Image analysis – Image enhancement or restoration – Artifact removal or suppression
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-12
2004-01-27
Rogers, Scott (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Image enhancement or restoration
Artifact removal or suppression
C382S199000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06683995
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image processing and, particularly, to a method and apparatus for correcting large defects in digital images.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Digitized images are used extensively in modern society to facilitate the communication of information and ideas through pictures. Print and film photos, documents and the like are often digitized to produce a digital image that can then be viewed, communicated, enhanced, modified, printed or stored. The increasing use of digital images has led to a rising demand for improved systems and methods for the digitization of images.
Digitized images often include imperfections that are not present in the original image. One cause of such defects is the components of the image capturing system. For example, in a scanner, the scanning surface, or platen, may contain scratches and other optical path obstructions. These optical path obstructions are digitized along with the image and appear as imperfections in the digitized image. Another cause of imperfections is defects within the physical medium of the image. For example, a photograph, film negative, or other physical medium may be scratched or deformed despite careful handling. In addition, dust, hair, smudges, and the like may be deposited on the surface of the physical medium and will be digitized along with the image. These objects will also appear in the digitized image as imperfections in the digitized image.
One method for correcting defects in the image involves the use of a defect map, wherein each pixel has a defect value proportional to the severity of the defect in the pixel. Each pixel is corrected based on its own defect value. This is generally accomplished by dividing-out the defect value from the pixel value. Another method for correcting defects in the image is to replace the defective pixel with a replacement value determined from the surrounding defective and non-defective pixels within a predetermined area. This interpolated value is then used to “fill” the defective pixel.
After such automatic image correcting systems have been run, there may remain certain large defects that conventional correction systems do not adequately correct. Such defects may, for example, be the result of a hole in the image media or a scratch that penetrates the image media layers. In these cases, there is generally insufficient data with which to reconstruct the pixel data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a need has arisen in the art for a method and system for correcting large defects in digital image. The present invention provides a system and method for correcting large defects in digital images.
In accordance with one implementation, an image correction system is provided. In this implementation, the image correction system includes an image input device that operates to produce a digital image and a defect map. The defect map allows the identification of defective and non-defective regions of the digital image. A defect correction program and at least one correction routine is used to correct the defective region of the digital image. Examples of correction routines include a reference line correction routine, a fill correction routine, and an average correction routine. Examples of different types of reference lines used in reference line routines include feature lines, centerlines, contour lines, and user defined reference lines.
In another implementation, a defect correction program is provided. In this implementation, the defect correction program operates to receive a digital image and a corresponding defect map. As discussed above, the defect map identifies at least one defective region and a non-defective region of the digital image. The defect correction program then corrects the defective region using at least one correction routine.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4260899 (1981-04-01), Baker
patent: 4301469 (1981-11-01), Modeen et al.
patent: 4302108 (1981-11-01), Timson
patent: 4462860 (1984-07-01), Szmanda
patent: 4670779 (1987-06-01), Nagano
patent: 4677465 (1987-06-01), Alkofer
patent: 4680638 (1987-07-01), Childs
patent: 4700229 (1987-10-01), Herrmann et al.
patent: 4775238 (1988-10-01), Weber
patent: 4796061 (1989-01-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 4845551 (1989-07-01), Matsumoto
patent: 4933566 (1990-06-01), Masaaki et al.
patent: 4937720 (1990-06-01), Kirchberg
patent: 4969045 (1990-11-01), Haruki et al.
patent: 4972091 (1990-11-01), Cielo et al.
patent: 4989973 (1991-02-01), Noso et al.
patent: 4994918 (1991-02-01), Lingemann
patent: 5003379 (1991-03-01), Moore, Jr. et al.
patent: 5010401 (1991-04-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5047968 (1991-09-01), Carrington et al.
patent: 5058982 (1991-10-01), Katzir
patent: 5091972 (1992-02-01), Kwon et al.
patent: 5097521 (1992-03-01), Massmann
patent: 5149960 (1992-09-01), Dunne et al.
patent: 5155596 (1992-10-01), Kurtz et al.
patent: 5200817 (1993-04-01), Birnbaum
patent: 5266805 (1993-11-01), Edgar
patent: 5267030 (1993-11-01), Giorgianni et al.
patent: 5291286 (1994-03-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5311310 (1994-05-01), Jozawa et al.
patent: 5335086 (1994-08-01), Kitamura
patent: 5371542 (1994-12-01), Pauli et al.
patent: 5447811 (1995-09-01), Buhr et al.
patent: 5448380 (1995-09-01), Park
patent: 5452018 (1995-09-01), Capitant et al.
patent: 5465155 (1995-11-01), Edgar
patent: 5465163 (1995-11-01), Yoshihara et al.
patent: 5477345 (1995-12-01), Tse
patent: 5509086 (1996-04-01), Edgar et al.
patent: 5516608 (1996-05-01), Hobbs et al.
patent: 5552904 (1996-09-01), Ryoo et al.
patent: 5561611 (1996-10-01), Avinash
patent: 5565931 (1996-10-01), Girod
patent: 5568270 (1996-10-01), Endo
patent: 5581376 (1996-12-01), Harrington
patent: 5582961 (1996-12-01), Giorgianni et al.
patent: 5583950 (1996-12-01), Prokoski
patent: 5589887 (1996-12-01), Wischermann
patent: 5608547 (1997-03-01), Nakatani et al.
patent: 5641596 (1997-06-01), Gray et al.
patent: 5666443 (1997-09-01), Kumashiro
patent: 5673336 (1997-09-01), Edgar et al.
patent: 5721624 (1998-02-01), Kumashiro et al.
patent: 5726773 (1998-03-01), Mehlo et al.
patent: 5729631 (1998-03-01), Wober et al.
patent: 5771107 (1998-06-01), Fujimoto et al.
patent: 5808674 (1998-09-01), Adams, Jr. et al.
patent: 5892595 (1999-04-01), Yamakawa et al.
patent: 5923042 (1999-07-01), Mietta et al.
patent: 5930388 (1999-07-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5963662 (1999-10-01), Vachtsevanos et al.
patent: 5969372 (1999-10-01), Stavely et al.
patent: 5979011 (1999-11-01), Mivawaki et al.
patent: 5982941 (1999-11-01), Loveridge et al.
patent: 5982951 (1999-11-01), Katayama et al.
patent: 5991444 (1999-11-01), Burt et al.
patent: 6005987 (1999-12-01), Nakamura et al.
patent: 6057040 (2000-05-01), Hage
patent: 6075905 (2000-06-01), Herman et al.
patent: 6078051 (2000-06-01), Banton et al.
patent: 6078701 (2000-06-01), Hsu et al.
patent: 6101273 (2000-08-01), Matama
patent: 6128416 (2000-10-01), Oura
patent: 6239886 (2001-05-01), Klasser et al.
patent: 28 21 868 (1979-11-01), None
patent: 196 36 867 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 1 547 811 (1979-06-01), None
patent: 0 422 220 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 0 482 790 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 0 527 097 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 0 569 142 (1993-11-01), None
patent: 0 624 848 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 0 699 753 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 0 716 538 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 768 621 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 0 751 670 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 0 768 621 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 0 794 454 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 0 816 833 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 0 816 833 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 0 893 914 (1999-10-01), None
patent: 2 283 633 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 4-291139 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 11185028 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 2000-13604 (2000-01-01), None
patent: 2000-196813 (2000-07-01), None
patent: WO 84/02019 (1984-05-01), None
patent: WO 89/06890 (1989-07-01), None
patent: WO 90/01240 (1990-02-01), None
patent: WO 91/09493 (1991-06-01), None
patent: WO 92/05469 (1992-04-01), None
patent: WO 95/15530 (1995-06-01), None
patent: WO 97/16028 (1997-05-01), None
patent: WO 98/31142 (1998-07-01), None
patent: WO 98/3439
Ford Gordon D.
Lester Leland A.
Dinsmore & Shohl
Eastman Kodak Company
Rogers Scott
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for correcting large defects in digital... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for correcting large defects in digital..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for correcting large defects in digital... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3190581