Method for bayer mosaic image conversion

• US 7,123,382 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madeleine A V
• Application Number:
  US10/636,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/525, 358/523, 358/533, 358/538, 358/504, 348/273, 348/277, 348/264, 382/167, 382/162, 382/293, 382/296
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/008 Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/02 Rollers roller platens B41J11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/207 Encoding along a bar
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16508 connected with the printer frame
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16579 Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 23/02 Mechanical power drives
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 : Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 : Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 : Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 : Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 : Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/50 : with both developing and finishing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 : Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 : Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 : for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 : wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 : Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 : with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00265 : with a photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 : with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 : Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 : Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00541 : with detachable image reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 : Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0083 : Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 : Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 : with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 : using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32598 : Bus based systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 : Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/405 : Halftoning, i.e. converting the picture signal of a continuous-tone original into a corresponding signal showing only two levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/52 : Circuits or arrangements for halftone screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 : Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6019 : using look-up tables H04N1/6025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/62 : Retouching, i.e. modification of isolated colours only or in isolated picture areas only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 : Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 : Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings

Abstract

A method of, and an apparatus for, image conversion. The three color channels of a Bayer mosaic image are up-interpolated from input space to output space. The pixels sampled from each two-dimensional color plane of the Bayer image are convolved with a coefficient kernel for each color. To facilitate reconstruction and resampling, the color space for a dominant pixel color of the Bayer image is effectively rotated.

The generation of each color value for a given pixel coordinate is carried out in parallel using an identical convolve unit and a dedicated coefficient kernel for each color.

Claims

1. A method of interpolating a Bayer image of red, green and blue pixels from a captured input space to an output space for printing, said Bayer image having one of the colors being 50% of the pixels, while the other two colors each are 25% of the pixels the method including the steps of:

receiving the Bayer image captured using a Bayer color filter array; and

mapping each of the colors to the output space in accordance with the following equations;

x′

=(x/ops)+k₁

y′

=(y/ops)+k₂

where x,y is a coordinate in the output space, x′

y′

is the coordinate in the input space, ops is the number of pixels in the output space per input space sample, and k₁ &

k₂ are either 0 or −

0.5 depending on the color and the desired relative rotational orientation of the image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, for the green pixels in the input space, each coordinate of the input space is multiplied by 1/√

2.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, for the green pixels in the input space, each coordinate of the input space is multiplied by 1/√

2.