US7289154B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital image processing method and apparatus for brightness adjustment of digital images
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 2002-03-22
•
Granted: 2007-10-30
•
Expires: 2022-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward B. Gindele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/90; G06T5/94; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 95
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; b) generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; b) generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: employing the brightness balance value to control the exposure in a camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the camera is a photographic film camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the camera is a digital camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the amount of light received in the camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method claimed in claim 5 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to control the size of an aperture or the speed of a shutter in the camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the amount of light received in the digital camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: employing the brightness balance value to control the exposure in a photographic printer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the amount of light in the photographic printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method claimed in claim 8 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to control the size of an aperture or the speed of a shutter in the photographic printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: employing the brightness balance value to adjust a balance of the digital image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of first producing a lower resolution version of the digital image, processing the lower resolution digital image to produce the brightness balance value, and employing the brightness balance value to process a higher resolution version of the digital image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein the balance of the digital image is adjusted by employing a LUT that is generated based on the brightness balance value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of attaching the brightness balance value to the digital image as meta data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is a function of one or more gradient pixel values each calculated using the difference between two or more said pixels in the local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method claimed in claim 15 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated by first calculating a set of said gradient pixel values in the local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel, and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method claimed in claim 16 , wherein said calculating of each said gradient pixel value further comprises taking the absolute value of the difference between a center said pixel and each of the neighboring said pixels in the local neighborhood and said selecting further comprises selecting the minimum of said gradient pixel values.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method claimed in claim 16 , wherein said calculating of said plurality of said gradient pixel values further comprises generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pairs of said pixels of the local neighborhood in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pairs of said pixels of the local neighborhood in a vertical direction, and said selecting further comprises selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method claimed in claim 16 , wherein said calculating of said plurality of said gradient pixel values further comprises generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pairs of said pixels of the local neighborhood in a vertical and a horizontal direction and said selecting further comprises selecting one of the maximum, minimum, and median value of the set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method claimed in claim 15 , wherein said calculating of each said gradient pixel value further comprises determining the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the local neighborhood.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 21 , wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated from a luminance component of the digital image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method claimed in claim 23 , further comprising the step of applying a logarithmic transform to the luminance component prior to calculating the spatial activity measure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by: calculating each of a set of gradient pixel values, wherein the gradient pixel values are calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between a center pixel in the local neighborhood and neighboring pixels; and selecting the minimum gradient pixel value.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by: calculating each of a set of gradient pixel values, wherein the gradient pixel values are calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between a center pixel in the local neighborhood and neighboring pixels; and selecting the minimum gradient pixel value.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical direction, and selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical direction, and selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical and a horizontal direction and selecting the median value in the set.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pixels in a vertical and a horizontal direction and selecting the median value in the set.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by: calculating each of a set of gradient pixel values, wherein the gradient pixel value is calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the local neighborhood; and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the spatial activity measure is calculated by: calculating each of a set of gradient pixel values, wherein the gradient pixel value is calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the local neighborhood; and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image; and wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image; and wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: a) calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 1 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 2 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 3 .
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 4 .
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 8 .
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 11 .
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 15 .
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 16 .
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 26 .
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 27 .
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 28 .
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 29 .
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 21 .
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 30 .
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 31 .
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 5 .
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 6 .
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 7 .
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 9 .
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 10 .
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 12 .
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 13 .
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 14 .
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 23 .
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of claim 24 .
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: means for calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; means for generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating means as a function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and means for applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: means for calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; means for generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating means as a function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and means for applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein the apparatus is employed in a camera to control the exposure using the brightness balance value.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 58 , wherein the camera is a photographic film camera.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 58 , wherein the camera is a digital camera.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 60 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the light received in the digital camera.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 58 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the amount of light received in the camera.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 62 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to control the size of an aperture or the speed of a shutter in the camera.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein the apparatus is employed in a photographic printer to control the exposure using the brightness balance value.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 64 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to adjust the light in the photographic printer.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 65 , wherein the brightness balance value is employed to control the size of an aperture or speed of a shutter in the photographic printer.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein the apparatus is employed in image processing apparatus to adjust a balance of the digital image using the brightness balance value.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 67 , further comprising means for first producing a lower resolution version of the digital image, processing the lower resolution digital image to produce the brightness balance value, and employing the brightness balance value to process a higher resolution version of the digital image.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 67 , wherein the balance of the digital image is adjusted by employing a LUT that is generated based on the brightness balance value.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 67 , further comprising means for attaching the brightness balance value to the digital image as meta data.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is a function of one or more gradient pixel values, each said gradient pixel value being calculated using the difference between two or more pixels in the local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 71 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated by first calculating a set of said gradient pixel values in the local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel, and selecting one of the gradient pixel values from the set based on a predetermined criterion.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 72 , wherein the gradient pixel values are calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between a center said pixel in the respective said local neighborhood and neighboring said pixels of the respective said local neighborhood and said selecting further comprises selecting the minimum gradient pixel value.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 72 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a horizontal gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels of the respective said local neighborhood in a horizontal direction, and a vertical gradient pixel value formed as the sum of absolute values of differences between pixels of the respective said local neighborhood in a vertical direction, and said selecting further comprises selecting the lower of the horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 72 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated by generating a set of horizontal and vertical gradient pixel values formed as the absolute values of differences between pixels of the respective said local neighborhood in a vertical and a horizontal direction and selecting the median value in the set.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 71 , wherein each said gradient pixel value is calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum pixel values in the respective said local neighborhood.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 57 , wherein each said spatial activity measure is calculated from a luminance component of the digital image.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 78 , further comprising the step of applying a logarithmic transform to the luminance component prior to calculating the spatial activity measure.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: a) means for calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) means for generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) means for applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image; and wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: a) means for calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) means for generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) means for applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the weighting factor is a further function of the location of the local neighborhood within the digital image; and wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: a) means for calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) means for generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) means for applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising: a) means for calculating a spatial activity measure in a plurality of local neighborhoods of pixels of the digital image, each local neighborhood including a plurality of pixels; b) means for generating a weighting factor for each of the local neighborhoods of pixels as a function of the spatial activity of the local neighborhoods of pixels, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and c) means for applying the weighting factors to the pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value; wherein the function of spatial activity is a gamma function obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 92
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a function of the respective spatial activity measure and as a further function of the location of the respective local neighborhood within the digital image, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value, wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 93
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a function of the respective spatial activity measure and as a further function of the location of the respective local neighborhood within the digital image, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value, wherein the further function is a Gaussian weighting function.
Claim 94
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a gamma function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value, wherein said gamma function is obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
Claim 95
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of calculating a brightness balance value for a digital image including a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: calculating for each respective pixel of said plurality, a respective spatial activity measure of a local neighborhood of pixels about the respective pixel; generating a weighting factor for each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels, thereby generating weighting factors, each weighting factor being generated by the generating step as a gamma function of the respective spatial activity measure, the weighting factors having more than two possible values; and applying the weighting factors to each respective pixel of said plurality of pixels of the digital image to produce the brightness balance value, wherein said gamma function is obtained by integrating a Gaussian function.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4394078A
Cited
US4984013A
Cited
US5016043A
Cited
US5960102A
Cited
US5724456A
Cited
US5574764A
Cited
US5802203A
Cited
US5818975A
Cited
US6243133B1
Cited
US6724937B1
Cited
US6175659B1
Cited
US6640017B1
Cited
US6633670B1
Cited
US6636646B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-10-29 | 2011-04-30 | 2011-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-10-29 | 2015-04-30 | 2015-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-10-29 | 2019-04-30 | 2019-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |