Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention operates upon the problem of contouring that is encountered in the digital image processing field. The preferred apparatus embodiment of the invention forms quantizing steps that vary in size during the processing of signals in order to minimize contouring effects. The embodiment includes a transforming function block for receiving digital input signals each representing a magnitude value requiring quantization, the transforming function block provides an output gain value that is a function of the magnitude of the value of each received digital input signal. A quantizer is provided for receiving the digital input signals and for performing quantizing steps on the digital input signals to provide a multibit quantized digital signal. A first randomizer is used to randomize the least significant bits of the multibit quantized digital signal when the output gain value is less than or equal to threshold value.

Abstract: The invention is a method for determining the thermal conductivity of an unknown material using a differential scanning calorimeter. Experiments conducted in a non-adiabatic environment govern the mathematics of the present method. Multiple samples of the unknown material are formed with different lengths and identical cross-sectional areas. Samples of a reference material, having a known thermal conductivity and a density approaching that of the unknown sample, are formed with the same lengths and cross-sectional area as the unknown samples. Each sample is subjected to the same heat rise in a differential scanning calorimeter to determine values of Q heat flow at selected incremental temperatures. A heat equation for the reference sample and the unknown sample is formed and solved for each like length and temperature value of a reference and sample material to determine the thermal conductivity of the unknown sample.

Abstract: Colored shadows (and highlights) in a reproduced color image, caused by limited sensitivities in different channels of an image scanning device, such as a multicolor video camera, are effectively eliminated by controllably adjusting the signal intensity of the output signals of one of the channels in dependance upon whether or not the level of that signal is within a limited region of the camera's response characteristics. As long as the signal level of the channel of interest, (e.g. blue color band channel), lies within a non-limited portion of the sensitivity range of the camera for that channel, the intensity of that channel's output signals are left unchanged. However, in response to the level of the channel's output signals falling within a limited portion of the sensitivity range of the camera, the intensity of that channel's output signals is effectively corrected by substituting in their place the output signals of another camera channel (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention efficiently and quickly computes the fit parameters for a noise reduction method wherein a digital image is first decomposed into two types of regions; smooth regions and edge regions. Within the digitized image a plane fit parameter is computed at every point. The computation of the fit parameters incorporates convolutions carried out in an efficient manner by the use of a slide sum technique.

Abstract: An improved method of operating a color scanning system of the type that incorporates a monochrome image sensor having at least one photosensitive area that is sequentially exposed to individual colors of a scene and to a dithering of the scene with respect to the image sensor photosensitive area is described along with an improved color filter mask for the at least one photosensitive area. The blue filter mask is formed over a portion the photosensitive area, for example, an L-shaped portion, that covers approximately 75% of the photosensitive area. The method of operation is to first image and dither a red filtered version of the scene onto the photosensitive area to generatr a red image signal. Next a green filtered version of the scene is imaged and dithered onto the photosensitive area to generate a green image signal, and lastly a blue filtered version of the scene is imaged onto the photosensitive area without dithering to generate a blue image signal.

Abstract: A pseudo center weighted local variance in the neighborhood of an image pixel determines the amplification factor multiplying the difference between the image pixel and its blurred counterpart before it is combined with the original image. The amplification factor is computed for each pixel in the image, and varies from a minimum value of about -1 when the center weighted variance is at a minimum value to some maximum value when the center weighted variance reaches a maximum value. The pseudo center weighted variance is computed by convolving the local neighborhood surrounding each image pixel with a kernel of center weights having a maximum value at the center pixel. The pseudo center weighted variance is the difference between the center weighted mean of the source of the local neighborhood of image pixels and the square of the center weighted mean.

Abstract: A color imagery compression/decompression mechanism employs a contrast sensitivity function model of the human visual system for color images, to derive normalization values for compressing chromatic components of the color imagery data. The CSF model is defined in terms of an ADT color space transform (15), the chromatic channels of which conform with the band-limited sensitivity of the visual system. The transform for obtaining the ADT components is executable by reduced complexity logic operators. Each of the ADT components is block transform coded using DCT transform coefficients (18) that are normalized (24) in accordance with a `weighted` (46, 45) CSF model (42) of the human visual system, which effectively performs a low pass filtering of the chromatic (DT) channels.

Abstract: A computer output printer is provided with a communications interface having a plurlaity of input ports. Each port can be configured to emulate a different manufacturer's printer, and is provided with a buffer to store print messages while print messages from another port are being printed.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention utilizes three scaling functions for bi-tonal digitized image data such as documents. The digitized document resolution (i.e. from a digitizing scanner) may be different from the resolution of an image output device (i.e. laser printer, CRT display, fax machine, etc.). The invention takes in the scanned image data and scales the data to compensate for the resolution mismatch of the output device. Although the invention is intended for document archive applications (such as scanning documents on microfilm), the scaling can be performed on any bi-tonal image.

Abstract: The method of the present invention operates upon the imaging signals from a color filter array image sensor to compress the image signals prior to color interpolation by separating the signals into three color planes. Missing green pixels are recovered through interpolation methods, either by bilinear or other techniques, in order to form color ratio signals long B/G.sub.missing and log R/G.sub.missing which allows for proper interpolation after decompression without color artifacts. Upon playback or reception, an inverse compression is applied and missing green, red and blue pixels are interpolated to provide three full planes of color image data.

