Abstract: Live, three-dimensional (“3-D”) parallax and panoramic images are displayed using novel detection and processing devices, systems and methods. A spherical lens and spherical charge-coupled device (“CCD”) detects live, 3-D panoramic images. Image and positioning sweep generators are adapted to process the detected, 3-D images and to generate a novel, video signal. The video signal is then formatted so that it can be displayed. The live, 3-D parallax and panoramic images displayed using the video signal comprise images from a substantially 360°×360° range of angles. In addition, multiple detection units can be combined allowing multiple live, 3-D parallax and panoramic images to be displayed simultaneously.

Abstract: Improved image enhancement methods are disclosed which may be performed on conventional video processing systems. These methods operate in real time to improve the appearance of images as perceived by the human eye, and/or to render these images more suitable for computer analysis. A first preferred embodiment enhances color images without degrading the fidelity of the image. A second preferred embodiment enhances scanned gray-level document images by decreasing the blurring of the image and increasing the contrast between light and dark regions of the image.

Abstract: In a communications network techniques are disclosed for optimizing node interconnection based upon the number of communications pathways to be provided by each of the nodes. For each node, the number of communications pathways to be provided by that node is represented in the form of a one-dimensional array. Image reconstruction techniques are applied to this one-dimensional array to generate a two-dimensional image. The one-dimensional array is used to generate vertical columns of the two-dimensional image, or alternatively, horizontal rows of the two-dimensional image. The two-dimensional image, comprised of a pixel array, is a mathematical representation of the communications network. Each pixel of the two-dimensional image represents a specific pair of nodes. Each pixel has a gray-scale value that signifies the number of communications pathways that are to be provided between this specific pair of nodes.

Abstract: A signal processing system processes an input signal in real time. The system includes a light valve array for selectively attenuating light incident thereupon in response to electronic control signals, a light source for providing illumination, a light-sensitive array for producing electronic output signals representing a processed version of the input signal in response to light incident thereupon, and control circuitry for generating and applying electronic control signals to the light valve array in response to the input signal. The electronic control signals are generated from the input signal and are adapted for implementing an arbitrarily-selected signal processing operation. The light valve array is situated between the light source and the light-sensitive array, such that the light source is selectively attenuated by the light valve array, and such that the selectively attenuated light is incident upon the light-sensitive array.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus enables the approximate simultaneous transmission and reception of audio interleaved with image and graphical annotation signals, in data packet form, over an analog line which connects the apparatus to a switched telephone network. The audio data packets are transmitted at a periodic rate, during a first time interval, and the image and annotation data packets are transmitted during a second time interval, following the first time interval, enabling the simultaneous output of voice, image and annotation data at the receiver site. Control data packets, as needed, are also transmitted during the second time interval for end-to-end apparatus control. One feature enables the transmission of audio data packets at a first periodic rate, when in an image transmission mode, and at a second periodic rate, faster than the first periodic rate, when not in the image transmission mode.