Abstract: Two-dimensional blocks of line-work image data are subjected to: fractal reordering; run length encoding of the pixel values of the fractal re-ordered data, index encoding of the run length encoded pixel values; and entropy encoding of the index encoded pixel values and run lengths. This lossless, but in case of applying a quantisation step, lossy image data compression and decompression method is particularly suitable for handling image data in a printer environment, and more particularly for handling image data comprising line work data or both raster images and line work data.

Abstract: A boundary line detection apparatus and method and an image processing apparatus and method as well as a recording medium by which the jaggy in the proximity of a boundary line is removed without increasing the sampling rate to remove are disclosed. The differences between pixel values between a noticed pixel and pixels in the proximity of the noticed pixel are compared with each other to detect whether or not a boundary is present in the proximity of the noticed pixel. Then, a length, a direction, and a start point and an end portion of the boundary line are determined. Then, the distance between the noticed pixel and the boundary line is calculated, and the pixel value of the noticed pixel is weighted using the distance. Then, the pixel obtained by the weighting is outputted.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for adjusting a unit image area within an input image according to information importance within the unit area. An image receiver configured to receive the input image. An image warper is coupled to an importance map as is configured to generate a warped image such that regions of higher importance in the input image are expanded in the warped image and regions of lower importance in the input image are compressed in the warped image. The importance map is configured to delineate the regions of higher importance and the regions of lower importance in the input image. Texture coordinates may also be warped in a similar manner. Thus, the image is unwarped automatically by modern graphics adapters having texture mapping capabilities.

Abstract: A fingerprint identification apparatus comprises a contact image sensor (CIS) module, a keyswitch and a restoring unit. The keyswitch has a transparent plate for finger-tactility. The user put his finger on the transparent plate to move the transparent plate such that the keyswitch has relative movement with respect to the CIS module and the CIS module scans the fingerprint of user for fingerprint identification. The restoring unit is arranged on the keyswitch and provides restoring force to the keyswitch.

Abstract: A system and method for compressing and storing image data. The system and method creates for each of a plurality of original images a plurality of resultant images by altering the content of each of the plurality of original images a corresponding plurality of different ways. Each of the resultant images is then compressed. From the compressed, resultant images created from each of the plurality of original images one resultant image is selected. Each of the selected one of the plurality of resultant images is then stored such that each of the selected one of the plurality of resultant images is retrievable to be displayed as a representation of its corresponding original image.

Abstract: A background subtraction apparatus of the present invention includes a key point locator for locating key points on a known object type, a boundary point locator for locating boundary points of the known object that make up the edges of the known object, and an edge processor for processing the edges to provide a clean-edged extraction of the known object from a background image. Preferably, the key point locator includes an alignment detector for detecting alignment of an image of the known object type with a skeleton image. Still more preferably, the skeleton image is an exoskeleton image and the known object type is a human being.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that detect motion by monitoring images from a video camera mounted on a mobile robot, such as an autonomously navigated mobile robot. Examples of such robots include automated vacuum floor sweepers. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention can automatically sense a robot's motional state in a relatively reliable and cost-efficient manner. Many configurations of robots are configured to include at least one video camera. Embodiments of the invention permit the use of a video camera onboard a robot to determine a motional state for the robot. This can advantageously permit the motional state of a robot to be determined at a fraction of the cost of additional sensors, such as a laser, an infrared, an ultrasonic, or a contact sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for providing high quality substantially visually error-free conversion of color images. The method maps the color values to an expanded colorspace to represent substantially all colors without perceptible visual error and labels an image determined by the mapped color values as an expanded colorspace image. Thus, the present invention may be utilized to provide a linear color management system. In a 16 bit color data value system, transparency/opaqueness information may be stored, and premultiplied or premultiplied and normalized values may be used for blending.

Abstract: The disclosure describes pattern recognition detectors and software used to detect objects in image streams. The detectors operate on streams of image data, making them suitable for detecting certain types of objects in documents and images passed between processes and devices. For instance, the streaming mode detectors operate in printer drivers on streams of image data being passed to a printer. Also, the streaming mode detectors operate in scanner drivers on streams of image data being passed from a scanner. The disclosure describes pattern detectors for shapes with complex features as well as objects comprised of many smaller shapes. The disclosure also describes novel raster line and edge tracing pattern techniques.

Abstract: The present invention permits to determine an image characteristic amount for efficiently searching an image without affecting a bad influence upon searching accuracy. First image characteristic amount data is extracted. Second image characteristic amount data is extracted. Then, a distance between two image characteristic amount data is calculated. Further, the calculated distance is compared with a threshold value. If the distance is smaller than the threshold value, the image characteristic amount data having smaller number of coefficients which is advantageous because of smaller data amount is selected, and, if otherwise, the image characteristic amount data having greater number of coefficients is selected.

Abstract: A method for smooth trapping of thin graphical objects, wherein a thin graphical object has a width dimension which is substantially less than the object's length dimension, includes receiving from a trap generator the location of a trap pixel that should be changed in color; determining the width of the object containing the trap pixel; comparing the width of the object with a trap threshold width; if the size of the object is less than the trap threshold width, reducing the width of the trap region according to a predetermined relationship; and applying a trap correction to the trap pixel according to the reduced trap width. The predetermined relationship may be a linear relationship which reduces the trap width monotonically for object widths less than the trap threshold width. The method may be applied to small objects and small font text objects.

Abstract: An image processing system whose circuit size is small, and whose dissipation power is small is provided. The image processing system executes digital image processing of an interval of active pixel in the condition that a first internal logic description is written in a field programmable gate array. Subsequently, in interval of non-active pixel with the exception of the interval of active pixel, the image processing system executes digital control processing in the condition that the first internal logic description of the field programmable gate array is rewritten to a second internal logic description. The image processing system executes again the digital image processing in the condition that the second internal logic description of the field programmable gate array is rewritten to the first internal logic description.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the fragmentation (F) of images (14i) into homogeneous regions (Ri), this fragmentation (F) using iterative merges of fragments Fi and Fj which are as similar as possible according to at least one selection parameter, this similarity being evaluated by a product A*B of two factors A and B, A being consistent with a number of pixels and B being consistent with the selection parameter(s). According to the invention a merge is performed when the product A*B*C is less than a threshold consistent with the selection parameter, C being a factor consistent with the inverse of a number of pixels.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies of an image of at least part of a subject from a predefined view. A receiver receives a plurality of images comprising image data representative of a subject from a plurality of view points. For each of a plurality of received images, frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies within images received by the receiver is determined, and projections of the frequency component image data projected to a predefined view are also determined. Visibility data indicative of the relative visibility of portions of the surface of a subject from viewpoints is then determined.

Abstract: A normalized activity calculating unit calculates a normalized activity that is calculated from luminescence component pixel values of an original image on the basis of information from an information buffer, such as bit rate, an amount of bits generated in each frame, and an amount of bits generated and a quantization step size in each macroblock. The normalized activity calculating unit then outputs the normalized activity to a code amount control unit. The code amount control unit calculates a quantization scale code corresponding to a target bit rate, which quantization scale code matches visual characteristics, using the normalized activity inputted from the normalized activity calculating unit, and then outputs the quantization scale code to a quantizing unit. The quantizing unit quantizes discrete cosine transform coefficients inputted from a band limiting unit on the basis of the quantization scale code inputted to the quantizing unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the measuring of structures in a fingerprint or the like, comprising the measuring of chosen characteristics of the surface of the fingerprint, e.g. by measuring capacitance or resistivity, using a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors, being positioned in contact with, or close to, a portion of the surface. The characteristics are measured in at least one line of measuring points along an elongated portion of the surface at given intervals of time, the sensor array being an essentially one-dimensional array, moving the surface in relation to the sensor array in a direction perpendicular to the sensor array, so that the measurements are performed at different, or partially overlapping, portions of the surface, combining the measurements of the measured portions of the surface to provide a segmented, two-dimensional representation of said characteristics of the surface.

Abstract: A system encodes a separate assist channel that carries only a small amount of additional information in a hardcopy document to compensate for failure of an OCR system to accurately reconstruct a scanned electronic version of the hardcopy document. After the OCR system produces an interpretation of the scanned electronic version of the hardcopy document, a rewrite system that is guided by the assist channel operates independent from the OCR system to correct decoding errors produced by the OCR system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing a plurality of image portions of at least a region of a sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of processors arranged to receive and analyze at least one of the image portions, and the processors being arranged to operate in parallel. The apparatus also includes a data distribution system arranged to receive image data, select at least a first processor for receiving a first image from the image data, select at least a second processor for receiving a second image from the image data, and output the first and second image portions to their selected processors.

Abstract: A form identification method which can identify forms without errors even if a form is inputted from a scanner in different direction or the form is enlarged/shrunk. A form registration method which enables change/modification of forms when form types are pre-registered. Inputted points as features are extracted from the form, modification of enlargement/shrinkage, rotation, or skew is made to the inputted points. Form types are identified based on minimum distances between the inputted point and pre-registered dictionary points. When registering a similar form type, warning can be displayed on the screen. In a system a dictionary registration station, a form identification station, and a form edit station are connected via a communication network. Each station operates in interlocking manner, identifies inputted forms, and registers them into a dictionary.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method of indexing a digital image comprises the following steps: generating a first information item (H(Im)) characteristic of the visual content of the image (Im) to be indexed; generating a second information item (W(Im)) characteristic of the spatial distribution of the visual content of the image (Im) in its image plane; and associating, with the image (Im), an index (IDX(Im)) composed of the first information item (H(Im)) and the second information item (W(Im)).