Abstract: For the purpose of accurately calculating the average value M of original complex observed signals S from an absolute-value image produced by the complex observed signals S, in Step A1, the average value Ma of pixel values |S| of the absolute-value image in a local region is calculated by: Ma=?|S|/k, wherein the number of pixels in the local region is represented as k. In Step A2, the average value M of the original complex observed signals S is calculated by the following equation: M=?·ƒ?1 (Ma/?), wherein ƒ?1 (Ma/?) is an inverse function of the function Ma/?=ƒ(M/?) represented as: Ma/?=??{|M/?+(X+iY)|exp{?(X2+Y2)/2}/2?}dX dY.

Abstract: A face recognition system and process for identifying a person depicted in an input image and their face pose. This system and process entails locating and extracting face regions belonging to known people from a set of model images, and determining the face pose for each of the face regions extracted. All the extracted face regions are preprocessed by normalizing, cropping, categorizing and finally abstracting them. More specifically, the images are normalized and cropped to show only a person's face, categorized according to the face pose of the depicted person's face by assigning them to one of a series of face pose ranges, and abstracted preferably via an eigenface approach.

Abstract: A fingerprint reading system is provided, which is capable of enhancing versatility when actually used, increasing productivity and reducing costs. An illumination device emits the light from a rear surface side of an active matrix liquid crystal cell. A light guiding plate provided on a surface side of the active matrix liquid crystal cell, transmits the light coming from the rear surface side and deflects the light coming from the surface side toward one side end surface. A light receiving device provided on the side of one side surface of the light guiding plate receives the light exiting from this one side surface. A drive circuit makes the active matrix liquid crystal cell pinpoint-irradiate a fingerprint in contact with the light guiding plate by pinpointing with the light emitted from the illumination device and makes the light receiving device pinpoint-receive the light reflected by the fingerpoint, thereby obtaining an image of the fingerprint.

Abstract: A method sorts out defect-free elements blanked out of a metal sheet for a belt for use in a continuously variable transmission. Each of the elements has a body and a head joined to the body with a pair of recesses defined therebetween. The elements are stacked in a transverse direction thereof into an annular form and bundled together by an assembly of stacked endless metal rings inserted in the recesses into a belt for use in a continuously variable transmission. The elements are inserted into a passage having a predetermined width to sort out and deliver those elements which have passed through the passage to a feed path. Respective images of the elements which have been delivered to the feed path are analyzed while in the feed path to compare the images with a reference element image. Elements which have entrapped foreign matter, outer profile deformations, and defects are rejected from the feed path, and other elements are fed through the feed path.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight and high-intensity light source for detecting and analyzing fingerprints during field investigation. On-site field analysis requires long hours of mobile analysis. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; a power source; and a personal attachment means; wherein the light emitting diodes are powered by the power source, and wherein the power source and the light emitting diodes are attached to the personal attachment means to produce a personal light source for on-site analysis of latent fingerprints. The present invention is available for other applications as well.

Abstract: An algorithm for recovering structure and motion from points, lines and/or image intensities. The algorithm combines feature based reconstruction and direct methods. The present invention is directed to a method for recovering 3D scene structure and camera motion from image data obtained from a multi-image sequence, wherein a reference image of the sequence is taken by a camera at a reference perspective and one or more successive images of the sequence are taken at one or more successive different perspectives by translating and/or rotating the camera.

Abstract: An inspection system which enables even the production control section located at a remote place to trace and inspect the changing process of the external appearance, after undergoing through each manufacturing process, of a great number of work boards that have been placed on a continuous work line. According to this inspection system, the moving velocity of work board being transferred by means of a transfer roller is measured by a rotary pulse encoder, and the sampling rate of a CCD line sensor camera is controlled to obtain a surface image data of the moving work board.

Abstract: Stand-alone or assistive pattern recognition system and process enabling error free classification of all objects in a training set and application to unclassified objects. Parameters and/or features of the data objects in a training set are selected and measured, from which discriminants are computed. The measured data is plotted in discriminant space and decision boundaries or thresholds determined, preferably such that at least one object from one class is isolated from the remaining objects, removed from the training set, and the process repeated until an acceptable number of unclassified objects remain. The system can be applied sequentially to classify all the members of the training set belonging to one class and then applied to objects in other classes. Fuzzy quantifiable determinations of an object's likelihood of class membership can be made. Objects' positions and classifications are obtainable in an optical system using Fourier techniques without limitation to linearly discriminable problems.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for processing a demosaiced image using a color aliasing artifact reduction (CAAR) algorithm in order to reduce color aliasing artifacts. The CAAR algorithm computes the L level wavelet transform for the demosaiced color planes R, G and B. Thereafter, the CAAR algorithm estimates the correct color value at each pixel location for the colors not associated with that pixel location. For example, to determine the green value at red pixel locations, the CAAR algorithm performs an inverse wavelet transform using the green approximation signal and the red detail signals. This process is repeated for each of the colors (e.g., green values at blue pixel locations, red values at green pixel locations, etc.). In addition, the CAAR algorithm performs an inverse wavelet transform on each of the color planes themselves, so that the pixel values of the color associated with each pixel location are not altered.

Abstract: A method in digital stereo camera for creating anaglyphs of a given subject with a pre-set stereoscopic distance (Sd). The camera has a pre-set distance (D) between and an scene plane and a lens plane defined by pair of first and second lenses aligned along a plane. The camera includes a pre-set distance (p) between the lens plane and an image plane. The pair of lenses is coupled to a pair of imagers. The method comprising the steps of: producing a pair of stereo images each having three color channels; cropping each of the pair of images by an amount (b), where b=Sd*(p/D); and combining one color channel from one of the pair of stereo images with two color channels from a second of the pair of stereo images, so that the resulting image comprises three orthogonal color channels. In another embodiment, a digital stereoscopic camera and a computer readable medium for carrying out the above method is described.

Abstract: A method for rapid determination of the position and/or orientation of a semiconductor device, electronic component or other object includes performing multiple times an operation of matching a pattern against an image. The matching operation finds the location, if any, of a respective pattern in the image and determines the degree of match. The position and orientation of the object is determined from the results of one of the matching operations, for example, from the operation that revealed the highest degree of match.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image. The apparatus includes an image tile capture mechanism for capturing image tiles. The apparatus includes a mechanism for controlling the image tiles the image tile capture mechanism captures. The controlling mechanism is disposed adjacent the image tile capture mechanism. The apparatus includes a mechanism for combining the image tiles into an image. The combining mechanism is connected with the image tile capture mechanism. An apparatus for forming an image. The apparatus includes a low resolution high frame rate image tile capture mechanism which stores P pixels at F frames per second, where P and F are integers greater than or equal to 2. The apparatus includes a mechanism for converting the low resolution high frame rate image tiles captured by the capture mechanism into a high-resolution low frame rate image by storing kNP pixels at F/N frames per second, where K less than or equal to 1 and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, captured by the capture mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for curve matching multiple images of a scene. The curve matching produces a geometrical representation of the scene from the images, which can be used for any suitable application, such as computer and stereo vision applications. In general, first, multiple images depicting a scene are digitally received by the system. The images are graphical images digitally received and processed as two dimensional image data, such as bitmap or raster image data. Curve matching of the images is then performed to correlate the two images of the scene for creating three dimensional (3D) curve information, such as 3D vector information, of the scene. This 3D vector information can then be used in any suitable manner, for example, to digitally reconstruct the scene for stereo vision applications.

Abstract: A method for determining the reference plane in multi-dimensional data is disclosed.

Abstract: An image processor for a digital image of an object having a crack is disclosed, the digital image being made of a plurality of pixels. The image processor comprises a counter for counting a number of the pixels relating to the crack within a selected portion of the image, the selected portion being of a known area, an investigator for investigating the relationship among the pixels relating to the crack within the selected portion of the image, and a width evaluator for evaluating the width of the crack corresponding to the selected portion of the image on the basis of the number of the pixels and the relationship among the pixels.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus capable of simultaneously obtaining range information and luminance information with high precision, independently of an object. A controller scans slit light, emitted from a laser beam source and shaped by a cylindrical lens, on an object plural times, by mirror surfaces of a polygon mirror, while causing the laser beam source to flash by using a laser beam source driver. The slit light is time-sequentially combined into projection pattern light having plural light stripes, respectively 3-level or more intensity-modulated, and the projection pattern light is projected onto the object. An image processor obtains the range information and the luminance information based on reflection light obtained by image pickup by first and second cameras.

Abstract: A face detection system and process capable of detecting a person depicted in an input image and identifying their face pose. Prepared training images are used to train a 2-stage classifier which includes a bank of Support Vector Machines (SVMs) as an initial pre-classifier layer, and a neural network forming a subsequent decision classifier layer. Once the SVMs and the neural network are trained, input image regions are prepared and input into the system. An output is produced from the neural network which indicates first whether the region under consideration depicts a face, and secondly, if a face is present, into what pose range the pose of the face falls.

Abstract: A fingerprint identification device judges that the input fingerprint is identical to the fingerprint in the database only when a the touch sensor detects the human finger and a the fingerprint processing unit detects that the input fingerprint is identical to a fingerprint in the database. The touch sensor includes an oscillator that outputs a high frequency signal. An electrode unit applies the high frequency signal to the human finger. A detector unit detects a variation of impedance values varied by the human finger contracting the electrode unit and outputs an output signal based on the variation of impedance values. A discriminator unit determines whether the human finger is in contact with the electrode unit by comparing the output signal from the detector unit with a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: A system for inspecting the surface of elongated work boards being moved, which is featured in that the work boards are photographed using a digital camera, that line image data which intersect with a moving direction of the work boards are extracted, and that the resultant line image data are integrated and synthesized to obtain a synthesized image, which is then displayed to evaluate the worked state of the work boards.

Abstract: A wafer mapping system uses a camera to acquire an image of a carrier containing wafers. In one embodiment, the acquired image is stored as rows and columns of pixels. The presence and location of a wafer in the carrier are determined by looking for pixel intensity variations in a column of the image.