Image processing device outputting image for selecting sample image for image correction

• US 8,174,731 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Tomohiko, Kondo, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brinich, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US12/202,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/468, 358/3.24, 358/3.26, 358/527, 358/400, 358/500, 358/406, 358/504
• US Class Current: 358/3.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence

Abstract

An image processing device includes an original image inputting unit, an original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit, an outputting unit, a selecting unit, and a correcting unit. The original image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting an original image. The original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image inputted by the original image inputting unit. The outputting unit outputs at least one set of image data or indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data. The selecting unit enables a user to select one set of image data among the at least one set of image data. The correcting unit corrects the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

an original image inputting unit that is configured so as to be capable of inputting an original image;

an original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image inputted by the original image inputting unit;

a sample-image inputting unit that is configured so as to be capable of inputting a plurality of sample images;

a sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the plurality of sample images inputted by the sample-image inputting unit;

an outputting unit that outputs at least one set of sample-image data and at least one set among the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

a selecting unit that enables a user to select one set of sample-image data among the at least one set of sample-image data; and

a correcting unit that corrects the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of sample-image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints the original image corrected by the correcting unit.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a result image creating unit that creates, as the at least one set of sample-image data, a plurality of result images by using the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data, each result image indicating a result of correction on the original image by using the corresponding set of sample-image characteristic quantity data, and

wherein the outputting unit outputs an index showing a list of the plurality of result images, each result image being positioned, in the index, together with an image corresponding to a corresponding sample image that is used for creating the subject result image.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the outputting unit prints the index.

5. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the result image creating unit comprises:

a display image creating unit that creates a display image based on the original image; and

a creating unit that creates the plurality of result images by correcting the display image based on the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data.

6. The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the display image creating unit creates the display image by reducing the original image to a preset size.

7. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the result image creating unit creates a plurality of result images, by correcting the original image based on the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data,

wherein the selecting unit enables the user to select one set of the sample-image characteristic quantity data from the plurality of sets of the sample-image characteristic quantity data, and

wherein the image processing device further comprises a printing unit that prints one of the result images that corresponds to the selected set of sample-image characteristic quantity data.

8. The image processing device according to claim 7, further comprising a positioning unit that positions the plurality of result images in the index, based on the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data, together with a plurality of corresponding sample images that are used for creating the result images.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sample-image inputting unit inputs at least one image optically read from a document placed in a prescribed reading position, and inputs a plurality of images independently from one another as a plurality of sample images when the plurality of images are read from the document;

and

wherein the sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data based on the plurality of sample images.

10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sample-image inputting unit inputs a plurality of images read in a plurality of scanning regions divided within a prescribed reading position as the plurality of sample images;

and

wherein the sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data based on the plurality of sample images.

11. The image processing device according to claim 10, wherein the sample-image inputting unit inputs the sample-image optically read from a document placed in a prescribed reading position, and inputs a plurality of images in a plurality of scanning regions divided within the prescribed reading position independently from one another as a plurality of sample images when the plurality of images are read from the document;

wherein the sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data based on the plurality of sample images; and

wherein the image processing device further comprises a positioning unit that positions the plurality of result images in the index, together with a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of sample images that are used for creating the subject result images, based on the scanning regions on which the sample images are read.

12. The image processing device according to claim 11, wherein the sample-image inputting unit further comprises a judging unit that judges whether the document is set in each scanning position by judging whether a mean brightness of an image scanned in each scanning region is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

19. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the outputting unit displays a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

wherein the selecting unit enables the user to select one thumbnail image from the plurality of thumbnail images, and that selects one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image; and

wherein the correcting unit corrects the original image based on the selected sample-image characteristic quantity data and original-image characteristic quantity data.

20. The image processing device according to claim 19, further comprising a correction data creating unit that creates correction data based on the selected sample-image characteristic quantity data and the original-image characteristic quantity data, and

wherein the image correcting unit corrects the original image based on the correction data.

21. The image processing device according to claim 19, further comprising:

a second dividing unit that divides a plurality of pixels constituting the original image into a plurality of hue-regions;

a ratio-calculating unit that calculates a ratio of the original image occupied by the pixels belonging to each hue-region, and

a specified hue-region determining unit that determines a specified hue-region to be a hue-region occupying the largest percentage of the original image;

wherein the original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines original-image characteristic quantity data indicative of characteristic of the original image in the specified hue-region, and

wherein the outputting unit displays, as the at least one set of sample-image data, first thumbnail images in such an order that gives priority to one of the thumbnail images whose sample-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region is similar to the original-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region.

