EP0260144A2
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Method for generating variably scaled displays
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-09-10
Abstract
Abstract Portions of an image generated on an electronic display device are magnified for closer examination while other areas are compressed so that no material is lost from the total viewing area. To achieve this, the image is divided into segments with some assigned scaling functions having values greater than one and others assigned scaling functions having values less than one in a manner such that the mean value of the scaling functions across the screen is one. A transformation function is generated for each segment as a function of the assigned scaling functions. Each image point is then transformed using the appropriate transformation function and a rescaled image is generated from the rescaled image points. The variably scaled image can be generated on a touch screen device such that an area to be magnified can be designated by touching the screen at the desired location and the value of the scaling function can be set as a function of the length of time that the screen is touched.
Inventors
- 👤 William Walter Ramage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/04; G06T3/047; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of variably scaling an image composed of a plurality of image points for display within a display area of fixed dimensions, without altering the boundaries of the total image area displayed characterized by the steps of: dividing the total image into image area segments, assigning a scaling function to each image area segment, said scaling functions being assigned such that the scaling function values in at least one segment are greater than one and the scaling function values in at least another segment are smaller than one, but the mean scaling function value over the total image area is equal to one in all directions, generating a transformation function for each image area segment as a function of the associated scaling functions, transforming image points for each image area segment in accordance with the associated transformation function, and generating on said display device a rescaled image utilizing the transformed image points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of variably scaling an image composed of a plurality of image points for display within a display area of fixed dimensions, without altering the boundaries of the total image area displayed characterized by the steps of: dividing the total image into image area segments, assigning a scaling function to each image area segment, said scaling functions being assigned such that the scaling function values in at least one segment are greater than one and the scaling function values in at least another segment are smaller than one, but the mean scaling function value over the total image area is equal to one in all directions, generating a transformation function for each image area segment as a function of the associated scaling functions, transforming image points for each image area segment in accordance with the associated transformation function, and generating on said display device a rescaled image utilizing the transformed image points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 1 characterized by the step of dividing the total image area into image area segments including dividing the total image area into a first image area segment which is to be magnified and at least a second image area segment which is to be compressed and wherein the step of assigning scaling functions includes assigning a first scaling function having values greater than one to said first image area segment and assigning a second scaling function having values less than one to said second image area segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 characterized by the first scaling function assigned to said first image area segment being a constant over the entire segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 characterized by the size of the first image area segment being selected as an inverse function of the magnitude of the first scaling function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 4 characterized by the size of said first image area segment being selected relative to said first scaling function such that the area covered by the first image area segment when magnified is a constant for all values of said first scaling function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 characterized by including the step of providing means for selecting said first scaling function which thereby determines the size of said first image area segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 3 characterized by the step of selecting said first image area segment including selecting a circular image area segment and wherein the step of selecting a scaling function for the second image area includes selecting a scaling function which varies as a function of the radial distance from the center of the circular first image area segment to the edge of said total image area for all angular positions around said first circular image area segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 characterized by the radius of the circular first image area segment being selected as an inverse function of the magnitude of the first scaling function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 8 characterized by the radius of the first image area segment being selected relative to said first scaling function to maintain the radius of the first image area segment when magnified by the first scaling function at a preselected constant value such that the radius of the first image area segment is selected by selection of the first magnification function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 characterized by the step of selecting said circular first image area segment including selecting the location of the center thereof and selecting the desired first scaling function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 characterized by said display being generated on a touch screen and said circular first image area segment being selected by touching said touch screen at the desired location of the center thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11 characterized by the value of said first scaling function being selected as a function of the length of time that the touch screen is touched to select the location of the center of the first image area segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 2 characterized by said first scaling function, which has a value greater than one, being a constant over the entire first image area segment; said step of dividing the total image area into a first, and at least a second image area segment including dividing the total image area into a first, a second and a third image area segment with said third image area segment surrounding said first image area segment; and said step of assigning scaling functions including assigning a scaling function to said third image area segment which has a mean value between the values of said first and second scaling functions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 13 characterized by said total image area being divided into a circular first image area segment, a ring shaped third image area segment concentric with and adjacent to said first image area segment and a second image area segment which surrounds the third image area segment, and said second and third scaling functions assigned to said second and third image area segments respectively being functions of the radial distance between the center of the circular first image area segment and the edge of the total image area for all angular positions around said first image area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 characterized by said step of generating scaling functions for each image area segment being limited to generating scaling functions which vary in only one Cartesian coordinate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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