Abstract: An overhead scanning system records pages from bound documents in an upright and open condition. The scanning system is defined with a general imaging geometry that makes the scanning system readily portable, and provides the scanning system with a variable imaging area. Once an operator defines an imaging area of an image acquisition system, the operator positions a light stripe projector to project across the imaging area. After recording calibration data, a perspective transform is provided by a perspective transform generator. In operation, a first image of the bound document having a light stripe projected there across is recorded by the image acquisition system. A page shape transform generator is then used to derive a page shape transform. Subsequently, a second image of the bound document is recorded without projecting a light stripe thereacross.

Abstract: A rate control algorithm for an MPEG-2 compliant encoder of the present invention has embodiments useful for constant bit rate and variable bit rate encoding.In particular, the invention relates to a three stage hierarchial motion vector determination.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reads an image and synthesizes it with another, broadcast standardized image signal supplied from outside the apparatus and stored in a memory provided in the apparatus.

Abstract: A process is provided for avoiding a gap between adjacent uniform color objects in an image. First, it is first determined whether the image data contains two adjacent uniform color objects, each uniform color composed of two or fewer characteristic color components, and whether a gap would be evident between the uniform color objects. If the image data does not contain two adjacent uniform color objects with two or fewer characteristic color components or if a gap would not be evident, the image data is processed and output without adjusting the image. If, alternatively, it is determined that the image data contains two adjacent uniform color objects with two or fewer characteristic color components and a gap would be evident, at least one of the objects is examined to determine the saturation of each characteristic color component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a picture advantageously employed for encoding a picture. A plurality of input picture data are stored, and the quantity of the information of the input picture data from the plural stored picture data is evaluated for detecting a scene change. A GOP of a preset unit length, made up of a picture formed by compression by intra-frame coding and a picture formed by compression by inter-frame predictive coding, is selected based upon a scene change detection output and the input picture data is encoded in a pre-set manner in accordance with the selected GOP. By detecting a scene change and selecting the intra-frame coding as a compression method responsive to scene change detection, the compression efficiency is raised at a scene change portion of the input picture data where the correlation between previous and succeeding pictures is lowered.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for suppressing noise and an input image having a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels in the plurality of pixels having a range of possible values between at least two extremities. A first group of pixels is determined, each pixel of the first group having a value that is less than a predetermined amount from the value of at least one of the extremities. The values of pixels adjacent to each pixel in the first group are examined to determine if the adjacent pixels are also members of the first group and, when a predetermined number of the pixels adjacent to a pixel in the first group are also members of the first group, reassigning the pixel value of that pixel in the first group and each of its adjacent pixels to have the value of at least one of the extremities.

Abstract: An output control method and apparatus for receiving data from an external apparatus such as a floppy disc and generating are disclosed. ID data that is peculiar to a printer is non-volatilely stored in advance into a writable/readable non-volatile secondary memory device such as a hard disc or the like. An ID number sent from an external apparatus such as a host computer is compared with the stored ID number. When the ID numbers don't coincide, data reception from the external apparatus is inhibited. When they coincide, the data from the external apparatus is received and stored into the secondary memory device. The data from the external apparatus is printed with reference to the data stored in the secondary memory device.

Abstract: An image scanner has a reflecting mirror for reflecting a light beam from an original, a one-dimensional image sensor for scanning the original in a main scanning direction with the reflected light beam from the reflecting mirror to produce a partial image of the original, and an auxiliary scanning mechanism for angularly moving the reflecting mirror to cause the reflected light to scan the original in an auxiliary scanning direction transverse to the main scanning direction, thereby to enable the one-dimensional image sensor to produce in main scanning cycles respective partial images of the original which may be combined into a two-dimensional image of the original. An image converter converts the partial images depending on changes in an optical path length from the original to the one-dimensional image sensor. The image scanner thus constructed is relatively small in size and simple in structure, prevents produced two-dimensional images from being distorted, and is capable of reading images at high speed.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube having an improved safety feature in preparation for the accidental implosion of a high vacuum cathode ray tube is provided. The cathode ray tube comprises a panel, a funnel sealed with the panel, and an implosion preventing band mounted on a sealing portion of the panel and the funnel, further comprising a flexible auxiliary panel which externally covers the panel and whose skirt is adhered to the sealing portion by means of the implosion preventing band. Thus, an external impact is not directly transmitted to the CRT, and the danger due to the implosion of the front of the panel is reduced. Also, the effectiveness of the implosion preventing band can be improved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming units for forming, on an image receiving member such as a transfer sheet, toner images of a plurality of different colors such as magenta, cyan, yellow and black. Each of the image forming units includes a photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image carried by the image carrier to form a color toner image, and a transfer device for transferring the toner image to the image receiving member. The developing device in the image forming unit for forming on the image receiving member the toner image of an (i+1)-th color is of the type capable of simultaneously performing both development and removal of residual toner. The transfer currents T.sub.i and T.sub.i+1 employed by the transfer units which perform transfer of the toner images of an i-th color and the (i+1)-th color satisfy the following condition (1).

Abstract: A signal discrimination circuit judges whether an input signal contains a control signal or not, the control signal having a specific frequency and a specific level for a specific time duration. The signal discrimination circuit includes a component power detection device for detecting the power of a component which is in the input signal and having the specific frequency and a level judging device for determining whether the power of the component is equal to or greater than a power reference value. Finally, a control signal judging device is included for determining that the input signal includes the control signal, when the level judging device judges that the power of the component is equal to or greater than the power reference value, continuously for the duration of a reference time.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus discriminates an effective size of input image data, compresses the input image data, and controls the compression in accordance with the discriminated effective size.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting pixels in a dotted image area (dotted area pixels). Image data corresponding to each of the pixels is coded into one of a predetermined number of discrete values. The distance between change points at which the value of the pixel after the coding is changed from a first value to a second value is detected. Further, it is examined whether or not periodicity is recognized in the distance between the change points in the vicinity of a target pixel. If periodicity is recognized in the distance between the change points, it is judged that the target pixel may constitute a dotted image area.

Abstract: An image input system having an image input device and an original holder that can read images from different configurations of original documents. An image input device includes a light emitting assembly that irradiates light onto an original document, a reading assembly that reads and composes the reading light passing the original document into an image and an assembly for moving the reading assembly and the original document relative to each other to scan the reading light over the original document. The original holder includes a cartridge housing component for housing a film cartridge. The original holder can be removed from the image input device, making possible the reading of images from different kinds of original documents.

Abstract: An inventive page encoding, printing, retrieval and archiving system and method wherein document information designators are encoded for pages. The designator includes information regarding the location of the digital representation of the page and optionally includes page generation and reproduction information. An enhanced copier or facsimile machine scans the printed designator and retrieves the stored digital representation of the page and outputs a "subsequent original" of the page. In the alternative, when the copier cannot directly access the digital representation of the page, the enhanced copier can decode the page generation and reproduction information found in the designator and apply the information to production of a high quality photocopy.

Abstract: A color correction device for applying a correction to an image read from an original image so as to correct color deviations caused by spectral characteristics of a color image reader, including:a data conversion device for converting the image of the color components into image data of color components based on three attributes,a color deviation detection device for detecting a color deviation of a reference color by comparing with a predetermined hue data of the reference color,a storage device for storing correction coefficients set in advance for the respective colors,a correction data setting device for setting correction data used to correct the color deviations of the respective colors, anda data correction device for correcting the hue data of the respective colors by the correction data setting device.

Abstract: A transmitter in a process control loop includes a sensor for sensing a process variable. An analog-to-digital converter coupled to the sensor provides a digitized process variable at various sample times. An interface couples the transmitter to the control loop and is used for communicating information and receiving power over the control loop. The transmitter includes a clock and a memory. A microprocessor coupled to the clock and the memory stores digitized process variables and clock information in the memory. The storage is such that the sample time of a stored digitized process variable can be determined.

Abstract: A solid state imager assembly for use in an insertion tube of a video endoscope that includes a TAB imager package having fine pitch leads extending outwardly to either side of the imager. A transparent window covers the imager. A first hybrid board is attached to one set of leads and a second hybrid circuit board is attached to the second set of leads. The boards are turned downwardly to either side of the imager and placed in opposed parallel alignment beneath the imager. Circuitry is mounted on the opposed inside surfaces of the boards. A block of encapsulating material is placed between the boards to encapsulate the circuitry therein and provide structural support to the package.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of reliably detecting a very small dotted image area. A detecting area including a predetermined number of pixels including a target pixel is set. It is judged whether or not the detecting area belongs to a dotted image area on the basis of the number of edge pixels in the detecting area. Consequently, it is possible to detect edges peculiar to the dotted image area on the basis of a leading edge portion or a trailing edge portion of the density, to detect the very small dotted image area on the basis of the number of edge pixels.

Abstract: An architecture for a network printing system is provided that allows the network printer to achieve and enhance two-way communication between the host computers and the printer connected to the network. The architecture layers provide a normalized interface to the layers below so that all of the protocol/ports interact in the same way. More particularly, an imaging device protocol (IDP) and an IDP emulator enable various network service protocol/ports, both IDP and non-IDP ports, to communicate with the network printer by "seamless plug and play" connectivity. Furthermore, this architecture allows host computers to request network printer services through a client service connection protocol (CSCP) and IDP when these protocols are supported and emulates CSCP/IDP interactions when the network services do not support the CSCP/IDP protocols so that print job requests may be executed from the same print queue.