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US 6,674,444 B1Granted
Image processing device and method, and recording medium
AssigneeMitsubishi Plastics, Inc.
InventorKazuyoshi Tahara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A histogram is generated by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data loaded onto a RAM 3 into a plurality of levels. On the basis of the histogram, a level or levels are changed of at least part of the pixels of the multivalued image data. The level change enables control of the image quality of hard copy pictures. The multivalued image data, the levels of at least part of the pixels of which are changed, is converted into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels. A printer prints the output binary image data. The hard copy picture formed on a recording medium by the printer reproduces the multivalued image data loaded onto the RAM 3 with high fidelity.
Claims48
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- and
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- brightness-up means for shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- and
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- brightness-up means for shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- first contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by said first contrast-up means;
- and
- second contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
7 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- and
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- level changing means for adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of other levels;
- gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by said level changing means;
- and
- contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- multivalue means for converting binary image data output from said binarization means into multivalued data to be displayed, and for outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- first gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data output from said multivalue means;
- and
- a display unit for displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the gamma correction by said first gamma correction means;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- brightness-up means for shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- second gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after gamma-corrected by the second gamma correction means into another level.
9 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- multivalue means for converting binary image data output from said binarization means into multivalued data to be displayed, and for outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- first gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data output from said multivalue means;
- and
- a display unit for displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the gamma correction by said first gamma correction means;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- brightness-up means for shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- first contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- second gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by said first contrast-up means;
- and
- second contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after gamma-corrected by the second gamma correction means into another level.
10 more elements
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- a histogram generator for generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processor for processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generator;
- binarization means for converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processor, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- multivalue means for converting binary image data output from said binarization means into multivalued data to be displayed, and for outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- first gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data output from said multivalue means;
- and
- a display unit for displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the gamma correction by said first gamma correction means;
- wherein said multivalued image processor comprises:
- level changing means for adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of another level;
- second gamma correction means for carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by said level changing means;
- and
- contrast-up means for increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after gamma-corrected by the second gamma correction means into another level.
9 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a first contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by the first contrast-up;
- and
- a second contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
7 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a level changing step of adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of other levels;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by the level changing;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
9 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a first contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by the first contrast-up;
- and
- a second contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
10 more elements
An image processing method comprising:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a level changing step of adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of other levels;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by the level changing;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
9 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a first contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by the first contrast-up;
- and
- a second contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels of the entire pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
7 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- and
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a level changing step of adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of other levels;
- a gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by the level changing;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels of the entire pixels after the gamma correction into another level.
6 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after shifting up the brightness;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
9 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a brightness-up step of shifting up entire pixel levels of the multivalued image data except for a pixel level with a maximum value;
- a first contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing into another level a level of at least part of the pixels after the shift-up;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after level change by the first contrast-up;
- and
- a second contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
10 more elements
A recording medium having computer readable image processing program code means for causing a computer to process image data, said image processing program code means causing the computer to execute:
- a histogram generating step of generating a histogram by dividing pixels constituting multivalued image data into levels;
- a multivalued image processing step of processing the multivalued image data using the histogram generated by said histogram generating;
- a binarization step of converting the multivalued image data which are processed by said multivalued image processing, into binary image data representing pseudo-gray levels;
- a multivalue step of converting binary image data obtained by said binarization into multivalued data to be displayed, and of outputting the multivalued data to be displayed;
- a first gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued data obtained by the multivalue converting;
- and
- a display step of displaying a multivalued image in response to the multivalued data passing through the first gamma correction step;
- wherein said multivalued image processing step comprises:
- a level changing step of adding pixels near a maximum value and a minimum value of entire pixels of the multivalued image data to pixels of other levels;
- a second gamma correction step of carrying out gamma correction of the multivalued image data after the addition by the level changing;
- and
- a contrast-up step of increasing contrast of the multivalued image data by changing a level of at least part of the pixels after the second gamma correction step into another level.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.