US7130485B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of digital images using expansive and compressive tone scale functions
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 2002-10-02
•
Granted: 2006-10-31
•
Expires: 2022-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of enhancing the tonal and chrominance characteristics of a digital image, includes receiving a source digital image including 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; producing a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tonal characteristics of the source digital image; classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel; and amplifying the chrominance digital image channels to produce modified chrominance digital channels 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 12:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/90; G06T5/92; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6002; H04N1/6005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and chrominance 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) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel; and e) amplifying the chrominance digital image channels to produce modified chrominance digital channels when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and chrominance 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) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel; and e) amplifying the chrominance digital image channels to produce modified chrominance digital channels when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step e) further includes the steps of: i) calculating a corresponding slope function for the tone scale function; and ii) using the corresponding slope function to amplify the pixels values of the chrominance digital image channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein step e) further includes the steps of: calculating a chrominance amplification factor for each pixel of the source digital image by evaluating the corresponding the slope function; and using the color weighting factors to amplify the pixel values of the chrominance digital image channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive and combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the modified chrominance digital image channels to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 using a sigmoid shaped rendering function independent of the source digital image and the enhanced digital image to produce a rendered digital image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce the tone scale function.
Claim 8
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 produce the tone scale function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the tone scale function maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density and a different fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a second paper density.
Claim 10
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 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tone scale function is manually controlled with at least one control parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: producing 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 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 11 further including the steps of: i) classifying the highlight tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; ii) classifying the shadow tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; iii) 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 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are each equal at the reference point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are unequal at the reference point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the tone scale function has an inflection point at the reference point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the reference point is calculated using the pixels of the source digital image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the highlight tone scale segment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the highlight tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the shadow tone scale segment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the shadow tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined density.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels; b) producing a 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, and that is adapted to operate on the source digital image to improve its tonal characteristics, wherein: i) the highlight tone scale segment is defined by a different mathematical function than the shadow tone scale segment and is defined for points that are equal to or greater than the reference point; and ii) the shadow tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or less than the reference point; and c) classifying the tone scale function into two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are identical to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; and using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are amplified relative to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image including a plurality of pixels; b) producing a 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, and that is adapted to operate on the source digital image to improve its tonal characteristics, wherein: i) the highlight tone scale segment is defined by a different mathematical function than the shadow tone scale segment and is defined for points that are equal to or greater than the reference point; and ii) the shadow tone scale segment is defined for points that are equal to or less than the reference point; and c) classifying the tone scale function into two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are identical to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive; and using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are amplified relative to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of enhancing the tonal 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 a color digital image having pixels of at least three colors; b) producing 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 two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are identical to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are amplified relative to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of enhancing the tonal 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 a color digital image having pixels of at least three colors; b) producing 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 two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are identical to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and using the tone scale function and the source digital image to produce an enhanced luminance digital image wherein the chrominance characteristics of the enhanced digital image are amplified relative to the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image having a plurality of digital image channels corresponding to different colors wherein each digital image channel includes a plurality of pixels; b) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) transforming the source digital image into a luminance-chrominance digital image having a luminance digital image channel and two or more chrominance digital image channels, and using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and applying the tone scale function directly to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image having a plurality of digital image channels corresponding to different colors wherein each digital image channel includes a plurality of pixels; b) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) transforming the source digital image into a luminance-chrominance digital image having a luminance digital image channel and two or more chrominance digital image channels, and using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and applying the tone scale function directly to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 using a sigmoid shaped rendering function independent of the source digital image and the enhanced digital image to produce a rendered digital image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce the tone scale function.
Claim 31
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 produce the tone scale function.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the tone scale function maps a first fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined first paper density and a second fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined second paper density.
Claim 33
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 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the tone scale function is manually controlled with at least one control parameter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 23 further including the steps of: producing 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 36
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 31 further including the steps of: i) classifying the highlight tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; ii) classifying the shadow tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; iii) 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 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are each equal at the reference point.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are unequal at the reference point.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the tone scale function has an inflection point at the reference point.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the reference point is calculated using the pixels of the source digital image.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 31 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the highlight tone scale segment.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the highlight tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined density.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 37 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the shadow tone scale segment.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the shadow tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and chrominance 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) producing a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tone characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and transforming the source digital image into a multi-color digital image having a plurality of digital image channels each corresponding to a different color and using the tone scale function and the multi-color digital image to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and chrominance 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) producing a tone scale function that can be used to enhance the tone characteristics of the source digital image; c) classifying the tone scale function into one of two or more categories based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; d) using the tone scale function and the luminance digital image channel to produce an enhanced luminance digital image channel when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and transforming the source digital image into a multi-color digital image having a plurality of digital image channels each corresponding to a different color and using the tone scale function and the multi-color digital image to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 41 further including the step of combining the enhanced luminance digital image channel and the chrominance digital image channels to produce an enhanced digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 42 using a sigmoid shaped rendering function independent of the source digital image and the enhanced digital image to produce a rendered digital image.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 41 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce the tone scale function.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 41 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the tone scale function.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the tone scale function maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density and a second fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a second paper density.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the pixels of the source digital image have a logarithmic relationship to original scene intensities.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the tone scale function is manually controlled with at least one control parameter.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 41 further including the steps of: producing 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 55
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 49 further including the steps of: i) classifying the highlight tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; ii) classifying the shadow tone scale segment as either expansive or compressive; iii) 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 56
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are each equal at the reference point.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the slopes of the highlight and shadow tone scale segments are unequal at the reference point.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the tone scale function has an inflection point at the reference point.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the reference point is calculated using the pixels of the source digital image.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 49 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the highlight tone scale segment.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 55 wherein the highlight tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 55 further including the step of using the pixels of the source digital image to produce a histogram and using the histogram to produce the shadow tone scale segment.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 57 wherein the shadow tone scale segment maps a fixed percentile of the histogram to a predetermined output value relating to a predetermined paper density.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image having a plurality of digital image channels wherein each digital image channel includes a plurality of pixels; b) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; and d) producing an enhanced digital image by applying the tone scale function to exactly one digital image channel derived from the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and applying the tone scale function to each of a plurality of digital image channels derived from the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of enhancing the tonal and color characteristics of a digital image, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source digital image having a plurality of digital image channels wherein each digital image channel includes a plurality of pixels; b) producing 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 based on the effect the tone scale function will have on the numerical range of pixel values of a processed digital image wherein the classification categories include expansive and compressive; and d) producing an enhanced digital image by applying the tone scale function to exactly one digital image channel derived from the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as compressive, and applying the tone scale function to each of a plurality of digital image channels derived from the source digital image when the tone scale function has been classified as expansive.
Claim 66
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 67
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 21 .
Claim 68
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 22 .
Claim 69
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 .
Claim 70
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 41 .
Claim 71
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 59 .
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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) | 2009-10-30 | 2010-05-01 | 2010-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | 2014-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-10-30 | 2018-05-01 | 2018-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |