Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for fingerprinting a first and second image and using the fingerprints of the first and second image to determine if the second image is derived from the first image.

Abstract: A method and system for a programmable image transformation is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for transforming an image comprises rotating an image by a predetermined angle. The image is copied from a first memory location associated with a first location of a display device to a second memory location associated with a second location of a display device.

Abstract: A method for detecting a pattern in a digital image by successive comparison of the content of current windows with the content of at least one reference window representative of the pattern, the reference window containing values of variance or standard deviation of sub-blocks of pixels of the pattern and the current windows containing values of variance or standard deviation of sub-blocks of pixels of the image, the sub-blocks being of the same size in the current and reference windows.

Abstract: A process for modeling a 3D scene is provided which comprises validating the model by determining a maximum permitted distortion (5) on a 2D synthesized image (4), generated by the approximation inherent in the model (2); calculating for a point I of a reference image (7) and on a set of synthesized images (4) representing the 3D point of the scene corresponding to this point I, of the minimum (zi??zi1) and maximum (zi+?zi2) depth values of the depth zi of this point I corresponding to this maximum distortion, calculating a span around the depth zi of this point I, dependant on the minimum value of the error ?zi2 and on the minimum value of the error ?zi1 among the values calculated for the synthesized images of the set.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a background noise detecting device configured to detect from image data of an image, background noise data of the image data. An image memory stores the image data, and an inputting/outputting device inputs and outputs the image data into and from the image memory. A background noise data removing device removes the background noise data from the image data outputted from the image memory by the inputting/outputting device. An on/off device turns on and off a background noise data removing operation of the background noise data removing device according to an external control signal.

Abstract: A system identifies an abrupt transition in content between two frames, and determines whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary between the two frames or by a flashlight event. Identification of the abrupt transition in content includes calculating a difference in light intensity histograms between the current frame and a preceding frame, and comparing the histogram difference to a dynamically determined threshold. Further, an average light intensity based method is used to determine whether the abrupt transition was caused by a shot boundary or by a flashlight event.

Abstract: A capacitive fingerprint sensor includes a plurality of capacitive sensing members arranged in a 2D array. A charge-sharing principle is utilized to read signals in the capacitive sensing member. Each capacitive sensing member includes an insulating surface layer, a sense electrode, a reference electrode, a reference capacitor, and a signal reading circuit. The sense electrode is below the insulating surface layer. When a finger contacts the insulating surface layer, a sense capacitor is formed therebetween. The reference capacitor is connected between the reference and sense electrodes. The signal reading circuit is connected to the sense and reference electrodes, repeatedly provides control signals to charge the reference capacitor and then enable the reference and sense capacitor to share charges. Finally, the sense voltage of the sense electrode may be read.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the motion reconstruction method from inter-frame feature correspondences of a singular video stream using a motion library. The motion library is constructed through a motion capture system which is becoming more actively used or skilled animators. The present invention comprises the detailed information on the whole processes from images to motions. These processes are very simple to implement and straight forward. The total movement of a motion can be effectively inferenced and this technology can directly used for various fields in which human motions are produced from the images.

Abstract: In the automatic photogrammetric 3D digitization of a body or body part marked e.g. by an envelope provided with photogrammetric target markers, the camera employed for image recording has additional light pattern projectors added thereon which are fastened to the camera body and project geometrically simple structures such as points or lines onto the body. These structures, which are visible optically without the viewing image, facilitate the manual alignment of the camera and the positioning of the camera at the correct distance from the body in obtaining the numerous overlapping individual images required for photogrammetric evaluation. This manually predefined alignment facilitates the automatic association of the photogrammetric markers in the individual image pairs with the aid of image processing methods and allows it to be carried out more reliably on an automated basis. According to a preferred embodiment, the projectors are turned off in the actual image recording process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an object image with respect to a model pattern so as to detect flaws in the object image. The system includes extracting pattern features from the model pattern; generating a vector-valued function using the pattern features to provide a pattern field; extracting image features from the object image; evaluating each image feature, using the pattern field and an n-dimensional transformation that associates image features with pattern features, so as to determine at least one associated feature characteristic; and using at least one feature characteristic to identify at least one flaw in the object image. The invention can find at least two distinct kinds of flaws: missing features, and extra features.

Abstract: Section images of a human body part are continuously input by relative movement with respect to a read unit in an image input step, a living body section image including a character shape from an input section image group in a character area section step, and, when living body section images which include character shapes which are chronologically continuous are selected, the living body section images are connected to each other to generate a connected living body image in an image connection step. In the collation step, the connected living body image including the character shapes and living body section images which include character shapes which are not connected to each other are collated with a corresponding portion in reference information of a human body part which is registered in advance to authenticate an identical person.

Abstract: In a pattern recognition system, a pattern which is to be recognized later is prescribed in a learning phase. This pattern is detected sequentially, that is to say the informative areas of the pattern are detected and, moreover, the spatial relationship between the areas is also stored. In the recognition phase, a hypothesis which indicates a presumed pattern and, furthermore, indicates where such further prominent areas should be located in the pattern to be recognized if the presumption is correct, is generated on the basis of the acquired data of a first area of a pattern to be recognized, and on the basis of the stored data. Thus, patterns are learned through their location information, on the one hand, and through their spatial relationship to each other, on the other hand, stored and then re-recognized.

Abstract: A system and method for segmenting cardiac images and, in particular, segmenting the left ventricle of the heart using a contour propagation model that integrates visual information and anatomical constraints. The visual information comprises a gradient vector flow-based boundary component and a region component that separates the cardiac contours/regions according to their global intensity properties that reflect the different tissue properties. The anatomical constraints couple the propagation of cardiac contours according to their relative distance. The propagation model comprises a weighted integration of a boundary segmentation model, a region model and coupling function.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing apparatus and method. In this apparatus and method, high-frequency components are converted by multiple-frequency transformation in accordance with tone conversion used to change the dynamic range, thereby obtaining a high-quality image. For example, an original image undergoes tone conversion on the basis of a tone conversion curve, and the converted image then undergoes discrete wavelet transformation. After that, subbands obtained by discrete wavelet transformation undergo a conversion process in correspondence with the slope of the tone conversion curve.

Abstract: In this invention there are described a set of algorithms based on multiresolution subdivision surfaces that perform at interactive rates and enable intuitive surface cut-and-paste operations. The method includes separating a source region of interest of a source surface into a source base surface and a source detail surface; separating a target region of interest of a target surface into a target base surface and a target detail surface; and pasting the source detail surface onto the target base surface in accordance with a mapping. The step of pasting includes parameterizing and mapping the parameterized regions of interest of the source and target surfaces into an intermediate plane, and aligning the parameterizations using a linear transformation that compensates for first order distortions.

Abstract: A method of resampling medical imaging data from a first spatial distribution of data points onto a second spatial distribution of data points, including determining a matrix of reverse interpolation coefficients for resampling data from said second spatial distribution onto said first spatial distribution, inverting a matrix based on said reverse interpolation matrix to determine forward resampling coefficients for resampling data from said first spatial distribution to said second spatial distribution, and resampling data from said first spatial distribution onto said second spatial distribution using said forward resampling coefficients.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and accurate process for extracting an object from an image, which is used to impose a great load for an operator. According to the present invention, an image processing apparatus comprises an object extracting unit, for performing a predetermined process for image data for a position or an area that is designated and for extracting a specific object from an image, an outline part deciding unit, for selecting and authenticating an arbitrary segment of an outline obtained by the extracting unit, and an outline synthesis unit, for linking and synthesizing together the outline segments that are authenticated. Since a closed curve is formed by synthesizing the outline segments obtained by repeating the above process, and the outline of the object is thus determined, the outline segment that is extracted from the image and matches the correct outline of the object is sequentially selected and authenticated.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing and quantifying movement in synchronous video are provided. An image-processing computer obtains a synchronous video image, which is converted to color bitmap frames. Each frame is then sub-divided into smaller pixel blocks. Processed independently, the size of each pixel block is reduced by truncation of the color resolution and the use of a limited color table for the pixel block. The cumulative color difference in the pixel block is calculated and if it is below a threshold, the pixel block data will not be saved. Alternatively, the pixel block data is compressed and saved. Upon decoding, the color difference between each pixel and the same pixel in the preceding frame is compared. The color difference is assigned a pseudocolor and is displayed on the screen. Larger color differences are represented with more pronounced pseudocolors.

Abstract: A scanning system includes a hand-held scanning device that generates two-dimensional images of a pattern reflected off an object. The system also includes a memory and processing unit. The memory stores a calibration table for the scanner and received scanned bitmap images. The processing unit generates three-dimensional information as to a scanned object. The scanning can be performed without knowledge or even precise control of the position of the object relative to the scanner. Random movement of the object during scanning is also possible. For example, the scanner is simply swept over the surface of the object by hand. Three-dimensional information of the object is obtained from the captured images using a calibration table for the scanner. A method of calibration of the scanner in X, Y and Z directions is also described. The scanner can be used for a variety of purposes, including medical and industrial purposes.

Abstract: The iris image pickup apparatus includes a recess sinking in the direction of a sight line of a person to be authenticated, the recess provided on an outer panel covering the image pickup unit for picking up the iris image of a person, indicators arranged at the bottom of the recess, external indicators arranged on the periphery of the recess, and a controller for performing lighting control of the indicator as well as keeping the external indicators off in a period where the image pickup timing of the image pickup unit is overlapped. Since the external indicators are kept off during picking up the image, the sight line of a person to be authenticated does not move to the external indicators thus picking up an iris image without blurs.