US6834124B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive image enhancement filter
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 2000-10-16
•
Granted: 2004-12-21
•
Expires: 2020-10-16
Abstract
Abstract An adaptive image enhancement filter includes a template matching module for comparing an observed pixel pattern comprising a target pixel and one or more neighboring pixels to a set of templates to determine if the observed pixel pattern matches any of the templates. The template matching module generates a match identifier signal indicating which of the templates, if any, the observed pixel pattern is found to match. Based on this match identifier, a signal generation module provides an enhanced output signal for the target pixel. The template matching and/or the signal generation modules can be independently modified to adapt to changing conditions as identified by signals identifying image attributes and marking process attributes.
Inventors
- 👤 Ying-wei Lin
- 👤 Robert P. Loce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An adaptive image enhancement filter for receiving image data including a plurality of pixels and generating enhanced image data for driving a marking engine for each pixel within the image data, comprising: a template matching processor receiving an observation pattern including a target pixel and at least one pixel neighboring the target pixel, the template matching module comparing the observation pattern to a set of templates and generating a match identification signal; and a signal generation processor connected to receive the match identification signal and a marking process attribute signal, the signal generation processor including a plurality of sets of optimized signals, each set of optimized signals containing a plurality enhanced signals for driving the marking engine, the signal generation processor identifying one of the sets of optimized signals in response to the marking engine attribute signal and providing in response to the received match identification an enhanced signal from the identified set of optimized signals signal as enhanced image data for the target pixel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An adaptive image enhancement filter for receiving image data including a plurality of pixels and generating enhanced image data for driving a marking engine for each pixel within the image data, comprising: a template matching processor receiving an observation pattern including a target pixel and at least one pixel neighboring the target pixel, the template matching module comparing the observation pattern to a set of templates and generating a match identification signal; and a signal generation processor connected to receive the match identification signal and a marking process attribute signal, the signal generation processor including a plurality of sets of optimized signals, each set of optimized signals containing a plurality enhanced signals for driving the marking engine, the signal generation processor identifying one of the sets of optimized signals in response to the marking engine attribute signal and providing in response to the received match identification an enhanced signal from the identified set of optimized signals signal as enhanced image data for the target pixel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 1 , wherein the marking process attribute signal identifies at least one of the attributes including type of marking process, nature of the marking process, identification of the photoreceptor, reproduction of line width and density, corner reproduction, jaggie reproduction, overlay printing, output maximum density, lead edge and trail edge performance characteristics, responsiveness to small high addressable events, and change in responsiveness in terms of output density.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 1 , wherein the signal generation processor is further responsive to an image attribute signal when identifying one of the sets of optimized signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 1 , wherein each set of optimized signals comprises a lookup table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 1 , wherein: the signal generation processor further includes a selection processor; and each set of optimized signals receives the match identification signal and provides a corresponding enhanced signal to the selection processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 1 , further comprising a template storage device storing a plurality of template sets, each template set including a plurality of templates wherein each template is designed to identify a specific image structure to be enhanced; and wherein the template matching processor is further responsive to at least one of an image attribute signal and a marking process attribute signal to identify one of the plurality of template sets to which the received observation pattern is compared.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 6 , wherein the image attribute signal identifies at least one of the attributes including image resolution, pixel type and image classification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The adaptive image enhancement filter of claim 6 , wherein the template matching processor is responsive to at least one of the attributes including image resolution, pixel type, image classification, reproduction of line width and density, corner reproduction, jaggie reproduction, overlay printing, output maximum density, lead edge and trail edge performance and noise characteristics.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of generating enhanced image data for driving a marking engine, comprising: receiving a set of pixels to be printed, the set of pixels including an observation window identifying a target pixel and at least one neighboring pixel; comparing the pixels within the observation window to a set of pixel templates; generating a template match identifier in response to the comparing step; selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals, each set of optimized drive signals containing a plurality enhanced signals for driving the marking engine; and using the match identifier select one of enhanced signals from the selected set of optimized drive signals as the enhanced image data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of generating enhanced image data for driving a marking engine, comprising: receiving a set of pixels to be printed, the set of pixels including an observation window identifying a target pixel and at least one neighboring pixel; comparing the pixels within the observation window to a set of pixel templates; generating a template match identifier in response to the comparing step; selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals, each set of optimized drive signals containing a plurality enhanced signals for driving the marking engine; and using the match identifier select one of enhanced signals from the selected set of optimized drive signals as the enhanced image data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving a marking process attribute signal; wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals is in response to the marking process attribute signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving an image attribute signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals is further responsive to the image attribute signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: selecting the set of pixel templates from a plurality of template sets based on the image attribute signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising: receiving an image attribute signal; and selecting the set of pixel templates from a plurality of template sets based on the image attribute signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals selects a set that compensates for a marking process characteristic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of sets of optimized drive signals compensates for at least one characteristic from the set of attributes including type of marking process, nature of the marking process, identification of the photoreceptor, reproduction of line width and density, output maximum density, lead edge and trail edge performance characteristics, responsiveness to small high addressable events, a change in responsiveness in output density and a change in responsiveness in output width.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4437122B1
Cited
US4437122A
Cited
US4847641A
Cited
US5005139A
Cited
US5134495A
Cited
US5390263A
Cited
US5553171A
Cited
US5539866A
Cited
US5515480A
Cited
US5742703A
Cited
US6285463B1
Cited
US6356654B1
Cited
US6381372B1
Cited
US6449396B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-12-21 | 2008-06-21 | 2008-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-12-21 | 2012-06-21 | 2012-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-12-21 | 2016-06-21 | 2016-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |