US7167597B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program and storage medium
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 2002-10-15
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Granted: 2007-01-23
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Expires: 2022-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus includes a determination part, an information obtaining part, a dynamic range setting part and a processing part. The determination part determines whether or not an image includes an area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous. The information obtaining part obtains information of the area when the determination part determines that the image includes such an area. The dynamic range setting part sets a dynamic range using the information obtained by the information obtaining part. The processing part performs the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set by the dynamic range setting part.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuki Matsushima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/741; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; H04N1/4074; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4318; H04N23/71; H04N23/76; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; a dynamic range setting part that sets a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by said information obtaining part; and a processing part that performs the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set by said dynamic range setting part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; a dynamic range setting part that sets a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by said information obtaining part; and a processing part that performs the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set by said dynamic range setting part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dynamic range setting part uses color information of the 2-dimensional area at least for setting a highlight point of the dynamic range, said color information being obtained by the information obtaining part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of the gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous is an image area corresponding to a relatively bright range when the image is described by information representing distribution of brightness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of the gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous is an image area corresponding to a brightest range when the image is described by information representing distribution of brightness and a distribution range is divided into at least two ranges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining part does not include information of the area having luminance equal to or more than a predetermined value and having chroma equal to or less than a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining part does not include information of an image area constituting an edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the determination part determines a characteristic of the image by histogram analysis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the determination part analyzes header information attached to the image for the determination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a determination result of the determination part is given by an operator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a detection part that distinguishes a background area from an object area in an image and detects the brightness of each of the background and object areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
An image processing method, comprising: (a) determining whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (b) obtaining information of the 2-dimensional area when it is determined, in the step (a), that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (c) setting a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained in the step (b); and (d) performing the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set in the step (c).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
An image processing method, comprising: (a) determining whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (b) obtaining information of the 2-dimensional area when it is determined, in the step (a), that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (c) setting a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained in the step (b); and (d) performing the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set in the step (c).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image processing method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising: distinguishing a background area from an object area in an image to detect the brightness of each of the background and object areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The image processing method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein, in setting a dynamic range, the color information of the 2-dimensional area is used at least for setting a highlight point of the dynamic range, the color information being obtained as a part of the information of the 2-dimensional area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to carry out an imaging process comprising the procedures of: (a) causing the computer to determine whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (b) causing the computer to obtain information of the 2-dimensional area when it is determined, in the procedure (a), that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (c) causing the computer to set a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained in the procedure (b); and (d) causing the computer to perform the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set in the procedure (c).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to carry out an imaging process comprising the procedures of: (a) causing the computer to determine whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (b) causing the computer to obtain information of the 2-dimensional area when it is determined, in the procedure (a), that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; (c) causing the computer to set a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained in the procedure (b); and (d) causing the computer to perform the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set in the procedure (c).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; and an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous, wherein the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining art does not include information of the 2-dimensional area having chroma equal to or less than a predetermined value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
100 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; and an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous, wherein the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining art does not include information of the 2-dimensional area having chroma equal to or less than a predetermined value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining part further does not include information of the 2-dimensional area having luminance equal to or more than predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising: a dynamic range setting part that sets a dynamic range using the information of the 2-dimensional area obtained by said information obtaining part; and a processing part that performs the contrast correction on the image using the dynamic range set by said dynamic range setting part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; and an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous, wherein the information of the two-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining part does not include information of an image area constituting an edge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination part that determines whether or not an image includes a 2-dimensional area where destruction of gradation due to contrast correction tends to be conspicuous; and an information obtaining part that obtains information of the 2-dimensional area when said determination part determines that the image includes the 2-dimensional area where the destruction of gradation due to the contrast correction tends to be conspicuous, wherein the information of the two-dimensional area obtained by the information obtaining part does not include information of an image area constituting an edge.
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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) | 2010-01-22 | 2010-07-24 | 2011-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-22 | 2014-07-24 | 2015-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-22 | 2018-07-24 | 2019-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |