Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantization of a color histogram bin value of an image or video, and more particularly, to a method for non-uniform quantization of a color histogram bin value of an image (or video) according to the frequency of color occurrence. The present invention has effects of effectively representing the characteristics of the color histogram of the image better as compared to the conventional art, and improving the performance of the image retrieval when the image (video) retrieval search is conducted.

Abstract: A method and system for automated sorting machines is provided in which a feedback between OCR and ABL takes place. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a loose coupling between ABL and OCR is proposed in which the ABL system is asked for a further address block potentially present on the letter's surface when the first one being passed from ABL to OCR yielded that no destination ZIP code could be extracted from it. The confidence of the actual OCR and the ABL result, the address block contents supplemented with some additional criteria based on general knowledge, further, the sort plan actually loaded on the concerned sorting machine and the postmark information found in the stamps of the postmark can advantageously be used to make the ABL restart decision. Further, the ABL system can continue to search further address blocks while the OCR system processes one or a plurality of address blocks being passed to it from ABL in a preceding procedure related to the same letter.

Abstract: To inspect a finer device pattern formed in a semiconductor wafer, there is provided an inspection equipment including means for supporting a semiconductor wafer as a specimen and moving it to a predetermined position of inspection, means for projecting an ultraviolet light onto the specimen supported on the specimen supporting means, an ultraviolet imaging means for detecting a reflected light or transmitted light from the specimen illuminated by the ultraviolet light projecting means and picking up an image of the specimen, means for processing the image picked up by the ultraviolet imaging means. The image picked up by the imaging means is processed and analyzed by the image processing means to inspect the specimen.

Abstract: An automated defect inspection system has been invented and is used on patterned wafers, whole wafers, broken wafers, partial wafers, sawn wafers such as on film frames, JEDEC trays, Auer boats, die in gel or waffle packs, MCMs, etc. and is specifically intended and designed for second optical wafer inspection for such defects as metalization defects (such as scratches, voids, corrosion, and bridging), diffusion defects, passivation layer defects, scribing defects, glassivation defects, chips and cracks from sawing, solder bump defects, and bond pad area defects.

Abstract: A defect inspection method of inspecting a defect of an inspection object having a chip pattern, the defect inspection method comprising the steps of: inputting a captured first image of the inspection object; obtaining a second image having a predetermined size based on one of a chip size and a size of exposure shot from the inputted first image; determining an averaged luminance of the obtained second image; and detecting the defect based on the determined averaged luminance and a predetermined inspection condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for object inspection incorporates a level of hierarchy so that a single, primary alignment may be performed to generate a pose for multiple inspection regions. As a result, a Training mode may include the specification of a single alignment model window and a list of associated inspection region windows. Similarly, a Run-time Inspection Mode may also include specification of a single alignment model window and a list of associated inspection region windows. Such an implementation addresses the long standing problems associated with performing one or more types of inspection operations in one or more regions of a given sample-object image. By virtue of the hierarchical structure, operation of multiple inspection tools may be performed simultaneously or in any order and inspection of multiple inspection regions may be performed simultaneously or in any order.

Abstract: Video frames of original video data are sampled with arbitrary time interval and size, and thumbnail frames are obtained. As thumbnail information concerning these frames, information on frame number of the original video frame corresponding each of the thumbnail frames and size of each thumbnail frame are described. Further, scene change information on the original video frames or intra-frame frame change value information are described altogether as additional information, and temporal/spatial thumbnail meta-data is obtained. The meta-data is associated with original video data, and a database is constructed. Then, the meta-data is employed, thereby performing typical frame display of original video data or variable speed reproduction. In this manner, even with a device with its low CPU capability, typical frame display or variable speed reproduction is performed for compressed and encoded video data such as MPEG-2, and the contents of video is checked, and retrieval is easily performed.

Abstract: A line edge roughness of micro objects is determined in a microscope by corresponding scanning and determination of deviations of points of the edge from a straight line.

Abstract: A novel and unique method and program for producing a photograph of a celebrity figure with personalized and autographed messages. The method includes the steps of collecting signatures and photographs of celebrity figures, generating corresponding special character font sets for the celebrity figures respectively from their writing samples, and creating executable computer software programs and databases containing the signatures and photographs of celebrity figures and the special character font sets of the celebrity figures for producing a selected photograph of a celebrity figure chosen by a user with an autographed personal text message. The autographed text message is written in the respective character font set generated from the handwriting samples of the celebrity figure and therefore closely resembles the handwriting of the celebrity figure.

Abstract: Image pickup window is provided at main body of cellular phone. Image pickup element is moved in accordance with switching between an ordinary imaging mode and a fingerprint imaging mode. Infinite object is focused in the ordinary imaging mode and proximate object is focused in the fingerprint imaging mode. Thus, infinite object and proximate object can be picked up by the same optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facsimile device and a facsimile device monitoring system. The result of a transmission can be promptly informed to the user. When an error occurs, the file of the memory transmission can be simply erased, or the address and the transmission property of the memory transmission file can be changed. The facsimile device monitoring system is constructed with the monitoring software and featured in that, when there exists a file of a communication error, the alarm message is displayed on the displaying panel of the personal computer, the (memory transmission) file can be deleted from the personal computer, and the address and/or the transmission property of the (memory transmission) file can be changed.

Abstract: A method of generating normalized bitmap representation for the shape of a visual object for use in search/query/filtering applications segments an image into visual objects. The samples belonging to a visual object of interest are identified. The identified samples that form the largest connected blob are reduced to an un-normalized bitmap. The un-normalized bitmap is then normalized using the mean and covariance of the valid samples to generate the normalized bitmap representation having a standard height and having an orientation such that a principal direction is along a vertical direction. The normalized bitmap representation may be used with a query to search a database of images where the visual objects all have associated normalized bitmap representations. The query bitmap is normalized and matched to each normalized bitmap representation. The visual objects having the lowest mismatch values of their normalized bitmap representation with the query bitmap are identified as the objects of the search.

Abstract: Image data from a capture device may be streamed from the capture device to a processor-based system. A motion detector associated with the capture device may provide a bit that is incorporated into the image data stream in place of image data, in one embodiment of the present invention. This bit may be decoded in a processor-based system to control how the image data stream, received from the capture device, is handled.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a 2D gradient magnitude image from a range image of an object. The range image includes intensity values at pixel locations. The intensity values correspond to distances to a surface of the object. For each pixel (i,j) in the range image, a horizontal central difference dx value and a vertical central difference dy value are determined. Then, the 2D gradient magnitude image value at each pixel (i,j) is set to 0.5*sqrt(dx2+dy2+4). The range image can be scaled so that a unit intensity value at each pixel corresponds to a unit distance value. The magnitude of a gradient at a 3D point p can then be determined from the scaled range image and the gradient magnitude image. First, a perpendicular projection (x,y) of p onto the scaled range image is computed. Next, a gradient magnitude at (x,y) is interpolated from the corresponding values of the 2D gradient magnitude image near the location (x,y).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for equalizing the brightness, contrast and color of two or more images (206, 208) of an eye fundus (106). Because left and right images (206, 208) are taken from different camera (104) positions, or because two images (206, 208) have been taken at different times, the resulting images (206, 208) have different brightness, contrast and color. Groups (306, 308) are formed from the pixels making up the images (206, 208). The groups can be straight lines oriented perpendicularly to the direction of camera (104) motion. The intensity of each pixel in a group is measured, and the group's mean and variance are then calculated. The intensity of the groups are then adjusted in order that a group (306) from the left image (206) will have the same mean intensity and variance as the corresponding group (308) from the right image (208). The measurements and adjustments can be made for each of the red, green and blue intensities of each pixel.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a substrate for defects, including: (a) obtaining an inspected pixel and a reference pixel; (b) calculating an inspected value and a reference value, the inspected value representative of the inspected pixel and the reference value representative of the reference pixel; (c) selecting a threshold in response to a selected value out of the inspected value and the reference value; and (d) determining a relationship between the selected threshold, the reference value and the inspected value to indicate a presence of a defect.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to report the findings of an expert's analysis of image data. The method and system are based on a reporting system that forms the basis of an image management system that can efficiently and systematically generate image reports, facilitate data entry into searchable databases for data mining, and expedite billing and collections for the expert's services. The expert identifies a significant finding on an image and attaches a location:description code to the location of that finding in order to create a significant finding and an entry into a database. Further descriptions of that finding, such as dimensional measurements, audio descriptions, 3D rendered snapshots, etc., may be automatically appended to the finding as secondary attributes of the finding within the database. At the end of the expert's evaluation of the image(s), the system sorts the findings in the database and presents the findings by prioritized categories.

Abstract: In this machine and method for measuring a plurality of workpieces, images of a plurality of workpieces placed on a stage are captured using a CCD camera. The images are processed by a computer system whereby the workpieces are measured. A computer system divides a measurement area on the stage into matrix such that each cell in the matrix is correlated to each workpiece. Then, the system sets a measurement program for each cell. Using the cells, the computer system determines a measurement order and whether or not to execute measurement. Measurement data for each cell is output to a CRT.

Abstract: An articulated and animated toy capable of recognizing human users and interacting therewith which includes a computer-based device having stored thereon encoded first human fingerprint data, a fingerprint sensor for acquiring data representative of a second human fingerprint, and software resident within said computer-based device for fingerprint verification, which includes minutiae analysis, neural networks, or another equivalent algorithm for comparing said first human fingerprint data with said second human fingerprint data and producing an output signal therefrom for use in identifying said human users. The apparatus can further include software for recognizing speech, generating speech and controlling animation of the articulated toy. In addition, said computer-based device is capable of learning and storing information pertaining to each of said human users such as name, age, sex, favorite color, etc.