US8744209B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 5.9 years remaining
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2012-10-03
•
Granted: 2014-06-03
•
Expires: 2032-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program, visually remove low-frequency noise contained in image data. Image data containing low-frequency noise is input from an input terminal. A window unit designates a window made up of a pixel of interest, and its surrounding pixels. A pixel selector selects a selected pixel to be compared with the pixel of interest from the window, and a pixel value determination unit determines a new pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of the pixel values of the selected pixel and pixel of interest. New image data is generated by substituting the pixel value of the pixel of interest by the new pixel value.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobutaka Miyake
- 👤 Minoru Kusakabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/70; G06T5/20; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises: a selection unit configured to select a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected by the selection unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises: a selection unit configured to select a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected by the selection unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest using the pixel value of the selected pixel selected by the selection unit in case that a difference between the pixel value of the pixel of interest and the pixel value of the selected pixel by the selection unit is not more than a threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest by substituting the pixel value of the selected pixel selected by the selection unit for the pixel value of the pixel of interest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: a signal strengths control unit configured to control the signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in the low frequency range of the image data; wherein the signal strengths control unit controls the threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the broad band noise is white noise.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: a band width control unit configured to control a band width of the broad band noise, wherein the band width control unit controls a region where the pixel to be selected by the selection unit exists.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel value is represented in a luminance-color difference space and includes at least a luminance component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest using the pixel value of the selected pixel selected by the selection unit in case that the difference between the pixel value of the pixel of interest and the pixel value of the selected pixel by the selection unit is not more than a threshold, and wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest so that the luminance component of the pixel value of the pixel of interest is limited not to exceed a second threshold which is less than the threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest by substituting the pixel value of the selected pixel by the selection unit for the pixel value of the pixel of interest.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the broad band noise is white noise.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising: a band width control unit configured to control a band width of the broad band noise, wherein the band width control unit controls a region where the pixel to be selected by the selection unit exists.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pixel value is represented in a luminance-color difference space and includes at least a luminance component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the broad band noise is white noise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a band width control unit configured to control a band width of the broad band noise, wherein the band width control unit controls a region where the pixel to be selected by the selection unit exists.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the selection unit selects the pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data based on a random number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel value is represented in a luminance-color difference space and includes at least a luminance component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest using an approximate color value which is approximate to the pixel value of the selected pixel selected by the selection unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest using the pixel value of the selected pixel selected by the selection unit in case that the difference between the pixel value of the pixel of interest and the pixel value of the selected pixel by the selection unit is not more than a threshold, and wherein the determining unit determines the pixel value of the pixel of interest so that the luminance component of the pixel value of the pixel of interest is limited not to exceed a second threshold which is less than the threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for controlling a computer to function as respective units of the image processing apparatus of claim 1 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image processing method of visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises: a selection step of selecting a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected in the selection step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image processing method of visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises: a selection step of selecting a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected in the selection step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting the noise components, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises: a selection unit configured to select a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected by the selection unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting the noise components, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises: a selection unit configured to select a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected by the selection unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image processing method of visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting the noise components, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises: a selection step of selecting a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected in the selection step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image processing method of visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting the noise components, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises: a selection step of selecting a pixel from the surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest in the image data; and a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest using a pixel value of the pixel selected in the selection step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest based on at least one of the surrounding pixels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image processing apparatus for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting unit configured to input image data; and a processing unit configured to reduce correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing unit comprises a determining unit configured to determine a pixel value of the pixel of interest based on at least one of the surrounding pixels.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the pixel value is represented in a luminance-color difference space and includes at least a luminance component.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for controlling a computer to function as respective units of the image processing apparatus of claim 23 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image processing method for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest based on at least one of the surrounding pixels.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image processing method for visually reducing noise components contained in a low frequency range of image data, comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data; and a processing step of reducing correlations between a pixel of interest in the image data and surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest, performing a process of converting signal strengths, being reduced due to the reduction of the correlations, of noise components contained in a low frequency range of the image data into broad band noise, wherein the processing step comprises a determining step of determining a pixel value of the pixel of interest based on at least one of the surrounding pixels.
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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) | 2017-06-02 | 2017-12-02 | 2018-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2021-06-02 | 2021-12-02 | 2022-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2025-06-02 | 2025-12-02 | 2026-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |