Abstract: Various computer-implemented methods are provided. One method for signature recognition includes identifying a vertical element of a signature and determining a tilt angle of the vertical element. Tilt angle is defined by a line that is approximately parallel to the vertical element. In addition, the method includes determining a tilt factor. Tilt factor is defined as a horizontal offset between the tilt angle and a reference tilt as a function of distance from a signature baseline. The method further includes altering the signature using the tilt factor and comparing the altered signature to known signature(s) to determine if the altered signature matches one of the known signature(s). Another method includes altering the signature using a predetermined tilt factor and comparing the altered signature to known signature(s). If the altered signature does not match one of the known signature(s), these steps may be repeated with different predetermined tilt factors.

Abstract: A scanning system is disclosed including a hand-held scanning device for capturing three-dimensional information of an object. The scanner system includes a high-speed transceiver having a high-speed laser light source, a high frequency MEMS oscillating scanning mirror and software for frame registration. Laser based range finding technique is used to map the scanned object. MEMS oscillating at high speed enables rapid and accurate scanning of an 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. The scanner can be used for a variety of purposes, including medical and industrial purposes. The illustrated embodiment is in-vivo scanning of human teeth for purposes of orthodontic treatment planning and diagnosis.

Abstract: A method and a device for recognizing visual obstructions in image sensor systems are provided. A signal is produced, based on the analysis of the recorded image from the image sensor, which indicates the presence and, optionally, the type, of the visual obstruction on a windshield, for example.

Abstract: A personal authentication apparatus inquires into a face-picture of a suspected person as well as a face-picture of a person himself. A personal authentication apparatus for certifying that a user is a person himself comprises an image pickup unit for taking a face-picture of the user, a particular person comparing unit for comparing the user's face-picture taken by the image pickup unit with a face-picture of a particular person held in advance, a personal picture acquiring unit for acquiring the face-picture of the person himself from a memory, and an authentication unit for deciding whether or not the user's face-picture taken by the image pickup unit is identical with the face-picture of the person himself acquired by the personal picture acquiring unit by a different method based upon the comparison result by the particular person comparing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of classifying defects wherein defects are detected in a first inspection machine. The detected defects are then reviewed by a second inspection machine. A sampling rate for review by the second inspection machine is determined by a defect classifier in the first inspection machine.

Abstract: An image file processing method adopted in an image file processing apparatus, includes steps for: inputting from the outside an image file containing at least color information corresponding to each of pixels defined by a color space used in the image file, a color space identification tag indicating whether or not the color space used in the image file is a first color space and a color space information tag providing color space information related to the color space used in the image file; making a decision as to whether or not the color space used in the image file is the first color space based upon the color space identification tag; and referencing the color space information tag in the image file if the color space used in the image file is determined not to be in the first color space.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for image processing are provided to perform operations of generating a verification document image and detecting tampering on the verification document image. The verification document image is generated by a document image generator, which adds a verification pattern to an original document image received from a document provider. A tampering detector determines whether the verification document image has been tampered based on the verification pattern. The output unit prints out, under control of a controller, the verification document image as well as information on whether tampering is detected. The above operations are performed on a network, such as the Internet.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive image recognition apparatus offering a high image recognition rate.

Abstract: A portable device for monitoring a user's geographic location, substantially a time of the geographic location measurement, verification status of the user's identity is provided. The portable device includes, a biometric verification module (“BVM”) that verifies the user's identity and includes a scanner for capturing images of a relevant biometric area and compares the captured images with pre-defined and stored reference biometric characteristics, wherein after the comparison, the BVM indicates whether the user's identity is verified or not; and a location module that determines the portable device's location information and substantially the time of measurement; and wherein the information carrier is a memory card for storing biometric parameters, the geographic location, the substantial time of measurement of location, and the user identity flag, wherein such data is maintained in the information carrier even when the portable device is powered off.

Abstract: The present application provides for accurately identifying a selection of pixels in a digital image. A pixel edgewalk procedure utilizes pixel reference points situated around a pixel, such as at pixel vertices, to determine where to draw an outline to encompass selected pixels. Each pixel reference point is represented by one or more bits in memory that indicate certain information about each particular pixel reference point and pixels surrounding the pixel reference point. Utilizing this information, a determination is made as to where an outline can be drawn according to certain pixel reference points to encompass only pixels that are selected pixels. Resource overhead for determining bit settings for some pixel reference points is reduced by utilizing a bit-wise shift in memory bits allocated to an adjacent pixel reference point.

Abstract: A method and system as used to calibrate a reflective SLM. The system can include the SLM having an array of pixels and a projection optical system resolving individual pixels and having an apodized pupil. During a calibration operation, the pixels of the SLM receive varying voltage values to move them through various angles. Light reflecting from the pixels during these movements forms individual images for each pixel at each angle. The light passes through the apodized pupil and is received on one or more sections of a detector. The apodization pattern is selected so that individual pixels remain well resolved with strong sensitivity to the pixel mirror tilt. The light intensity received for each pixel at each angle is correlated to the voltage value received at the pixel to tilt the pixel to that angle producing a result signal used by a control device to calibrate the SLM.

Abstract: A method is proposed which enables high-resolution raster images to be represented on lower-resolution displays. The method according to the invention selects support points in lines and columns of the original image, which have a smallest possible variation of their distances and approximate the set scaling at least in ranges. Consequently, rational scaling ratios can also be achieved in an advantageous manner. In order to represent fine details of the original image in the scaled image as well, the adjacent pixels of the support points are also incorporated into the calculation of the pixels that are output. Furthermore, a circuit for scaling a raster image in real time is proposed. Moreover, a film scanner having a scaling device in accordance with the method according to the invention is proposed.

Abstract: method A first image of a moving object is acquired by of a first imaging method, e.g by PET or SPECT imaging. The first image contains artifacts caused by object motion. From two further images acquired by a second imaging method, e.g. C.T. or M.R., and representing the object in respective states of motion, a motion model is formed. The information contents of either the first image or a combination image, formed from the first image and the two further images, and the motion model is enhanced.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking a global shape of an object in motion is disclosed. One or more control points along an initial contour of the global shape are defined. Each of the one or more control points is tracked as the object is in motion. Uncertainty of a location of a control point in motion is represented using a number of techniques. The uncertainty to constrain the global shape is exploited using a prior shape model. In an alternative embodiment, multiple appearance models are built for each control point and the motion vectors produced by each model are combined in order to track the shape of the object. The movement of the shape of the object can be visually tracked using a display and color vectors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for generating scaled image data includes a receiver that receives an input of pixel value information of each pixel which is contained in image data to be processed in raster scan order, a first memory that stores the pixel value information input in the raster scan order, a destination address generator that generates destination address information in the second memory to specify a destination location of the pixel value information stored in the first memory in response to the specified scaling factor, and a transferring unit that transfers the pixel value information from the first memory to the second memory based on the generated destination address information.

Abstract: In an image recognition method, the image of a cream solder 9 printed on a rectangular electrode 16 having a solder leveler formed is picked up and recognized to identify the cream solder 9. An illuminating unit having white light source parts 35W arranged in the radial oblique directions of 45° is used to apply white color illumination lights from a light applying direction in which an angle of ?1 formed by the light applying direction and a horizontal plane in a vertical plane is 45° or smaller and from a light applying direction in which an angle of ?3 formed by the light applying direction and the boundary of the electrode 16 in a horizontal plane is 75° or smaller. Thus, regularly reflected lights from a solder leveler forming surface 16a with a glossiness are not received by an upper camera to identify a solder surface 9a and the solder leveler forming surface 16a with good accuracy.

Abstract: A response signal generating unit (3) applies a predetermined supply signal (2S) to a detection element (1) and outputs, as a response signal (3S), a signal which has changed in accordance with the impedance of an object (10) with which the unit is in contact through the detection element (1). A waveform information detection unit (4) detects waveform information corresponding to the impedance of the object (10) on the basis of the response signal (3S) from the response signal generating unit (3), and outputs a detection signal (4S) representing the waveform information. A biometric recognition unit (5) determines on the basis of the detection signal (4S) from the waveform information detection unit (4) whether or not the object (10) is a living body.

Abstract: In a multi-layered real-time stereo matching system with a systolic array, one scan line in one digital image of the left and the right digital image is compared with multiple scan lines in the other digital image of the left and the right digital image in real-time so that each pixel in the one scan line may be matched with a pixel in the multiple scan lines in the other digital image.

Abstract: Methods and systems of classifying an image by use of a concentration ratio that indicates the smoothness of the distribution of a population of elements in the image or portions thereof. Alternate embodiments may include determining the concentration ratio based on luminance components, grayscale components or a histogram, use of thresholds for determing the image classifications such as text, graphic or photographic, and use of a training process for creating the thresholds that includes analyzing a set of images having known classifications.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for determining a portion of a document corresponding to a captured image. A user employs a pen to create a stroke in a document, and images are captured by a camera mounted on the pen. The locations of some of the images are determined by, e.g., analyzing a pattern on the document captured by the image or by a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the image with the document. The locations of other images are determined by segmenting the sequence of images into groups corresponding to the shape of the stroke. Information relating to a located image in a segment is employed to determine the position of an unlocated image in the segment. This determined position is used for obtaining further information that may be used to determine the position of another unlocated image in the segment, and so on, until the segment is finished.