Image analysis – Color image processing – Color correction
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-06-12
Au, Amelia M. (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Color image processing
Color correction
C358S518000, C358S521000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246792
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for the improvement of digitized images and especially to a method to improving the components of a single color for a colored image.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Due to the tremendous progress and wide application of computerized image processing technology, many images may be processed by a computer and used in a variety of applications. These applications include storage, transmission, replay, recognition, matching and creation of images.
In most applications, images to be processed are input into a computer by an input device and stored in the memory device of the computer. Applicable input devices include analog cameras, digital cameras and planar scanners. No matter what the input device is, an input image is transformed into a digitized format before it is stored. In most cases. the input image is divided into pixels, each comprising three original color components. Each original color components are represented by a gray level value which stands for the brightness of the respective color component of the pixel. Although an image so processed will be distorted, such format is satisfactory to most applications of images. In general, the brightness of a color component is divided into 256 levels and represented by 0 to 255 where greater values indicate darker pixels and smaller values indicate brighter pixels.
In some applications of image processing, it is necessary to emphasize a particular color. These applications include recognition of images, diagnosis of diseases. identification of seal prints and signatures. In these applications, it is necessary to preprocess the input image in order to filter out noise contained in the image and to purify the image. Especially when the input image is a true color image, its components of a particular color may include influences from other colors, due to poor illumination conditions. Purification of colored image has thus become an important task in these applications.
Although many technologies have been invented to improve the quality of color images, most of the technologies are aimed at the improvement of all color components. Very few of them may be applied to improve the quality of a single color of a colored image.
There is thus a need to provide a novel method for the improvement of digitized images that is capable to of emphasizing components of a single color of a colored image.
There is also a need to provide a novel method for the improvement of digitized images to purify the components of a single color of the colored image.
There is also a need to provide a device to improve digitized images according to the above methods.
OBJECTIVES OF INVENTION
The objective of this invention is to provide a novel method for the improvement of digitized images.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a method to improve digitized images that is capable of emphasizing components of a single color of a colored image.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a novel method for the improvement of digitized images to purify the components of a single color of a colored image.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a device to improve digitized images according to the above methods.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, a novel method for improvement of digitized images is disclosed. An input image is digitized and represented by pixels wherein each pixel comprises three original color components represented by gray level values of each original color. The average of gray level values for a first color is calculated to obtain a first color adjustment factor. The first color gray level values of all pixels are adjusted by said first color adjustment factor. A second color adjustment factor and a third color adjustment factor are calculated according to said first color adjustment factor. The gray level values for the second color and the third color of all pixels are adjusted accordingly. An image with emphasized first color components is obtained.
The above and other objectives and advantages of this invention may be easily understood from the detailed description by referring to the following drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4953008 (1990-08-01), Kaye
patent: 5371615 (1994-12-01), Eschbach
patent: 5398124 (1995-03-01), Hirota
patent: 5850472 (1998-12-01), Alston et al.
patent: 6069973 (2000-05-01), Lin et al.
Au Amelia M.
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Do Danny
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