Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a candidate point detecting section configured to detect a plurality of candidate points on a boundary of a code region of a two-dimensional code in an image capturing the two-dimensional code, by scanning the image starting from an internal point of the two-dimensional code in the image, the two-dimensional code including a plurality of modules being arranged in two dimensions; a calculating section configured to calculate a first boundary line using the candidate points; a selecting section configured to select the candidate points located within a distance less than a threshold value from the first boundary line; and a boundary line detecting section configured to detect a second boundary line calculated using the selected candidate points selected by the selecting section.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor; and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute, acquiring a captured image; extracting a first feature amount and a second feature amount of a user included in the image, and a third feature amount indicative of a likelihood of a portion from which the second feature amount is extracted; generating an authentication table including a plurality of the first feature amounts, a plurality of the second feature amounts, and a plurality of the third feature amounts extracted from a plurality of the images; and selecting the third feature amount extracted at authentication of the user, and the first feature amount and the second feature amount included in the authentication table, based on the third feature amount included in the authentication table, and authenticating the user based on the first feature amount.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a candidate point detecting section configured to detect a plurality of candidate points on a boundary of a code region of a two-dimensional code in an image capturing the two-dimensional code, by scanning the image starting from an internal point of the two-dimensional code in the image, the two-dimensional code including a plurality of modules being arranged in two dimensions; a calculating section configured to calculate a first boundary line using the candidate points; a selecting section configured to select the candidate points located within a distance less than a threshold value from the first boundary line; and a boundary line detecting section configured to detect a second boundary line calculated using the selected candidate points selected by the selecting section.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for displaying an image including a plurality of blocks in which code information can be embedded, includes obtaining a first image including a plurality of blocks, obtaining a second image determined by changing the characteristic value of the selected blocks of the first image so as to associate the value with the code information to be embedded, and displaying the first image data and the second image data, sequentially.

Abstract: When a small block area enters a first two-dimensional code during a scan and features of the image within the area of a position in the first two-dimensional code coincide with a two-dimensional code, the block area is specified as containing a code and a recognition process is performed in the nearby areas. When the recognition of the two-dimensional code has been successful, the area of the first two-dimensional code is further extracted. When the extraction of the area of the first two-dimensional code has been successful, the scan using the small block area is further continued to search for a second two-dimensional code. With an already recognized entrance to the area of the first two-dimensional code, the area is skipped to continue the search. The second two-dimensional code is detected at a high speed by repeating the operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of automatically determining and recognizing a code included in image data, and, more particularly, to a method capable of determining not only a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code but also a steganographic code with certainty. A code image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a block extracting step of extracting a rectangular block unit area from image data; a block feature value calculating step of calculating the feature value of a code included in the rectangular block unit area; a block determining step of determining the type of the code included in the rectangular block unit area on the basis of the feature value of the code; and a code processing selecting step of selecting processing to be performed on the basis of the determined code type.

Abstract: When it is determined whether the color of each cell of an image is black or white from the gradation value of each cell, the determination is made by comparison of the gradation level of the cell with a threshold if the gradation level is sufficiently close to that of black or white. In contrast, if the gradation value of the cell is within a gray zone, the color of the cell is determined from the colors of the cells adjacent to the cell of interest. That is, if the gradation value of the cell is gray and the colors of the adjacent cells are all black, the color of the cell is determined to be white; and conversely if the colors of all the adjacent cells are white, the color of the cell is determined to be black.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is attached to the top of a PDA. During the image reading operation, an operation state control signal is output from the image reading apparatus to the PDA. According to the signal, the intensity of an input display unit not required during the operation can be reduced. Additionally, the power supply or the supply of a signal not required during the operation is stopped. Furthermore, an LED of the PDA issues a notification of an operation state by lighting, blinking, or turning-off. When the input display unit displays an image, an erect image and an inverted image are appropriately switched depending on the operation state. During an image reading operation, input by input buttons and a touch panel of the input display unit are nullified to avoid the occurrence of a malfunction.

Abstract: A code type determining method comprises a block selecting step of selecting input image data in units of rectangular blocks, a block determining step of determining whether or not the selected block satisfies a predetermined condition, and a code determining step of determining a type of code included in the block which satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: Laser light emitted by a light emitting element is made parallel light by a collimation lens, passes through an aperture of an aperture mirror, and is then angularly scanned in a plane substantially parallel to a display screen by rotation of a polygon mirror and projected onto a recurrence reflection sheet. Then, after the reflected light from the recurrence reflection sheet is reflected by the polygon mirror and aperture mirror, the light is focused by a condenser lens to enter a light receiving element. The aperture mirror has an asymmetrical shape in the scanning direction and/or the vertical direction about the optical axis, according to a scanning surface opening width of the polygon mirror.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for displaying an image including a plurality of blocks in which code information can be embedded, includes obtaining a first image including a plurality of blocks, obtaining a second image determined by changing the characteristic value of the selected blocks of the first image so as to associate the value with the code information to be embedded, and displaying the first image data and the second image data, sequentially.

Abstract: When a small block area enters a first two-dimensional code during a scan and features of the image within the area of a position in the first two-dimensional code coincide with a two-dimensional code, the block area is specified as containing a code and a recognition process is performed in the nearby areas. When the recognition of the two-dimensional code has been successful, the area of the first two-dimensional code is further extracted. When the extraction of the area of the first two-dimensional code has been successful, the scan using the small block area is further continued to search for a second two-dimensional code. With an already recognized entrance to the area of the first two-dimensional code, the area is skipped to continue the search. The second two-dimensional code is detected at a high speed by repeating the operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of automatically determining and recognizing a code included in image data, and, more particularly, to a method capable of determining not only a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code but also a steganographic code with certainty. A code image processing method according to an embodiment of the present-invention includes: a block extracting step of extracting a rectangular block unit area from image data; a block feature value calculating step of calculating the feature value of a code included in the rectangular block unit area; a block determining step of determining the type of the code included in the rectangular block unit area on the basis of the feature value of the code; and a code processing selecting step of selecting processing to be performed on the basis of the determined code type.

Abstract: An image processing device such as an image scanner, etc., and its objective is to actualize a proper binarizing routine specific to the types of images. A histogram of density values is drawn based on decoded data, and after the respective levels and frequencies of the white and black peak values have been calculated, the types of decoded images are classified based on their relationships. After the original type has been thus determined, a binarization threshold value calculation method optimally suited for said type is selected, and after the threshold value has been thereby calculated, an image binarizing routine is executed.

Abstract: An information processing system which processes machine-readable code information which is printed, together with human-readable information, on a print medium. The apparatus includes a reading unit which reads the machine-readable code information, a decoding unit which decodes the machine-readable code information read by the reading unit, to generate decoded information, an information storing unit which stores at least a portion of the decoded information as stored information, and a processing unit which determines a processing operation to be performed, based on the decoded information and the stored information, and performs the determined processing operation.

Abstract: A bar code is scanned and a line of image data is extracted in a process. The line of extracted image is divided into patterns forming characters in a process. The divided patterns are converted into characters in a process. In the process, a pattern is divided by the number of modules having the smallest width forming a black bar or a white bar, a module value indicating each module as black or white is determined, and each pattern is converted into a character, thereby correctly recognizing a bar code using general-purpose optical equipment for reading a bar code.

Abstract: The position of a light blocking object is detected not only within a display screen, but also outside the display screen. With the use of the function of detecting the position in a region outside the display screen, it becomes possible to provide virtual buttons in this region and detect dust around a light retro-reflector. Dirt on the light retro-reflector is detected based on the levels of light receiving signals of optical units.

Abstract: A method for detecting microorganisms or cells wherein microorganisms or cells contained in a sample are captured on the surface of the adhesive layer of a collection sheet having a substrate layer containing a focusing marker, an adhesive layer having a predetermined thickness and deposited on this substrate layer, the microorganisms or cells are stained by a staining reagent, and after being automatically focused, the light receiving optical system or the collection sheet is moved relatively by a distance equivalent to that obtained by adding the distance from the surface of the substrate layer to the position of the focusing marker to the predetermined thickness of the adhesive layer from the focusing position by this autofocusing reference point, the microorganisms or cells on the adhesive layer are automatically focused, and a light is radiated on the focused adhesive layer to measure the image and detect the microorganisms or cells.

Abstract: A method of counting microorganisms or cells in a sample by labeling the microorganisms or cells with a fluorescent labeling reagent, which comprises contacting the sample containing the microorganisms or cells with an adhesive sheet having an adhesive layer laminated on at least one surface of a substrate to capture the sample; before fluorescent-labeling the microorganisms or cells, obtaining a first fluorescent image of the sample; after fluorescent-labeling the microorganisms or the cells, obtaining a second fluorescent image of the sample, and then determining the difference in the number of luminous points between the first and second images, or determining a differential image between the first and second images and determining the number of luminous points in this differential image, or determining the number of luminous points among the luminous points in the second image located outside non-sensitive regions attached to the individual luminous points in the first image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive sheet and a kit for microbial testing, which enable monitoring of the presence of a microorganism and/or the cell count thereof on a solid surface conveniently on a real time basis, and which accommodate to automated focusing during image analysis. The present invention relates to an adhesive sheet for microbial testing having at least a substrate and an adhesive layer, which adhesive layer is compression-bonded to, and peeled from, the surface of a test article to collect microorganisms, and the surface of the adhesive layer is then subjected to image analysis, wherein a marker for focusing the image is provided in the substrate, or in the adhesive layer, or on the surface thereof.