Abstract: A method and system of image modulation detection of an aircraft or missile exhaust plume or explosives by time sequence differentiation is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming two sequential images of the field of view in which an exhaust plume to be detected is located, and forming a differential image from the sequential images showing components of the aircraft's exhaust plume that are modulating at a rate greater than the frame rate of the detection system. The detection system permits a selection of frame rates so that unwanted (non-modulating) items in the field of view may be eliminated from detection by the threat warning system. The nonmodulating components such as the sky, hills, and even the missile body are eliminated from the differential image. Only the plume remains and only the plume is detected. Each image is formed by a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel images a portion of the field of view.

Abstract: In printing a pseudo half tone image, the pulse width of an image data pulse is reduced, so that when isolated dots in the image are printed, the isolated dot part become whitish and repeatability may be lowered. A region division section judges whether the data are binary data of characters or the pseudo half tone image data. For the pseudo half tone image data, a dot pattern identification section discriminates consecutive dots from isolated dots. An image data pulse control section controlls the pulse width of the image data pulse in accordance with the result of the identification. A printer engine performs print as output with each dot of which dimension is dependent on the controlled pulse width. Therefore when the image with characters and pictures mixed together is output, the printing as output can be performed in accordance with the character region and the pseudo half tone image region.

Abstract: Fast, low-overhead implementations of a powerful, reliable image matching engine based on the Hausdorff distance are disclosed. In one such implementation, a method is provided in which a processor receives two inputs. The first input is a pattern to be recognized in an image; the second, a digital image in which the pattern is to be recognized. The digital image is preprocessed with the processor using various morphological dilation operations so as to produce a set of preprocessed digital images. Thereafter, the processor performs a hierarchical search for the pattern in the digital image. The hierarchical search is performed over a search space, and includes a series of decisions, each decision indicating whether a portion of the search space can be eliminated from the search. Each decision is made by performing a plurality of comparisons between the pattern and the preprocessed digital images of the set and analyzing the results of these comparisons.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for tracking an image object within successive first and second image frames. The first frame has a first contour model which defines the image object within the first frame. The first contour model has a global motion parameter which defines global motion of the image object between the first frame and at least one frame preceding the first frame. A second contour model is defined in the second frame based upon the global motion parameter. Image blocks that are associated with points on the first contour model are matched with image blocks associated with points on the second frame to produce motion probabilities associated with each contour point. The motion probabilities are based upon the amount of displacement between respective matched image blocks of the first and second contour models. The shape of the second contour model is locally adjusted based upon the motion probabilities to produce a locally adjusted second contour model.

Abstract: A method for compressing the bit data of an alpha mask image frame composed of an array of pixels having bit data indicative of a level of brightness includes selecting a modifying function identifier which represents a mathematical transformation, applying a threshold function to the alpha mask image frame to generate a binary image frame, and encoding the binary image frame and the modifying function identifier for transmission. The method may include receiving an encoded signal containing the binary image frame and the modifying function identifier, decoding the encoded signal to extract the binary image frame and the modifying function identifier, selecting the mathematical transformation represented by the modifying function identifier, and then transforming the bit data of at least one pixel in accordance with the mathematical transformation.

Abstract: A method of transforming input image data into output image data in order to form an output image which comprises a plurality of specified image areas is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of different sets of color transform look-up tables, associating the different sets of look-up tables with the plurality of specified image areas. The output data is coded to identify an associated one of the different sets of look-up tables responsive to one of the specified image areas for which the output data is being obtained. A color transformation is then performed on the input image data to obtain the output data using one of the different sets of look-up tables identified by the coding. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of input scanning an image using a detector comprising an array of radiation sensors, the method comprising1) exposing the radiation sensors to radiation from the image over a plurality of sampling periods, and for each respective sampling period:2) obtaining a single data value from each radiation sensor;3) summing the data values obtained during the sampling period;4) determining a peripheral response value in accordance with the sum obtained in step 3), wherein the peripheral response value for each sampling period is determined independently of the peripheral response values for the other sampling periods; and5) modifying the data values in accordance with the peripheral response value obtained in step 4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for coding segmented pictures, and to corresponding decoding method and system. In the coding system, a first sub-system defines the time evolution of said segmented pictures, or partitions, and a second one encodes both contours and textures of the regions of the successive partitions. The time evolution definition leads to a partition tree (PT) from which regions are extracted during an analysis step (AS) in order to form a decision tree (DT). A decision operation allows to select during a choice step (CS) distinct regions R.sub.S from various levels of said partition tree, in order to construct an optimal final partition (BFP) and, simultaneously, to choose the coding technique (BCT) that is the best one for each region of said optimal partition. Reciprocally the decoding method and system comprise means for defining the coding strategy chosen for each of said regions and decoding correspondingly the coded information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for entering a plurality of color image signals, an image processing unit for subjecting the plurality of entered color image signals to processing based upon an algorithm of a cellular neural network, and a comparison decision unit for deciding output color data based upon results of processing by the image processing unit. Since input multivalued color image data based upon the algorithm of a neural network are converted to output color image data, it is possible to obtain a high-quality output color image that is faithful to the input color image.

