Method and apparatus for image improvement

• US 8,103,123 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vehvilainen, Markku
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth, Manav
• Application Number:
  US12/221,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 382/274, 382/275, 348/14.02, 348/47, 348/207, 358/406
• US Class Current: 382/275
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/401 Compensating positionally unequal response of the pick-up or reproducing head H04N1/403 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• 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 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for improving the image quality. The method comprises steps of producing image correcting information to decrease errors in the image to be produced by a camera module (109, 111, 112) by comparing the image taken by said camera module (109, 111, 112, 113) with a test image, storing the image correcting information produced and identifying information related to said image correcting information in the memory of an electronic peripheral device (104, 106), receiving the image produced by said camera module (109, 111, 112, 113) and a second piece of identifying information related to said image in the electronic peripheral device (104, 106), comparing said identifying information with said second piece of identifying information in said peripheral device, and performing an image improvement operation on said image in said peripheral device in response to the comparison carried out.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an image processor configured to provide an output comprising data for at least one image captured by a camera module of said apparatus;

a memory configured to store image correcting information, the image correcting information being distinct from the output of the image processor; and

an interface configured to provide said output from the image processor and the image correcting information from said memory to an electronic device configured to correct said data for at least one image using said image correcting information, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as a center of distortion and elliptic form for at least one of a plurality of color components.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as the center of distortion and elliptic form for each component of a plurality of color components.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image correcting information comprises a function for eliminating a darkness of an image.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the function for eliminating the darkness is a sixth order polynomial.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is an image phone or a computer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface is a wireless interface configured to provide wirelessly said output and the image correcting information to the electronic device using a BLUETOOTH connection, a radio frequency connection, or an infrared connection.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image correcting information comprises a function for eliminating one or more of:

an optical distortion, a noise, and a darkness.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera module comprises said memory.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is said camera module.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output from the image processor and the image correcting information are provided wirelessly to said electronic device over a network.

11. A method, comprising:

storing, in a memory of an apparatus image correcting information related to a camera module of the apparatus;

generating data comprising at least one image captured by the camera module; and

transmitting from the apparatus the data comprising at least one image captured by the camera module and said image correcting information, where said transmitting is to an electronic device for correcting said data for said at least one image using said image correcting information, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as the center of distortion and elliptic form for at least one component of a plurality of color components.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as the center of distortion and elliptic form for each component of a plurality of color components.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said electronic device is an image phone or a computer.

14. A peripheral device, comprising:

an wireless interface configured to receive from an electronic device data for at least one image captured by a camera module of said electronic device and an image correcting information for said camera module,

a memory for storing said image correcting information; and

an image processor, configured to correct said data for improving said at least one image using said image correcting information, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as a center of distortion and elliptic form for at least one component of a plurality of color components.

15. The peripheral device of claim 14, wherein the image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as a center of distortion and elliptic form for each component of a plurality of color components.

16. The peripheral device of claim 14, wherein said peripheral device is an image phone or a computer.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface, configured to receive from an electronic device data for at least one image captured by a camera module of said electronic device and an identifier for said camera module,

a memory for storing image correcting information, said image correcting information being identified using the identifier for the camera module, wherein said image correcting information comprises image correcting parameters expressed as a center of distortion and elliptic form for at least one or each component of a plurality of color components; and

an image processor, configured to correct said data for improving said at least one image using said image correcting information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said image correcting information is stored in a storage medium outside of said apparatus, and after being identified using said identifier for said camera module, said image correcting information is provided to said memory.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said apparatus is a server, a computer or an image phone.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said data for the at least one image captured by the camera module of the electronic device and the identifier for the camera module is provided to the apparatus using one or more of:

a BLUETOOTH connection, a radio frequency connection, an infrared connection, a wireless connection, a connection over a network or a wired connection.