US7274491B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2003-02-20
•
Granted: 2007-09-25
•
Expires: 2023-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Upon outputting halftone image data to an output device, density transformation is prevalently done to improve image quality. Density transformation corresponds to linear gamma correction, and cannot correct any color fog and the like of a photo image. Hence, lightness/color difference information of halftone image data is acquired on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components, and a lightness/color difference transform amount of the halftone image data is set on the basis of the acquired lightness/color difference information.
Inventors
- 👤 Akitoshi Yamada
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Masao Kato
- 👤 Fumitaka Goto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6077; H04N1/608; H04N1/6027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an extractor, arranged to extract a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; a determiner, arranged to determine an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an extractor, arranged to extract a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; a determiner, arranged to determine an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said determiner determines whether the lightness and color-difference information is acquired from low-frequency components of the frequency data or from the frequency data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said extractor extracts the feature amount for each unit data of the frequency data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said determiner determines whether the lightness and color-difference information is acquired from low-frequency components of the frequency data or from the unit data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the feature amount is at least one of an end position of the unit data, a size of the unit data, a value of a predetermined element contained in the unit data, and an accumulated value, maximum value, and minimum value of elements within a predetermined range contained in the unit data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the feature amount is at least one of sizes and the numbers of pixels of the tone data and the frequency data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; a determiner, arranged to determine based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; a determiner, arranged to determine based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data, corresponds to remainder pixels; a determiner, arranged to determine an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information from the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data, corresponds to remainder pixels; a determiner, arranged to determine an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information from the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said determiner determines whether the lightness and color-difference information is acquired from low-frequency components of the unit data or from the unit data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data, corresponds to remainder pixels; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information from low-frequency components of the unit data, and weight the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decider, arranged to decide whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data, corresponds to remainder pixels; an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information from low-frequency components of the unit data, and weight the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an extractor, arranged to extract a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; a modulator, arranged to modulate lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: an extractor, arranged to extract a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; a modulator, arranged to modulate lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said modulator distributes the acquired lightness and color-difference information to a predetermined range by weighting the information by a predetermined weight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a converter arranged to perform lightness and color-difference transformation of low-frequency components of the frequency data on the basis of the set lightness and color-difference transform amount.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; acquiring lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; acquiring lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low-frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low-frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data corresponds to remainder pixels; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, and weighting the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data corresponds to remainder pixels; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, and weighting the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; modulating lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; modulating lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: extracting a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; acquiring lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: extracting a feature amount of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; acquiring lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data from the frequency data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which is not contained in the halftone image data; determining based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which is not contained in the halftone image data; determining based on the decision result whether or not lightness and color-difference information is acquired from the unit data; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, acquisition of the lightness and color-difference information from which is determined; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable and medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable and medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data which corresponds to remainder pixels; determining an acquisition method of lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low the unit data in accordance with the determination result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data corresponds to remainder pixels; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, and weighting the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness/color difference information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable medium and having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: deciding whether or not unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components contains data corresponds to remainder pixels; acquiring lightness and color-difference information from low frequency components of the unit data, and weighting the acquired lightness and color-difference information on the basis of the decision result; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the weighted lightness/color difference information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; modulating lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: extracting a feature amount of unit data of frequency data obtained by transforming halftone image data into spatial frequency components; modulating lightness and color-difference information of the halftone image data acquired from low-frequency components in the unit data on the basis of the extracted feature amount; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the modulated lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
84 words
An image processing apparatus for processing an image stored in an attached memory card or an image received from a digital camera, comprising: an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
84 words
An image processing apparatus for processing an image stored in an attached memory card or an image received from a digital camera, comprising: an obtaining section, arranged to acquire lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and a setter, arranged to set a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
75 words
An image processing method for processing an image stored in an attached memory card or an image received from a digital camera, comprising: acquiring lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
75 words
An image processing method for processing an image stored in an attached memory card or an image received from a digital camera, comprising: acquiring lightness and color-difference information of halftone image data on the basis of low-frequency components of frequency data obtained by transforming the halftone image data into spatial frequency components; and setting a lightness and color-difference transform amount of the halftone image data on the basis of the acquired lightness and color-difference information.
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