Abstract: The present invention provides a large format fingerprint capture apparatus, system and method that is low power, compact, and lightweight and has a platen area greater than 3.0 square inches. The present system is typically powered, controlled, and exchanges data over a single data/control/power connection to a host PC, e.g., a desk top computer, PDA, or laptop computer although the system can also be used in a wireless fashion with a power subsystem so no physical connections are required. In a preferred embodiment the large format fingerprint device is directly connected to a completely disconnected portable PC, such as a laptop having only a battery power source. The primary system components of the present invention combine to minimize power, size and weight and, thus, enhance portability and battery life. The system typically includes a light source, a prism, a camera (including the lens), and a case.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for automated selection of a parameterized operator sequence to achieve a pattern classification task. A collection of labeled data patterns is input and statistical descriptions of the inputted labeled data patterns are then derived. Classifier performance for each of a plurality of candidate operator/parameter sequences is determined. The optimal classifier performance among the candidate classifier performances is then identified. Performance metric information, including, for example, the selected operator sequence/parameter combination, will be outputted. The operator sequences selected can be chosen from a default set of operators, or may be a user-defined set. The operator sequences may include any morphological operators, such as, erosion, dilation, closing, opening, close-open, and open-close.

Abstract: A de-warp map is generated by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to vectors describing aspects of identified features of an object in an image. PCA provides vectors and coefficients describing curvature or image warping at selected points in the image. Estimates of the warping of the image generally are generated by interpolation and/or extrapolation from the vectors and coefficients provided by PCA. In some applications only two features need be identified. For example, the complicated curvature of the facing pages of an open book can be characterized by two vectors describing positions of top and bottom edges of the book. In such applications PCA can reduce to vector subtraction to determine a basis vector, vector addition and scaling to determine an average vector and simple assignment of known coefficient values. The de-warping map can be used to generate a de-warped version of the image.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a classifier to discriminate between two classes—object or non-object. The classifier may be used by an object detection program to detect presence of a 3D object in a 2D image (e.g., a photograph or an X-ray image). The overall classifier is constructed of a sequence of classifiers (or “sub-classifiers”), where each such classifier is based on a ratio of two graphical probability models (e.g., Bayesian networks). A discrete-valued variable representation at each node in a Bayesian network by a two-stage process of tree-structured vector quantization is discussed. The overall classifier may be part of an object detector program that is trained to automatically detect many different types of 3D objects (e.g., human faces, airplanes, cars, etc.). Computationally efficient statistical methods to evaluate overall classifiers are disclosed. The Bayesian network-based classifier may also be used to determine if two observations (e.g., two images) belong to the same category.

Abstract: A plurality of iris images are acquired (SA0), and aggregation of iris images of which distribution of pupil openings is uniform is acquired from the plurality of iris images by duplication and/or deletion (SA1). Features are generated from the respective iris images that belong to the aggregation (SA2), and a predetermined number of registration features are selected from the features, using authentication performance as an evaluation index.

Abstract: An image processor has: a unit that executes a conversion process on input image data represented by pixels of M grayscales (M?3), to convert the input data into output image data represented by sub-pixels of two grayscales; and a unit that outputs the output data, wherein the conversion process includes: a process to determine a filling pattern of sub-pixels corresponding to a pixel of interest of the input data according to a corrected grayscale value obtained by adding a correction value to a grayscale value of the pixel of interest; and the pattern includes a core pattern which forms a core of a dot and a growth pattern which grows a dot, the correction value includes a diffused error, and at least a part of the diffused error obtained by weighting an error of a pixel determined as the core pattern is not included in the correction value.

Abstract: An improved method of high accuracy beam placement for local area navigation in the field of semiconductor chip manufacturing. This invention demonstrates a method where high accuracy navigation to the site of interest within a relatively large local area (e.g. an area 200 ?m×200 ?m) is possible even where the stage/navigation system is not normally capable of such high accuracy navigation. The combination of large area, high-resolution scanning, digital zoom and registration of the image to an idealized coordinate system enables navigation around a local area without relying on stage movements. Once the image is acquired any sample or beam drift will not affect the alignment. Preferred embodiments thus allow accurate navigation to a site on a sample with sub-100 nm accuracy, even without a high-accuracy stage/navigation system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for directionally characterizing an image element within an image is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an image segment and determining a directional representation value that corresponds thereto. The directional representation value is then utilized to directionally identify an image element other than the image segment.

Abstract: Provided is a foreign matter inspection method for positively detecting a foreign matter in the neighborhood of the edge of a mirror-finished substrate without fail. Edge-emphasis and binarization are performed following the taking of an image of a substrate-under-inspection at a contour of its inspection area, to further detect a plurality of sampling points representative of a contour of the inspection area. An estimated inspection area is determined by determining the size, position and rotation angle of contour lines defined, size-reducibly, from the coordinates of the plurality of sampling points. After applying a mask to the binary image data in an area other than the estimated inspection area, a foreign-matter detection step is performed.

Abstract: An encoding system for an iris recognition system. In particular, it presents a robust encoding method of the iris textures to compress the iris pixel information into few bits that constitute the iris barcode to be stored or matched against database templates of same form. The iris encoding system is relied on to extract key bits of information under various conditions of capture, such as illumination, obscuration or eye illuminations variations.

Abstract: A method for processing wafers includes learning a first pattern at a de-skew site on a first wafer layer, saving the first patterns in a recipe for de-skewing wafers, learning a second pattern at the de-skew site a second wafer layer, and saving the second pattern in the same recipe for de-skewing wafers. Learning the first pattern may include determining a score of uniqueness for the first pattern. The method further includes finding the de-skew site on the second wafer layer using the first pattern before learning the second pattern. Finding the de-skew site includes determining a score of similarity between the first pattern and the second pattern. Learning the second pattern is performed when the score of similarity is less than a threshold value. A recipe for de-skewing wafers includes multiple patterns of a de-skew site of a wafer, wherein the patterns include a first pattern at the de-skew site on a first wafer layer and a second pattern at the de-skew site on a second wafer layer.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data in design data space are provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining a centroid of an alignment target formed on a wafer using an image of the alignment target acquired by imaging the wafer. The method also includes aligning the centroid to a centroid of a geometrical shape describing the alignment target. In addition, the method includes assigning a design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target as a position of the centroid of the geometrical shape in the design data space. The method further includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer in the design data space based on the design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating a solar radiation amount that can realize higher accuracy by virtue of consideration of terrain conditions. Static satellite image data 1 and three-dimensional map model 2 are combined, and a mesh 3 based on plane coordinates is set in accordance with a ground resolution of the static satellite image data 1. A shadow area 4 is calculated based on the three-dimensional map model 2 and a solar position specified by photographing chronological data, and whether or not each cell 8 of the mesh 3 belongs to the shadow area 4 is determined. Also, a solar radiation evaluation component 6 of each cell 8 in an area to be evaluated is obtained with reference to a table 7 associating a pixel value 5 of each pixel in the static satellite image data 1 with the solar radiation evaluation component 6 in an area corresponding to each pixel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for automated selection of a parameterized operator sequence to achieve a pattern classification task. A collection of labeled data patterns is input and statistical descriptions of the inputted labeled data patterns are then derived. Classifier performance for each of a plurality of candidate operator/parameter sequences is determined. The optimal classifier performance among the candidate classifier performances is then identified. Performance metric information, including, for example, the selected operator sequence/parameter combination, will be outputted. The operator sequences selected can be chosen from a default set of operators, or may be a user-defined set. The operator sequences may include any morphological operators, such as, erosion, dilation, closing, opening, close-open, and open-close.

Abstract: An object extraction method comprising the steps of comparing each portion of first image data obtained by capturing an extraction object with another portion of the first image data or second image data, thereby generating shape data as an image representing a provisional region of the extraction object in the first image data, and matching a contour of the shape data to a contour of the extraction object by using the first image data and the provisionally generated shape data.

Abstract: A cyclopean virtual imaging system provides a view from a virtual camera placed symmetrically or midway between the calibrated cameras of a physical stereo pair. Such a system may be used in video conferencing applications as well as other stereo image contexts. By combining the left and right stereo images captured by the stereo pair, a virtual image is produced such that the subject appears to be looking into a cyclopean virtual camera, rather than to the left or right of a single physical camera. The cyclopean virtual image is generated by a forward-backward algorithm using a probabilistic distribution of possible disparity families.

Abstract: A method for recognizing shapes is disclosed. A computer, such as a handheld computer with pen input, is used to receive a drawing from a user. The user's drawing is then analyzed to identify the location of potential vertices of angles or knots of splines using a technique of hypothesizing lines between known important points and calculating the distance between other points and that Postulated line. This process is repeated until all important points are located. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether a set of points is straight or curved.

Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for processing a card. A card that is processed can have a corresponding card holder. In one embodiment, a card reader can be provided for reading information of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be configured to sense a level of degradation of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be in communication with a remote processor system.

Abstract: Methods of organizing a series of sibling data entities in a digital computer are provided for preserving sibling ranking information associated with the sibling data entities and for attaching the sibling ranking information to a joint parent of the sibling data entities to facilitate on-demand generation of ranked parent candidates. A rollup function of the present invention builds a rollup matrix (126) that embodies information about the sibling entities and the sibling ranking information and provides a method for reading out the ranked parent candidates from the rollup matrix in order of their parent confidences (141). Parent confidences are based on the sibling ranking information, either alone or in combination with n-gram dictionary ranking or other ranking information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interpolation method for enlarging a digital image or predicting a moving vector of a compressed image system as a sub-pixel unit when the image digitized through a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera ect. has a low resolution in a video phone or video conference or general digital video system, particularly the present invention can be adapted to a post processor of a compressed digital image in order to improve the image quality, and can be used for finding a moving vector of a moving picture compressed type, accordingly the present invention is capable of improving the image quality.