22. The image processing device according to claim 19, further comprising:

a second dividing unit that divides a plurality of pixels constituting the original image into a plurality of hue-regions;

a ratio-calculating unit that calculates a ratio of the original image occupied by the pixels belonging to each hue-region;

a specified hue-region determining unit that determines a specified hue-region to be a hue-region occupying the largest percentage of the original image;

an allocating unit that allocates, into either one of a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data based on the hue-region occupying the largest percentage of a sample image corresponding to the subject sample-image characteristic quantity data, the groups including a specified group whose constituent corresponds to such a first image whose hue-region occupying the largest percentage thereof is equal to the specified hue-region, and

wherein the outputting unit displays, as the at least one set of image data, at least one of the plurality of thumbnail images that corresponds to at least one set of first characteristic quantity data allocated to the specified group.

23. The image processing device according to claim 22, wherein the original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines specified original-image characteristic quantity data indicative of characteristic to the original image in the specified hue-region, and

wherein the outputting unit displays the at least one thumbnail image in such order that gives priority to one of the at least one thumbnail image whose sample-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region is similar to the specified original-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region.

24. The image processing device according to claim 19, wherein the outputting unit displays, at least one of the at least two thumbnail images whose sample-image characteristic quantity data is similar to one another, while failing to display at least one other remaining thumbnail image.

25. The image processing device according to claim 24, wherein the outputting unit fails to display at least one of the first thumbnail image in an order of generation of the sample-image characteristic quantity data.

26. The image processing device according to claim 25, wherein the sample-image characteristic quantity data includes hue-related sample-image characteristic data and non hue-related sample-image characteristic data,

wherein the image processing device further comprises:

a second dividing unit that divides a plurality of pixels constituting the original image into a plurality of hue-regions based on data of the original image;

a second hue data determining unit that determines second hue-related data for each hue-region of the original image based on data of the original image; and

a second non-hue data determining unit that determines second non-hue-related data for each hue-region of the original image,

wherein the correction data creating unit creates hue correction data based on the first hue-related data and second hue-related data,

wherein the image correcting unit creates a set of non-hue correction data, and

wherein the correcting unit corrects hue-related data in each pixel of the original image based on the hue correction data, corrects the non-hue-related data in each pixel of the original image based on the non-hue-related correction data.

27. The image processing device according to claim 26, wherein the first hue-related data is calculated based on H values of the pixels in the sample image defined in the HSV color space, and

wherein the second hue-related data is calculated based on H values of the pixels in the original image defined in the HSV color space.

28. The image processing device according to claim 19, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data and the plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to a plurality of sample images, the plurality of first characteristic quantity data indicating characteristic of the plurality of first images; and

a sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that reads the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data from the storage unit.

13. An image processing device comprising:

an original image inputting unit that is configured so as to be capable of inputting an original image;

an original-image characteristic quality data determining unit that determines original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image inputted by the original image inputting unit;

an outputting unit that outputs at least one indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

a selecting unit that enables a user to select one indication among the at least one indication;

a correcting unit that corrects the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected indication and the original-image characteristic quantity data;

an overall image inputting unit that inputs an overall image;

a first dividing unit that allocates a plurality of pixels constituting the overall image into a plurality of hue-regions;

a specified hue-region determining unit that determines a specified hue-region to be a hue-region occupying the largest percentage of the overall image among the hue-regions constituting the overall image;

a dividing unit that divides the overall image into a plurality of sample images; and

a specified non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines, for the specified hue-region, a plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data indicative of non hue-related characteristic of the plurality of sample images based on pixels whose hues belong to the specified hue-region and which are located in the respective sample images;

wherein the output unit displays a plurality of indications indicating the plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the plurality of sample images,

wherein the selecting unit enables the user to select one indication indicative of one set of non-hue related sample-image characteristic quantity data thereby selecting one first image corresponding to the selected indication,

wherein the original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines the original-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region, the original-image characteristic quantity data including hue-related original-image characteristic data and non hue-related original-image characteristic data,

wherein the image processing device further comprises a hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines hue-related sample-image characteristic data of the selected first image for the specified hue-region, and

wherein the correcting unit corrects the original image, for the specified hue-region, based on the selected hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the determined hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the original-image characteristic quantity data to change, for the specified hue-region, the characteristic of the original image closer to a characteristic corresponding to the selected sample-image characteristic quantity data.

14. The image processing device according to claim 13, wherein the specified hue-region determining unit fails to display an indication indicating the sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to a sample image having a percentage that the specified hue-region occupies in the subject sample image less than or equal to a prescribed ratio.

