Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8471950, I will first search the USPTO database for the patent and then analyze its cited references.

US Patent 8471950 Details

Patent Number: US8471950B2
Title: Signal processor for adjusting image quality of an input picture signal
Publication Date: 2013-06-25
Filing Date: 2009-11-18
Assignee: Maxell Ltd. (originally Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co Ltd)
Inventors: Junji Kamimura, Akihito Nishizawa, Junji Shiokawa, Shinichi Nonaka

The patent describes a signal processor that enhances automatic control by excluding "unnecessary portions" or "feature change positions" (like spotlights) from an evaluated value extraction region. This allows for more appropriate extraction of evaluated values for automatic adjustments such as exposure, focus, and white balance in devices like video cameras and digital still cameras.

Most Relevant Prior Art Citations

Here are the patent citations listed for US8471950B2, along with their details and potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

1. US5978027A

   • Full Citation: US5978027A, "Image pickup apparatus having sharpness control"
   • Publication Date: 1999-11-02 (Filing Date: 1992-06-24)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an image pickup apparatus that controls sharpness by analyzing image signals and adjusting an image processing circuit. It focuses on detecting edges and performing different sharpness corrections based on image content.
   • Potential Anticipation: US5978027A potentially anticipates claims related to image processing and adjustment of image quality based on features within an image (Claim 1). While US8471950B2 specifically focuses on excluding feature-changing pixels from an evaluation region, US5978027A's broader concept of feature detection for image quality adjustment could be argued to be relevant.

2. US20010028402A1

   • Full Citation: US20010028402A1, "Imaging apparatus having autofocus function"
   • Publication Date: 2001-10-11 (Filing Date: 2000-03-08)
   • Brief Description: This application details an imaging apparatus with an autofocus function that uses multiple focus evaluation areas. It selects an optimal evaluation area from these multiple areas for accurate autofocusing.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant to claims involving automatic control systems, particularly autofocus, and the use of evaluated value extraction regions (Claims 1, 3). The method of selecting an optimal region to avoid problematic areas (like high luminance, as mentioned in the background of US8471950B2) could potentially anticipate the inventive step of excluding features in US8471950B2's region creation unit.

3. US20020080247A1

   • Full Citation: US20020080247A1, "Image pickup device"
   • Publication Date: 2002-06-27 (Filing Date: 1991-08-21)
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an image pickup device with a focus detection circuit that can change the focus detection area based on image brightness or specific patterns.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US20010028402A1, this reference could potentially anticipate claims related to adjusting an evaluated value extraction region for automatic focus control (Claims 1, 3). The dynamic adjustment of the detection area based on image characteristics aligns with the general problem addressed by US8471950B2.

4. US20030002732A1

   • Full Citation: US20030002732A1, "Method and apparatus for digital image segmentation using an iterative method"
   • Publication Date: 2003-01-02 (Filing Date: 2000-08-04)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a method for segmenting digital images into regions based on pixel characteristics, using an iterative process. While not directly about image quality adjustment, it deals with identifying and separating different regions within an image.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of the "feature detection unit" and "region creation unit" of US8471950B2, particularly Claim 1 and Claim 2, which deal with detecting pixel features and creating regions by removing those pixels. The iterative segmentation method could be seen as a way to identify and exclude specific features from an evaluation.

5. US20040169767A1

   • Full Citation: US20040169767A1, "Digital camera and control method thereof"
   • Publication Date: 2004-09-02 (Filing Date: 1998-07-22)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a digital camera with an image processing unit that can perform various image adjustments, including exposure control and white balance, potentially using different evaluation areas.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference broadly anticipates claims related to image processing, white balance adjustment, and exposure control in a digital camera (Claims 1, 4, 7, 10, 14). While not explicitly detailing the exclusion of specific features from the evaluation region in the same manner as US8471950B2, the concept of using different evaluation areas for these controls is present.

6. US20050157189A1

   • Full Citation: US20050157189A1, "Signal-processing system, signal-processing method, and signal-processing program"
   • Publication Date: 2005-07-21 (Filing Date: 2003-10-24)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a signal processing system that identifies specific regions in an image, such as high-luminance areas, and performs image processing to correct for problems caused by these regions (e.g., overexposure).
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant to the core invention of US8471950B2, particularly claims 1 and 2, which involve detecting features (like high luminance) and removing them from an evaluated value extraction region. The explicit mention of processing to correct problems caused by high-luminance regions directly aligns with the problem US8471950B2 aims to solve, indicating a strong potential for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

7. US20060087578A1

   • Full Citation: US20060087578A1, "Method of controlling digital photographing apparatus for out-focusing operation and digital photographing apparatus adopting the method"
   • Publication Date: 2006-04-27 (Filing Date: 2004-10-27)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a digital photographing apparatus and method for controlling an out-focusing operation, potentially involving the analysis of image characteristics for aesthetic blur effects.
   • Potential Anticipation: While focused on out-of-focus effects, the method's reliance on analyzing image characteristics could broadly relate to the feature detection unit and evaluated value extraction of US8471950B2 (Claim 1). However, the specific inventive step of excluding features to obtain more accurate control values for basic image quality adjustments (like focus or exposure) might differentiate US8471950B2.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Among the listed citations, US20050157189A1 appears to be the most relevant prior art. It explicitly describes a system that identifies high-luminance areas and performs image processing to address problems caused by them. This directly relates to the core inventive concept of US8471950B2, which is to exclude such "feature change positions" (like spotlights or high luminance areas) from the evaluated value extraction region to obtain more appropriate values for automatic control. This similarity suggests that US20050157189A1 could potentially anticipate claims 1 and 2, as well as those related to specific automatic control functions (e.g., exposure control, white balance, or autofocus) where problematic features are identified and handled.