IP Library Granted Patent US 7,453,587
Granted Patent B2
US 7,453,587 · App. 11/295,959 · Granted Nov 18, 2008

Method for removing streaks from a scanned image

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,453,587
App. No.
11/295,959
Granted
Nov 18, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for removing streaks from a scanned image includes performing a scanner light source OFF scan to generate a dark image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels; generating a line noise profile for the N columns of pixels of the dark image; performing a scanner light source ON scan to generate a regular image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels; processing the W columns of pixels of the regular image to detect a magnitude of the streak in the regular image; use the magnitude of the streak and the line noise profile to predict an amount of dark noise removal for each of the N columns of pixels of the regular image at the location of the streak; and subtracting the predicted amount of dark noise removal for each of the N columns of pixels from the respective N columns of pixels of the regular image.

Claims (30)

1. In a scanner with a scan bar having a sensor defining N+W pixels in a row, wherein the N pixels are content pixels that are exposed to a scanner light source and the W pixels are non-content pixels that are not exposed to said scanner light source, each pixel being represented by data, a method for removing streaks from a scanned image, comprising:

performing a scanner light source OFF scan to generate a dark image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels;

generating a line noise profile for said N columns of pixels of said dark image;

performing a scanner light source ON scan to generate a regular image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels;

determining a location of a streak in said regular image;

processing said W columns of pixels of said regular image to detect a magnitude of said streak in said regular image;

using said magnitude of said streak and said line noise profile to predict an amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels of said regular image at said location of said streak; and

subtracting the predicted amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels from the respective N columns of pixels of said regular image to remove said streak.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a location of a streak in said dark image using said M rows of W columns of pixels prior to said generating said line noise profile.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a noise profile parameter used to predict said amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels of said regular image at said location of said streak.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said location of said streak in said regular image is determined by processing said W columns of pixels of said regular image.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting said amount of dark noise to be subtracted from said respective N columns of pixels of said regular image.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data is RGB color data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said streak comprises a plurality of horizontal streaks.

8. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a scanner with a scan bar having a scanner light source and a sensor defining N+W pixels in a row, wherein the N pixels are content pixels that are exposed to said scanner light source and the W pixels are non-content pixels that are not exposed to said scanner light source, each pixel being represented by data; and

a controller coupled to said scanner, said controller executing program instructions to perform a method for removing streaks from a scanned image, comprising:

performing a scanner light source OFF scan to generate a dark image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels;

generating a line noise profile for said N columns of pixels of said dark image;

performing a scanner light source ON scan to generate a regular image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels;

determining a location of a streak in said regular image;

processing said W columns of pixels of said regular image to detect a magnitude of said streak in said regular image;

using said magnitude of said streak and said line noise profile to predict an amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels of said regular image at said location of said streak; and

subtracting the predicted amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels from the respective N columns of pixels of said regular image to remove said streak.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising determining a location of a streak in said dark image using said M rows of W columns of pixels prior to said generating said line noise profile.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising determining a noise profile parameter used to predict said amount of dark noise removal for each of said N columns of pixels of said regular image at said location of said streak.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said location of said streak in said regular image is determined by processing said W columns of pixels of said regular image.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting said amount of dark noise to be subtracted from said respective N columns of pixels of said regular image.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said data is RGB color data.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said streak comprises a plurality of horizontal streaks.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2024
From: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066345/0026 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT U.S. PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046989 FRAME: 0396. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 24, 2018
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047760/0795 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, GUANGZHOU BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046989/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2005
From: GARDNER, WILLIAM EVERETT; NG, DU-YONG
To: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 017347/0603 →