said gain adjustment means, to the unsharp image signals to thereby create the soft-focus processing conversion image signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said means for creating the soft-focus processing conversion image signals further comprises adding rate adjustment means for adjusting the preset adding rate at which the gain-adjusted conversion image signals are added to the unsharp image signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said means for creating the soft-focus processing conversion image signals further comprises adding rate adjustment means for adjusting the preset adding rate at which the conversion image signals are added to the unsharp image signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said means for creating the soft-focus processing conversion image signals further comprises determination means for determining a density in an image using the original image signals, and wherein said adding rate adjustment means adjusts the preset adding rate in accordance with the density in the image determined by said determination means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said means for creating the unsharp image signals is unsharp mask processing means including a lowpass filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said means for creating the unsharp image signals comprises means for converting the conversion image signals into a luminance signal and unsharp mask processing means for subjecting luminance image signals which have been converted into the luminance signal to unsharp mask processing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the original image signals and the digital soft-focusing image signals are image signals which represent an amount corresponding to an optical density a logarithmic exposure amount.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image processing apparatus for creating digital frequency processing image signals, which create a frequency-processed image, by subjecting digital original image signals to frequency processing, comprising: means for converting the original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to luminance of a subject, intensity of incident light, or reproducing luminance; frequency processing means for carrying out frequency processing using the conversion image signals; and means for inversely converting the conversion image signals which have been subjected to the frequency processing into the digital frequency processing image signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image processing apparatus for creating digital frequency processing image signals, which create a frequency-processed image, by subjecting digital original image signals to frequency processing, comprising: means for converting the original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to luminance of a subject, intensity of incident light, or reproducing luminance; frequency processing means for carrying out frequency processing using the conversion image signals; and means for inversely converting the conversion image signals which have been subjected to the frequency processing into the digital frequency processing image signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said frequency processing is soft-focus processing or sharpness enhancement processing, and said frequency processing means is soft-focus processing means or sharpness enhancement processing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: converting digital original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to subject luminance, incident light intensity, or reproducing luminance; creating soft-focus processing conversion image signals by subjecting the resultant conversion image signals to preset smoothing processing; and inversely converting the resultant soft-focus processing conversion image signals into digital soft-focusing image signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: converting digital original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to subject luminance, incident light intensity, or reproducing luminance; creating soft-focus processing conversion image signals by subjecting the resultant conversion image signals to preset smoothing processing; and inversely converting the resultant soft-focus processing conversion image signals into digital soft-focusing image signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image processing method according to claim 12 , wherein the soft-focus processing conversion image signals are created by creating unsharp image signals from the conversion image signals and adding the conversion image signals to the unsharp image signals at preset adding rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image processing method according to claim 13 , wherein the soft-focus processing conversion image signals are created by adjusting at least one of the gains of the medium frequency component and the high frequency component of the conversion image signals and adding the gain-adjusted conversion image signals to the unsharp image signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image processing method according to claim 14 , wherein the preset adding rate, at which the gain-adjusted conversion image signals are added to the unsharp image signals, is adjusted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image processing method according to claim 13 , wherein the preset adding rate, at which the conversion image signals are added to the unsharp image signals, is adjusted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image processing method according to claim 16 , wherein the density in an image is determined using the original image signals, and the preset adding rate is adjusted in accordance with the determined density in the image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image processing method according to claim 13 , wherein the unsharp image signals are created by unsharp mask processing executed using a lowpass filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image processing method according to claim 13 , wherein the unsharp image signals are created by converting the conversion image signals into a luminance signal and subjecting luminance image signals, which have been converted into the luminance signal, to unsharp mask processing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing method according to claim 12 , wherein the original image signals and the digital soft-focusing image signals are image signals which represent an amount corresponding to an optical density or a logarithmic exposure amount.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: converting digital original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to subject luminance, incident light intensity, or reproducing luminance; carrying out frequency processing using the resultant conversion image signals; and inversely converting the resultant frequency-processed conversion image signals into digital frequency-processed image signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image processing method, comprising the steps of: converting digital original image signals into conversion image signals which represent an amount corresponding to subject luminance, incident light intensity, or reproducing luminance; carrying out frequency processing using the resultant conversion image signals; and inversely converting the resultant frequency-processed conversion image signals into digital frequency-processed image signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image processing method according to claim 21 , wherein the frequency processing is soft-focus processing or sharpness enhancement processing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording medium on which software for executing the image processing method according to claim 12 is recorded.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording medium on which software for executing the image processing method according to claim 21 is recorded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6148113A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |