US7058234B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhancing the tonal, spatial, and color characteristics of digital images using expansive and compressive tone scale functions
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 2002-10-25
•
Granted: 2006-06-06
•
Expires: 2022-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of enhancing the tonal and spatial characteristics of a digital image includes receiving a source digital image wherein the source digital image is in a luminance-chrominance representation having a luminance digital image channel and at least two chrominance digital image channels; generating a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; and classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive. The method further includes using the tone scale function, a spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward B. Gindele
- 👤 Andrew C. Gallagher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/90; G06T5/92; G06T5/40; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/30; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and spatial characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels wherein the source digital image is in a luminance-chrominance representation having a luminance digital image channel and at least two chrominance digital image channels; b) generating a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function, a spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; and e) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and spatial characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels wherein the source digital image is in a luminance-chrominance representation having a luminance digital image channel and at least two chrominance digital image channels; b) generating a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function, a spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; and e) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: f) amplifying the spatial detail of the enhanced luminance digital image channel produced in step e) in response to the tone scale function to generate a spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step c) includes using a spatial filter and amplifying the spatial detail of the enhanced luminance digital image channel produced in step e) in response to the tone scale function to generate a spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the amplifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function and using the calculated slope in generating the spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the amplifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function and using the calculated slope in generating the spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step e) further includes modifying the chrominance digital image channels in accordance with the tone scale function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the modifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step e) further includes modifying the chrominance digital image channels in accordance with the tone scale function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the modifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: g) combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to generate an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and combining the spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to generate an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 using a sigmoid shaped rendering function independent of the source digital image and the enhanced digital image to generate a rendered digital image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to generate the tone scale function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to generate the tone scale function.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the tone scale function maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value and a different fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pixels of the source digital image have a logarithmic relationship to original scene intensities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tone scale function is manually controlled with at least one control parameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: h) generating the tone scale function having a highlight tone scale segment and a shadow tone scale segment defined relative to a reference point on the tone scale function, wherein: i) the highlight tone scale segment is defined by a different mathematical function than the shadow tone scale segment; ii) the highlight tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or greater than the reference point; and iii) the shadow tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or less than the reference point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 17 further including the steps of: iv) classifying the highlight tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; v) classifying the shadow tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; vi) classifying the tone scale function as compressive when either the highlight or shadow tone scale segment has been classified as compressive and classifying the tone scale function as expansive when both the highlight and shadow tone scale segment have been classified as expansive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are each equal at the reference point.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are unequal at the reference point.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the tone scale function has an inflection point at the reference point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the reference point is calculated using the pixels of the source digital image.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and spatial characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels wherein the source digital image is in a luminance-chrominance representation having a luminance digital image channel and at least two chrominance digital image channels; b) generating a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of three categories wherein the classification categories include expansive, compressive, and mixed expansive-compressive; d) using the tone scale function, a first spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; e) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive; and f) using the tone scale function, the first or another spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as mixed expansive-compressive and amplifying the spatial detail of the enhanced luminance digital image channel in response to the tone scale function to generate a spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and spatial characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels wherein the source digital image is in a luminance-chrominance representation having a luminance digital image channel and at least two chrominance digital image channels; b) generating a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of three categories wherein the classification categories include expansive, compressive, and mixed expansive-compressive; d) using the tone scale function, a first spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; e) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive; and f) using the tone scale function, the first or another spatial filter, and the luminance digital image channel to generate an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as mixed expansive-compressive and amplifying the spatial detail of the enhanced luminance digital image channel in response to the tone scale function to generate a spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the amplifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function and using the calculated slope in generating the spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23 wherein step f) further includes modifying the chrominance digital image channels in accordance with the tone scale function.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the modifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein step e) further includes modifying the chrominance digital image channels in accordance with the tone scale function.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the modifying step includes calculating the slope of the tone scale function.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 23 further including the steps of; i) combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to generate an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; ii) combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to generate an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive; and iii) combining the spatially enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to generate an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as mixed expansive-compressive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 using a sigmoid shaped rendering function independent of the source digital image and the enhanced digital image to generate a rendered digital image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to generate the tone scale function.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to generate the tone scale function.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the tone scale function maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value and a different fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the pixels of the source digital image have a logarithmic relationship to original scene intensities.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the tone scale function is manually controlled with at least one control parameter.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 23 further including the steps of: g) generating the tone scale function having a highlight tone scale segment and a shadow tone scale segment defined relative to a reference point on the tone scale function, wherein: i) the highlight tone scale segment is defined by a different mathematical function than the shadow tone scale segment; ii) the highlight tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or greater than the reference point; and iii) the shadow tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or less than the reference point.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 36 further including the steps of: iv) classifying the highlight tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; v) classifying the shadow tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; vi) classifying the tone scale function as compressive when both the highlight and shadow tone scale segments have been classified as compressive, classifying the tone scale function as expansive when both the highlight and shadow tone scale segment have been classified as expansive, and classifying the tone scale function as mixed expansive-compressive when only one of the highlight or shadow tone scale segments have been classified as expansive.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are each equal at the reference point.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are unequal at the reference point.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the tone scale function has an inflection point at the reference point.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the reference point is calculated using the pixels of the source digital image.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 36 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to generate a histogram and using the histogram to generate the highlight tone scale segment.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the highlight tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 36 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to generate a histogram and using the histogram to generate the shadow tone scale segment.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 43 wherein the shadow tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of claim 1 .
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of claim 23 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0377386A2
Cited
US6285798B1
Cited
US6317521B1
Cited
EP1005223A2
Cited
US6167165A
Cited
EP1017229A2
Cited
EP1017241A2
Cited
US6408103B1
Cited
EP1024454A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-06-05 | 2009-12-05 | 2010-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-06-05 | 2013-12-05 | 2014-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-06-05 | 2017-12-05 | 2018-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |