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:
Sep. 26, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2001
Nobuhiro Aihara, Amagasaki, JP;
Nobuhiro Aihara, Amagasaki, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In a contrast correcting apparatuswhich divides an image into unit regions and carries out a contrast correction for each of unit regions, a gray level histogram calculation sectiongenerates gray level histograms of the image, and a scene judgment sectionmakes a judgment on the state of the image. When the result of the judgment shows that the image is in a state such as overexposure, underexposure, low contrast or high contrast, a region size determining sectionsets a greater size as the size of the unit regions. Based upon the size of the unit regions thus determined and the amount of contrast correction determined by the contrast correction amount determining section, gray level transformation curves are formed for the respective unit regions, and by using these, the contrast corrections are carried out on the respective unit regions. With this method, it is possible to properly reduce the occurrence of unevenness in gray levels in an image that tends to arise in the case when the size of the unit regions is small although the amount of contrast correction (the amount of emphasis) is great.