Abstract: A bounding box is generated for a scanned image. A vertical edge of the scanned image is detected. A horizontal edge of the scanned image is also detected. The vertical edge is used as a rightmost edge of the bounding box. The horizontal edge is used as a bottom edge of the bounding box. The vertical edge is detected by, for each scan row, detecting when a first pixel in a substep of pixels of the scan row has a grey value which differs from a grey value of a pixel immediately to the right of the first pixel by at least a first predetermined constant. When such a first pixel is found, any edge from a previous row which is continued by the first pixel is detected. A longest edge in any row continued by the first pixel a length of the longest edge is stored. Also stored is an indication of a rightmost pixel of any edge continued by the first pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing skin surface conditions which includes transferring horny cells from a skin surface of a subject onto an adhesive face of a base sheet. In addition, a learning-type image measurement system equipped with autocorrelation mask patterns is executed on a morphology of the horny cells in the image, thus judging at least one of a degree of overlapping, a degree of ellipticity and a degree of area of the horny cells. Further, the skin surface conditions are analyzed using this information.

Abstract: A programmable motion estimator having a memory and processing element array that implement a dual addressing scheme and a block rotating scheme that work together to perform block difference calculations required in video encoder subsystems to provide motion estimation with less processing power without comprising video quality.

Abstract: A method for improving chromatic text resolution includes transforming a color image signal into chrominance (C1, C2) image signal components and a luminance (L) image signal component. A mask is created for a selected image object from the luminance image signal components. The C1 and C2 image signal components are modified by the mask into new image signal components, C1.sub.NEW, C2.sub.NEW, respectively. The new image signal components are transformed, with L, into a new color image signal that does not have chromatic blur.

Abstract: A system, method, and program for generating a color rendering dictionary file or look-up table for an equivalent device dependent four component colorant combination for a given printer from a given device independent three dimensional color space. First input parameters are comprised of varying percentage amounts of an additional fourth colorant and corresponding measured color values for varied percentage amounts of the additional fourth colorant. Second input parameters are comprised of varying percentage amounts of three base colorants and corresponding measured color values for varied percentage amounts of the three base colorants. Percentage amounts of the three base colorants (three colorant values) for each varied percentage amount of the additional fourth colorant are determined from the sets of measured color values.

Abstract: A thick group of cells classifier. Image data acquired from an automated microscope from a cytological specimen is processed by a computer system. The computer applies filters at different stages. Obvious artifacts are eliminated from analysis early in the processing. The first stage of processing is image segmentation where objects of interest are identified. The next stage of processing is feature calculation where properties of each segmented thick group object are calculated. The final step is object classification where every segmented thick group object is classified as being abnormal or as belonging to a cellular or non-cellular artifact.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a pixel of a digitized image is a background or object pixel includes the steps of determining whether the pixel is in a static state or a transient state according to the variation in its gray-level compared with the gray-level of an adjacent pixel located in a first direction, setting a static threshold if the pixel is in the static state or a dynamic threshold if the pixel is in the transient state, comparing the gray-level of the pixel and the applicable threshold to determine whether the pixel is a background or object pixel, and repeating the determination with respect to static or dynamic thresholds, as applicable, in a second direction.

Abstract: There are provided a copying machine executing the processing for reading image data from a document and the processing for printing the image data, a computer for editing image data read by the copying machine, and a memory board having a memory for storing therein image data to which an image data bus of the copying machine and an internal bus of the computer are connected respectively, and the copying machine executes the processing for reading image data from a document and writing the image data in a memory, the computer executes the processing for reading the image data from a memory, editing the image data, and writing the edited image data again in the memory, the copying machine executes the processing the reading the edited image data from the memory and printing the image data, and the memory board controls the operations for reading and writing the image data by the copying machine.

Abstract: A full color process image that can be printed with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks is produced as a duotone image using only two colors of ink. Color data defining the colors used in the full color image serve as input to a process that maps the colors into a duotone gamut defined by the two colors of ink that will be used to produce the duotone image. A user is able to select 0, 1, or 2 colors of ink for the duotone image, and the software program automatically chooses the remaining ink or inks so as to reproduce the image as accurately as possible; the software also produces the appropriate color separations automatically. In addition, the paper color can be specified by the user or optimally determined by the optimizing process of the software to optimize the duotone image reproducing a full color image that has little white. The paper color provides a free third color. A black separation can also optionally be included when printing the duotone image to expand the range of luminance available.

Abstract: In a person identification apparatus, a normalized face image is used to identify a person. When the face image of the person is input, a face area extraction section extracts the face area from the face image. A feature point extraction section extracts a plurality of candidates of feature points from the face area using a separation filter. A feature point set selection section selects sets of the candidates from the plurality of candidates of feature points according to face structure information. A feature point decision section extracts neighboring patterns of each candidate from the face area for the set of candidates, calculates a similarity value between the neighboring patterns of each candidate and the template pattern, and selects a subset of the candidates having the highest similarity values. A normalization section generates a normalized face image of the face area according to the selected subset of the candidates.

Abstract: In the case of the storage or transmission of moving images, it is frequently necessary to reduce the large number of information items by means of suitable compression methods. In order to estimate the movement, the image to be coded is in this case split into blocks, and each of these reference blocks R is compared with blocks of the same size of the preceding image, and a movement information item is derived. Conventional methods for movement estimation in this case use all the pixels in the reference block R and in the search area S. Since this very complicated method requires very fast, and thus expensive, hardware, the so-called quincunx undersampling is applied to the search area S. In the case of the reference block R, one quincunx undersampled pixel is used for even parity of the movement vector and the other quincunx undersampled pixel is used for odd parity, depending on which position is being investigated.