Abstract: The invention relates to an image-processing method for automated contrast modification of digital image data. At least one low and one high-frequency signal are formed based on the digital image signal of the image data; the low-frequency signal component is modified using a characteristic-curve function; and then the modified, low-frequency signal is again added to the high-frequency signal component. In order to prevent the occurrence of distracting artifacts, so-called “halos”, the formation of the low-frequency signal component to be modified is formed in dependence upon the high-frequency image components.

Abstract: In object detection method and apparatus, a detection image related to a binary image obtained by subtracting a background image from an input image delivered from an image-pickup device is displayed on the display screen of a display unit, responsive to an operation done by an operator who determines that at least one object in the displayed detection image is a region to be excluded from object detection, the region of the object is set as a masking region automatically and thereafter, object detection is performed in respect of individual input images while performing masking in the masking region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for image complexity estimation and selective complexity-based image processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for image complexity estimation and selective complexity-based image processing.

Abstract: When a CG object is overlapped onto a photographed real scenery image as a background and an image of a photographed real photographic subject is synthesized in front of the overlapped image, an image in which the photographed real background and the photographic subject are imaged simultaneously without imaging the photographed real background and the photographic subject independently, is synthesized with CG. A photographed real image including a specific image is acquired, and area information representing an area of the specific image from the photographed real image, and an area other than the area of the specific image of the photographed real image is synthesized with a computer graphics image using the area information so detected.

Abstract: Digital watermarking is provided in a printed photograph. The digital watermarking includes an identifier. The printed photograph is scanned and the digital watermark is decoded to obtain the identifier. The identifier is used to obtain a substitute image for use when generating a copy of the printed photograph. A user interface can be provided to allow a user to select options prior to printing the copy.

Abstract: A method for providing real time service of huge and high quality digital image on internet is disclosed, wherein data relevant to a general life such as a general photo, an advertising leaflet, and a pamphlet and professional image data exhibited in an art gallery, exhibition grounds, a pavilion are made into huge and high quality digital image or scanned and photographed to be digital, thereby processing real time service as an interactive browsing form. In the present invention, data are directly made, edited, constructed, and uploaded on internet, thereby providing various additional information with image through hyperlink and processing high quality digital image service on network without speed delay for huge image.

Abstract: An image processing device method and system that enables overprint reproduction even for a composite output, despite its simple configuration. In a print server, when a construction command of a path is detected, if a trap width is set, object information is extracted from a drawing command and saved, and when the path is constructed, information which can specify the constructed path is extracted and saved with the object information. Moreover, when a drawing process is executed, a trapping process is executed on the path using saved object information. As a result, a corresponding object can be drawn by overprinting.

Abstract: A system comprising automatic apparatus for automatic optical inspection (AOI), verification and correction of defects in an article, and a processor operative to select between AOI, verification and correction for performing on the article.

Abstract: An accelerative noise filtering method for image data is provided. The present invention includes selecting four neighboring pixels around a target pixel in a pattern of a cross shape or X shape, and calculating the absolute value of a difference between the target pixel and each of the four neighboring pixels. When the absolute value of the difference of the neighboring pixel is not larger than a standard deviation, a binary value of a bit corresponding to the neighboring pixel is set “1”. When the absolute value of the difference of the neighboring pixel is larger than a standard deviation, a binary value of a bit corresponding to the neighboring pixel is set “0”. Consequently, a 4-bit mapping table including the binary values of the four neighboring pixels is obtained. Then, a new pixel value for replacing the target pixel value is calculated based on a calculation derived from the 4-bit mapping table.

Abstract: A digital image upscaling system enhances the visual quality of enlarged images by detecting diagonal edges and applying an appropriate scaling algorithm, such as a rotated bilinear scaling process, to output pixels associated with those edges. The rotated bilinear scaling process involves detecting diagonal edges and specifying a new frame of reference rotated 45° from the original frame of reference, and then selecting a rotated pixel set based on the new frame of reference. Bilinear interpolation in the new frame of reference using the rotated pixel set provides improved pixel data for the output pixel. Output pixels found not to be associated with diagonal edges are processed using standard bilinear interpolation.

