Patent US6636646B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6636646B1
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US
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Digital image processing method and for brightness adjustment of digital images
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
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Filing: 2000-07-20
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Granted: 2003-10-21
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Expires: 2020-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of calculating a brightness balance value for an original image having contribution from the visible spectrum of wavelengths including red, green, and blue wavelengths comprising the steps of a) generating one or more pseudo luminance values from the original image wherein (i) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red wavelengths is greater than or equal to the contribution from the green wavelengths;(ii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the green wavelengths is greater than the contribution from the blue wavelengths;(iii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red and green wavelengths are greater than zero; and(iv) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the blue wavelengths is greater than or equal to zero; and b) using the pseudo luminance values to calculate a brightness balance value.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward B. Gindele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 74
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for an original image having contribution from the visible spectrum of wavelengths including red, green, and blue wavelengths comprising the steps of: a) generating one or more pseudo luminance values from the original image wherein (i) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red wavelengths is greater than or equal to the contribution from the green wavelengths; (ii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the green wavelengths is greater than the contribution from the blue wavelengths; (iii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red and green wavelengths are greater than zero; and (iv) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the blue wavelengths is greater than or equal to zero; and b) using the pseudo luminance values to calculate a brightness balance value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for an original image having contribution from the visible spectrum of wavelengths including red, green, and blue wavelengths comprising the steps of: a) generating one or more pseudo luminance values from the original image wherein (i) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red wavelengths is greater than or equal to the contribution from the green wavelengths; (ii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the green wavelengths is greater than the contribution from the blue wavelengths; (iii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red and green wavelengths are greater than zero; and (iv) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the blue wavelengths is greater than or equal to zero; and b) using the pseudo luminance values to calculate a brightness balance value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , used in an exposure control device, wherein the brightness balance value is derived from pseudo luminance value(s) that are produced as the output of a photosensitive device in the exposure control device by employing a yellow-orange filter over the a photosensitive device, and the brightness balance value is used by the exposure control device to adjust the exposure of a photosensitive medium to produce a final image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the a photosensitive device is a single photocell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the a photosensitive device is an array of photocells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the exposure control device is in a camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the exposure control device is in a photographic printer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brightness balance value is obtained by forming a digital image of the original image and processing the digital image to derive the brightness balance value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method claimed in claim 7 , wherein the processing the digital image comprises the steps of: a) producing a pseudo luminance values for two or more pixels in the digital image to produce a pseudo luminance digital image channel; and b) applying a spatial filter to the pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , used in an exposure control device, wherein the brightness balance value is used by an exposure control device to adjust the exposure of a photosensitive medium to produce a final image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , wherein the brightness balance value is used to adjust the balance of the digital image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , wherein the spatial filter comprises the steps of: a) identifying a pixel of interest and a local neighborhood of pixels about the pixel of interest; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than one possible value; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the spatial activity measure is a function of one or more gradient pixel values calculated as the difference between two or more pixels in a local neighborhood.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by first calculating a set of gradient pixel values in a local neighborhood, and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method claimed in claim 13 , wherein the gradient pixel values are calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between a center pixel in the local neighborhood and neighboring pixels and selecting the minimum gradient pixel value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical direction, and selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical and a horizontal direction and selecting the median value in the set.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method claimed in claim 12 , wherein the gradient pixel value is calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the local neighborhood.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the pseudo luminance digital image channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 18 , wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the step of first producing a lower resolution version of the pseudo luminance digital image channel, processing the lower resolution pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method claimed in claim 10 , wherein the balance of the digital image is adjusted by employing a LUT that is generated based on the brightness balance value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the step of attaching the brightness balance value to the digital image as meta data.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of producing a final image, comprising the steps of: a) generating one or more pseudo luminance values from an original image according to the relationship, L=αR+βG+δB , where R, G ,B represent red, green and blue components of the original image, and α≧β>δ≧0; b) using the pseudo luminance values (L) to calculate a brightness balance value; and c) using the brightness balance value and the original image to produce the final image.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of producing a final image, comprising the steps of: a) generating one or more pseudo luminance values from an original image according to the relationship, L=αR+βG+δB , where R, G ,B represent red, green and blue components of the original image, and α≧β>δ≧0; b) using the pseudo luminance values (L) to calculate a brightness balance value; and c) using the brightness balance value and the original image to produce the final image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 1 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 2 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 3 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 4 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 5 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 6 .
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 7 .
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 8 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 9 .
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 10 .
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 11 .
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 12 .
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 13 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 14 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 15 .
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 16 .
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 17 .
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 18 .
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 19 .
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 20 .
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 21 .
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 22 .
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 23 .
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer program product for implementing the method of claim 24 .
Claim 51
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for an original image having contribution from the visible spectrum of wavelengths including red, green, and blue wavelengths comprising: a) means for generating one or more pseudo luminance values from the original image wherein (i) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red wavelengths is greater than or equal to the contribution from the green wavelengths; (ii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the green wavelengths is greater than the contribution from the blue wavelengths; (iii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red and green wavelengths are greater than zero; and (iv) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the blue wavelengths is greater than or equal to zero; and b) means for using the pseudo luminance values to calculate a brightness balance value.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for an original image having contribution from the visible spectrum of wavelengths including red, green, and blue wavelengths comprising: a) means for generating one or more pseudo luminance values from the original image wherein (i) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red wavelengths is greater than or equal to the contribution from the green wavelengths; (ii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the green wavelengths is greater than the contribution from the blue wavelengths; (iii) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the red and green wavelengths are greater than zero; and (iv) the pseudo luminance value contribution from the blue wavelengths is greater than or equal to zero; and b) means for using the pseudo luminance values to calculate a brightness balance value.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 49 , used in an exposure control device, wherein the means of the brightness balance value is derived from pseudo luminance value(s) that are produced as the output of a photodetector in the exposure control device by employing a yellow-orange filter over the a photosensitive device, and the brightness balance value is used by the exposure control device to adjust the exposure of a photosensitive medium to produce the final image.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 49 , wherein the means of the photosensitive device is a single photocell.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 49 , wherein the means of the photosensitive device is an array of photocells.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 49 , wherein the means of the exposure control device is in a camera.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 49 , wherein the means of the exposure control device is in a photographic printer.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 50 , wherein the means of the brightness balance value is obtained by forming a digital image of the original image and processing the digital image to derive the brightness balance value.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 50 , wherein the means of the processing comprises the means of: a) producing a pseudo luminance values for each pixel in the image to produce a pseudo luminance digital image channel; and b) applying a spatial filter to the pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 50 , wherein the means of the brightness balance value is used to control the exposure in a camera or photographic printer to produce the final image.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 50 , wherein the means of the brightness balance value is used to modify the brightness of the original image to produce the final image.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 50 , wherein the means of the spatial filter comprises the means of: a) identifying a pixel of interest and a local neighborhood of pixels about the pixel of interest; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than one possible value; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 59 , wherein the means of the spatial activity measure is a function of one or more gradient pixel values calculated as the difference between two or more pixels in a local neighborhood.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 59 , wherein the means of the spatial activity measure is calculated by first calculating a set of gradient pixel values in a local neighborhood, and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 59 , wherein the means of the gradient pixel values are calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between a center pixel in the local neighborhood and neighboring pixels and selecting the minimum gradient pixel value.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 59 , wherein the means of the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical direction, and selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 59 , wherein the means of the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical and a horizontal direction and selecting the median value in the set.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the means of the gradient pixel value is calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the local neighborhood.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the means of the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the pseudo luminance digital image channel.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the means of the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the means of the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , further comprising the means of first producing a lower resolution version of the pseudo luminance digital image channel, processing means for the lower resolution pseudo luminance digital image channel to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the means of the balance of the digital image is adjusted by employing a LUT that is generated based on the brightness balance value.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , further comprising the means of attaching the brightness balance value to the digital image as meta data.
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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) | 2006-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | 2007-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | 2011-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-04-21 | 2015-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |