The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Gary K Starkweather, Saratoga, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improving the quality of images captured by inexpensive scanning devices is described. After an initial scan of the image to be captured is performed, at least two additional scans are performed, one at an exposure level much greater than that used in the first scan and one at an exposure level much lower than that used in the first scan. After all three scans are complete, a composite stored image is formed using the gray scale values generated by the overexposed scan for darker areas of the image, the gray scale level generated by the underexposed scan for the lighter portions of the image, and, for those areas between the extremes, using the gray scale levels produced by the first scan. An apparatus is also described for performing these scans and selecting and combining the requisite data.