Patent US6885763B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6885763B2
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Image processing method and apparatus, recording medium, and imaging apparatus
Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co LLC
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Filing: 2001-06-18
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Granted: 2005-04-26
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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 10:15
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.
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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) | 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 |