Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus including a line sensor including three line sensors arranged at a predetermined interval in a sub-scanning direction, and being configured to read an image of an original by the respective line sensors, which includes light receiving elements arranged in a first direction, to generate read data representing the read image, the three line sensors each including a first light receiving element configured to receive red light, a second light receiving element configured to receive blue light, and a third light receiving element configured to receive green light, which are arranged in a main scanning direction; and a reading control board. The reading control board is configured to generate a first combined flag obtained by combining results of detecting abnormal images of respective colors and a second combined flag obtained by combining results of detecting abnormal images of the respective colors.

Abstract: The page straightening system includes a word module to determine an enclosing quadrilateral of each connected component of curved page content. Further, a line module in the page straightening system is configured to form text lines by joining enclosing quadrilaterals based on a reading order. Subsequently, a correction module in the page straightening system is configured to generate straightened content from the curved content based on the text lines. As such, the page straightening system can automatically straighten curved page content.

Abstract: An illumination system comprising a light source with a linear array of light emitting elements and an arrangement for regulating power to the array whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with a tapered gradient intensity profile. In the illustrative embodiment, the light source includes first and second linear arrays of light emitting elements and a mirror is mounted there between. The tapered profile begins at the waist of a user when a user is standing near and in front of the mirror. In the digital embodiment, a camera is included along with software for detecting the user's waist (or detecting the user's height and inferring therefrom said user's waist) and adjusting the profile based on the detection of the user's height or waist. Any intensity profile, e.g. ramp, Gaussian, etc., may be implemented and one or more such arrays may be used and mounted horizontally, vertically or both. Each array may have a different intensity or luminous profile.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image transmission map estimator, a transmission map optimizer, and an image rebuilder is provided. The image transmission map estimator receives an input image and estimates transmission rate of the input image to generate an estimated transmission map. The transmission map optimizer receives the estimated transmission map and operates smooth operations with different strength on the estimated transmission map to respectively generate a plurality of smoothed transmission maps. The transmission map optimizer generates an optimized transmission map according to the estimated and smoothed transmission maps. The image rebuilder receives the optimized transmission map and generates an output image by rebuilding the input image according to the optimized transmission map.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of arranging a digital camera on a vehicle body, operating the digital camera to provide an image file depicting an image of a scene related to vehicle operation on a road, in a computer memory, receiving from the memory the image file depicting pixels of an image of the scene related to vehicle operation on a road, and using an analysis of the pixels to generate an illumination invariant image of the scene. A further process step includes using the illumination invariant image to analyze the road scene for painted road markings.

Abstract: A device for removing haze from an image includes an image decomposer that decomposes a near-infrared (NIR) image to generate an NIR detail layer image and decomposes an RGB image to generate an RGB detail layer image and an RGB base layer image, a weight generator that generates a mixing weight value based on a similarity between high frequency (HF) components of the NIR image and the RGB image, a detail layer mixer that mixes the NIR detail layer image and the RGB detail layer image based on the mixing weight value to generate a mixed RGB detail layer image, a base layer dehazer that removes haze from the RGB base layer image to generate a compensated RGB base layer image, and an adder that adds the mixed RGB detail layer image and the compensated RGB base layer image to generate an output RGB image.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and multi-function devices for auto-correction of shadow effects in a scanned image. The method includes receiving a first image including a colored twin-page scanned document including at least one of a shadow region in a central part of the first image, at least one darker region caused at one or more borders of the first image, and distorted orientation with respect to a base of the first image; re-positioning the shadow region present in the central part to generate a re-positioned first binary image such that the shadow region becomes perpendicular to the base; detecting a shadow region in a central region of the re-positioned first binary image; removing the detected at least one shadow region from the re-positioned first binary image to generate a second image; and correcting a skewed orientation of each of a cropped left side and right side of the second image.

Abstract: A terminal device includes a display unit that displays acquired image information, a receiving unit that receives an analysis position of quality unevenness in the image information, and a detection unit that detects pitch information by respectively performing frequency analysis on first and second regions containing the analysis position. The display unit displays the pitch information detected from the first region with respect to pitch information equal to or greater than a predetermined pitch length and displays the pitch information detected from the second region with respect to pitch information less than the predetermined pitch length.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting an object using a multi-directional integral image are disclosed. The apparatus includes an area segmentation unit, an integral image calculation unit, and an object detection unit. The area segmentation unit places windows having a size of x*y on a full image having w*h pixels so that they overlap each other at their edges, thereby segmenting the full image into a single area, a double area and a quadruple area. The integral image calculation unit calculates a single directional integral image for the single area, and calculates multi-directional integral images for the double and quadruple areas. The object detection unit detects an object for the full image using the single directional integral image and the multi-directional integral images.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus generates an edge image that is an image for which an edge has been enhanced or extracted from an original image obtained by imaging a subject. The image generating apparatus has a viewpoint image generating unit configured to generate a viewpoint image from the original image; and an edge processing unit configured to generate the edge image by applying edge processing to enhance or extract an edge with respect to the viewpoint image generated by the viewpoint image generating unit.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of arranging a digital camera on a vehicle body, operating the digital camera to provide an image file depicting an image of a scene related to vehicle operation on a road, in a computer memory, receiving from the memory the image file depicting pixels of an image of the scene related to vehicle operation on a road, and using an analysis of the pixels to generate an illumination invariant image of the scene. The illumination-invariant image is converted to a grayscale image and the grayscale image is then converted to an illumination-invariant color image.

Abstract: A method for processing image or video data receives color filtered mosaiced raw image or video data. The method, performed in an image processing pipeline, de-hazes the color filtered mosaiced raw image or video data, e.g. Bayer image data, to create de-hazed mosaiced image or video data and de-mosaicing the de-hazed mosaiced image or video data to crate de-hazed and de-mosaiced image or video data.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing high order filtering in a graphics processing unit (GPU). In examples of the disclosure, high order filtering may be implemented on a modified texture engine of a GPU using a single shader instruction. The modified texture engine may be configured to fetch all source pixels needed for the high order filtering and blend them together with pre-loaded filtering weights.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are laser scanning systems and methods of their use. In some embodiments, laser scanning systems can be used to ablatively or non-ablatively scan a surface of a material. Some embodiments include methods of scanning a multi-layer structure. Some embodiments include translating a focus-adjust optical system so as to vary laser beam diameter. Some embodiments make use of a 20-bit laser scanning system.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a measurement data acquiring unit that acquires data obtained by using an imaging apparatus to capture an image formed by an electromagnetic wave transmitted through an object, as measurement data of the object; an image generating unit that generates a first image and a second image that represent information on different physical quantities, from the measurement data; a filter characteristics determining unit that determines, based on the first image, filter characteristics to be set when an anisotropic filter is applied, for each position in the image; and a filtering unit that applies the anisotropic filter to the second image while varying the filter characteristics of the anisotropic filter for each position in the image in accordance with the filter characteristics determined based on the first image.

Abstract: A device is connected to an information processing apparatus via a network. The device includes a receiving unit configured to receive a program from the information processing apparatus via the network; and a calling unit configured to call the program received by the receiving unit. The program causes the device to execute a process with respect to data stored in the device.

Abstract: Determination information is obtained to determine a degradation characteristic of sharpness of an image formed by an image forming apparatus. One of a plurality of recovery processing parameters used to recover sharpness of an image is selected based on the determination information, and characteristics of the plurality of recovery processing parameters are different from each other. Recovery processing of sharpness is performed on image data using the selected recovery processing parameter. When the degradation characteristics of sharpness are visually and substantially the same, the same recovery processing parameter is selected.

Abstract: A printing control method includes acquiring colorimetric values of a pattern which is printed on first paper by a printing head which discharges an ink onto the first paper; generating first correction values each for correcting a corresponding one of amounts of the ink to be discharged onto the first paper by the printing head, on the basis of the colorimetric values and reference colorimetric values of the pattern printed on the first paper; generating second correction values on the basis of the first correction values and characteristic conversion coefficients; and when printing is performed on the second paper by the printing head which discharges the ink onto the second paper, correcting each of amounts of the ink to be discharged onto the second paper by the printing head, in accordance with a corresponding one of the second correction values.

Abstract: Provided are a color moire reducing method, a color moire reducing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus. The color moire reducing method includes calculating a plurality of local color mean values around a pixel in a selected region of a current image, calculating difference values between the local color mean values and a maximum difference value from among the difference values, and setting a moire correction weight to the pixel on the basis of the maximum difference value.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining pixel dropout in a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along an axis. In the technique, a dataset of integrated intensity values, in the printing direction on a substrate, of a captured image is generated and used to determine if pixel dropout has or may have occurred.

Abstract: An image producing apparatus comprising a reconstructing unit configured to use a first reconstruction filter to reconstruct an image based on projection data collected by a scan on a subject to be imaged using a radiation source and a detector; a difference-calculating unit configured to calculate a difference between two images based on said projection data, said two images being reconstructed using second and third reconstruction filters respectively having spatial frequency characteristics such that degrees of enhancement in a mid-/low-frequency region are substantially identical to each other and degrees of enhancement in a high-frequency region are different from each other; and an image production unit configured to produce an image having reduced aliasing artifacts using said image reconstructed using said first reconstruction filter, and said difference.

Abstract: A method for image enhancement may include selecting a plurality of patches of an image and determining at least one dimensionally reduced feature for each of the plurality of patches. The system may further determine a generally closest cluster from a set of clusters for each of the dimensionally reduced features and select a corresponding set of regression coefficients for each of the set of generally closest cluster. The system may also apply the selected set of regression coefficients to a corresponding patch to enhance the image.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for encoding enhancement layer video with quantization that varies spatially and/or between color channels are presented, along with corresponding decoding techniques and tools. For example, an encoding tool determines whether quantization varies spatially over a picture, and the tool also determines whether quantization varies between color channels in the picture. The tool signals quantization parameters for macroblocks in the picture in an encoded bit stream. In some implementations, to signal the quantization parameters, the tool predicts the quantization parameters, and the quantization parameters are signaled with reference to the predicted quantization parameters. A decoding tool receives the encoded bit stream, predicts the quantization parameters, and uses the signaled information to determine the quantization parameters for the macroblocks of the enhancement layer video. The decoding tool performs inverse quantization that can vary spatially and/or between color channels.

Abstract: Judgment image data having a resolution in a direction in which a printing medium is conveyed which is lower than a printing resolution is generated based on input image data. It is determined whether color unevenness is generated in a printed image by comparing the judgment image data with reading data obtained by reading the printed image.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of pixels comprising: image pixels arranged for providing image data, and shading detection pixels arranged for providing signals from which a degree of shading can be derived, wherein the shading detection pixels are located in substantially the same area as defined by the image pixels.

Abstract: A mask inspection apparatus including, a driving unit configured to drive a stage holding an inspection target mask, in which a pattern is formed, or a calibration mask, a light irradiation device configured to irradiate light on the inspection target mask or the calibration mask, an image sensor configured to detect a light quantity signal of transmitted light or reflected light of the inspection target mask or the calibration mask at a plurality of pixels. A sensor amplifier configured to amplify an output of the image sensor with respect to each pixel, generates an optical image, and normalizes a gain and an offset of signal amplitude, wherein at a first setting the sensor amplifier sets the gain and the offset using the calibration mask, and at a second setting the sensor amplifier sets the gain and offset of the inspection target mask based on the first setting.

Abstract: A judgment reference data having a resolution lower than a nozzle resolution in a nozzle arranging direction is generated based on input image data. The judgment reference data and read data acquired by reading a printed image are compared to judge whether the printed image has color unevenness or not.

Abstract: Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.

Abstract: Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.

Abstract: Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.

Abstract: Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of arranging a digital camera on a vehicle body, operating the digital camera to provide an image file depicting an image of a scene related to vehicle operation on a road, in a computer memory, receiving from the memory the image file depicting pixels of an image of the scene related to vehicle operation on a road, and using an analysis of the pixels to generate an illumination invariant image of the scene. A further process step includes using the illumination invariant image to analyze the road scene for painted road markings.

Abstract: A tone mapping unit applies tone mapping to a block of pixel values. In each of a plurality of iterations, one or more lines of pixel values are processed based on information relating to pixel values of at least one previous line of the block which have been processed in at least one previous iteration. The information is used to determine one or more tone mapping relationships which is/are used to map the pixel values of the current line to tone-mapped pixel values. Furthermore, the information is updated based on the pixel values of the current line and stored for use in processing pixel values of a subsequent line of pixel values of the block in a subsequent iteration.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing high order filtering in a graphics processing unit (GPU). In examples of the disclosure, high order filtering may be implemented on a modified texture engine of a GPU using a single shader instruction. The modified texture engine may be configured to fetch all source pixels needed for the high order filtering and blend them together with pre-loaded filtering weights.

Abstract: A method of compensating a left-right gamma difference in a display apparatus using a vision inspection apparatus, which includes sensing sample grayscales displayed on areas defined on a display area of the display apparatus using image sensors of the vision inspection apparatus, estimating intensity values of a left reference boundary at a central area, a left boundary area, a right reference boundary area at the central area and a right boundary area, calculating a first grayscale correction value of the left boundary area such that an intensity estimation value of the left boundary area is substantially equal to an intensity estimation value of the left reference boundary area, and calculating a second grayscale correction value of the right boundary area such that an intensity estimation value of the right boundary area is substantially equal to an intensity estimation value of the right reference boundary area.

Abstract: A reading control portion reads an image in reading range including image regions of an entire document sheet image in both state where a document sheet is not tilted and a state where the document sheet is tilted at predetermined maximum tilt angle. A first blank sheet determination processing portion is able to determine whether the image read by the reading control portion is a blank sheet image, based on an image of a first determination region which is included in both the image region of the entire document sheet image in the state where the document sheet is not tilted and the image region of the entire document sheet image in the state where the document sheet is tilted at the maximum tilt angle. A first tilt correction processing portion executes no tilt correction processing for the document sheet image when the read image is a blank sheet image.

Abstract: A method and a system for image haze removal are provided. The method includes the following steps: receiving an input hazy image including input pixels; determining a hybrid dark channel for each of the input pixels according to a first minimum dark channel of a corresponding large local patch and a second minimum dark channel of a corresponding small local patch; determining a transmission map for each of the input pixels according to the hybrid dark channel prior, the corresponding hybrid dark channel, and atmospheric light associated with the input hazy image in each color channel; determining a color spectrum adjustment parameter corresponding to each of the color channels; recovering scene radiance for each of the input pixels in each of the color channels according to the corresponding color spectrum adjustment parameter, the transmission map, and the corresponding atmospheric light to produce and output a de-hazed image.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of arranging a digital camera on a vehicle body, operating the digital camera to provide an image file depicting an image of a scene related to vehicle operation on a road, in a computer memory, receiving from the memory the image file depicting pixels of an image of the scene related to vehicle operation on a road, and using an analysis of the pixels to generate an illumination invariant image of the scene. A further process step includes using the illumination invariant image to analyze the road scene for painted road markings.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data configured of pixels disposed in grid form. The apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains distortion characteristics indicating characteristics of distortion in a target contained in original image data obtained by capturing an image of the target, and a correction unit that, using a sampling function, interpolates a pixel of interest in the original image data, based on pixels of the original image data present in a reference region in the periphery of the location of the pixel of interest. The correction unit changes the range of the reference region, the frequency characteristics of the sampling function, or both in accordance with the distortion characteristics.

Abstract: A fundus image photographing apparatus with adaptive optics generally corrects an aberration by feedback control using a wave front sensor and a wave front correction device. The reduction in the time required to correct the aberration to a high-resolution photographing level is demanded. Aberration correction information of last photographing is stored for each subject, and a stored correction value is used to correct the aberration to reduce the time before the completion of the aberration correction. If there is no stored information, a correction value for a preset reference aberration amount is used.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining vein patterns from a color image for personal identification, the method comprising forming a counterpart of the color image by applying a functional relationship obtained from optimization on the color image, wherein the counterpart of the color image comprises the vein patterns. An apparatus for determining vein patterns from a color image is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying image capture instructions for capturing images that may be used to generate quality depth maps. In some examples, the image capture instructions are generated by predictively determining in a scene-independent manner configuration settings to be used by a camera to capture a minimal quantity of images for generating the quality depth map. The image capture instructions may thus indicate a quantity of images to be captured and the aperture and focus settings to be used when capturing the images. The image capture instructions may be determined based in part on a distance estimate, camera calibration information and a predetermined range of optimal blur radii. The range of optimal blur radii ensures that there will be sufficient depth information for generating a depth map of a particular quality from the yet-to-be-captured images.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying depth refinement image capture instructions for capturing images that may be used to refine existing depth maps. The depth refinement image capture instructions are determined by evaluating, at each image patch in an existing image corresponding to the existing depth map, a range of possible depth values over a set of configuration settings. Each range of possible depth values corresponds to an existing depth estimate of the existing depth map. This evaluation enables selection of one or more configuration settings in a manner such that there will be additional depth information derivable from one or more additional images captured with the selected configuration settings. When a refined depth map is generated using the one or more additional images, this additional depth information is used to increase the depth precision for at least one depth estimate from the existing depth map.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a color image by layering toner images of different colors includes: a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed through charging and exposure; an exposure unit performing exposure-scanning on the photoreceptor in accordance with image signal; an intensity determination unit determining exposure intensity according to image forming condition; and a timing determination unit determining a timing of inputting image signal for each scanning line, wherein the exposure unit has a delay duration differing depending on the exposure intensity and being from input of image signal of each pixel to be exposed to exposure of the pixel at the exposure intensity, and the timing determination unit obtains the delay duration corresponding to the exposure intensity, and determines the timing such that image signal of an initial pixel to be initially exposed is input the delay duration before the initial pixel is exposed.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveying unit, reading unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys successive two sheets along a conveying path such that a gap is formed between the successive two sheets. The reading unit reads a sheet conveyed at a reading position in the conveying path. The reading unit has a light source and light-receiving unit. The control unit controls the light source to emit light at a first light intensity for a sheet that has reached the reading position. The light-receiving unit receives light reflected by the sheet present at the reading position. The control unit further controls the light source to emit a light at a second light intensity lower than the first light intensity during a period of time from when the reading unit has been read the preceding sheet to when the reading unit begins reading the subsequent sheet.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for encoding enhancement layer video with quantization that varies spatially and/or between color channels are presented, along with corresponding decoding techniques and tools. For example, an encoding tool determines whether quantization varies spatially over a picture, and the tool also determines whether quantization varies between color channels in the picture. The tool signals quantization parameters for macroblocks in the picture in an encoded bit stream. In some implementations, to signal the quantization parameters, the tool predicts the quantization parameters, and the quantization parameters are signaled with reference to the predicted quantization parameters. A decoding tool receives the encoded bit stream, predicts the quantization parameters, and uses the signaled information to determine the quantization parameters for the macroblocks of the enhancement layer video. The decoding tool performs inverse quantization that can vary spatially and/or between color channels.

Abstract: A method for correcting color registration errors for a color printer that prints color image data on a continuous web of media. A color registration error model is used to predict a color registration error value for a particular in-track position as a function of ink coverage characteristics for an image region including the particular in-track position, wherein the color registration error model is a parametric model having one or more parameters. An image plane correction value is determined based on the predicted color registration error, and the color image data for the particular in-track position is printed using the determined image data correction values.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input image acquiring module for acquiring a first input image generated by reading one side of a document and a second input image generated by reading the other side of the document, a binarized image generator for generating a first binarized image by binarizing the first input image and a second binarized image by binarizing the second input image, an expanded image generator for generating an expanded image containing an expanded pixel obtained by expanding a valid pixel contained in the first binarized image, and a show-through position identifying module for identifying a show-through position in the second input image, based on the second binarized image and the expanded image.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a receiving unit, a first identifying unit, and a generation unit. The receiving unit receives specified position information indicating a position specified by a user with respect to an image indicated by target image data including drawing information of each object. The first identifying unit identifies a first object indicating an object including the position indicated by the specified position information. The generation unit generates a third object indicating an object having lower priority of display than a second object indicating higher priority of display than the first object, and having higher priority of display than the first object, and an object having the same shape as the first object.

Abstract: A moving image encoding apparatus for dividing an image into image blocks and performing intra-prediction encoding of a target image block using pixel values of an image block adjacent to the target image block, comprises a prediction unit for performing intra-prediction in accordance with one of intra-prediction modes corresponding to divided block sizes and outputting intra-predicted image data for the target image block, a determination unit for, when the target image block is a low frequency band image, determining by detecting a change in the pixel value in the image block whether the target image block includes a gradation image, and a decision unit for, when it is determined that the target image block includes the gradation image, deciding a block size of the intra-prediction so as to cause the prediction unit to preferentially select a minimum block size of the divided block sizes.