IP Library Granted Patent US 7,953,287
Granted Patent B2
US 7,953,287 · App. 12/253,839 · Granted May 31, 2011

Image blurring

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,953,287
App. No.
12/253,839
Granted
May 31, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of blurring an image includes acquiring two images of nominally a same scene taken at a different light exposure levels. At least one region of one of the images includes pixels having saturated intensity values. For at least one of the saturated pixels, values are extrapolated from the other image. At least a portion of a third image is blurred and re-scaled including pixels having the extrapolated values.

Claims (38)

1. A digital image processing device operable to blur an acquired image, comprising a controller and one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of generating a digital image, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring at least two images, including a full resolution image having one or more pixels with a saturated intensity value;

(b) determining one or more intensity ratios from unsaturated pixels of another of the at least two acquired images that was taken at a lower exposure level than the full resolution image;

(c) modifying the full resolution image including restoring the one or more intensity ratios determined from the unsaturated pixels of said other acquired image;

(d) blurring a portion of the modified image; and

(e) printing, image processing, or electronically storing, transmitting or displaying the modified image, or combinations thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the modifying comprises adding intensity to the one or more saturated pixels.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

5. The device of claim 1 , the blurring comprising:

determining one or more portions of said modified image which correspond to foreground of the image and portions which correspond to background of the image; and blurring said background portions.

6. The device of claim 1 , the method further comprising re-scaling the blurred portion of the modified image.

7. A method of generating a digital image, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring at least two images, including a full resolution image having one or more pixels with a saturated intensity value;

(b) determining one or more intensity ratios from unsaturated pixels of another of the at least two acquired images that was taken at a lower exposure level than the full resolution image;

(c) modifying the full resolution image including restoring the one or more intensity ratios determined from the unsaturated pixels of said other acquired image;

(d) blurring a portion of the modified image; and

(e) printing, image processing, or electronically storing, transmitting or displaying the modified image, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the modifying comprises adding intensity to the one or more saturated pixels.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

11. The method of claim 7 , the blurring comprising:

determining one or more portions of said modified image which correspond to foreground of the image and portions which correspond to background of the image; and

blurring said background portions.

12. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising re-scaling the blurred portion of the modified image.

13. One or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon for programming one or more processors to perform a method of generating a digital image, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring at least two images, including a full resolution image having one or more pixels with a saturated intensity value;

(b) determining one or more intensity ratios from unsaturated pixels of another of the at least two acquired images that was taken at a lower exposure level than the full resolution image;

(c) modifying the full resolution image including restoring the one or more intensity ratios determined from the unsaturated pixels of said other acquired image;

(d) blurring a portion of the modified image; and

(e) printing, image processing, or electronically storing, transmitting or displaying the modified image, or combinations thereof.

14. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices of claim 13 , wherein the modifying comprises adding intensity to the one or more saturated pixels.

15. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices of claim 14 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

16. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices of claim 13 , wherein the modifying further comprises subtracting intensity from one or more unsaturated pixels.

17. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices of claim 13 , the blurring comprising:

determining one or more portions of said modified image which correspond to foreground of the image and portions which correspond to background of the image; and

blurring said background portions.

18. The one or more non-transitory processor-readable storage devices of claim 13 , the method further comprising re-scaling the blurred portion of the modified image.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2025
From: FOTONATION LIMITED
To: ADEIA IMAGING LLC
Reel/Frame 069986/0597 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
To: FOTONATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034524/0330 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 26, 2012
From: TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND LIMITED
To: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028110/0427 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2010
From: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
To: TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 025567/0181 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2008
From: CORCORAN, PETER; STEINBERG, ERAN; DRIMBAREAN, ALEXANDRU
To: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021699/0311 →