15. The image processing device according to claim 13, further comprising a correction data creating unit that creates correction data based on the selected non-hue related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the determined hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data the original-image characteristic quantity data, and

wherein the image correcting unit corrects the original image based on the correction data.

16. The image processing device according to claim 15, wherein the correcting unit corrects, based on the correction data, values of each pixel of the original image, whose the hue-related data belongs to the specified hue-region.

17. The image processing device according to claim 16, wherein the hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data is calculated based on H values of the pixels in the sample image defined in the HSV color space.

18. The image processing device according to claim 16, wherein the non-hue related sample-image characteristic quantity data includes characteristic quantity data for brightness and/or saturation.

31. The image processing device according to claim 13, wherein the overall image inputting unit inputs the overall image optically read from a document placed on a prescribed reading position, and

wherein the original image inputting unit inputs the original image stored in a storage medium.

29. An image processing method comprising:

inputting an original image;

determining original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image;

inputting a plurality of sample images;

determining a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the plurality of sample images inputted by the sample-image inputting unit;

outputting at least one set of sample image data and at least one set among the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

enabling a user to select one set of image data among the at least one set of image data; and

correcting the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores an image data processing program, the data processing program comprising instructions for:

inputting an original image;

determining original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image;

inputting a plurality of sample images;

determining a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the plurality of sample images inputted by the sample-image inputting unit;

outputting at least one set of sample image data and at least one set among the plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

enabling a user to select one set of image data among the at least one set of image data; and

correcting the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.

32. An image processing method comprising:

inputting an original image;

determining original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image;

outputting at least one indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

enabling a user to select one indication among the at least one indication;

correcting the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected indication and the original-image characteristic quantity data;

inputting an overall image;

allocating a plurality of pixels constituting the overall image into a plurality of hue-regions;

determining a specified hue-region to be a hue-region occupying the largest percentage of the overall image among the hue-regions constituting the overall image;

dividing the overall image into a plurality of sample images; and

determining, for the specified hue-region, a plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data indicative of non hue-related characteristic of the plurality of sample images based on pixels whose hues belong to the specified hue-region and which are located in the respective sample images;

wherein the output unit displays a plurality of indications indicating the plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the plurality of sample images,

wherein the selecting unit enables the user to select one indication indicative of one set of non-hue related sample-image characteristic quantity data thereby selecting one first image corresponding to the selected indication,

wherein the original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines the original-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region, the original-image characteristic quantity data including hue-related original-image characteristic data and non hue-related original-image characteristic data,

wherein the image processing device further comprises a hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines hue-related sample-image characteristic data of the selected first image for the specified hue-region, and

wherein the correcting unit corrects the original image, for the specified hue-region, based on the selected hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the determined hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the original-image characteristic quantity data to change, for the specified hue-region, the characteristic of the original image closer to a characteristic corresponding to the selected sample-image characteristic quantity data.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores an image data processing program, the data processing program comprising instructions for:

inputting an original image;

determining original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image;

outputting at least one indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data;

enabling a user to select one indication among the at least one indication;

correcting the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected indication and the original-image characteristic quantity data;

inputting an overall image;

allocating a plurality of pixels constituting the overall image into a plurality of hue-regions;

determining a specified hue-region to be a hue-region occupying the largest percentage of the overall image among the hue-regions constituting the overall image;

dividing the overall image into a plurality of sample images; and

determining, for the specified hue-region, a plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data indicative of non hue-related characteristic of the plurality of sample images based on pixels whose hues belong to the specified hue-region and which are located in the respective sample images;

wherein the output unit displays a plurality of indications indicating the plurality of sets of non hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the plurality of sample images,

wherein the selecting unit enables the user to select one indication indicative of one set of non-hue related sample-image characteristic quantity data thereby selecting one first image corresponding to the selected indication,

wherein the original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines the original-image characteristic quantity data for the specified hue-region, the original-image characteristic quantity data including hue-related original-image characteristic data and non hue-related original-image characteristic data,

wherein the image processing device further comprises a hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data determining unit that determines hue-related sample-image characteristic data of the selected first image for the specified hue-region, and

wherein the correcting unit corrects the original image, for the specified hue-region, based on the selected hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the determined hue-related sample-image characteristic quantity data and the original-image characteristic quantity data to change, for the specified hue-region, the characteristic of the original image closer to a characteristic corresponding to the selected sample-image characteristic quantity data.