US6885763B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing method and apparatus, recording medium, and imaging apparatus
Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co LLC
•
Filing: 2001-06-18
•
Granted: 2005-04-26
•
Expires: 2021-06-18
Abstract
Abstract For the purpose of providing an image processing method for efficiently performing filtering, a local region containing a pixel of interest is defined in a plurality of modes in an original image ( 502 ); sequentially for the region in the plurality of modes, the variance of pixel values is obtained and a decision is made whether the value of the variance falls within a predetermined range ( 504, 506, 508 512, 514 ); and an image is produced using as a new pixel value for the pixel of interest an average value of pixel values of the region for which the value of the variance first falls within the range ( 508, 510, 524 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuo Ogino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/70; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; G06T5/20; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10072; G06T2207/10088; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20172; G06T2207/20192; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: defining a pixel of interest in an object; defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; selecting one of said plurality of local regions; calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn), and when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn), calculating ah average pixel value (Pm); and producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: defining a pixel of interest in an object; defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; selecting one of said plurality of local regions; calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn), and when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn), calculating ah average pixel value (Pm); and producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn), determining whether all local regions are finished with processing; and when all local regions are finished, selecting a local region having a minimum value of variance (S); and calculating an average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn), determining whether all local regions are finished with processing; and when all local regions are not finished, changing the local region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: determining whether all pixels of interest are finished with processing; and when all pixels of interest are not finished with processing, changing the pixel of interest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for defining a pixel of interest in an object; means for defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; means for defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; means for selecting one of said plurality of local regions; means for calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; means for comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn); means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm) when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for defining a pixel of interest in an object; means for defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; means for defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; means for selecting one of said plurality of local regions; means for calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; means for comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn); means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm) when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: means for determining whether all local regions are finished with processing, when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn): means for selecting a local region having a minimum value of variance (S), when all local regions are finished with processing; and means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: means for determining whether all local regions are finished with processing, when the values of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for changing the local region, when all local regions are not finished with processing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: means for determining whether all pixels of interests are finished with processing; and means for changing the pixel of interest when all pixels of interest are not finished with processing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
A recording medium which records in a computer-readable manner a program for a computer to perform the functions of: defining a pixel of interest in an object; defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; selecting one of said plurality of local regions; calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn), and when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn), calculating an average pixel value (Pm); and producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
A recording medium which records in a computer-readable manner a program for a computer to perform the functions of: defining a pixel of interest in an object; defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regions, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; selecting one of said plurality of local regions; calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn), and when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn), calculating an average pixel value (Pm); and producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The recording medium of claim 9 , comprising the further functions of: when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn), determining whether all local regions are finished with processing; and when all local regions are finished, selecting a local region having a minimum value of variance (S); and calculating an average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The recording medium of claim 9 , comprising the further functions of: when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn), determining whether all local regions are finished with processing; and when all local regions are not finished, changing the local region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The recording medium of claim 9 , comprising the further functions of: determining whether all pixels of interest are finished with processing; and when all pixels of interest are not finished with processing, changing the pixel of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
161 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: means for collecting a signal from an object; means for producing an original image based on said collected signal; means for defining a pixel of interest in said object; means for defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; means for defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regiois, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; means for selecting one of said plurality of local regions; means for calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; means for comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn); means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm) when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
161 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: means for collecting a signal from an object; means for producing an original image based on said collected signal; means for defining a pixel of interest in said object; means for defining a plurality of local regions, each of said local regions comprising a plurality of pixels disposed in a line; means for defining a mode of each of said plurality of local regiois, said mode being an angular disposition of said line; means for selecting one of said plurality of local regions; means for calculating variance (S) of pixel values of said pixel of interest of the selected one of said plurality of local regions; means for comparing the calculated value of variance (S) with a desired value of variance (Sn); means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm) when the value of variance (S) is less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for producing an image using said average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: means for determining whether all local regions are finished with processing, when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn); means for selecting a local region having a minimum value of variance (S), when all local regions are finished with processing; and means for calculating an average pixel value (Pm).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: means for determining whether all local regions are finished with processing, when the value of variance (S) is not less than the desired value of variance (Sn); and means for changing the local region, when all local regions are not finished with processing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: means for determining whether all pixels of interests are finished with processing; and means for changing the pixel of interest when all pixels of interest are not finished with processing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said signal is a magnetic resonance signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5262725A
Cited
US5802218A
Cited
US5933540A
Cited
EP0755023A1
Cited
US6466687B1
Cited
US6246783B1
Cited
US6160923A
Cited
US6256403B1
Cited
US6208763B1
Cited
US6059729A
Cited
US6704437B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-04-25 | 2008-10-25 | 2009-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-25 | 2012-10-25 | 2013-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-10-25 | 2017-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |