Abstract: The invention is a method of right justifying a line in an address field to be printed on a mail piece. A list of addresses is submitted as part of a mail piece print job, and a first address is selected from the list. The printing system initializes the vertical edge of the address field; and, after initialization one or more fonts are selected for printing the address field on the mail piece. The address field is scanned by the printing system and an end of line position of the Optional Endorsement Line (OEL) is determined relative to the right vertical edge of the print field. If the end of the line is past the initialized right edge, then the end of line position becomes the new vertical edge delineation and the line is a justified line. If, however, the end of line position is not past the vertical edge, then the initialized edge is retained as the right-most reference point of the print field. Each of the subsequent lines in the address field is scanned for length and an end of line position determined.

Abstract: An image data coding system comprises a screen-area determining means for determining the area of a screen reproduced on the basis of an input image data; a code-amount assigning control means for controlling regions to which data on the screen are to be assigned and the code amount assigned to each of the regions, on the basis of the results determined on the area of the reproduced screen; and a coding means for coding the image data signal inputted in accordance with the code amount assigned to each of the regions. In an image data coding and/or decoding system, a coding system performs the two-dimensional orthogonal transform of picture signals of all the pixels with respect to inside blocks and of only picture signals of pixels contained in a content with respect to edge blocks, in accordance with a map signal indicative of the position and shape of the content, and it codes the map signal.

Abstract: A method is proposed for checking convergence in fractal image coding. In this case, a digitized image is divided into a number of range blocks (R.sub.i, R.sub.i+1) and into a number of domain blocks (D.sub.j, D.sub.k). A similar domain block is determined in relation to each range block. If necessary, in this process a transformation of a domain block is undertaken in order to map the domain block onto a range block. The assignment of the domain block to the range block including the transformation parameters represents the fractal code for the image. A reduced transformation matrix is set up to check convergence of the fractal code. The largest absolute eigenvalue of the transformation matrix is determined approximately. The entire method can be carried out in this case hierarchically. In a first approximation step, at least the row sum norm of each row of the reduced transformation matrix is checked. In further steps, further rows are combined to form square matrices of higher dimension.

Abstract: The invention provides improved machine vision methods for determining a calibration relationship among the imaging reference frames of multiple cameras (or other image acquisition devices) that acquire images of a common moveable object. The calibration relationship includes parameters for transforming positional coordinates among the camera's respective imaging reference frames. The method includes placing on the common object, stage, or belt a plurality of fiducials, e.g., calibration marks, that are at known positions relative to each other with respect to a frame of reference referred to as the "alignment reference frame"; aligning an axis of the alignment reference frame with an axis of the object's reference frame of motion, i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus polygonally approximates a contour of an object expressed in a digital video signal. First of all, the apparatus determines a pair of vertices on the contour. Then, a line segment connecting the pair of vertices is generated and widened to thereby produce a band segment. And, a contour segment corresponding to the line segment is detected and, subsequently, the band segment and the contour segment are matched. The band segment is widened to determine a new vertex located between the pair of vertices on the contour until the contour segment is completely covered by the widened band segment. During the band segment widening process, at least one contour pixel on the contour segment, wherein the detected contour pixels, if there are more than one, are last pixels being covered by the widened band segment, are determined and, among the detected contour pixels, a contour pixel, which is closest to a center of a straight line joining the pair of vertices, is determined as the new vertex.

Abstract: The first step in processing three dimensional range data for a vision system of a robot is feature extraction such as planar segmentation. When the sensors used to obtain the range data are mounted on a platform which moves during data acquisition, inter scanline connectivity cannot be relied upon. Therefore, line segments are detected and merged in each scanline and then line segments of different scanlines are merged to form planes. Both merging steps use a least squares threshold. To speed processing, the viewing area is broken into cells and comparisons are made only between cells adjacent to a cell of interest. The resulting planes undergo conventional hypothesis generation and verification.

Abstract: A text compression technique used in a transmitter subsystem (126, 148) and a receiver subsystem (132, 158) for compressively encoding and decoding a text portion of a message by using tokens having at least two data symbol lengths. During encoding, a quantity of fill symbols are added to a sequence of secondary tokens, wherein the quantity of fill symbols is determined such that a total quantity of the data symbols in the sequence is equal to an integral multiple of the quantity of the data symbols having a first data symbol length. Delimiting characters such as spaces which precede a sequence of characters corresponding to a primary token are indicated by setting one data symbol in each primary token to a predetermined value. Sequences of capitalized characters are indicated by predetermined command tokens.

Abstract: Document distribution system 10 receives user record documents 10R containing record data 10D for distribution and storage throughout a user network 10N. Controller 10C controls the operation of the document distribution system. A transmittal sheet 10T carrying transmittal symbol accompanies each record document for directing the distribution. Document scanner 10S has a document port 10P for receiving the user documents and transmittal sheets. The document scanner is responsive to the controller for scanning the transmittal symbols on the transmittal sheet and the record data on the documents. The scanner provides an electronic pixel image of the record data for distribution and storage throughout the user network. The scanner also provides a pixel image of the transmittal symbols for directing the distribution and storage. Controller display 12 is responsive to the controller for displaying operational information about the document distribution system to the user.

Abstract: A high-resolution high-speed image reader to digitize information printed on personal identification cards or other substantially rigid documents. The system is engineered to provide means for reading ID card printed information. The system may be mounted in a bay of a personal computer, may be implemented in a counter top configuration, may be integrated for mounting into an automatic teller machine, or may be configured for a battery operated portable configurations or for a vehicle-transported configuration.

Abstract: Decoder reconstruction error is estimated so as to provide compensation at the encoder which equalizes the errors over different frames, since the errors created by some frames are lower than those created by other frames. The compensation is provided by means of temporal weighting applied in the form of temporal bands each associated with specific numbered frames within a frame group. The technique can be applied to a logarithmic temporal decimation frame structure in which one frame within a group of 2.sup.n frames is an `I` frame and the remaining frames are `B` frames.

Abstract: A miniature video camera (18) mounted on a pair of goggles (12) that substantially captures the monocular perspective of the operator's right eye during the medical procedure of direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The camera is connected to a pentaprism (14) that the operator aligns with the area of interest by slight changes in head position and reference to alignment bands (46) alongside the prism body. The image is reflected through the pentaprism to the camera and then displayed on a nearby video monitor (38). Auxiliary light sources or specialized equipment are not required. Persons other than the laryngoscopist can see the procedure as it is being performed. The pentaprism, camera, and camera mount do not significantly interfere with the operator's vision or performance of direct laryngoscopy or other procedures.

Abstract: Fractal image coding of single images or image sequences is described, which yields an improvement of the encoding result as well as a reduction of computations, whereineach image is divided into range blocks which do not overlap and jointly comprise the complete image contents,range regions are generated, each comprising a range block which is smaller than the range region concerned, and the rest of the range region is filled up with a predetermined signal value,domain regions are generated having the same size as the range regions and comprise parts of the image contents, preferably also in a transformed form,the image data of the range regions and the domain regions are subjected to a Fourier transform,a conjugate-complex signal is formed from one of the two transformed signals and multiplied by the other signal,this product is normalized at a predetermined amplitude,the normalized signal is subjected to an inverse Fourier transform,for each range region, the maximum value of this retransformed signal is d

Abstract: A method of measuring microbial activity of microbes in real time includes preparing a medium to enable microbial activity and placing the medium in operative contact with an appropriate sensor. The sensor is scanned to provide measurement electrical signals representative of position and amount of microbial activity, the sensor being responsive to a by-product of the microbial activity, such as a change in pH. The measurement signals can then be processed to provide a visual image display, and the display can visually distinguish between levels of pH activity and coordinate positions of the microbial activity.

Abstract: In a Hadamard transform coding device, input image signals are first subjected to Hadamard transform. After the Hadamard transform, the DC coefficients are subjected to variable-length coding, and the AC coefficients are subjected to variable-length coding after the output of an AC coefficient predictor is subtracted therefrom. The AC coefficient predictor predicts the AC coefficients of a center block on the basis of the DC coefficients of the adjacent blocks. In a Hadamard transform decoding device, the DC coefficients are first subjected to variable-length decoding. An AC coefficient predictor predicts the AC coefficients of the center block on the basis of the DC efficient of the adjacent blocks. Thereafter, the AC coefficient prediction error is subjected to variable-length decoding, and added with the output of the AC coefficient predictor to obtain the AC coefficients. The transform coefficients thus obtained are subjected to Hadamard inverse-transform to obtain image signals.

Abstract: A networked system having a plurality of workstations and a peripheral device, the peripheral device having a printing function, memory for storing a plurality of private print-ready jobs and input means for manually inputting information into the peripheral device. The peripheral device is also capable of accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation, placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs, converting the private print job into a private print-ready job, storing the private print-ready job in memory, and notifying the given workstation when the private job is print-ready.

Abstract: A transformation method provides a multi-dimensional affine transformation for representing motion between corresponding image components of successive video image frames. The multi-dimensional affine transformations can represent complex motion that includes any or all of translation, rotation, magnification, and shear. The transformation method of this invention includes determining motion transformations between corresponding pixels in the image components of the first and second video image frames. From the motion transformations between corresponding pixels, multi-dimensional affine motion transformations between the corresponding image components are determined. This transformation method increases the accuracy with which complex motion is represented and results in fewer compression or encoding errors in comparison to conventional methods, thereby increasing compression efficiency.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of a single optical element within the scan carriage. The illumination source comprises a single lamp disposed for correct illumination of the selected object focal plane. Automatic resolution selection and focusing of the original image can occur using a converging device comprising a first and second focusing lens.

Abstract: A system and method for eliminating luminance false contours within rendered documents by sacrificing chrominance accuracy within printer halftones and for using the reduction of chrominance to improve the luminance correctness for any requested color. Ordinary halftone processes are modified such that small hue shifts are traded off for the ability to eliminate luminance false contours. Luminances of colored inks are created in a manner that turns on only one color spot at a time, instead of all three, within a slowly changing gray area because numerically equivalent steps in chrominance are much less visible in printed form than changes in luminance. Removal of false contours is therefore achieved by chrominance variations rather than by spatial variations in a document.

Abstract: A method of determining classification codes for defects occurring in semiconductor manufacturing processes and for storing the information used to determine the classification codes. A wafer is selected from a production lot after the lot is sent through a first manufacturing process. The selected wafer is scanned to determine if there are defects on the wafer. Images of selected defects are examined and a numerical value is assigned to each of N elemental descriptor terms describing each defect. A classification code is determined for each defect based upon the numerical values assigned to the N elemental descriptor terms. The classification code and numerical values assigned to the N elemental descriptor terms are stored in a database. The wafer is sent through each sequential process and classification codes are assigned to additional defects selected after each sequential process.

Abstract: Line-by-line dataform readers and methods are enabled to operate with reduced buffer memory capacity. Storage and retention of image data are controlled on an interactive basis by concurrent analysis while lines of image data are coupled from a linear scanner. In a first embodiment lines of image data are analyzed for recognition of a feature unique to a type of dataform. Upon successful feature recognition a series of earlier and later lines of image data adequate to include a complete dataform image are retained in memory for decoding purposes. Prior to successful feature recognition, as lines of image data exceeding a limited memory storage capacity are received the earliest stored lines are discarded on a first-in-first-out basis. In a second embodiment, a buffer memory has a storage capacity adequate to store only a partial dataform image.