Image analysis – Color image processing – Pattern recognition or classification using color
Reexamination Certificate
1996-11-25
2001-02-13
Au, Amelia (Department: 2723)
Image analysis
Color image processing
Pattern recognition or classification using color
C382S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188786
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and in particular to the art of determining an area in an image based on color information.
2. Related Art Statement
There is known an image processing device including a target-area determining means for determining a target area as one of a plurality of areas present in an object area, based on color information representing the color of each of a plurality of picture elements belonging to the target area. For example, a recent color-image printer has the function of cutting out, from an input image including a so-called “memory” color, an area having the memory color and converting the area (i.e., color-image data representing the area) in a special manner different from a common conversion manner, when producing an output image. A memory color is a color which human beings keep in their memory for a particular thing such as human being's skin or cherry's petal. However, generally, the difference between the memory color and the actual color of the thing is not negligible. Therefore, an output image is often better appreciated when a memory color, i.e., color which human beings keep in their memory is used than when an actual color is used. Accordingly, there has been developed the art of determining a target area having a memory color and converting color-image data representing the target area in a special manner (hereinafter, referred to as the “memory-color” conversion) different from a manner in which color-image data representing a non-target area other than the target area in the input image is converted.
Japanese Patent Application laid open for inspection purposes under Publication No. 5(1993)-324786 discloses an image processing device including a means for determining an area in an image based on color information. In this prior device, whether or not each of the picture elements of an original image belongs to a particular area to be subjected to a special color conversion is judged in the following manner: First, a primary target-area picture element is designated as a picture element to be subjected to the special color conversion, and a plurality of secondary target-area picture elements neighboring the primary element are determined according to a predetermined rule. Then, the respective colors of the primary and secondary elements are plotted in a color space, and are weighed by a probability distribution function (e.g., normal distribution function). Thus, a reference weighed distribution pattern is obtained. Concerning every picture element of the original image, a weighed distribution pattern is obtained in the same manner as described above, and is compared with the reference pattern. If the two patterns can be so similar as to be regarded as coinciding with each other, the picture element in question is judged as belonging to the target area.
However, in the above-identified prior device, a target area is determined based on only the color information representing the respective colors of the primary and secondary picture elements, and an inaccurate area may be determined as the target area. For example, when the prior device converts image data representing a color image including cherry's petals and a person wearing a cloth having a color similar to the color of the petals, the prior device may apply a special “memory-color” conversion to not only the petals but the cloth. In this case, the output image of the petals will be appreciated but the output image of the cloth will not be appreciated. In other words, the prior device cannot achieve both to satisfy human beings' sense to cherry's petals and to reproduce an accurate color of a cloth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus including means for determining a target area in an object image based on characteristic information relating to a characteristic of the object image.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a recording medium in which a control program is recorded which is usable by a computer to determine a target area in an object image based on characteristic information relating to a characteristic of the object image.
The above first object has been achieved by the present invention. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a target-area picture-element designator which designates at least one primary target-area picture element belonging to a target area as one of a plurality of areas present in an object image; target-area determining means for determining the target area in the object image based on at least color information relating to a color of each of the at least one primary target-area picture element designated by the target-area picture-element designator and a plurality of secondary target-area picture elements automatically determined based on the primary target-area picture element, the primary and secondary target-area picture elements providing a designated target-area picture-element group; a characteristic-information obtaining device which obtains characteristic information which relates to a characteristic of the object image and which is different from the color information relating to the designated target-area picture-element group; and the target-area determining means determining the target area in the object image based on the color information and the characteristic information.
In the image processing apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a target area is determined based on not only the color information of the designated target-area picture-element group (hereinafter, referred to as the “first” group) but also the characteristic information of the object image to be processed. In the prior art in which a target area is determined based on only the color information, picture elements having color information similar to the color information of the first group are judged as belonging to the target area. However, this may not be appropriate in some cases. For example, in the case where an object image includes a target area having a “memory” color and a non-target area having a color which is not the memory color but similar to the memory color, the non-target area may erroneously be determined as a portion of the target area. Hence, the present image processing apparatus utilizes characteristic information relating to a characteristic of the object image. The characteristic information is not the color information relating to the color of the first group and is effective in determining the target area. The characteristic information is not information common to all images, but is specific to the object image in question and can be obtained from the object image. The characteristic information may automatically be obtained from the object image but may be obtained from the same with the help of an operator as recited below. The present apparatus can determine a target area in an object image with high reliability.
According to a preferred feature of the first aspect of the invention, the target-area picture-element designator comprises means for designating the secondary target-area picture elements based on color information relating to the color of the primary target-area picture element and color information relating to a color of each of a plurality of picture elements neighboring the primary target-area picture element. The number and/or pattern of neighboring picture elements needed for providing accurate color information will change depending upon the position of the primary target-area picture element (or primary non-target-area picture element, described below) in the object image. If an appropriate number or an appropriate pattern is not employed, the determination of the target area will adversely be affected. On the other hand, if an appropriate number of neighboring picture elements having an appropriate patt
Komiya Ryohei
Ueda Masashi
Au Amelia
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Johnson Timothy M.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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