Abstract: A technique for compression and expansion of a function defined upon an M-dimensional manifold embedded in N-dimensional space uses a second generation wavelet transform and a modified zerotree bit-encoding scheme. Typically, a function is defined upon a two-dimensional manifold embedded in three-dimensional space, such as a sphere. A geometric base is chosen as a coarse initial model of the manifold. Second generation wavelets for the function are calculated using a triangular subdivision scheme in order to subdivide the geometric base in order to produce a refined triangular mesh. The wavelet coefficients are defined at the vertices of the triangles in the triangular mesh. A tree structure is created in which each node of the tree structure represents an associated triangle of the triangular mesh. Each triangle in the mesh is recursively subdivided into four subtriangles and each associated node in the tree structure also has four children, which correspond to the four subtriangles.

Abstract: In a photogrammetric analytical measurement system, a survey map is produced on the basis of two respective photographed pictures obtained at two different photographing positions. Each of the pictures includes an object image to be recorded on the survey map, and a standard measurement scale image for producing an accurately scaled object image. Data for producing the survey map is approximately calculated on the basis of two-dimensional position data inputted to the computer by designating the scale image and the object image on the pictures with a cursor, by an operator's manipulation of a mouse. When the results of the approximate calculations are erroneous, it is indicated that the inputting of the two-dimensional position data, by designation of the object image with the cursor, should be repeated.

Abstract: A technique for processing images is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining a representation of an image, and then locating an area of interest in the representation. The located area of interest is then classified according to a first characteristic of one or more objects of interest and a reference within the image. If the located area of interest has been classified as an area containing at least one object of interest, the at least one object of interest can be disambiguated from other objects in the located area of interest.

Abstract: A scanner that scans an object using a one-dimensional image sensor in order to capture a two-dimensional object is provided with a detachable remote control device. The scanner is controlled such that scanning will only be performed when the remote control device is detached from the scanner.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting image information from a video frame for regions of a the video frame that likely are objects of interest in a scene. An initial region set is generated by comparing luminance image information and color image information of a video frame with luminance image information and color image information of a background image for the scene. A high confidence region set is generated comprising regions from the initial based upon edge information of the regions and edge information in the background image. A final region set is generated by combining one or more regions in the high confidence region set if such combinations satisfy predetermined criteria, including size, region proximity and morphological region dilation.

Abstract: A technique for decoding message data that has been encoded into a printed color image locates small image regions called signal cells that carry the encoded message. Each signal cell is composed of a spatial pattern of colored subregions that collectively have an overall average color. The colors of the subregions are defined as changes (modulations) to the average color in one or more directions in a multi-dimensional color space. The decoding technique uses a set of valid signal blocks, each of which is a unique pattern of color modulated subregions. There is a valid signal block for each valid message value defined in the coding scheme. The decoding operation first locates the positions of the signal cells in the acquired image and then subtracts the local average color of each signal cell from the cell to produce a received signal block. Then the decoding operation determines which valid signal block each received signal block is by comparing each valid signal block to a received signal block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding data that includes generating transformed signals in response to input data. In one embodiment, the transformed signals are generated using a reversible wavelet transform. The present invention also includes a method and apparatus for compressing the transform signals into data representing a losslessly compressed version of the input data. In one embodiment, the present invention decomposes the input data using reversible wavelet transforms.

Abstract: Already stored uncompressed raster data are selectively compressed before any new raster data can be processed and stored. Both compressed and uncompressed raster data is preferably stored in the same size blocks, and the Raster Objects are preferably divided at Render Swath boundaries. Assuming that the Raster Object data has been or will be compressed by means of a known dither matrix, that dither matrix is used in the compression process to eliminate all but the data essential to reconstruct the dithered image, and the pixels of the original image are preferably successively processed along a predetermined scan path and the resultant linear pixel array is divided into successive runs which may each be encoded such that when those encoded runs are assembled into a replica of the original image and both the original image and the replica image are dithered with the same predetermined dither matrix, the dithered replica image is identical to the dithered original image.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism and process for feathering a first image and a second image in a composite frame. In this process an original matte image is defined according to the first and second images. A portion of the original matte image is box filtered horizontally and vertically to generate an intermediate matte image. At least a portion of the intermediate matte image is box filtered horizontally and vertically to generate a processed matte image. A composite image including the first image and the second image is then generated according to the box-filtered processed matte image.

Abstract: An on-line method for determining the wood-bark ratio in a flow of material containing both wood and bark includes illuminating the flow of material and scanning using a CCD camera, by means of which 30-300 image pixels/cm are obtained in the transverse direction of the flow of material. Narrow transverse groups of 1-20 adjacent pixels, in which the brightness of the pixels deviates from a preset criterium are filtered out of the transverse group of pixels and the calculation of the wood-bark ratio of the photographs takes place without these narrow groups.

Abstract: A method for compressing multiple channels of data using an MPEG-compatible motion estimation technique. The method determines the differences between frames within each channel and among the channels and encodes those differences. To facilitate compression, some of the frames are predicted and some of the frames are skipped. The differences between the current frame and the predicted frame for each channel are computed for each successive group of frames, and then compared, after each group of frames of each channel is encoded, to a threshold level E.sub.0. In the event that, for any of the groups of frames, the difference between the current frame and the predicted frame of any of the channels reaches the threshold, the method of the present system will insert an I-frame into the sequence of encoded frames, thus restarting the encoding process with an I-frame.

Abstract: The system, method, and program of this invention is capable of taking as input a three dimensional colorant (e.g., CMY, L*a*b*) and determining an equivalent combination of colors made up of four or more colorants that are used by a given printer. A plurality of patches are printed having predetermined known combinations of varying percentages of three primary colors (e.g., CMY). Another set of patches are printed having predetermined varying percentages of a fourth color (e.g., black). The L*a*b* of these patches are measured. An inversion program is used to determine equivalent CMY component percentage values for the varying percentages of the fourth component based upon similar actually measured L*a*b* values. These determined CMY component percentage values and the known percentages of CMY are used to substitute the fourth colorant (K) for each of the original CMY combinations, known as fourth colorant substitution or black substitution.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method captures at least a pair of images in relatively quick succession with an illumination source being fired during the capture of one of the images. The illumination source is located adjacent to the optical lens or close to the optical axis of the camera. Next the illumination level of the images is compensated to make them equal in illumination. Following that an analysis of the images is performed to determine the difference between the illumination compensated images. After the illumination compensation the difference has to be caused by eye-defects or specular reflections from glasses. The pixel coordinates of the transitory eye-defect regions are recorded and analyzed to determine the spacing of the potential eye locations and/or the spatial structure of the eyes for plausibility. Once confirmed the coordinates are output and recorded.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of a scanned object comprises the steps of collecting object data by scanning the object with a laser beam and detecting the light passing through the object; collecting perimeter data of the object during the scanning step; transforming the object data to parallel ray geometry; correcting the projection data using the perimeter data; and backprojecting the data in image space.

Abstract: In order to solve various problems of a wafer, two-dimensional analysis using a wafer map is aided. An image of the wafer map is classified and displayed on a screen for each item such as a manufacturing step, a device and inspection. A trend chart is also attached in addition to the image of the wafer map.

Abstract: In reproducing an object from a plurality of geometric models representing the shape of the object as viewed from different directions around an axis, each of the models is rotated about an axis specified by axis data, a region of each of the models overlapping another one of the models is extracted, and the degree of displacement in the entire set of the models is calculated. This operation is repeated to output a set of the geometric models as rotated about the axis when the degree of displacement is minimum. In this way, a group of items of shape data is obtained which represents a plurality of geometric models corresponding to one object and matched in position with high accuracy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating geometric shapes or edges thereof in data collection symbols initially samples and stores an image of light reflected from the symbol. Thereafter, two routines are performed. A first routine performs low level vision processing by identifying linked points along edges, lines, curves or within shapes. At least one of three distortion compensating subroutines compensate for blocking, breaking, gaps or other severe distortions affecting shapes in the stored image. Under a first subroutine, an edge of a shape is tracked until a stopping condition occurs, at which point the shape is crossed so as to continue tracking on an opposite edge. Under a second subroutine, previously collected linear curve information is used to identify a jump point to continue tracking following a stopping condition. Under a third subroutine, mathematical morphology techniques are employed to close gaps or move blockage in shapes in the stored image.

Abstract: A method for composition of two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including adjusting the pixel color values of at least one of the digital images so as to produce resulting digital images including at least one modified digital image, and combining the resulting digital images in the overlapping pixel region by taking weighted averages of their pixel color values.

Abstract: An automatic monitoring apparatus for automatically detecting an object to be detected, such as a suspicious person, based on the picture obtained from an image pickup device. Moving object detecting unit detects information about a moving object in the picture, based on the picture signal input from the image pickup device. Characteristic quantity calculating unit calculates a characteristic quantity of the moving object based on the information detected by the moving object detecting unit. Characteristic quantity storing unit stores at least a characteristic quantity relating to a non-detection object that should not be detected. Determining unit compares the characteristic quantity of the moving object, calculated by the characteristic quantity calculating unit, with the characteristic quantity stored in the characteristic quantity storing unit, to determine whether or not the moving object is an object to be detected.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image composing apparatus comprising a reference block setting circuit for setting a search area having a stored arbitrary size in an overlap region of composed image data which has been picked up, for setting a first reference block at a suitable position in the area, depending on determination as to correlation performed by an optimal average density calculation circuit, for extracting a reference point, for extending a search line from the reference point toward a lower portion, for setting a second reference block at a position on the search line, which has correlation, for extracting a reference point, and for obtaining reference points, a displacement amount detection circuit for obtaining displacement amounts R and S from the reference points, an interpolation circuit for interpolating images, and a composing circuit for performing image composing.