Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical identification an unknown character from a plurality of known characters. Each of the known characters includes a predominant color and a nonpredominant color in preselected proportions. The unknown character has at least one geometric feature and a plurality of pixels including a predominant color and a nonpredominant color. The method and apparatus of the present invention include an examination of at least one geometric feature of the unknown character. A hypothetical identity for the unknown character is generated in response to the examination of at least one geometric feature of the unknown character. A portion of the plurality of pixels of the unknown character is sampled and a proportion between the predominant color and the nonpredominant color within the sampled portion of the plurality of pixels is determined from the sampled pixels.

Abstract: A method of determining the reliability of a cytological screening test including the steps of viewing at least part of a cytological specimen, creating an image of the view, producing a digital representation of the image, ranking objects in the digital representation based on the degree to which each respective object has characteristics more likely found in a typical premalignant or malignant cell than in a typical benign cell, and displaying for review by an operator the images of at least a minimum number of the highest ranked objects such that objects of a predetermined cell type are displayed in the absence of premalignant or malignant cells, wherein the detection by the operator of the presence in the display of at least one cell of the predetermined cell type tends to indicate that the test is reliable.

Abstract: An image processing method for thinning lines converts pixels having a density of a configuration to a background density. Pixels are converted according to conditions which include densities of pixels in a neighborhood around a pixel to be processed. Pixels to be converted to the background density are first converted to an index value. Subsequent pixels are evaluated using the index values of adjacent, previously evaluated pixels. Index values are then converted to the background density.

Abstract: A system for spacing, storing and recognizing electronic representations of handwriting and printing comprises a central processing unit that couples with a display device, an input device, and a memory. The memory includes means for spacing ink stroke representations, means for recognizing outline elements, means for performing deferred recognition, means for highlighting drawing areas and means for storing and displaying ink stroke representations. These means operate together to provide a pen-based or graphics oriented computer system with improved performance and added functionality for manipulating the space between ink stroke representations.

Abstract: An energy function is defined as a linear sum of a discrepancy evaluation function and a dispersion evaluation function. Direction variables of all the subregions of a ridge direction pattern are variables of both evaluation functions. Direction variables are successively renovated along a line on which the energy function becomes minimum for a change of a concerned variable keeping all other variables unchanged. Reliabilities of initial directions in all the subregions are included as coefficients in the discrepancy evaluation function, and a higher reliability of an initial direction constrains the directional difference between the initial direction and the corresponding direction variable in a smaller amount. A set of variables which makes the energy function minimum is taken as a set of smoothed ridge direction pattern.

Abstract: An image testing device captures an image of a test object using a TV camera and raster-scans the image to search the test object for a scratch or spot. The device protects its test precision from being deteriorated by lowered brightness of an illuminator and properly maintains the illuminator by outputting an alarm on detecting a lowering of the illuminator. To realize the capabilities of the image testing device, it comprises a brightness measure circuit, a general determination circuit, etc. The brightness measure circuit receives a multivalued gray image signal or image data from the frame memory through a switching unit, obtains an average value of picture elements in a brightness measure area in a test object image, and outputs it as a measured brightness signal. The general determination circuit corrects, in proportion to a measured brightness a binarization threshold for use in detecting a picture element indicating a defect.

Abstract: There is provided a device and a method for the formation of a high-resolution image of a 3-dimensional object. The surface of the object is scanned stepwise by a linear detector matrix, so that the entire height of the object is covered. The arrangement is such that each horizontal "slice" is in focus, for the specific altitude of the "slice", and the information is fed to an image selector which evaluates the video images, selecting the "in focus" information, and using this for the construction of the image. The system is based on a plurality of linear CCD detector arrays, which are used for scanning the surface of the object, the image selections mechanism and the mechanism for thus constructing the desired image.

Abstract: The connecting element inspecting method inspects a connector having a connecting surface to another connector paired with the connecting element and a plurality of terminal containing holes opening to the connecting surface for respectively containing terminals. The connecting surface is irradiated by light entering the terminal containing holes. The connecting surface is imaged obliquely from a television camera. The percentage of the area of a portion occupied by the terminal in an image region associated with the terminal containing hole to be inspected is found. It is judged whether or not the terminal is properly mounted in the terminal containing hole to be inspected on the basis of the found percentage of the area. Consequently, it is judged whether the connector is accepted or rejected.

