US6483933B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital-to-film radiographic image conversion including a network
Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co LLC
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Filing: 1999-12-27
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2019-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image includes (a.) obtaining digital image input values for a number of pixels, each pixel having a digital image input value X, wherein the range of input values for all pixels defines the input dynamic range; (b.) for each pixel, determining an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A i X Pi + Bi wherein A i , pi, and B i are real numbers, and M is an integer value greater than or equal to 1; and (c.) communicating the analog-simulative film-like digital image or data associated therewith to a remote facility over a network.
Inventors
- 👤 Shuanghe Shi
- 👤 James Martin Hill
- 👤 Kenneth Scott Kump
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/58; A61B6/581; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; A61B6/54; A61B6/548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values for a number of pixels, each pixel having a digital image input value X, wherein the range of input values for all pixels defines the input dynamic range; b. for each pixel, determining an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A i X Pi + B i wherein A i , pi, and B i are real numbers, and M is an integer value greater than or equal to 1; and c. communicating the analog-simulative film-like digital image or data associated therewith to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values for a number of pixels, each pixel having a digital image input value X, wherein the range of input values for all pixels defines the input dynamic range; b. for each pixel, determining an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A i X Pi + B i wherein A i , pi, and B i are real numbers, and M is an integer value greater than or equal to 1; and c. communicating the analog-simulative film-like digital image or data associated therewith to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining an analog-simulative film-like output value Y includes: a. for pixels having input values X<X 1 wherein X 1 is a value within the input dynamic range, determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A l i X Pli + B l i wherein A 1i , p 1i , and B 1i are real numbers, M is an integer number greater than or equal to 1, and p 1i >1, b. for pixels having input values X>X 2 wherein X 2 is a value within the input dynamic range and X 2 ≧X 1 , determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A 3 i X P3i + B 3 i wherein A 3i , p 3i , and B 3i are real numbers, M is an integer number greater than or equal to 1, and p 3i <1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 2 wherein A 1i <1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 2 wherein A 3i >1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 2 wherein X 2 >X 1 , and further comprising the step, for pixels having input values X 1 ≦X≦X 2 , of determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A 2 i X P2i + B 2 i wherein A 2i , p 2i , and B 2i are real numbers, M is an integer number greater than or equal to 1, and p 2i ≈1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 5 wherein A 2i >1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 6 wherein A 1i <1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 6 wherein A 3i >1.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values from a number of pixels, each pixel having an input value X, wherein the range of input values for all pixels defines the input dynamic range; b. for pixels having input values X<X 1 wherein X 1 is a value within the input dynamic range, determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y=A 1 X p1 +B 1 wherein A 1 , p 1 , and B 1 are real numbers and p 1 >1; c. for pixels having input values X>X 2 wherein X 2 is a value within the input dynamic range and X 2 ≧X 1 , determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y=A 3 X p3 +B 3 wherein A 3 , p 3 , and B 3 are real numbers and p 3 <1; d. generating an output image in accordance with the output values of the pixels; and e. communicating the output image or image data to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values from a number of pixels, each pixel having an input value X, wherein the range of input values for all pixels defines the input dynamic range; b. for pixels having input values X<X 1 wherein X 1 is a value within the input dynamic range, determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y=A 1 X p1 +B 1 wherein A 1 , p 1 , and B 1 are real numbers and p 1 >1; c. for pixels having input values X>X 2 wherein X 2 is a value within the input dynamic range and X 2 ≧X 1 , determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y=A 3 X p3 +B 3 wherein A 3 , p 3 , and B 3 are real numbers and p 3 <1; d. generating an output image in accordance with the output values of the pixels; and e. communicating the output image or image data to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein A 1 <1 and A 3 >1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of printing the output image on translucent film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 9 wherein X 2 >X 1 , and further comprising the step, for pixels having input values X 1 ≦X≦X 2 , of determining for each pixel an analog-simulative film-like output value Y=A 2 X p2 +B 2 wherein A 2 , p 2 , and B 2 are real numbers and p 2 ≈1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 12 wherein A 2 >1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein A 1 <1 and A 3 >1.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values from a number of pixels, each pixel having an input value X ranging between X min and X max , the range between X min and X max defining the dynamic range of the input values; b. dividing the dynamic range into N intervals, N being an integer number of at least 1; c. for each interval, determining for each input value therein an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A i X Pi + B i wherein M is an integer value greater than or equal to 1, X is the input value, A i , p i , and B i are real numbers, and p i decreases with each interval after a first interval adjacent Xmin; and d. generating an output image in accordance with the output values of the pixels; and e. communicating the output image or image data to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for converting a digital image to an analog-simulative film-like digital image comprising: a. obtaining digital image input values from a number of pixels, each pixel having an input value X ranging between X min and X max , the range between X min and X max defining the dynamic range of the input values; b. dividing the dynamic range into N intervals, N being an integer number of at least 1; c. for each interval, determining for each input value therein an analog-simulative film-like output value Y = ∑ i = 1 M A i X Pi + B i wherein M is an integer value greater than or equal to 1, X is the input value, A i , p i , and B i are real numbers, and p i decreases with each interval after a first interval adjacent Xmin; and d. generating an output image in accordance with the output values of the pixels; and e. communicating the output image or image data to a remote facility over a network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the B i term(s) are chosen to provide a continuous curve for Y as X varies across the N intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of printing the output image on translucent film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein: a. p i >1 for at least one interval close to X min , and b. p i <1 for at least one interval close to X max .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 wherein N≧3, and wherein p i ≈1 for at least one interval between X min and X max .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein N≧3, and wherein A i >1 for at least one interval between a first interval adjacent X min and a last interval adjacent X max .
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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