Image processing apparatus for applying effects to a stored image

• US 7,505,068 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/853,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.2, 348/222.1, 348/211.6, 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 : electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 : Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 : comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• 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: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 : Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/00 : Photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 : Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0002 : Handling the output data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 : for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 : Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• 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 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 : using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0008 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/40 : Circuit details for pick-up tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 : Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An image processing apparatus for applying effects to a stored image includes an optical reader. The apparatus includes a feed mechanism for feeding a planar element on which a printed, two-dimensional pattern having a certain resolution is carried, to the reader. The reader has a sensor with a resolution capacity of at least twice the resolution of the two-dimensional pattern and is configured to generate program data represented by the two-dimensional pattern in an external format, the data itself representing an image processing program. A reader interface is connected to the reader to receive the program data from the reader, the reader interface being configured to transform the program data to an internal format suitable for processing. A processor is connected to both the reader and the reader interface to control operation of the reader and the reader interface and to apply the image processing program to the stored image to generate an output image with desired effects.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for applying effects to a stored image, the apparatus comprising

an optical reader;

a feed mechanism for feeding a card past a sensor of the reader when the card is inserted in the reader, the card having a two-dimensional pattern of a certain resolution printed thereon, the sensor being configured to read the two-dimensional pattern of the card as it is fed therepast with a resolution capacity of at least twice the certain resolution so as to generate image processing program data represented by the two-dimensional pattern in an external format;

a reader interface that is connected to the reader to receive the program data from the reader, the reader interface being configured to transform the program data to an internal format suitable for processing; and

a processor that is connected to both the reader and the reader interface to control operation of the reader and the reader interface and to apply the image processing program to the stored image to generate an output image with desired effects.

2. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the reader has a resolution capacity of at least three times the resolution of the two-dimensional pattern.

3. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the reader interface is configured to detect an area on the card on which the two-dimensional pattern is carried, to detect a bit pattern of the two-dimensional pattern and to write the bit pattern as a byte pattern.

4. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the reader interface is configured to descramble and XOR the byte pattern.

5. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the reader interface is configured to decode the byte pattern.

6. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a data storage device that is operatively connected to the reader and the processor so that the program, in its internal format, can be written to and stored in the data storage device.

7. An image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the processor includes a VLIW processor that is connected to the reader interface via a FIFO buffer so that the reader interface can write data from the reader to the FIFO buffer and the VLIW processor can process and store data received from the FIFO buffer.

8. A camera which comprises

a housing;

an image sensor positioned on the housing for sensing a viewed image and generating pixel data representing the image;

an optical reader positioned on the housing;

a feed mechanism positioned on the housing for feeding a card past a sensor of the reader when the card is inserted in the reader,the card having a two-dimensional pattern of a certain resolution printed thereon, the sensor being configured to read the two-dimensional pattern of the card as it is fed therepast with a resolution capacity of at least twice the certain resolution so as to generate image processing program data represented by the two-dimensional pattern in an external format;

a central processor which comprises

an image sensor interface that is connected to the image sensor to receive pixel data from the image sensor so that the pixel data can be transformed and written to a data storage device;

a reader interface that is connected to the reader to receive the program data from the reader, the reader interface being configured to transform the program data to an internal format suitable for processing; and

a processing assembly that is configured to control operation of the image sensor, the image sensor interface, the reader and the reader interface and to apply the image processing program to the stored, transformed pixel data to generate an output image with desired effects.