CHART DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CHART

• US 20090067750A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Furuno Electric Co, Ltd, MaxSea International SAS
• Inventors: Tokuda, Koji, Obuchi, Makoto, PRYSZO, Brice, Robin, Oliver, Jacquinot, Mathieu, Pryszo, Iker
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/294
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/503 Blending, e.g. for anti-aliasing

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses perform image processing for blending image and/or data layers. The method according to one embodiment accesses data representing a first layer and data representing a second layer; and generates a blended layer by adjusting a transparency of said first layer relatively to said second layer based on data associated with said first or second layer.

Claims

1. An image processing method, said method comprising:

accessing data representing a first layer and data representing a second layer; and

generating a blended layer by adjusting a transparency of said first layer relatively to said second layer based on data associated with said first or second layer.

2. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first layer is a photo, said second layer is a chart, and said generating step obtains a blended portion from said photo and said chart based on an alpha value derived from depth values associated with pixels in said photo or chart.

3. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first layer is an aerial photo, said second layer is a chart, and said generating step generates a blended layer by adjusting a transparency between said photo and said chart in a shallow sea area.

4. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said data associated with multiple locations in said first or second layer is a database of data associated with each pixel in said first or second layer.

5. The image processing method as recited in claim 4, wherein said database of data is a database of depth associated with each pixel in said first or second layer.

6. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said layers are divided in a plurality of areas, and said generating step uses a different transparency algorithm for each area in a layer, to obtain said blended layer.

7. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of generating a blended layer uses alpha blending technology, wherein alpha values for pixels are calculated with an algorithm that is a linear function or other mathematical function that uses a depth or altitude database for pixels'"'"' depths or altitudes.

8. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein transparency at each point in said blended layer is variably assigned depending on depth or altitude of said each point.

9. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first layer is an aerial or satellite photo and said second layer is a chart, and said step of generating a blended layer provides a portion of the photo over a land area, a portion of the chart over a deep sea area, and a blended portion obtained from the photo and the chart in a shallow sea area.

10. The image processing method as recited in claim 9, wherein said shallow sea area is an area between 0 meters and approximately 10 meters deep.

11. The image processing method as recited in claim 9, wherein areas of relatively deep water located along seacoasts which are regions of globally shallow water are identified on said blended layer.

12. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second layers are geo-referenced layers.

13. The image processing method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first layer is a satellite photo or an aerial photo, and said second layer is a chart layer represented in vector or raster form.

14. The image processing method as recited in claim 13 wherein said first layer is a layer in a photograph, and said second layer is a layer in a chart.

15. An image processing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

an image data input unit for accessing data representing a first layer and data representing a second layer; and

a blending unit for generating a blended layer by adjusting a transparency of said first layer relatively to said second layer based on data associated with said first or second layer.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first layer is a photo, said second layer is a chart, and said blending unit obtains a blended portion from said photo and said chart based on an alpha value derived from depth values associated with pixels in said photo or chart.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first layer is an aerial photo, said second layer is a chart, and said blending unit generates a blended layer by adjusting a transparency between said photo and said chart in a shallow sea area.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said data associated with multiple locations in said first or second layer is a database of data associated with each pixel in said first or second layer.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said database of data is a database of depth associated with each pixel in said first or second layer.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said layers are divided in a plurality of areas, and said blending unit uses a different transparency algorithm for each area in a layer, to obtain said blended layer.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said blending unit uses alpha blending technology, wherein alpha values for pixels are calculated with an algorithm that is a linear function or other mathematical function that uses a depth or altitude database for pixels'"'"' depths or altitudes.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein transparency at each point in said blended layer is variably assigned depending on depth or altitude of said each point.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first layer is an aerial or satellite photo and said second layer is a chart, and said blending unit provides a portion of the photo over a land area, a portion of the chart over a deep sea area, and a blended portion obtained from the photo and the chart in a shallow sea area.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said shallow sea area is an area between 0 meters and approximately 10 meters deep.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein areas of relatively deep water located along seacoasts which are regions of globally shallow water are identified on said blended layer.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second layers are geo-referenced layers.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first layer is a satellite photo or an aerial photo, and said second layer is a chart layer represented in vector or raster form.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first layer is a layer in a photograph, and said second layer is a layer in a chart.

29. A chart display method, said method comprising:

accessing data representing a photo and data representing a chart;

generating a blended data by adjusting a transparency depending on a depth value associated with every pixel in said photo or chart; and

displaying said blended data.

30. A chart display apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

an image data accessing unit for accessing data representing a photo and data representing a chart;

a blending unit for generating a blended data by adjusting a transparency depending on a depth value associated with every pixel in said photo or chart; and

a displaying unit for displaying said blended data.