Patent US6909459B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6909459B2
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US
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Method of and apparatus for extending signal ranges of digital images
Assignee: ALEXANDRIA FINANCE LLC
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Filing: 2003-06-18
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Granted: 2005-06-21
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Expires: 2023-06-18
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method and apparatus to extend the signal range of a digital image beyond the nominal sensor or data format range. The method and apparatus automatically acquires a scaled series of source data, applies noise reduction to the source data, and constructs a scaled composite with usable signal ranges greater than that of the individual data sources. Applied to digital images, the invention permits presentation and analysis of all signals from a subject in a single composite or an image resulting from the method and apparatus of the present invention. The present invention overcomes two defects in prior art systems: increased noise in the resultant composite image arising from rescaling of component images and dependence on evaluating image content to determine image scaling. Because this invention can be automated, it can be applied in numerous fields requiring high throughput.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Watson, Jr.
- 👤 John J. Kang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/50; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/741
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of extending a signal range of a digital image, the method comprising: a. duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling is based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images and wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of extending a signal range of a digital image, the method comprising: a. duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling is based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images and wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving the digital image in a sensor and sending the digital image to a computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising outputting the sum of the plurality of noise reduced images to an output device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of noise reduced images includes a single noise reduced image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of duplicated digital images in each of the plurality of sources images is determined by 2 x , wherein x is equal to 0 for the source image having the highest gain value, and each successive source image will have a number of duplicate digital images according to 2 x+1 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein a user can set the highest gain value and the number of the plurality of source images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein when reducing the noise component in each of the plurality of source images, the computer averages each of the plurality of source images.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. means for duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means are based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images and wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. means for duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means are based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images and wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for receiving the digital image in a sensor and means for sending the digital image to a computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for outputting the sum of the plurality of noise reduced images to an output device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of noise reduced images includes a single noise reduced image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the predetermined number of duplicated digital images in each of the plurality of sources images is determined by 2 x , wherein x is equal to 0 for the source image having the highest gain value, and each successive source image will have a number of duplicate digital images according to 2 x+1 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein a user can set the highest gain value and the number of the plurality of source images.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein when the reducing means reduces the noise component in each of the plurality of source images, the computer averages each of the plurality of source images.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. a sensor configured for receiving the digital image from a subject; b. a computer coupled to the sensor, wherein the computer receives the digital image from the sensor and extends the signal range of the digital image; c. an output device coupled to the computer for receiving the digital image having the extended signal range, wherein the digital image is formed by generating a plurality of noise reduced images at gain values and performing a scaled addition of the noise reduced images based on the gain values; d. means for duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; e. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means are based upon the gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images, wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; f. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and g. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. a sensor configured for receiving the digital image from a subject; b. a computer coupled to the sensor, wherein the computer receives the digital image from the sensor and extends the signal range of the digital image; c. an output device coupled to the computer for receiving the digital image having the extended signal range, wherein the digital image is formed by generating a plurality of noise reduced images at gain values and performing a scaled addition of the noise reduced images based on the gain values; d. means for duplicating the digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; e. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means are based upon the gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images, wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; f. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and g. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a sensor assembly including the sensor, a sensor cooling device and a sensor control device, the sensor assembly similarly configured to receive the digital image form the subject.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a sensor filter and a lens coupled between the subject and the sensor configured to filter and focus the digital image before the digital image is received in the sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a transilluminator including an illumination source and a light filter, wherein the transilluminator is configured to provide illumination to the subject.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a subject holder movably coupled to the transilluminator, the subject holder configured to move the digital image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a data acquisition enclosure coupled to the computer, the data acquisition enclosure including the transilluminator, the subject, the sensor filter, the lens and the sensor assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means for receiving the digital image in a sensor and means for sending the digital image to a computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means for outputting the sum of the plurality of noise reduced images to an output device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of noise reduced images includes a single noise reduced image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the predetermined number of duplicated digital images in each of the plurality of sources images is determined by 2 x , wherein x is equal to 0 for the source image having the highest gain value, and each successive source image will have a number of duplicate digital images according to 2 x+1 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein a user can set the highest gain value and the number of the plurality of source images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein when the reducing means reduces the noise component in each of the plurality of source images, the computer averages each of the plurality of source images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sensor is a charge coupled device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sensor is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the output device is a video monitor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the output device is a printer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium bearing program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code including: a. means for duplicating a digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means is based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images, wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium bearing program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code including: a. means for duplicating a digital image such that a plurality of source images are formed, each of the source images including a predetermined number of the duplicated digital images; b. means for scaling each of the plurality of source images, wherein the scaling means is based upon a gain value assigned to each of the plurality of source images, wherein the gain value for each of the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and each successive gain value will have a value of 2 x−1 ; c. means for reducing a noise component in each of the plurality of source images, such that a plurality of noise reduced images are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of source images; and d. means for adding the plurality of noise reduced images.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for receiving the digital image in a sensor and means for sending the digital image to a computer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for outputting the sum of the plurality of noise reduced images to an output device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 31 wherein each of the plurality of noise reduced images includes a single noise reduced image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
64 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 31 wherein the predetermined number of duplicated digital images in each of the plurality of sources images is determined by 2 x , wherein x is equal to 0 for the source image having the highest gain value, and each successive source image will have a number of duplicate digital images according to 2 x+1 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 35 wherein a user can set the highest gain value and the number of the plurality of source images.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 31 wherein when the reducing means reduces the noise component in each of the plurality of source images, the computer averages each of the plurality of source images.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. a storage media for storing a computer application; b. a processing unit coupled to the storage media; and c. a user interface coupled to the processing unit such that a user can duplicate the digital image to form a plurality of source images at preselected gain values, reduce a noise component in each of the plurality of source images to form a plurality of noise reduced images and add the plurality of noise reduced images in a scaled addition process that scales the plurality of noise reduced images according to the preselected gain values wherein the preselected gain values for the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and successive preselected gain values have a value of 2 x−1 .
Claim 43
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for extending a signal range of a digital image, the apparatus comprising: a. a storage media for storing a computer application; b. a processing unit coupled to the storage media; and c. a user interface coupled to the processing unit such that a user can duplicate the digital image to form a plurality of source images at preselected gain values, reduce a noise component in each of the plurality of source images to form a plurality of noise reduced images and add the plurality of noise reduced images in a scaled addition process that scales the plurality of noise reduced images according to the preselected gain values wherein the preselected gain values for the plurality of source images is 2 x , such that the highest gain value will not exceed 2 x where x is an integer less than or equal to 10, and successive preselected gain values have a value of 2 x−1 .
Claim 44
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of extending a signal range of a digital image, the method comprising: a. collecting a plurality of source images at a plurality of preselected gain values; b. subjecting the groups of the plurality of source images to a noise reduction process that have the same preselected gain values to produce a plurality of corresponding noise reduced images; c. combining the plurality of noise reduced images in a scaled addition using a normalized gain function based on the preselected gain values corresponding to each of the noise reduced images to form a plurality of scaled noise reduce images and adding the plurality of scaled noise reduced images to produce a Super O.D. image.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of extending a signal range of a digital image, the method comprising: a. collecting a plurality of source images at a plurality of preselected gain values; b. subjecting the groups of the plurality of source images to a noise reduction process that have the same preselected gain values to produce a plurality of corresponding noise reduced images; c. combining the plurality of noise reduced images in a scaled addition using a normalized gain function based on the preselected gain values corresponding to each of the noise reduced images to form a plurality of scaled noise reduce images and adding the plurality of scaled noise reduced images to produce a Super O.D. image.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming a Super O.D. image, the method comprising: a. acquiring a plurality of digital source images at a range of gain values; b. performing a noise reduction on groups of the plurality digital source images acquired at the same gain values to form a corresponding plurality noise reduced digital images; c. scaling the each of the plurality of noise reduced digital images based their respective gain values to form a plurality of scaled noise reduced digital images; and d. adding the scaled noise reduced digital images to form the Super O.D. image.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming a Super O.D. image, the method comprising: a. acquiring a plurality of digital source images at a range of gain values; b. performing a noise reduction on groups of the plurality digital source images acquired at the same gain values to form a corresponding plurality noise reduced digital images; c. scaling the each of the plurality of noise reduced digital images based their respective gain values to form a plurality of scaled noise reduced digital images; and d. adding the scaled noise reduced digital images to form the Super O.D. image.
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