Mohamed A Ahmed

US Patent:

7079686, Jul 18, 2006

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224660

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Brian E. Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Michael E. Lhamon - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/34

US Classification:

382176, 382177, 358462

Abstract:

A system can include a system processor that is programmed or adapted to classify pixels in a document image, and in some instances, to enhance the document image based upon such classification. Image data including pixels is received. For each pixel in some subset of the image data, a feature vector is generated. Each pixel in the subset is classified as text or image based upon its associated feature vector. The classifications can be outputted for storage and/or further processing. Further processing can include pixel level enhancement processing. Such enhancement processing can include application of a sharpening filter to pixels classified as text and of a smoothing filter to pixels classified as image. In some instances, background suppression can be performed upon a subset of the image data prior to classification.

US Patent:

7302107, Nov 27, 2007

Filed:

Dec 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/744884

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Brian E. Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Michael E. Lhamon - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/36

US Classification:

382251, 35842614, 37524003, 3752402, 37524022, 382250

Abstract:

The invention provides a system and method for JPEG encoding an image that includes variable quantization for each block, depending upon the classification of each block, which is dependent on the classification of pixels in that block.

US Patent:

7388693, Jun 17, 2008

Filed:

Feb 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/376174

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Chengwu Cui - Lexington KY, US
Michael E. Lhamon - Lexington KY, US
Shaun T. Love - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

H04N 1/46
H04N 1/04

US Classification:

358512, 358513, 358514, 358482

Abstract:

A scanning or copying system can include imaging elements and one or more system processors that are programmed or adapted to perform image processing methods and algorithms on image data, and in some instances, to enhance the image. Image data is acquired using imaging elements. Some imaging elements may have overlapping or rotated fields of view or employ differing resolutions. For each imaging element, its output is recombined together with the output of one or more other imaging elements. To perform the recombination, the system can extract features in an overlapping region and match these features in multiple images. In some instances, the features matched can be edges. Alternatively, the recombination can be performed by positioning each subimage with respect to a larger image through image matching and location techniques. Parameters from the recombined image can be extracted and these parameters can be used to correct for geometrical and spatial distortions and thereby enhance the image.

US Patent:

7418138, Aug 26, 2008

Filed:

Dec 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/013523

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/46
G06K 9/40
G03F 3/08

US Classification:

382190, 382254

Abstract:

A method of performing tonal transform on image data. The method includes extracting a portion of the image data, assigning one of a plurality of labels to the extracted portion, performing a first tonal transformation on the extracted portion if a first label is assigned to the extracted portion, and performing a second tonal transformation on the extracted portion if a second label is assigned to the extracted portion. The method can be performed, for example, with an image processor comprising a memory that stores the image data and a processor coupled to the memory.

US Patent:

7433085, Oct 7, 2008

Filed:

Apr 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/414530

Inventors:

Mohamed Nooman Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Curt Paul Breswick - Georgetown KY, US
Gretchen Yvonne Gibson - Lexington KY, US
Bob Thai Pham - Richmond KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06T 5/00

US Classification:

358 326, 358 324, 382169, 382167

Abstract:

Pixel characteristics, such as whether a pixel forms part of the background of an image, are evaluated by computing histograms from pixel color space components, by comparing pixel color space components to threshold values, or by other methods.

US Patent:

7483589, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Dec 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/005962

Inventors:

Mohamed Nooman Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Michael Earl Lhamon - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/60
G06T 3/00

US Classification:

382282, 382284, 382295, 358 118, 358450

Abstract:

A method for copying objects smaller than a background defined by a scanner of an apparatus includes scanning a plurality of objects to acquire image data associated with the plurality of objects and the background; cropping the image data to remove object data for each object of the plurality of objects from the background; determining a size associated with each object of the plurality of objects, based on the object data; and formatting a page to produce a compact arrangement of multiple objects of the plurality of objects on the page, the page receiving the multiple objects in accordance with the size.

US Patent:

7574055, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

Sep 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/935557

Inventors:

Mohamed Nooman Ahmed - Louisville KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/36

US Classification:

382232

Abstract:

A method for JPEG encoding an image that includes preprocessing steps performed prior to a JPEG compression step. The preprocessing steps include transforming block image data, using a variable quantization table selected for each block according to the classification of pixels in that block to produce quantized image data, and inverse transforming the quantized image data to produce filtered image data.

US Patent:

7616348, Nov 10, 2009

Filed:

Dec 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/317610

Inventors:

Mohamed Nooman Ahmed - Louisville KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

H04N 1/40

US Classification:

358 322, 35842612, 358474, 382168, 382173, 382170

Abstract:

A method, and a system employing the method, of enhancing an intensity of an image of a multi-page or multi-portion document is disclosed. The method includes determining a first background parameter from a first section of a scanned page and stretching data corresponding to the scanned page based on the first background parameter. The method also includes determining a second background parameter from data of a second section of the scanned page and stretching data corresponding to another scanned page based on the second background parameter.