Abstract: Inspection of solder paste on a printed circuit board using a before printing image (pre-image) to normalize an after printing image (post-image) of the printed circuit board. Existing lighting and optics used for alignment of the screen printing stencil to the printed circuit board are used for the solder paste inspection. A stencil in the screen printing process is also inspected using a before printing image (pre) to normalize an after printing image (post) of the stencil.

Abstract: A high-efficiency coding apparatus is provided which can increase accuracy in motion compensation and also increase processing speed without increasing the circuit scale as compared with the case that motion detection is carried out with respect to both of even and odd fields. Thus, this high-efficiency coding apparatus can perform accurate encoding, and can realize satisfactory transmission or recording of information.

Abstract: A method of recognizing speech input selectively creates and maintains grammar representations of the speech input in essentially real time. Speech input frames are received by a speech recognition system. Grammar representations are created for each speech frame and a probability score is derived for the representations indicating the probability of the accuracy of the representations to the speech input. Representations having a probability score below a predetermined threshold are not maintained. Those grammar representations having probability scores above the predetermined threshold are maintained. As more speech frames are received by the system, additional grammar representations are created and the probability scores are updated. When the entire speech input has been received, the chain of grammar representations having the highest probability score is identified as the speech input.

Abstract: A motion video signal encoder maximizes image quality without exceeding transmission bandwidth available to carry the encoded motion video signal by comparing encoded frames of the motion video signal to a desired size of frame. If the size of encoded frames differ from the desired size, quantization is adjusted to produce encoded frames closer in size to the desired size. In addition, a cumulative bandwidth balance records an accumulated amount of available bandwidth. The cumulative bandwidth balance is adjusted as time elapses to add to the available bandwidth and as each frame is encoded to thereby consume bandwidth. If the cumulative bandwidth balance deviates from a predetermined range, quantization is adjusted as needed to either improve image quality to more completely consume available bandwidth or to reduce image quality to thereby consume less bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient image compression begins by segmenting an input image into a current and previous window using a loading module. An encoding module compares the current and the previous window. If the current window does not match the previous window, the encoding module alters the dimensions of the current and previous windows and repeats the comparison. If a match is found, the encoding module instructs the loading module to continue to segment the image using the altered window dimensions. In this manner, the system's segmenting is in step with the natural cycle of repetition in the input image.

Abstract: A method for producing a decoded signal approximate to an original signal upon decoding a quantized signal which is produced by vector-quantizing every block of an original signal or by vector-quantizing every block of a transform coefficient obtained after every block of the original signal is processed by a transform process such as a discrete cosine transform (DCT). The method includes the steps of determining a narrow vector quantization constraint set domain in which each vector or block divided from the decoded signal exists prior to the vector quantization at the transmitting site, and outputting a signal indicative of the determined narrow vector quantization constraint set domain, and performing a projection for returning a vector existing beyond the narrow vector quantization constraint set domain to its original domain, and repeating the projection for returning a vector existing beyond the narrow vector quantization constraint set domain to its original domain.

Abstract: Video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 are coupled with frame memory 10 through buffer and frame memory controlling portion 9 and controlling processor 1 through host interface portion 2. Frame memory 10 is accessed by video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 in time sharing manner. Controlling of video-inputting portion 3, video-outputting portion 8, motion-estimating portion 4, pixel-level-arithmetic portion 5, variable-length-encoding portion 6, and code-outputting portion 7 is centralized in controlling processor 1. Portions in dotted frame 20 are integrated in one LSI chip.

Abstract: A data arranging method for linear PCM data, which allows both low-class and high-class machines to easily perform a reproduction process and can cope with multiple channels. Data having a structure in which each sample data of 20 bits or 24 bits of individual channels is separated to a main word consisting of 16 bits and an extra word consisting of 4 or 8 bits, a collection of 2n-th main words of the individual channels is arranged, a collection of (2n+1)-th main words of the individual channels is then arranged, a collection of 2n-th extra words of the individual channels is then arranged, and a collection of (2n+1)-th extra words of the individual channels is then arranged, is recorded on a recording medium or transferred.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus processes a signal which has a plurality of spectral sensitivity characteristics and in which the information amount of a signal related to at least one of the spectral sensitivity characteristics is larger than the information amount of any one of signals related to the other spectral sensitivity characteristics. A wavelet transform section resolves the signal of the spectral sensitivity characteristic having a large information amount into high- and low-frequency components. An R- and B-signal correlation coefficient calculating section calculates correlation coefficients between the low-frequency component derived and the signals of the spectral sensitivity characteristics having a small information amount. An R- and B-signal high-frequency creating section creates high-frequency components of the signals of the spectral sensitivity characteristics having a small information amount based on the correlation coefficients derived and the high-frequency component.

Abstract: A system relates to a process for correcting the estimation of movement in frames including periodic structures in a system for determining movement vectors by comparison of blocks of frames, an error matrix being associated with each block. The process is characterized in that it includes the stages of determining adjacent periodic blocks and of selecting a single movement vector for all of these blocks. The process applies, in particular, in the sphere of television.

Abstract: A feature point calculating device 21 calculates feature points with a sequence of input coordinate points. A symmetrical axis alternative calculating device 22 references the feature points and calculates symmetrical axis alternatives. A first determination symmetrical axis determining device 23 extracts the most horizontal symmetrical axis alternative and the most vertical symmetrical axis alternative from the symmetrical axis alternatives calculated by the symmetrical axis alternative calculating device 22. A first symmetry input point set calculating device 24 calculates symmetry determination segments of one of the horizontal and vertical symmetrical axis alternatives. A first symmetrical axis distance calculating device 25 calculates the distance between the center point of each symmetry determination segment and the symmetrical axis alternative. A first symmetry determining device 26 calculates a deviation of the calculated distances.

Abstract: A centroid-based object contour encoding method and device for encoding still images and moving pictures by rendering a more accurate contour representation with increased compression. The method includes the determination of a centroid and incrementing angle, the determination of distances between the centroid and boundary pixels on an object, and the encoding of the information determined. For moving pictures, the difference between the data of a current frame and the data of a previous frame are encoded by discrete cosine transforming and variable-length coding of the difference data.

Abstract: A method of position recognition, includes a step of obtaining a gray image by picking up an image of an object by an image pickup device; a step of scanning the gray image by a profile scanning window composed of a plurality of gray-level detection areas which cross a scanning profile corresponding to a profile of the object on the gray image and using to measure a gray-level representative value of an inner-side gray-level detection area and a gray-level representative value of an outer-side gray-level detection area which are inside and outside of the scanning profile; a step of calculating for each gray-level detection area an absolute value of a difference between the measured gray-level representative value of an inner-side gray-level detection area and the measured gray-level representative value of an outer-side gray-level detection area, and a step of detecting a position of the profile scanning window where a number of such gray-level detection areas in which the absolute value is greater than a spe

Abstract: An active pixel image sensing device that provides uniform integration periods and either independent pixel reset, row, pixel reset, or column pixel reset, having a plurality of photodetector elements arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, each of the photodetectors having a transfer gate operatively connecting the photodetectors to a floating diffusion and further including a reset and clamp and sample function. A reset transistor for each row of photodetectors having a gate that can have a predetermined voltage applied to reset each row, and a column reset transistor for each column of photodetectors having a gate that can have a predetermined voltage applied to reset each column. This allows for uniform integration periods and a signal sample and clamp circuit for the entire array of photodetectors.

Abstract: A method for correcting lens distortion in a photographic image used in texture mapping a CAD image uses a one-dimensional distortion correction curve. The photographic image is represented by an original texture image plane having a plurality of original points produced by a photographic device having a lens.

Abstract: A method of handwriting recognition is provided that combines the efficiency of a point oriented system and the shape information of a segment oriented system in an HMM based handwriting recognition system. The partial segmentation hypotheses obtained using the point oriented features in a conventional Viterbi search are augmented with scores based on segmental shape measurements made on the hypothesized segments. In addition, a method for segmentation of a handwriting sample is accomplished by incorporating a feature to distinguish between continuous and not continuous strokes and influencing the indicated hypothesis score by adding a penalty to the contraindicated hypothesis score.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing handwriting recognition which include, in part, application of stochastic modeling techniques in conjunction with language modeling. Handwriting recognition is performed on a received data set, which is representative of a handwriting sample comprised of one or more symbols. Recognition is performed by selectively segmenting the data set into one or more strokes utilizing an evolution grammar for identifying each one of the strokes among one or more alternatives. Each one of the strokes represents a segment of the handwriting sample. The identified strokes are evaluated as a stroke sequence, representative of one or more of the handwriting sample's symbols, to identify the handwriting sample.

Abstract: A rigidity checking method and apparatus is presented. A composite feature vector is first generated by combining three pairs of coordinates obtained for a feature point of a target object from three pictures of the target object. A covariance matrix of the compound feature vector is calculated by finding a product of a variance matrix comprising a variance of each element of the compound feature vector and the transposed matrix of the variance matrix. The rigidity of the target object is calculated by using the element of the covariance matrix and compared with a predetermined threshold to determine whether the target object is a rigid body. Thus, a rigidity checking is directly achieved from the joint distribution of feature points in the three pictures without assuming the coefficients of a set of constraint equations.

Abstract: In an image processing system an input image signal is processed to output a processed image signal. A first parameter relating to a first kind of characteristic, and a second parameter relating to a second kind of characteristic, are each extracted from the input image signal. A controlling parameter which is a multi-value datum is inferred by using membership functions relating to the first and second parameters, and also inferred is a membership function relating to the controlling parameter and a plurality of rules representing relations between the first and second parameters and the controlling parameter for determining a processing condition for processing the input image signal.

Abstract: An image of an original is read and stored into a first buffer memory and encoded. The encoded data is stored into a second buffer memory. The stored encoded data is transferred to, e.g., a magneto-optic disk drive unit. Further, the image data stored in the first buffer memory is converted into the image data of a low resolution and is encoded and stored into a third buffer memory. The stored encoded data is transferred to the magneto-optic disk drive unit. After the image data stored in the first buffer memory is encoded, the resolution conversion of the image data stored in the first buffer memory is started in a manner such that the recording of the encoded data of low resolution to a magneto-optic disk can be started just after the encoded data of high resolution was recorded to the magneto-optic disk. Thus, the image data of high resolution and the image data of low resolution can be promptly recorded onto the magneto-optic disk.