US5859928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Jitter-form background control for minimizing spurious gray cast in scanned images
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1996-06-21
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2016-06-21
Abstract
Abstract In acquiring and reproducing an image, my method and apparatus correct for spurious gray background. Image brightness is sensed in multiple regions of an original image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproducing the image. In response to the multiple signals, a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals is provided by adjusting each signal. The amount of adjustment depends on the size of the signal, and preferably includes jitter--i. e., a random component. Preferably the random component is partially smoothed. The multiple corrected signals are used in reproduction of the image. Preferably the dependence of adjustment on signal size is a multivalued monotonic function. Preferably the function increases the brightness of image regions that are already relatively more bright, in comparison with image regions that are relatively less bright. Preferably the signals represent relative amounts of black, or darkness of a chromatic color; and for each signal a choice is made automatically between the greater of (1) zero and (2) a corresponding one of the multiple signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Jae Jung Noh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/46; H04N1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of graphical-image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and then using the corrected multiplicity of signals in color correction, or rendition, or both, preliminary to reproduction of the image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of graphical-image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and then using the corrected multiplicity of signals in color correction, or rendition, or both, preliminary to reproduction of the image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the image-brightness sensing step comprises providing said corresponding multiplicity of signals in the form of signals representing relative amounts of black.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes litter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which depends on the size of the respective signal comprises a perturbation of each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that respective signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes litter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which depends on the size of the respective signal comprises a perturbation of each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that respective signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein: the amount which includes jitter comprises a substantially random fluctuation of the perturbation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which depends on the size of the respective signal comprises a perturbation of each signal by a multivalued monotonic of that respective signal; the amount which includes jitter comprises a substantially random fluctuation of the perturbation; and the substantially random fluctuation is partially smoothed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which depends on the size of the respective signal comprises a perturbation of each signal by a multivalued monotonic of that respective signal; the amount which includes jitter comprises a substantially random fluctuation of the perturbation; and the substantially random fluctuation is partially smoothed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image: in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which includes jitter comprises a substantially random, but partially smoothed, fluctuation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of image acquisition and reproduction with correction for spurious gray background; said method comprising the steps of: sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image: in response to the multiplicity of signals, generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the amount which includes jitter comprises a substantially random, but partially smoothed, fluctuation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for graphical-image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in color correction, or rendition, or both, preliminary to reproduction of the image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for graphical-image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in color correction, or rendition, or both, preliminary to reproduction of the image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the generating means comprise means for making the signal-dependent amount increase the brightness of image regions that are already relatively more bright, in comparison with image regions that are relatively less bright.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, for use with a printing medium, and wherein: the using means comprise means for printing the image on the printing medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the using means comprise means for using the signals in display or other representation of the image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the using means comprise means for transmitting the signals to a remote device for use in display, printing or other representation of the image by that device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the generating means comprise means for partially smoothing the jitter.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for generating a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals by adjusting each signal by an amount which: (1) depends on the size of that signal, respectively, and (2) includes jitter; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the generating means comprise means for partially smoothing the jitter.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for adjusting each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that signal, respectively, to generate a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for adjusting each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that signal, respectively, to generate a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for making the multivalued monotonic function increase the brightness of image regions that are already relatively more bright, in comparison with image regions that are relatively less bright.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for superimposing a random fluctuation, or equivalent, upon said multivalued monotonic function.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for superimposing a random fluctuation, or equivalent, upon said multivalued monotonic function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the image-brightness sensing means comprise means for providing said corresponding multiplicity of signals in the form of signals representing relative amounts of black.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for adjusting each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that signal, respectively, to generate a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for superimposing a random fluctuation, or equivalent, upon said multivalued monotonic function: and the adjusting means further comprise means for partially smoothing the random fluctuation or equivalent.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for image acquisition and reproduction, with correction for spurious gray background; said apparatus comprising: means for sensing image brightness in a multiplicity of regions of an image, to provide a corresponding multiplicity of signals for use in reproduction of the image; means, responsive to the multiplicity of signals, for adjusting each signal by a multivalued monotonic function of that signal, respectively, to generate a corresponding multiplicity of corrected signals; and means for using the corrected multiplicity of signals in reproduction of the image; and wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for superimposing a random fluctuation, or equivalent, upon said multivalued monotonic function: and the adjusting means further comprise means for partially smoothing the random fluctuation or equivalent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the image-brightness sensing means comprise means for providing said corresponding multiplicity of signals in the form of signals representing relative amounts of black.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein: the adjusting means comprise means for selecting, for each of said multiplicity of signals, between the greater of (1) zero and (2) a corresponding one of said multiplicity of corrected signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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