Abstract: Machine vision methods for segmenting an image include the steps of generating a first image of the background of an object, generating a second image of the object and background, and subtracting the second image from the first image. The methods are characterized in that the second image is generated such that subtraction of it from the first image emphasizes the object with respect to the background.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements to multiprocessing systems of the type having a plurality of processes, each with an associated memory, and mechanisms that permit each process to access storage locations in the memory of other processes by specifying addresses (or other such indicators) associated with those locations. The improvement is characterized, according to one aspect of the invention, by an allocation element that allocates data buffers with portions encompassing data storage locations in one or more of the process memories. A mapping element generates addresses from storage location expressions that are made in terms of (i) the id.'s of processes in whose memories those locations reside, and (ii) offsets from a unique pointer—referred to as a pas_ptr—associated with each data buffer. Other improvements pertain to execution of parallel processes using such data buffering mechanisms, as well as use of semaphores and synchronization flags on multiprocessing systems.

Abstract: An improved side-release belt buckle has a male part with a resilient member and a female part with a cavity for releasably securing the resilient member, wherein the female part has a buckle-release aperture on a side (e.g., the top of the buckle) whose geometric normal is substantially aligned with a surface of the wearer's body. The aperture being substantially free of extension into a side (i.e., the front face of the buckle) that has a normal directed away from the wearer's body. The invention has application to saftey buckles for use in strapping firearm holsters and other articles to wearers.

Abstract: The invention provides machine vision systems for morphological transformation of a source image e.g., adapted for use with zero or uniform offsets. The systems have application, for example, in image erosion or dilation of images of varied image quality. Systems according to the invention compare each pixel in a first row (or line) of the image with a corresponding pixel in a second row of the image. In each comparison, the system identifies the pixel intensity of selected rank. Where the system effects a dilation-type transformation, for example, the comparison seeks a maximum of the compared pixels. For an erosion-type transformation, the comparison seeks a minimum. The pixel intensity value of selected rank (e.g., minimum or maximum) determined from each comparison is retained and, in turn, compared with the intensity values of the corresponding pixels in every other row in the image.

Abstract: A vascular stent-graft system comprises a stent-graft with an expandable tip and a restraining member disposed about at least a portion of that tip. The restraining member constrains expansion of the tip, even absent contact with a delivery device by which the stent-graft is deployed. Thus, unlike prior art designs, the tip can be partially positioned and at least temporarily freed from the grasp of a deployment device without risk that the tip will be prematurely expand into a potentially undesirable fit in the aorta.

Abstract: A multi-connector system electrically couples circuit components, such as printed circuit boards, daughtercards, integrated circuits and the like. The system includes two or more electrical connector sockets, each of which is physically coupled to a first supporting member, e.g., a rigid bar or plate. Two or more electrical connector plugs are also provided, each of which is physically coupled to a second supporting member, again, for example, a rigid bar or plate. The connector plugs and sockets can be, for example, of the VME64 160-pin variety or of any other variety and style known in the art. A jacking element, which is physically coupled with both the first and second supporting members, can be manipulated to bring them together and/or to separate them and, thereby, to couple and/or uncouple the sockets from their respective plugs.

Abstract: Equipment storage apparatus, such as equipment racks and cabinets, according to the invention have a vertical load bearing member with a stepped cross-section. Thus, for example, a load bearing member of a frame according to one aspect of the invention can have two faces on its front: one with a frontward directed normal for accommodating equipment mounts, and one with a frontward directed normal for accommodating front door mounts. A pair of such load bearing members can be provided, along with one or more horizontal cross-pieces or other such structural elements, to form a frame defining a generally rectangular central region in which mounted equipment is disposed.

Abstract: A separable, general affine transformation according to the invention permits an image to be concurrently rotated, scaled, translated, skewed, sheared, or otherwise transformed via a sequence of one-dimensional transformations. A general affine transformation of an image in two dimensions is achieved by generating an “intermediate” image via affine transformation of the source along a first axis. The intermediate image is then subjected to affine transformation along a second axis, e.g., perpendicular to the first. The resultant image may be used in place of that which would be produced by a single two-dimensional transformation of the source image (e.g., in a single pass).

Abstract: An apparatus which is capable of connecting a first digital device to a modem or to a second digital device includes a cable having at least two wires therein, one wire for transmitting data and one wire for receiving data. A symmetrical plug having at least two prongs terminates the cable such that a corresponding prong on the symmetrical plug receives signals from one of the at least two wires in the cable. The symmetrical plug is operable in at least two orientations. Specifically, the symmetrical plug mates to a corresponding socket in the first digital device in a first orientation and mates to the corresponding socket in the first digital device in the second orientation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for reducing the bandwidth of a multichannel image. In one aspect, the methods and apparatus call for acquiring a multichannel training image representing a training scene. Weighting factors for the respective channels are determined based on the contrast at corresponding locations in that multichannel training image. A reduced bandwidth runtime image is generated from the multichannel runtime images as a function of (i) the weighting factors determined from the training image and (ii) a multichannel image representing the runtime scene.

Abstract: A machine vision method analyzes a calibration target of the type having two or more regions, each having a "imageable characteristic," e.g., a different color, contrast, or brightness, from its neighboring region(s). Each region has at least two edges--referred to as "adjoining edges"--that are linear and that are directed toward and, optionally meet at, a reference point (e.g., the center of the target or some other location of interest). The method includes generating an image of the target, identifying in the image features corresponding to the adjoining edges, fitting lines to those edges, and determining the orientation and/or position of the target from those lines.

Abstract: The invention provides a two-phase method for identifying sets of collinear points in data points, e.g., derived from an image. During a first phase, the "angle-finding" phase, the angular orientation of the lines defined by the sets of points is estimated. During a second phase, the "line-finding" phase, sets of collinear points aligned at that angle are identified. The invention has application, for example, in finding parallel and perpendicular point sets in an image.

Abstract: A field controller for use in a distributed control system including an area controller and at least one field controller. The field controller manages at least one controlled device in an industrial process operation. The field controller comprises a processor module segment through which it can control a selected number of devices, and it may also include one or more expansion module segments to enable it to control a larger number of controlled devices. The processor module segment includes a processor module and at least one local interface module for interfacing to a controlled device, and the expansion module segment includes interface modules for interfacing to other controlled devices. In the processor module segment, the processor module and said local interface module are interconnected by a bus segment, which is also connected to an upstream off-module connector.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for processing an image to identify the position of a linear pattern--for example, a line or a cross-hair comprising a plurality of intersecting lines. The system performs a first processing step for generating a projection of the image along axes aligned with an expected position of the linear patterns. A second processing step performs a mirror symmetry filtering on the projection to bring out a single peak corresponding to the center of the linear pattern. To further isolate that peak, the system performs a further filtering operation to remove peaks of lesser slope angle, so that only a highly sloped spike corresponding to the linear pattern will remain. The position of the center that peak corresponds to the center of the linear pattern in the original input signal.

Abstract: A method of inspecting an image to locate a ball grid array surface-mounted device includes the steps of inspecting the image to find its surface features and to determine their locations (referred to herein as their "observed" locations); comparing expected locations of those features with the observed locations to identify missing surface features; reinspecting the image in the vicinity of apparently missing surface features to verify if the feature is really missing or to find those features and to determine their "observed" locations; and determining, from the observed locations of the surface features, the position and/or angle of the ball grid array surface-mounted device. The invention can be used to determine the position and/or angle of ball grid array surface-mounted devices with surface features in any of many array configurations, e.g., a regular lattice, a checker board lattice, a reverse checker board lattice, a regular lattice with a holes, and a custom lattice.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for forming and image from a stream of non-interleaved image date, e.g., a stream of non-contiguous rows of pixels. Such a system includes a memory, in which the image is to be formed (and stored), and a controller, for initiating memory transfers that move rows of pixels from the stream to their (the rows') respective locations in memory. The controller initiates those transfers such that (i) the rows of pixels are transferred to the memory in the order in which they are received from the stream, and (ii) each row of pixels is transferred directly to the location in memory corresponding to that row's respective position in the image.

Abstract: A machine vision system for finding an angle object orientation, or other characteristic, of an object in an image. The system determines the boundary pixels, determines the segment orientation angles associated with each successive segment of n boundary pixels, assigns a weight to each angle, generates a histogram of the angles according to their weights, normalizes the histogram to an angle range covering 90.degree., and generates a signal representing the angle corresponding to a selected peak in the histogram. In one embodiment, the system interpolates between neighboring pixels across the boundary to obtain a grey-scale boundary of sub-pixel accuracy.

Abstract: The invention provides machine vision methods and apparatus for determining a calibration relationship between the imaging reference frame of an image acquisition device (e.g., a camera) and the motion reference frame of a moveable object (e.g., a motion stage) by positioning the object so that a fiducial thereon (e.g., a calibration mark) lies at a first fiducial position in the field of view and recording the corresponding position of the object in the motion reference frame. The object is then repositioned so that the fiducial moves to a second fiducial position in the field of view. Again, the corresponding position of the object in the motion reference frame is recorded. Likewise, the object is moved to a third fiducial position in the field of view, and its corresponding position in the motion reference frame is recorded.

Abstract: The invention provides improved machine vision methods for determining a calibration relationship among the imaging reference frames of multiple cameras (or other image acquisition devices) that acquire images of a common moveable object. The calibration relationship includes parameters for transforming positional coordinates among the camera's respective imaging reference frames. The method includes placing on the common object, stage, or belt a plurality of fiducials, e.g., calibration marks, that are at known positions relative to each other with respect to a frame of reference referred to as the "alignment reference frame"; aligning an axis of the alignment reference frame with an axis of the object's reference frame of motion, i.e.

Abstract: Machine vision methods for determining a characteristic (such as position, orientation, size, center of mass, and boundary) of an object in an image include finding points in the image on the boundary of the object; identifying bounding boxes, or regions, in the image that correspond to edges of the object; and labeling boundary points to denote which respective edges, if any, to which they belong based on (i) the locations and orientations of those points, and (ii) locations of the plural bounding boxes. Points apparently lying on a boundary of the object, but outside a bounding box, can be ignored--and, more particularly, are denoted as not corresponding to an edge. Likewise, apparent boundary points lying within a bounding box, but at an angle not associated with the corresponding to the respective edge of the object, can also be ignored. Characteristics of the imaged object are determined as a function of those boundary points found to correspond to an edge of the object (e.g.