US6563960B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for merging images
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1999-09-28
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Granted: 2003-05-13
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Expires: 2019-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for merging images is disclosed. The present invention may be implemented as a method for merging two or more images to produce a merged image using a mask. Each of these images has mutually corresponding pixels. In other words, each pixel value in an image has a spatially corresponding pixel in the other images. The mask has mask values, each mask value corresponding to a pixel in an image. The mask value is used to determine the corresponding pixel value of the merged image. One embodiment uses this mask value to set a corresponding pixel value of the merged image to a pixel value of one of the two or more images. Another embodiment uses the mask value as a weight. This weight is used to calculate the pixel value as a combination of corresponding pixel values of the two or more images. By using such a mask, a merged image may be formed avoiding artifacts resulting from decompressing a highly compressed image.
Inventors
- 👤 San San Chan
- 👤 Chiau Ho Ong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image, the merged image having an overall composition which is derived from a plurality of images, each image having a pixel value corresponding to the pixel value in the merged image, the method comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of mask values, each mask value corresponding to a pixel value in the merged image, and setting the pixel value in the merged image to a combination of corresponding pixel values in the plurality of images according to a mask value which corresponds to the pixel value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image, the merged image having an overall composition which is derived from a plurality of images, each image having a pixel value corresponding to the pixel value in the merged image, the method comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of mask values, each mask value corresponding to a pixel value in the merged image, and setting the pixel value in the merged image to a combination of corresponding pixel values in the plurality of images according to a mask value which corresponds to the pixel value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image according to claim 1 , wherein setting the pixel value comprises setting the pixel value to a sum of weighted corresponding pixel values in the plurality of images according to weights derived from the mask value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of images consists of a first and a second image and wherein setting the pixel value comprises setting the pixel according to the relation: x =mask v *image 1 _pixel_value+(1−mask v )*image 2 _pixel_value where x is the pixel value in the merged image, maskv is a normalized mask value corresponding to the pixel whose pixel value is given by x, image 1 _pixel_value is the corresponding pixel value of the first image, and image 2 _pixel_value is the corresponding pixel value of the second image.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for merging a plurality of images into a merged image comprising: a mask having values which determine the composition of the merged image; and an image generator for generating the merged image in response to the mask values; wherein the mask values are derived from attributes in at least one of the plurality of images for identifying in the plurality of images a background and portions to be overlaid upon the background to form the merged image and wherein the merged image include pixels, each of which is a combination of corresponding pixel values of the plurality of images.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
101 words
A system for merging a plurality of images into a merged image comprising: a mask having values which determine the composition of the merged image; and an image generator for generating the merged image in response to the mask values; wherein the mask values are derived from attributes in at least one of the plurality of images for identifying in the plurality of images a background and portions to be overlaid upon the background to form the merged image and wherein the merged image include pixels, each of which is a combination of corresponding pixel values of the plurality of images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A system according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of images includes a first image and a second image and wherein the combination of corresponding pixel values is according to a relation: x =mask v *image 1 _pixel_value+(1−mask v )*image 2 _pixel_value where x is a pixel value in the merged image, maskv is a normalized mask value corresponding to a pixel whose pixel value is given by x, image 1 _pixel_value is a corresponding pixel value of the first image, and image 2 _pixel_value is a corresponding pixel value of the second image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image, the merged image having an overall composition which is derived from a plurality of images, each image having a pixel value corresponding to the pixel value in the merged image, the method comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of mask values, each mask value corresponding to a pixel value in the merged image; and setting each pixel value in the merged image to a sum of weighted corresponding pixel values in the plurality of images according to weights derived from a corresponding mask value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for determining a pixel value in a merged image, the merged image having an overall composition which is derived from a plurality of images, each image having a pixel value corresponding to the pixel value in the merged image, the method comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of mask values, each mask value corresponding to a pixel value in the merged image; and setting each pixel value in the merged image to a sum of weighted corresponding pixel values in the plurality of images according to weights derived from a corresponding mask value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for determining pixels of a merged image comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of normalized mask values, maskv, wherein a value corresponds to each of the pixels of the merged image; and setting the value of each pixel in the merged image to a sum of values of corresponding pixels in a first image and a second image according to a relation defined by: mask v *corresponding_pixel_value in the first image+(1−mask v )*corresponding pixel value in the second image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for determining pixels of a merged image comprising: providing a mask having a plurality of normalized mask values, maskv, wherein a value corresponds to each of the pixels of the merged image; and setting the value of each pixel in the merged image to a sum of values of corresponding pixels in a first image and a second image according to a relation defined by: mask v *corresponding_pixel_value in the first image+(1−mask v )*corresponding pixel value in the second image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-12 | 2006-11-11 | 2007-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-12 | 2010-11-11 | 2011-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-12 | 2014-11-11 | 2015-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |