Abstract: A method for automatically identifying an object is disclosed. Preferably, the method is used in conjunction with a performance monitor. A set of markers are selectively positioned on the surface of each of a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls. It is desired that each set of markers for a unique pattern on each of the golf clubs and golf balls. Each unique pattern is preferably acquired and stored. A player may choose any of a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls. When within the field of view of the performance monitor, the pattern on the club and ball is automatically matched with the stored patterns, thereby identifying the type of club and ball.

Abstract: A model object MOB (tree) having a plurality of part objects (branches) POB1 and POB2 each of which has a projection shape is arranged in an object space. Each of the POB1 and POB2 has a projecting portion formed on a display surface on which an image is drawn. The POB1 and POB2 are rotated so that the display surfaces thereof are directed toward a virtual camera VC. A Z texture for setting bump shapes on the display surfaces by pixel unit or forming a virtual projection shape on each of the display surfaces is mapped on the POB1 and POB2. When the VC rotates about a Y-axis and an X-axis while being directed toward a column-shaped part object (trunk) COB, the POB1 and POB2 are rotated so that the display surfaces thereof are directed toward the VC.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assigning the content of a digital image to a class of a classification system. Said method comprises the following steps: —a predetermined number of F numerical shape characteristics ?m are determined; —the value of each shape characteristic of the F numerical shape characteristics determined for the image is compared to the value filed in a table for the respective shape characteristic, values for the individual numerical shape characteristics being allocated to each class in the table; —the class in which the F numerical shape characteristics determined for said image correspond best to the values of the numerical shape characteristics indicated in the table for said class is output as the class into which the image that is to be recognized is classified.

Abstract: A method for geographically registering a perspective image of a location assigns elevation values to elements or pixels of a two dimensional array of image elements or pixels of the location. The elevation value for each image pixel is obtained using a corresponding database stored reference digital elevation model, or a three dimensional surface model of the location. The reference elevation model or surface model is composed of rows and columns of elevation values corresponding to two dimensions of location values at a sensed location shown in the image, or is composed of a three dimensional surface or volume model of the location, such as a computer-aided design model or any other means of describing the three dimensional characteristics of the sensed location.

Abstract: A classification model optimum for realization of a defect classification request by a user is not known by the user. Then, the user sets a classification model which is not necessarily suitable and makes classification, resulting in degradation in classification performance. Therefore, the present invention automatically generates plural potential classification models and combines class likelihoods calculated from the plural classification models to classify. To combine, an index about the adequacy of each model, in other words, an index indicating a reliable level of likelihood calculated from the each potential classification model, is also calculated. Considering the calculated result, the class likelihoods calculated from the plural classification models are combined to execute classification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining visibility distance in a landscape. The device comprises a camera for taking an image of said landscape; means for storing said image; means for associating each pixel of the image with information representative of the distance between the camera and the point in the landscape corresponding to said pixel, thereby obtaining a map of distances; means for processing the image to detect whether a pixel of the image presents contrast greater than a predetermined value relative to at least some adjacent pixels; means for applying said processing for detecting contrast successively to the pixels of the image beginning from the pixel corresponding to the greatest distance and continuing to the first pixel found to satisfy the contrast condition; and means for associating said pixel with distance information from said map of distances.

Abstract: An image correction section in an image processing section performs a resolution-enhancing process for an input R signal from a RED photodiode array 9R1, an input G signal from a GREEN photodiode array 9G1 and an input B signal from a BLUE photodiode array 9B1, using an input K signal from a BLACK photodiode array 9K1. The image correction section outputs four signals: an Rc1 signal, a Gc1 signal and a Bc1 signal, which are subjected to the resolution-enhancing process, and the K signal that is used for the resolution-enhancing process.

Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.

Abstract: The present invention enables permanent biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like. The present invention enables living-tissue discrimination as well as biometric authentication. The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Then, biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. In this case, long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure.

Abstract: An authentication system is provided for authenticating a user's signature as electronically inputted into the system by a mouse or other manual input device providing an output indicative of its location when manipulated by the user. The system serves to extract angle and distance data relating different parts of the user's signature inputted into the system, and to store corresponding angle and distance data relating to a reference signature as previously inputted into the system during a training procedure. The extracted data is then compared by the system to the reference data stored by the system, and, where appropriate an output indicative of an appropriate match between the inputted signature and the reference signature is provided in dependence on the result of the comparison. Such a system provides an on-line dynamic biometric verification system that can be customised to multiple Internet based applications requiring secure authentication.

Abstract: Response bubbles on a scannable form are provided that allow a user to mark the bubbles in a manner that signifies that the user wishes to have a response disregarded.

Abstract: A line position calculating method is a method for calculating a position, in a second direction, of a line along a first direction in an image, based on image data of the image constituted by a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form in the first direction and in the second direction, the method obtains pixel data of each of a plurality of pixels arranged in the first direction, calculates an extent of unevenness of each tone value indicating the pixel data of each of the plurality of pixels arranged in the first direction, sets a threshold value according to the extent of unevenness, sets a range based on the threshold value, detects a defective pixel in which the tone value indicating the pixel data is out of the range, calculates a representative value indicating a tone value of a pixel row, based on the pixel data of the pixels other than the defective pixel of the plurality of pixels constituting the pixel row, and calculates a position, in the second direction, of the line, based on the represent

Abstract: A failure analysis apparatus 10 is composed of an inspection information acquirer 11 for acquiring a failure observed image P2 of a semiconductor device, a layout information acquirer 12 for acquiring layout information, and a failure analyzer 13 for analyzing a failure. The failure analyzer 13 extracts as a candidate interconnection for a failure, an interconnection passing an analysis region, out of a plurality of interconnections, using interconnection information to describe a configuration of interconnections in the semiconductor device by a pattern data group of interconnection patterns in respective layers, and, for extracting the candidate interconnection, it performs an equipotential trace of the interconnection patterns using the pattern data group, thereby extracting the candidate interconnection.

Abstract: In a method for detecting a background-color level in accordance with a selected region, if the selected region does not contain a large amount of background color, the background-color level cannot be detected accurately. Thus, an image signal of a region read by an image reader is input, a part of the read region is selected, a background-color region is detected in accordance with the image signal of the input read region and an image signal of the selected region, and a background color contained in the selected region is removed in accordance with the level of an image signal of the detected background-color region.

Abstract: A dental microscopic procedure uses a digital surgical scope comprising a lens assembly for magnifying an optical image of an object and an illumination device for illuminating the object along the optical axis and from the direction of the lens assembly; an image data taking device, an image data processing/storing device having a database, one or more displays, and one or more controls for controlling the behaviors of the digital surgical scope, the image data taking device, the image data processing/storing device, and the one or more displays. The procedure comprises steps for capturing images, enhancing images, and selecting and performing functions on the images, wherein the function comprises deleting, exporting, importing, multi-viewing, printing, and managing the images with the database.

Abstract: A magnetic ink character reading apparatus includes a similarity acquisition unit, a character recognition unit and a character recognition limiting unit. The similarity acquisition unit acquires a similarity between one-character-corresponding data extracted from detection result data and reference data corresponding to each of the magnetic ink characters. The character recognition unit recognizes the magnetic ink character having the highest similarity as the magnetic ink character corresponding to the one-character-corresponding data. When the difference between the highest similarity and the second highest similarity among the similarities acquired is smaller than a predetermined reference difference, the character recognition limiting unit limits the determination that the magnetic ink character having the highest similarity is the magnetic ink character corresponding to the one-character.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methodology for image processing and object tracking that, inter alia, reduces noise. In one embodiment, the methodology is applied to moving targets such as missiles in flight, and comprises processing sequences of images that have been corrupted by one or more noise sources (e.g., sensor noise, medium noise, and/or target reflection noise). In this embodiment, a multi-dimensional image is acquired for a first time step t; the acquired image is normalized and sampled, and then segmented into target and background pixel sets. Intensity statistics of the pixel sets are determined, and a prior probability image from a previous time step smoothed. The smoothed prior image is then shifted to produce an updated prior image, and a posterior probability image calculated using the updated prior probability. Finally, the position of the target is extracted using the posterior probability image. A tracking system and controller utilizing this methodology are also disclosed.

Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing image data stored as three-dimensional point clouds related to a scene by selecting a profile definable in a two-dimensional surface, and matching the profile to one or more subsets of the cloud of points to identify surfaces in the scene having the same profile so that data sets representing the successive matched surface portions can be generated to provide a surface model of all or part of the scene.

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.