Abstract: A CMOS circuit having an input threshold, the CMOS circuit including a first field-effect transistor having a source connected to a first power supply terminal, a drain connected to an output terminal, a gate connected to an input terminal, and a first channel between the source and the drain having a first width and a first length. A programmable field-effect transistor circuit has a gate terminal connected to the input terminal, a drain terminal connected to the output terminal, a source terminal connected to a second power supply terminal, and a second channel circuit between the drain terminal and the source terminal having an effective width and an effective length. Programmable input terminals are connected to the second channel circuit for changing the ratio of the product of the first width times the effective length to the product of the effective width times the first length such that the input threshold voltage of the CMOS circuit is changed responsive to the change of the ratio.

Abstract: An adaptive dual range analog to digital converter particularly adaptive for use with film scanners employs a set-up parameter input arrangement for receiving externally generated control signals for adjusting the digital quantization step size of the analog to digital converter to compensate for quantization errors. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the adaptive dual range analog to digital converter further includes an input signal range selection device for selecting a segment of the input analog signal to be converted to digital form using fine resolution quantization.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to operate with a digital imaging device which reproduces in hardcopy an original color image. In order to make high quality reproductions, that is reproductions which correspond in finished color to the color of the original image, the method of the present invention operates upon the original color densities with a color correction module that has as its input the desired red, green, and blue densities, and which outputs the modified red, green, and blue densities which can be considered to be channel-independent aim control signals for the imaging device. In the event that external conditions change which prevent the desired red, green, and blue densities from being achieved when the color correction module is utilized, a neutral adjustment module is activated which takes as its inputs the red, green, and blue aim control signals from the color correction module and outputs adjusted red, green, and blue signals which are directed to the imaging device.

Abstract: The method of the present invention operates upon the imaging signals from a color filter array image sensor to compress the image signals prior to color interpolation by separating the signals into three color planes. Missing green pixels are recovered through interpolation methods, either by bilinear or other techniques, in order to form color ratio signals log B/G.sub.missing and log R/G.sub.missing which allows for proper interpolation after decompression without color artifacts. Upon playback or reception, an inverse compression is applied and missing green, red and blue pixels are interpolated to provide three full planes of color image data.

Abstract: A computer monitoring device for recording the number of times address locations of a computer are accessed by a test program in order to determine if each available address is addressed by the test program and the frequency of the accesses. Omissions or low numbers of accesses reveal weak portions of the test program. The device is comprised of a probe for coupling to the address bus of the computer under test, a monitor computer and an address analyzer coupled to the probe and the monitor computer. The analyzer is comprised of a memory having at least one addressable location for every valid address that appears on the address bus. For each address received a fetch of a count stored at the location represented by that memory address is performed and the count is incremented by one and stored back into the memory at the accessed location.

Abstract: The present invention is a production control system and an associated method for interfacing automated material handling systems to manufacturing workcells, which workcells have processing equipment therein for performing processing jobs on provided material. An addressable library contains a plurality of program modules with each module defining a sequence of operations that are to be performed by at least one piece of processing equipment. In accordance with job descriptions and process scripts, program modules are selected to provide the capability of concurrently performing processing operations on the provided material. Each piece of processing equipment is programmed to be responsive to the sequence of operations defined by the program modules. The flow of material to and through each workstation is controlled by the job descriptions and process scripts. The processing operations are event tracked for signalling the occurrence of particular operations in the defined sequence of operations.

Abstract: An image processing method is described for the hierarchical storage and display of high resolution digital images in a multiuse environment. The method makes reduced resolution versions of the original image available for quick display on video monitors while providing access to the full resolution image for photographic quality hardcopies. This multiresolution method also provides for the efficient storage of this data via a hybrid coding scheme based on residuals. Several embodiments of this approach are described.

Abstract: The present invention automatically performs a series of measurements on an optical media based on writing a power ramp signal of known power levels (amplitudes) on a target sector of the optical media. The amplitudes of the written power levels are measured. A comparison of the measured amplitude of each level of the recorded power ramp signal against reference amplitudes is made to establish a matching factor. The power level having the closest matching factor is selected as the power level to be used for the best recording of data onto the optical media. The procedure may be iterated a number of times to form an average that can then be used as the write power level. The present method also provides a pre-emphasis calibration by writing a pre-emphasis ramp in a target sector which is compared against a desired duty cycle to select the pre-emphasis which yields the desired duty cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading and correcting an image including: a sensor which receives light and converts it to electrical signals; a digitizing unit to convert the analog image signal to a digital signal; a calibration unit to capture calibration data for each pixel under known illumination conditions and to produce individual correction values for each pixel and a correction unit comprised of a look-up table addressed by both the digital image signal and the correction values which corrects the digital image data.

Abstract: An image processing method is described for the hierarchical storage and display of high resolution digital images in a multiuse environment. The method makes reduced resolution versions of the original image available for quick display on video monitors while providing access to the full resolution image for making photographic quality hardcopies. This multiresolution method also provides for the efficient storage of the data resulting from the use of this method via a hybrid coding scheme. Several embodiments of the method are described.