Patent US6822758B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6822758B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image processing method, system and computer program to improve an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a conversion process

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-29
•
Granted: 2004-11-23
•
Expires: 2019-06-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to an image processing method, apparatus and computer program for improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process. The present invention involves determining whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion, processing the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion, and processing the image processed according to the second conversion process, according to a function for improving the image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takashi Morino

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/70; G06T5/20; G06T5/73

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
An image processing method of improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, comprising: a determining step of determining whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion step of processing the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving step of processing the image processed in the conversion processing step, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
An image processing method of improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, comprising: a determining step of determining whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion step of processing the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving step of processing the image processed in the conversion processing step, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a gamma correction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a color conversion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising an inputting step of inputting the image with additional information being used to generate the function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to the image sensing apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to image sensing conditions of the image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a function generating step of generating the function if the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 90 words
An image processing apparatus for improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, comprising: a determining unit adapted to determine whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion unit adapted to process the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving unit adapted to process the processed in the conversion unit, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 90 words
An image processing apparatus for improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, comprising: a determining unit adapted to determine whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion unit adapted to process the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving unit adapted to process the processed in the conversion unit, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a gamma correction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a color conversion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising an inputting unit adapted to input the image with additional information being used to generate the function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to the image sensing apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to image sensing conditions of the image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a function generating unit adapted to generate the function if the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 105 words
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, said program comprising; a determining step of determining whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion procession step of processing the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving step of processing the image processed in the conversion processing step, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 105 words
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for improving an image sensed by an image sensing apparatus and processed according to a first conversion process, said program comprising; a determining step of determining whether or not the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion; a conversion procession step of processing the image according to a second conversion process inverse to the first conversion process if the first conversion process includes the nonlinear conversion; and an improving step of processing the image processed in the conversion processing step, according to a function for improving the image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
The medium according to claim 15 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a gamma correction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
The medium according to claim 15 , wherein the nonlinear conversion includes a color conversion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
The medium according to claim 15 , further comprising an inputting step of inputting the image with additional information being used to generate the function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The medium according to claim 18 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to the image sensing apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The medium according to claim 18 , wherein the additional information includes information relating to image sensing conditions of the image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 26 words
The medium according to claim 15 , further comprising a function generating step of generating the function if the first conversion process includes a nonlinear conversion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4970584A Cited
JPH07121703A Cited
US6271891B1 Cited
JP2002344763A Cited
US20020181000A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-11-23 2008-05-24 2008-11-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-11-23 2012-05-24 2012-11-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-11-23 2016-05-24 2016-11-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag