Abstract: An articulated and animated toy capable of recognizing human users and interacting therewith includes a computer-based device storing encoded first human fingerprint data, a fingerprint sensor for acquirin data representative of a second human fingerprint, and software for fingerprint verification. The apparatus can further include software for recognizing speech, generating speech and controlling animation of the articulated toy. In addition, the toy is capable of learning and storing information pertaining to each of said human users such as name, age, sex, favorite color, etc., and to interact with each of said human users on an individual basis, providing entertainment tailored specifically to each of said human users.

Abstract: A number of recognition operations for a circuit-formed substrate as a whole is reduced by concurrently recognizing a bad mark and an individual substrate mark in the course of a recognition process of a single or a plurality of individual substrate(s) provided by sectioning the circuit-formed substrate. Results of the recognition of an inclination and dislocation of the circuit-formed substrate are used to control a position of a substrate-recognition camera which recognizes the individual substrate, thereby reducing a rate of occurrence of recognition errors. When a component of recognition marks or the individual substrate mark is captured within a visual field of the substrate-recognition camera, a position of a corresponding one of these recognized marks is specified, and such a mark is again recognized, and thus, the occurrence of a recognition error can be inhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 3-dimension (3D) scanning system for a computer-aided tooth modeling capable of extracting a configuration of a tooth into a 3D configuration data in a short time. The 3D scanning system includes an image detecting part for extracting an image data of a tooth plaster model, a moving part for changing a location and a position of the tooth plaster model measured by the image detecting part, and a control part for changing and controlling the location and the position of the tooth plaster model by controlling the moving part to measure the tooth plaster model using the image detecting part.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a memory storage unit to store an electronic version of a page and a processor coupled to the memory storage unit. The processor is configured to receive data associated with a handwritten notation applied to a printed page and an electronic image of an area of the printed version of the page near the notation, to identify a corresponding passage in the electronic version of the page and to create an electronic notation based on the received data and associated with the corresponding passage.

Abstract: A method and system that optionally allows a user to view image defects organized by natural groupings based on features of the images. The natural groupings make it easier for the user to organize some or all of the images into classes in a training set of images. A feature vector is extracted from each image in the training set and stored, along with its user-specified class, for use by an automatic classifier software module. The automatic classifier uses the stored feature vectors and classes to automatically classify images not in the training set. If the automatically classified images do not match images manually classified by the user, the user modifies the training set until a better result is obtained from the automatic classifier. The system can provide feedback to an inspection system designed to aid in the setup and fine-tuning of the inspection system.

Abstract: A lifetime evaluating system includes a digitalizing unit, an acquiring unit and a determining unit. The digitalizing unit digitizes an original metallographic image of a mechanical element to form a digital image. The acquiring unit acquires a plurality of labels from the digital image. Here, each of the plurality of labels is a set of pixels with a predetermined property. The determining unit classifies the plurality of labels into a class of voids and a class of non-voids based on evaluation data. A lifetime of the mechanical element is determined based on a number of labels in the void class and a size of each of the labels in the void class.

Abstract: Creation of a computer representation of a three-dimensional object surface is described. The viewing cones for camera positions at which images of the object were taken are determined and the intersection of these viewing cones is used to define an initial three-dimensional space within which the object surface lies. This initial space is divided into voxels. Each non-occluded voxel is checked for photoconsistency by comparing the colors (or average colors) of the pixel patches in the images to which that voxel projects. Photo-inconsistent voxels are removed. A voxel may be determined to be photo-inconsistent if there exists no set of photoconsistent pixel regions or the pixel patches do not share a color value range. The pixel patch into which each voxel projects in a further image may be compared with the stored color for that voxel and any photo-inconsistent voxels removed. This process can then be repeated for further images.

Abstract: Image-based lighting for use in rendering of digital objects is derived from image data collected from a real motion-picture set. The image data includes sets of correlated images at different exposure levels, each corresponding to a selected location. The image data is processed to define an extended dynamic range panoramic image for each selected set location. The image data is color and intensity corrected based on a scaled reference object. At least key lights are modeled for the set by processing a plurality of such panoramic images. Other lighting may be defined by interpolating from the panoramic images to mathematically define a location-specific set of fill lights. In the alternative, other set lighting may be modeled by projecting panoramic image data onto a dynamically sub-dividable light primitive derived from the set geometry. Any desired object may then rendered using the defined lights, and inserted into a corrected real image of the set at the desired location.

Abstract: An illumination head (1) for machine vision has an annular support (2) with first, second, third, and fourth illumination sections (3, 4, 5, and 6). The third section (5) has three sets of LEDs (12, 13, 14) arranged in a pattern so that each set illuminates at approximately the same angle. Each set is driven in succession so that a series of three monochrome images at the same angle are captured. These are superimposed by an image processor to provide a color image, although the camera is monochrome. More information can be obtained in such a color image and the high resolution and robustness of monochrome cameras is availed of.

Abstract: A user authentication apparatus is disclosed by which, even where biometrics input data of some user such as a fingerprint are low in quality and are not suitable for verification, the security of the entire system can be augmented without giving rise to increase of the cost by introduction of significant additional hardware. When a fingerprint verifying characteristic extraction section discriminates that the quality of an image of a fingerprint is insufficient or when authentication based on an inputted fingerprint by a user verification result determination section results in failure, a request to input a fingerprint is issued from a fingerprint inputting request section to the user. When necessary fingerprint inputting is performed from a fingerprint inputting section, substitute authentication by a substitute authentication section is permitted. A result of the substitute authentication by the substitute authentication section is displayed on a service permission or rejection display section.

Abstract: A 3-D model of an object is created by processing images taken from a series of camera positions. An initial sequence of the images is processed to define respective image co-ordinates of matching features to generate a set of model data defining model points in a 3-D space of the model and to obtain respective camera solutions representative of positions and orientations of virtual cameras in the 3-D space defining views of the model corresponding to the images. A new image is added to the sequence and processed to obtain a camera solution for a corresponding new virtual camera for use in generating further model data.

Abstract: An apparatus (2) for matching features in images of objects taken from different viewpoints is provided comprising: an image buffer (60) for receiving image data; and output buffer (62) for outputting pairs of matched features and processing means (64–78) for processing received image data to determine matched pairs of features in images.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus detects the sampling rate of a coordinate input device, and standardizes the writing data which is input from the coordinate input device based on the detected sampling rate. The standardized writing data is further used for signature verification or for handwritten character recognition. The information processing apparatus provides precise signature verification or handwritten character recognition even if signatures or handwritten characters for handwritten character recognition are input using digitizers having different processing rates.

Abstract: An image of a product to be inspected is taken by an electronic camera and output to a controller. An operator operates a console to apply information on setting of a desired type of inspection to the controller. When the information on the desired type of inspection is applied, a controller guides to the operator through a video monitor an operation required for setting a comparing program suitable for the desired type of inspection. The operator can set the comparing program on the controller by operating the console in accordance with a display guidance. When the comparing program is set, the controller compares the image of the product applied and a preliminary prepared reference image in accordance with the set comparing program for visual inspecting the product.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus 20 an input sequence 130 of video images is processed to determine the different positions and orientations at which the images were recorded in an efficient and accurate manner. A subset of the input images are selected as keyframes to form a sequence 250 of keyframes. Respective triples of keyframes having different, non-overlapping positions in the sequence 250 are selected and processed to determine the relative positions and orientations at which the keyframes in each triple were recorded to form respective sets of keyframes. The positions and orientations of keyframes between the keyframes in each triple are then calculated to form expanded sets of keyframes 266, 276, 286. The sets are further expanded by calculating the positions and orientations of keyframes which lie between sets in the sequence 250. The sets are merged by calculating the relationship between the coordinate systems in which the positions and orientations of the keyframes in each set are defined.

Abstract: A biometric verification system for controlling access is provided that does not rely on a non-biometric discriminator, such as a PIN or magnetic card, to convert a one-to-many verification task to a one-to-one verification task. The system enrolls authorized users by obtaining digitized fingerprint templates from them and storing them in a database. Video cameras and fingerprint sensors are provided for use in authenticating persons seeking access. Software compares a digital representation of a captured human facial image with stored facial images in a database of facial images, generating a match confidence therefrom and rank-ordering the database from highest to lowest match confidence. The software then compares captured human fingerprints with stored fingerprint templates associated with the rank-ordered database to verify the identity of the person and provide an output signal indicative of recognition.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of range data and texture data obtained at different visual points are generated with respect to a measuring object, and relative shift processing of the range data is carried out. At a point to which the range data is shifted, corresponding points of the range data are calculated, and the correlation of the texture data is calculated on the basis of the calculated corresponding points. The minute shift of the range data, the corresponding point calculation processing, and the calculation of the correlation value of the texture data are repeatedly carried out for each minute shift of the range data. The corresponding point for the data exhibiting the highest texture correlation is outputted and the shift quantity of the range data is calculated on the basis of the outputted corresponding point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for embedding information into a target element in which information is to be embedded and a storage medium. The method and apparatus include obtaining plural sets of data values of a plurality of elements, wherein each set of data values is obtained along one direction extending through the target element, determining a strength of embedding information into the target element based on the plural sets of data values obtained, and embedding information into the target element based on the strength determined. The storage medium stores a program which enables embedding information by execution by a computer.

Abstract: In an inspection system, workpieces to be inspected are consecutively and automatically launched to pass unsupported through the field of view of a plurality of cameras. As a workpiece passes through the field of view of the cameras, a sensor is activated which communicates with a computer system to activate the cameras to capture an unobstructed image, or image data, of the workpiece. The image data is then analyzed by a computer program to verify whether the image data indicates that the workpiece does not meet established criteria and therefore is considered defective. If the image does not meet the established criteria, the workpiece is rejected and segregated from workpieces which have not been identified as defective.

Abstract: A fingerprint verification method having band detection is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes capturing a fingerprint image and processing the image to determine if it includes bands attributable to changes in illumination intensity during image capture. If such bands are detected, the method preferably aborts the creation of a fingerprint template. Otherwise, if this and other security screens are passed, the method preferably includes the creation of a fingerprint template which may be compared to a stored fingerprint template to verify user identity. If such verification is established, the user is granted access privileges. One embodiment of a system implementing this method includes a fingerprint scanner for capturing fingerprint images, and an interface card having a digital signal processor (DSP) or other suitable mechanisms including software or electronics for processing the fingerprint images and generating a fingerprint template representative of the images.