Abstract: A device for the detection of objects in a sequence of images. The device having a means for registering images, means for increasing the contrast of objects within a registered image, means for increasing the contrast of moving objects between two registered images and means for a final selection of signals considered as corresponding to the objects to be detected.

Abstract: A character reading apparatus including functions for storing size information of an object to be read, an inherent image included in the object, and position information about a read area of the object, from which information is to be read, in advance, in correspondence with each other, functions for scanning the object and obtaining an actual image, functions for measuring a size of the object, functions for comparing an original image corresponding to the size of the object, stored in the storing functions, with the actual image of the object, obtained by the scanning functions, on the basis of the measurement result obtained by the measuring functions, functions for, when the comparing functions determined that the original image coincides with the actual image, determining the position information about the read area, stored in correspondence with the actual image, as a read area of the object, and functions for reading a character from an original image of the read area determined by the read area deter

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing interpolated image data from original image data represented in terms of pixels, each pixel defined in terms of value and position in an original image, includes an original image input receiving original image data from an original image source; a page memory operatively connected to the input for storing a page of original image received; a source of interpolation parameters indicating: a slow scan initial pixel value Xinit, a fast scan initial pixel value Yinit, a fast scan x offset value FSx, a fast scan y offset value FSy, a slow scan x offset value SSx, and a slow scan y offset value SSy; a bilinear sequencer calculating for each new pixel, from the received parameters a reference pixel within the image, and a pair of interpolation coefficients for interpolating new pixel values; a memory controller retrieving to an interpolation calculator from the page memory a set of original image pixels including the pixel at the reference position, and three other pixels whose po

Abstract: Character recognition method and apparatus according to the present invention comprises the partial pattern dictionary which classifies and registers partial patterns of characters to be recognized in accordance with direction data of strokes and the partial pattern composition dictionary which classifies and registers dictionary characters in accordance with the partial patterns. When a character image to be recognized is inputted, each stroke is converted into direction data. The partial pattern dictionary is searched by using the attained direction data and divides the character image to be recognized into a single or plurality of partial patterns. The partial pattern composition dictionary is searched by using the partial patterns attained in the above-described way. A dictionary character is thus attained as the result of recognition.

Abstract: The invention is a novel method for automated detection of objects in images. One specific use is to detect malignant microcalcification clusters in mammograms. The method operates by forming a contour plot of the image (mammogram), the object (microcalcification) in the contour plot being comprised of a set of nested contour lines wherein the contour lines correspond to intensity levels thereby causing the object to appear as a prominent peak in relation to the local surround in the image.

Abstract: A filter for performing dilation and/or erosion operations associated with mathematical morphology using a W.times.H rectangular structuring element to a two-dimensional matrix of discrete values, the width of the matrix being x and the height being y, includes a horizontal portion for applying the selected operation to a W.times.1 local neighbourhood and a vertical portion for applying the selected operation to a 1.times.H local neighbourhood. According to one aspect of the filer, the portions are connected one after the other and the matrix elements are applied serially to the first portion, the output of one portion being connected to the input of the other portion. Each of the above-mentioned portions includes a multiplicity of delay devices, each device providing an equal delay, and a multiplicity of comparing devices for comparing two input values.

Abstract: A technique for detecting defects in stationary products or in products moving on a production line (102, FIG. 1) by analyzing area of interest (AOls) of their modified images uses a matrix or linescan camera (104, FIG. 1) for taking images of products (102). The product's dimensions are measured with accuracy, and the existence and alignment of caps and seals is determined. The technique is much faster and more accurate than current techniques and is based up on an analysis of the AOls and their discontinuities. (209 FIG. 1). Carefully selected AOls of the modified image (2 to 8, FIG. 2) are saved in the memory of a computer (106, FIG. 1). The method also includes loading look-up tables to modify the gray levels of the products; saving AOls in memory to be analyzed (FIG. 1); analyzing AOl data, counting pixel discontinuities, etc. The results can be used to measure product ovality, check caps and seals on products, and check changes of fluid or content levels in containers.

Abstract: An image inputting equipment wherein the images of the document are displayed on the transmission thin type display so that the images of the document may be visually superposed on the document corresponding to the images in according with the image information of the document and the positional information of the image inputting portion, and the images of the document to be displayed on the region where the image inputting portion in the transmission thin type display has already passed can be compared with real time with those of the document to be seen with the transmission of the region where the image inputting portion has not passed.