Patent US5570461A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5570461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing using information of one frame in binarizing a succeeding frame
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-22
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2016-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus eliminates problems encountered in binarizing processing when an A/D-converted multivalued frame image is entered continuously and the image is displayed continuously on a binary-image display device. In terms of binarizing processing, the error-diffusion method provides excellent results. However, when processing according to this method is applied as is to each frame image, rapidly shifting noise is produced on the display screen owing to the A/D conversion characteristics, etc. This occurs because individual frames are binarized independently. The invention reduces the occurrence of this noise by making the present frame of data reflect the preceding frame of data, i.e., by applying hysteresis of image data of the preceding frame to image data of the present frame when the present frame is binarized.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshikazu Yokomizo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/66; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/593; H04N19/90; H04N5/14; H04N5/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering image data frame by frame; correcting means for applying hysteresis of image data of a preceding frame to image data of an entered present frame, to correct the present frame; and N-value converting means for subjecting the image data corrected by said correcting means to an N-value conversion in which the image data is converted to data having N bits per pixel, wherein said correcting means includes: memory means for storing results of the N-value conversion of the preceding frame by said N-value converting means; distributing means for distributing an error, which is produced at an N-value conversion of a pixel of interest contained in the present frame entered by said input means, to a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of said pixel of interest; combining means for combining, at a prescribed ratio, an error, which has been distributed from a group of pixels already subjected to the N-value conversion, accumulated at the position of the pixel of interest contained in the entered present frame, and a weighted mean value based upon a prescribed number of items of N-value converted data in an area in said memory means corresponding to the position of said pixel of interest; and adding means for adding a value obtained by said combining means to the value of the entered pixel of interest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering image data frame by frame; correcting means for applying hysteresis of image data of a preceding frame to image data of an entered present frame, to correct the present frame; and N-value converting means for subjecting the image data corrected by said correcting means to an N-value conversion in which the image data is converted to data having N bits per pixel, wherein said correcting means includes: memory means for storing results of the N-value conversion of the preceding frame by said N-value converting means; distributing means for distributing an error, which is produced at an N-value conversion of a pixel of interest contained in the present frame entered by said input means, to a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of said pixel of interest; combining means for combining, at a prescribed ratio, an error, which has been distributed from a group of pixels already subjected to the N-value conversion, accumulated at the position of the pixel of interest contained in the entered present frame, and a weighted mean value based upon a prescribed number of items of N-value converted data in an area in said memory means corresponding to the position of said pixel of interest; and adding means for adding a value obtained by said combining means to the value of the entered pixel of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means enters M-value image data, which has M bits per pixel (where M>N holds).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein N is 2.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the M-value image data entered by said input means is image data obtained by an analog-to-digital conversion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distributing means includes: error storing means in which a prescribed number of bits are allocated to one pixel, said error storing means having a capacity of one frame; and adding means for partitioning an error, which is produced when data of a pixel of interest is subjected to an N-value conversion, into values in accordance with weights of coefficient values within a predetermined matrix, and adding the partitioned values to values already stored at respective positions of a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of the position of the pixel of interest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distributing means includes: error storing means in which a prescribed number of bits are allocated to one pixel, said error storing means having a capacity of one frame; storing means for storing an error, which is produced when data of a pixel of interest is subjected to an N-value conversion, at the position of said pixel of interest in said error memory means; and calculating means for multiplying, by individual coefficient values within a predetermined matrix, individual errors that have been stored at the positions of pixels already subjected to a binary conversion in the vicinity of the position of the pixel of interest, and calculating the total of individual results of multiplication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
213 words
An image processing apparatus to which analog-to-digital-converted M-value image data, which has M bits per pixel, is entered frame by frame for subjecting the image data to an N-value conversion, to produce data having N bits per pixel, by N-value converting means (where N<M holds), comprising: memory means for storing results of N-value conversion of a preceding frame; distributing means for distributing an error, which is produced at an N-value conversion of a pixel of interest contained in an entered present frame, to a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of said pixel of interest; combining means for combining, at a prescribed ratio, an error accumulated by said distributing means at the position of the pixel of interest contained in the entered present frame, and a weighted mean value based upon a prescribed number of items of N-value converted data that have been stored at pixel positions in the vicinity of a position in said memory means corresponding to the position of said pixel of interest; and adding means for adding the value obtained by said combining means to the value of the entered pixel of interest, wherein results of addition by said adding means are subjected to the N-value conversion by said N-value converting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
213 words
An image processing apparatus to which analog-to-digital-converted M-value image data, which has M bits per pixel, is entered frame by frame for subjecting the image data to an N-value conversion, to produce data having N bits per pixel, by N-value converting means (where N<M holds), comprising: memory means for storing results of N-value conversion of a preceding frame; distributing means for distributing an error, which is produced at an N-value conversion of a pixel of interest contained in an entered present frame, to a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of said pixel of interest; combining means for combining, at a prescribed ratio, an error accumulated by said distributing means at the position of the pixel of interest contained in the entered present frame, and a weighted mean value based upon a prescribed number of items of N-value converted data that have been stored at pixel positions in the vicinity of a position in said memory means corresponding to the position of said pixel of interest; and adding means for adding the value obtained by said combining means to the value of the entered pixel of interest, wherein results of addition by said adding means are subjected to the N-value conversion by said N-value converting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein N is 2 and said N-value converting means comprises error diffusion means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the size of a pixel area, which is referred to when the weighted mean value is calculated, having N-value converted data in said memory means is less than the size of a pixel area in which distribution is performed by said distributing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said distributing means includes: error storing means in which a prescribed number of bits are allocated to one pixel, said error storing means having a capacity of one frame; and adding means for partitioning an error, which is produced when data of a pixel of interest is subjected to an N-value conversion, into values in accordance with weights of coefficient values within a predetermined matrix, and adding the partitioned values to values already stored at respective positions of a group of pixels not yet subjected to the N-value conversion in the vicinity of the position of the pixel of interest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said distributing means includes: error storing means in which a prescribed number of bits are allocated to one pixel, said error storing means having a capacity of one frame; storing means for storing an error, which is produced when data of a pixel of interest is subjected to an N-value conversion, at the position of said pixel of interest in said error memory means; and calculating means for multiplying, by individual coefficient values within a predetermined matrix, individual errors that have been stored at the positions of pixels already subjected to a binary conversion in the vicinity of the position of the pixel of interest, and calculating the total of individual results of multiplication.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said combining means combines the error accumulated at the position of the pixel of interest by said distributing means at a ratio greater than the weighted mean value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising output means for outputting image data, which has been N-value converted by said N-value converting means, to a prescribed N-value image display unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering analog image data frame by frame; analog-to-digital converting means for converting one pixel contained in analog image data entered by said input means into L bits of digital pixel data; output means for outputting M (M<L) higher order bits of the pixel data, which has been converted by said converting means, to prescribed N-value converting means (N<M) which is for converting the data to data having N bits per pixel; memory means for storing P (P=L-M) lower order bits of the pixel data, which has been converted by said converting means, as a hysteresis value applied to a pixel at a corresponding position of the next frame; and adding means for adding analog data, which is based upon the hysteresis value, of the corresponding pixel position in the present frame entered by said input means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for entering analog image data frame by frame; analog-to-digital converting means for converting one pixel contained in analog image data entered by said input means into L bits of digital pixel data; output means for outputting M (M<L) higher order bits of the pixel data, which has been converted by said converting means, to prescribed N-value converting means (N<M) which is for converting the data to data having N bits per pixel; memory means for storing P (P=L-M) lower order bits of the pixel data, which has been converted by said converting means, as a hysteresis value applied to a pixel at a corresponding position of the next frame; and adding means for adding analog data, which is based upon the hysteresis value, of the corresponding pixel position in the present frame entered by said input means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein P is equal to 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said memory means includes: a memory in which two bits are allocated to one pixel, said memory having a capacity of one frame; and correcting means for making one lower order bit of the pixel data, which has been converted by said converting means, a sign bit, and correcting two bits having sign, which have been stored the preceding time, by said sign bit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said N-value converting means comprises binarizing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, in which conversion the first frame image data was converted into data having N bits per pixel; input means for inputting second frame image data; and conversion means for converting the second frame image data inputted by said input means into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel, by using a conversion method for converting frame image data in such a manner as to preserve the density of the entire frame image data, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of the first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, in which conversion the first frame image data was converted into data having N bits per pixel; input means for inputting second frame image data; and conversion means for converting the second frame image data inputted by said input means into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel, by using a conversion method for converting frame image data in such a manner as to preserve the density of the entire frame image data, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of the first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores the results of binary-value conversion of the first frame image data, and said conversion means converts the second frame image data to binary image data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said conversion means corrects the image data of the second frame image in such a manner that the difference between the binary image data of the first frame image and the binary image data of the second frame image is reduced.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion comprises converting the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; input means for inputting second frame image data; conversion means for subjecting the second frame image data inputted by said input means to a conversion process to convert the inputted frame data into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel; and displaying means for displaying an image on the screen of a ferrodielectric liquid device on the basis of the N-value frame image converted by said conversion means, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of the conversion of first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion comprises converting the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; input means for inputting second frame image data; conversion means for subjecting the second frame image data inputted by said input means to a conversion process to convert the inputted frame data into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel; and displaying means for displaying an image on the screen of a ferrodielectric liquid device on the basis of the N-value frame image converted by said conversion means, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of the conversion of first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said memory means stores the results of binary-value conversion of the first frame image data, and said conversion means converts the second frame image data to binary image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said conversion means corrects the image data of the second frame image in such a manner that the difference between the binary image data of the first frame image and the binary image data of the second frame image is reduced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data inputted by said input means into N-value image data by using a conversion method which is capable of preserving density of entire image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion converts the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; inputting second frame image data; and converting the frame image data inputted in said inputting step into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel, by using a conversion method for converting frame image data in such a manner as to preserve the density of the entire frame image data, wherein, in said converting step, the second frame image data is converted into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of the first frame image data, stored in said storing step, and the second frame image data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion converts the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; inputting second frame image data; and converting the frame image data inputted in said inputting step into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel, by using a conversion method for converting frame image data in such a manner as to preserve the density of the entire frame image data, wherein, in said converting step, the second frame image data is converted into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of the first frame image data, stored in said storing step, and the second frame image data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion converts the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; inputting second frame image data; converting the frame image data inputted in said inputting step into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel; and displaying an image on the screen of a ferrodielectric liquid device on the basis of the N-value frame image data converted in said converting means, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: storing the results of N-value (N≧2) conversion of first frame image data, which conversion converts the first frame image data into data having N bits per pixel; inputting second frame image data; converting the frame image data inputted in said inputting step into N-value image data, having N bits per pixel; and displaying an image on the screen of a ferrodielectric liquid device on the basis of the N-value frame image data converted in said converting means, wherein said conversion means converts the second frame image data into N-value image data on the basis of the results of conversion of first frame image data, stored in said memory means, and the second frame image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |