Patent US6720971B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6720971B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing method and apparatus, and storage medium
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-27
•
Granted: 2004-04-13
•
Expires: 2019-05-27
Abstract
Abstract There are provided an image processing method and apparatus for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern. The number of material images is increased on the basis of a plurality of stored material images, material images added by capturing a moving image, or the like, and a mosaic image with higher image quality is generated based on such material images.
Inventors
- 👤 Kunihiro Yamamoto
- 👤 Kentaro Matsumoto
- 👤 Yasuo Fukuda
- 👤 Kiyoshi Kusama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/4038; G06T11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An image processing apparatus for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, said apparatus comprising: division means for dividing an original image into a plurality of areas; calculation means for calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided by said division means: storage means for storing the plurality of material images together; material image generation means for generating another material image on the basis of a material image stored in said storage means; selection means for comparing the average pixel value calculated by said calculation means with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated by said material image generation means and stored in said storage means, and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and mosaic image generation means for generating a mosaic image in which the another material images selected by said selection means are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An image processing apparatus for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, said apparatus comprising: division means for dividing an original image into a plurality of areas; calculation means for calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided by said division means: storage means for storing the plurality of material images together; material image generation means for generating another material image on the basis of a material image stored in said storage means; selection means for comparing the average pixel value calculated by said calculation means with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated by said material image generation means and stored in said storage means, and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and mosaic image generation means for generating a mosaic image in which the another material images selected by said selection means are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said material image generation means generates a material image by horizontally flipping a first material image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said material image generation means generates a material image having pixels obtained by converting color values of pixels of a first material image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said material image generation means generates a material image by negative/positive-converting a first material image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said material image generation means generates a material image having pixels obtained by converting specific color values of pixels of a first material image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image processing method for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, comprising: a division step, of dividing a original image into a plurality of areas; a calculation step, of calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided in said division step; a storage step, of storing the plurality of material images together; a material image generation step, of generating another material image on the basis of each of the plurality of stored material images; a selection step, of comparing the average pixel value calculated in said calculation step with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated in said material image generation step and stored in memory means, and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and a mosaic image generation step, of generating a mosaic image in which the another material images selected in said selection step are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image processing method for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, comprising: a division step, of dividing a original image into a plurality of areas; a calculation step, of calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided in said division step; a storage step, of storing the plurality of material images together; a material image generation step, of generating another material image on the basis of each of the plurality of stored material images; a selection step, of comparing the average pixel value calculated in said calculation step with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated in said material image generation step and stored in memory means, and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and a mosaic image generation step, of generating a mosaic image in which the another material images selected in said selection step are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the material image generation step includes the step of generating a material image by horizontally flipping a first material image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the material image generation step includes the step of generating a material image having pixels obtained by converting color values of pixels of a first material image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the material image generation step includes the step of generating a material image by negative/positive-converting a first material image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the material image generation step includes the step of generating a material image having pixels obtained by converting specific color values of pixels of a first material image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
208 words
A computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program for implementing an image processing method for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, said program comprising: code for a division step, of dividing an original image into a plurality of areas; code for a calculation step, of calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided in said division step; code for a storage step, of storing the plurality of material images together; code for a material image generation step, of generating another material image on the basis of each of the plurality of stored material images; code for a selection step, of comparing the average pixel value calculated in said calculation step with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated in said material image generation step and stored in memory means and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and code for a mosaic image generation step, of generating a mosaic image in which the plurality of another material images selected in said selection step are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
208 words
A computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program for implementing an image processing method for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern, said program comprising: code for a division step, of dividing an original image into a plurality of areas; code for a calculation step, of calculating an average pixel value of each of the plurality of areas divided in said division step; code for a storage step, of storing the plurality of material images together; code for a material image generation step, of generating another material image on the basis of each of the plurality of stored material images; code for a selection step, of comparing the average pixel value calculated in said calculation step with the average pixel value of each of the plurality of another material images generated in said material image generation step and stored in memory means and selecting a material image for each area, having an average pixel value which is closest to that of each of the plurality of areas; and code for a mosaic image generation step, of generating a mosaic image in which the plurality of another material images selected in said selection step are substituted for the plurality of areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein said material image generation step includes generating a material image by horizontally flipping a first material image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein said material image generation step includes generating a material image having pixels obtained by converting color values of pixels of a first material image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein said material image generation step includes generating a material image by negative/positive-converting a first material image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein said material image generation step generates a material image having pixels obtained by converting specific color values of pixels of a first material image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4979031A
Cited
US5473740A
Cited
US5809366A
Cited
US20020044691A1
Cited
EP0824246A2
Cited
EP0829378A2
Cited
CA2187267A1
Cited
EP0852363A2
Cited
US6157747A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-10-13 | 2008-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | 2012-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-13 | 2015-10-13 | 2016-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |