Method, system and software for correcting image defects
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining a degree of defectiveness of an image portion;
evaluating, based at least in part on a degree of defectiveness, a benefit of correcting the image portion and damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion; and
correcting the image portion if the benefit of correcting the image portion is greater than the damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion;
wherein determining the degree of defectiveness of an image portion includes;
recording a first representation of the image portion using a light source having a first position relative to the image;
recording a second representation of the image portion using a light source having a second position relative to the image, the second position different from the first position;
low-pass filtering the first representation to generate a first filtered representation;
low-pass filtering the second representation to generate a second filtered representation;
dividing the first representation by the first filtered representation to generate a first output; and
dividing the second representation by the second filtered representation to generate a second output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and software are disclosed for correcting defects formed in a physical medium of an original image. Multiple scans of the original image are recorded, where the multiple scans have different properties. For example, the angle of the light incident to the physical medium or the properties of the light may be changed between scans of original image. The multiple scans can be used to generate a reference image from which defect corrections are made. Alternatively, a reference image can be generated directly from the original image. The multiple scans can also be used to determine the degree of defectiveness and/or an estimate of the signal strength of each portion of the original image. A decision is made on whether or not an image portion having one or more defects should be corrected, where the decision can be based on an evaluation of the potential benefit compared to the potential damage caused by correction of an image portion. In one embodiment, the potential benefit is proportional to the degree of defectiveness, while the potential damage is proportional to the image information that may be removed by correction. If the decision is made to correct an image portion, a variety of methods may be implemented to correct the image portion, such as cloning information from non-defective image portions surrounding the defective image portion. The present invention finds particular use in image capturing systems, such as flatbed scanners, photocopiers, facsimile machines, and the like.
108 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining a degree of defectiveness of an image portion; evaluating, based at least in part on a degree of defectiveness, a benefit of correcting the image portion and damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion; and correcting the image portion if the benefit of correcting the image portion is greater than the damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion; wherein determining the degree of defectiveness of an image portion includes; recording a first representation of the image portion using a light source having a first position relative to the image; recording a second representation of the image portion using a light source having a second position relative to the image, the second position different from the first position; low-pass filtering the first representation to generate a first filtered representation; low-pass filtering the second representation to generate a second filtered representation; dividing the first representation by the first filtered representation to generate a first output; and dividing the second representation by the second filtered representation to generate a second output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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at least one processor; memory operably associated with said processor; and a program of instructions to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the program of instructions include instructions to; determine a degree of defectiveness of an image portion; evaluate, based at least in part on the degree of defectiveness, a benefit of correcting the image portion and damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion; and correct the image portion based on the evaluation; wherein the instructions to determine the degree of defectiveness of an image portion include instructions to; record a first representation of the image portion using a light source having a first position relative to the image; record a second representation of the image portion using a light source having a second position relative to the image, the second position different from the first position; low-pass filter the first representation to generate a first filtered representation; low-pass filter the second representation to generate a second filtered representation; divide the first representation by the first filtered representation to generate a first output; and divide the second representation by the second filtered representation to generate a second output. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, said program of instructions including instructions to:
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determine a degree of defectiveness of an image portion; evaluate, based at least in part on the degree of defectiveness, a benefit of correcting the image portion and damage that would be caused by correcting the image portion; and determine whether to correct the image portion based on the evaluation; wherein the instructions to determine the degree of defectiveness of an image portion include instructions to; record a first representation of the image portion using a light source having a first position relative to the image; record a second representation of the image portion using a light source having a second position relative to the image, the second position different from the first position; low-pass filter the first representation to generate a first filtered representation; low-pass filter the second representation to generate a second filtered representation; divide the first representation by the first filtered representation to generate a first output; and divide the second representation by the second filtered representation to generate a second output. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification