Patent EP0206853A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5335086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and apparatus for eliminating pin holes
Assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-11-22
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2011-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A target region and a pin hole size are specified in a block copy image, which is divided into plural separate regions. The size of each separate region in the target region is calculated and compared with the pin hole size. The separate region smaller than the pin hole size is extracted as a possible pin hole area and filled with the color of its surrounding area, thereby the pin holes are eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideaki Kitamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising the steps of: (a) specifying a pin hole size; (b) dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; (c) calculating the size of each separate region; (d) comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and (e) filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said step (c) comprising the step (c-1) of counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising the steps of: (a) specifying a pin hole size; (b) dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; (c) calculating the size of each separate region; (d) comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and (e) filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said step (c) comprising the step (c-1) of counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the image data comprises run length data representing the linework image, and said step (c-1) comprises the step of accumulating run length of each separate region to obtain said number of pixels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said step (e) comprises the step of: (e-1) changing color data in said run length data representing each possible pin hole area to have a value representing said color of the surrounding separate region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the step of: (f) displaying said linework image on a display means, and specifying a subject region to be processed in said linework image displayed on the display means prior to said step (b).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising the steps of: (a) specifying a pin hole size; (b) dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; (c) calculating the size of each separate region; (d) comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and (e) filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said step (e) comprising the steps of: (e-1) filling said possible pin hole area with a specific color distinct from colors of the other separate regions, and displaying said linework image on display means; (e-2) determining whether or not said possible pin hole area is to be filled with the color of the surrounding separate region; and (e-3) filling said possible pin hole area with the color of the surrounding separate region according to the determination at said step (e-2).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising the steps of: (a) specifying a pin hole size; (b) dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; (c) calculating the size of each separate region; (d) comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and (e) filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said step (e) comprising the steps of: (e-1) filling said possible pin hole area with a specific color distinct from colors of the other separate regions, and displaying said linework image on display means; (e-2) determining whether or not said possible pin hole area is to be filled with the color of the surrounding separate region; and (e-3) filling said possible pin hole area with the color of the surrounding separate region according to the determination at said step (e-2).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step (c) comprises the step of: (c-1) counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein: the image data comprises run length data representing said linework image, and said step (c-1) comprises the step of accumulating run length of each separate region to obtain said number of pixels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said step (e-3) comprises the step of: (e-4) changing color data in said run length data representing each possible pin hole area to have a value representing said color of the surrounding separate region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of: (f) displaying said linework image on a display means, and specifying a subject region to be processed in said linework image displayed on the display means prior to said step (b).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising: display means for displaying said linework image; input means for specifying a pin hole size; dividing means for dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; computation means for calculating the size of each separate region; comparing means for comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and filling means for filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said computation means comprising counting means for counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising: display means for displaying said linework image; input means for specifying a pin hole size; dividing means for dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; computation means for calculating the size of each separate region; comparing means for comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and filling means for filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said computation means comprising counting means for counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein: the image data comprises run length data representing the linework image; and said counting means comprises means for accumulating run length of each separate region to obtain said number of pixels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said filling means comprises: means for changing color data in said run length data representing each possible pin hole area to have a value representing said color of the surrounding separate region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: means for specifying a subject region to be processed in said linework image displayed on said display means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising: display means for displaying said linework image; input means for specifying a pin hole size; dividing means for dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; computation means for calculating the size of each separate region; comparing means for comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and filling means for filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said filling means comprises (a) first means for filling said possible pin hole area with a specific color distinct from colors of the other separate regions, and displaying said linework image on said display means, (b) second means for determining whether or not said possible pin hole area is to be filled with the color of the surrounding separate region, and (c) third means for filling said possible pin hole area with the color of the surrounding separate region according to the determination by said determining means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for eliminating a pin hole in a linework image by processing image data of the linework image, comprising: display means for displaying said linework image; input means for specifying a pin hole size; dividing means for dividing the linework image into plural separate regions; computation means for calculating the size of each separate region; comparing means for comparing the size of each separate region with said pin hole size to find a separate region smaller than said pin hole size as a possible pin hole area; and filling means for filling said possible pin hole area with a color of a separate region surrounding said possible pin hole area; said filling means comprises (a) first means for filling said possible pin hole area with a specific color distinct from colors of the other separate regions, and displaying said linework image on said display means, (b) second means for determining whether or not said possible pin hole area is to be filled with the color of the surrounding separate region, and (c) third means for filling said possible pin hole area with the color of the surrounding separate region according to the determination by said determining means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said computation means comprises: counting means for counting the number of pixels in each separate region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein: the image data comprises run length data representing said linework image, and said counting means comprises means for accumulating run length of each separate region to obtain said number of pixels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said third means comprises: means for changing color data in said run length data representing each possible pin hole area to have a value representing said color of the surrounding separate region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: means for specifying a subject region to be processed in said linework image displayed on said display means.
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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) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |