# US 8,542,942 B2 · Tunable gaussian filters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,942 B2 - Document ID: US8542942B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/971,105 - Filed: 2010-12-17 - Published: 2012-06-21 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-17 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Earl Wong; Akira Matsui - Inventors: Earl Wong; Akira Matsui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542942B2 ## CPC - G06T 5/20: using local operators - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Tunable Gaussian filters enable imaging effects to be applied to images and videos in orientations other than standard symmetric, 0 degree orientations and 90 degree orientations. The tunable Gaussian filters are able to be applied in any orientation such as 45 degrees, slightly less than 45 degrees and slightly more than 0 degrees. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of implementing a tunable Gaussian filter programmed in a memory in a device comprising: a. configuring a set of filter templates; and b. iterating the filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter, wherein an area of the set of filter templates remains constant and is orientation independent, wherein the set of filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central filter template of the set of filter templates remains constant in each orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the set of filter templates are box filter templates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the set of filter templates are configured in an orientation to generate a Gaussian filter between 0 and 45 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the set of filter templates are configured at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the set of filter templates comprise at least two box filter templates of square and/or rectangular shapes wherein at least two box filter templates are configured in a row, and a box filter template is configured below a leftmost box filter template in the row. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein a fast implementation of a box filter template is used to configure an orientation of the set of filter templates. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the fast implementation of the box filter template includes using a summed table. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein overflow computing is implemented in conjunction with the fast implementation of the box filter template. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the Gaussian filter is applied to an image to generate a filtered image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, a smart phone, a portable music device, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a high definition video writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system. ### Claim 11 A system for implementing a tunable Gaussian filter comprising: a. a configuring hardware module configured for configuring box filter templates into an orientation, wherein an area of the box filter templates remains constant and is orientation independent, wherein the box filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central filter template of the box filter templates remains constant in each orientation; and b. an iteration hardware module configured for iterating the box filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the box filter templates are configured in an orientation to generate a Gaussian filter between 0 and 45 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the box filter templates are configured at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the box filter templates comprise at least two box filter templates of square and/or rectangular shapes wherein at least two box filter templates are configured in a row, and a box filter template is configured below a leftmost box filter template in the row. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein a fast implementation of the box filter templates is used to configure an orientation of the box filter templates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the fast implementation of the box filter template includes using a summed table. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein overflow computing is implemented in conjunction with the fast implementation of the box filter template. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the Gaussian filter is applied to an image to generate a filtered image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, a smart phone, a portable music device, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a high definition video writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system. ### Claim 20 A camera device comprising: a. an image sensor configured for acquiring an image; b. a processor configured for processing the image by: i. configuring box filter templates at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees from each other, wherein an area of the box filter templates remains constant and is orientation independent, wherein the box filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central filter template of the box filter templates remains constant in each orientation; ii. iterating the box filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter oriented greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees; and iii. applying the Gaussian filter to the image to generate a processed image; and c. a memory configured for storing the processed image. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The camera device of claim 20 wherein the box filter templates comprise at least two box filter templates of square and/or rectangular shapes wherein at least two box filter templates are configured in a row, and a box filter template is configured below a leftmost box filter template in the row. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The camera device of claim 20 wherein a fast implementation of the box filter templates is used to configure an orientation of the box filter templates. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The camera device of claim 22 wherein the fast implementation of the box filter template includes using a summed table. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The camera device of claim 23 wherein overflow computing is implemented in conjunction with the fast implementation of the box filter template. ### Claim 25 A method of implementing a tunable Gaussian filter programmed in a memory in a device comprising: a. configuring a set of at least three box filter templates of square and/or rectangular shapes, wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are oriented using a fast implementation of the box filter templates and overflow computing, wherein an area of the set of at least three box filter templates remains constant and is orientation independent, wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central filter template of the set of at least three box filter templates remains constant in each orientation; b. iterating the set of at least three box filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter; and c. applying the Gaussian filter to an image to generate a filtered image. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configured in an orientation to generate a Gaussian filter between 0 and 45 degrees. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configured at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees from each other. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates comprises at least three box filter templates configured in a row, and a box filter template is configured below a leftmost box filter template in the row. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the fast implementation of the box filter template includes using a summed table. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, a smart phone, a portable music device, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a high definition video writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system. ### Claim 31 An apparatus comprising: a. a processing component for processing an image by: i. configuring a set of at least three box filter templates of square and/or rectangular shapes, wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are oriented using a fast implementation of the box filter templates and overflow computing wherein an area of the set of at least three box filter templates remains constant and is orientation independent, wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central filter template of the set of at least three box filter templates remains constant in each orientation; ii. iterating the set of at least three box filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter; and iii. applying the Gaussian filter to the image to generate a filtered image; and b. a memory for storing the filtered image. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configured in an orientation to generate a Gaussian filter between 0 and 45 degrees. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configured at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees from each other. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the set of at least three box filter templates comprises at least two box filter templates configured in a row, and a box filter template is configured below a leftmost box filter template in the row. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the fast implementation of the box filter template includes using a summed table. ### Claim 36 An apparatus comprising: a. a processing component for processing an image by: i. configuring a set of at least three box filter templates of square shapes; ii. iterating the set of at least three box filter templates to generate a Gaussian filter; and iii. applying the Gaussian filter to the image to generate a filtered image; and b. a memory for storing the filtered image, wherein the set of at least three box filter templates are configurable in a 45 degrees orientation, a less than 45 degrees orientation and an approaching 0 degrees orientation, wherein a position of a central box filter template of the set of at least three box filter templates remains constant in each orientation.