Abstract: Detecting skew and determining skew angle using the front of a document by determining background-to-document transitions. Incoming scanlines are interval sampled in the fast scan direction every nth pixel. The samples are collected and organized into a two dimension array comprised of scanline based rows and interval based columns. The collected and organized samples are analyzed by intervals to determine a scanline (row) where a specified sampling condition exceeds predetermined threshold. The corresponding row-interval point forms a background-to-medium transition point of the edge of a document. When two or more background-to-medium transition points are found from different intervals the skew angle can be determined using linear regression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elementary cell of a linear filter for image processing, as well as to a corresponding module, element and process. The cell comprises a data circulation output and a calculation output, as well as a main delay line and an auxiliary delay line in parallel. Delay line selection means (MUX4) make it possible to link the input of the cell to the circulation output by way of one or other of the delay lines. The cell also comprises an adder having two inputs which can be linked respectively to the input of the cell and to the output of the main delay line, by calculation selection means (MUX1, MUX2) and a multiplier at the output of the adder, connected to a multiplier coefficients memory. Application to linear filtering for image processing and to random access for motion compensation.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for processing an image sensed by an image sensing unit which includes an optical system and an image sensing element for converting a subject image formed by the optical system into an electric signal, a group of correction data, which is calculated on the basis of relative positional information of an optical axis of the optical system and a center of an effective range of the image sensing element, for correcting an image sensed by the image sensing unit is read out from a storage unit, and the image is corrected based upon the group of correction data read out from the storage unit. A minimum value of the group of correction data is associated with a position substantially coinciding with the optical axis position on the image sensing element or a position between the optical axis of the optical system and the center and closer to the optical axis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for squeezing an input hue, Hin, toward a region of preferred hue, Hpref, having a preferred chroma, Cpref, and luminance, Lpref, to restrict the rotation effect to a point in LCH space rather than an entire hue slice. This method involves defining a chroma weight as: Cweight=Gaussian(Cpref,Csigma); defining a luminance weight as: Lweight=Gaussian(Lpref,Lsigma); defining a hue weight as: Hweight=Gaussian(Hpref,Hsigma); defining an amount of hue adjustment as: HAdjust=?H*(Hweight*Cweight*Lweight); and finally, generating an output hue by applying hue adjustment to hue input such that: Hout=Hin?HAdjust.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enhances an image quality where original brightness data Xij of a concerned pixel is compared with predetermined brightness levels X1 and X2, which are reference variables to obtain new brightness data Yij, with an enhanced contrast. The method sets initial values of a parameter Vb to calculate the brightness level X1, a parameter Vp to calculate the brightness level X2, the brightness level X1, and the brightness level X2, and compares the brightness data Xij with Vb and Vp. The method resets Vb and Vp according to comparison results and identifies a background area according to the comparison results between the brightness data Xij and parameter X1 or X2, and performs the contrast enhancement on pixels belonging to the background area, and updates the brightness levels X1 and X2 using Vb and Vp when the concerned pixel is the last one in the concerned line.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for determining a hue adjustment to an input hue, Hin, to squeeze the input hue toward a region of preferred hue, Hpref. The method involving defining a change in hue as: ?H=Hin?Hpref; defining a hue weight as a Gaussian: Hweight=Gaussian(Hpref,Hsigma) wherein the Gaussian function can be alternatively replaced by one of either the sum of two Gaussians or a Gaussian convolved with a Rect function; defining an amount of hue adjustment as: HAdjust=?H*Hweight. Then, an output hue is generated by applying the adjustment such that: Hout=Hin?HAdjust.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus has a connected pixel extraction unit for extracting drawn connected pixels contained in the color document image, a foreground/background image classification unit for classifying connected pixel groups extracted by the compressed connected pixel extraction unit as a foreground image or a background image, a color-by-color-based binary image generation unit for generating binary image data for each color from information on the color of the connected pixel groups classified as a foreground image, a foreground image compression unit for compressing the color binary image data generated by the compressed color-by-color-based binary image generation unit, a background image generation unit for generating a background image, a background image compression unit for compressing the background image generated by the compressed background image generation unit, and a compressed image data generation unit for combining the foreground image data compressed by the foreground image compres

Abstract: A method for object detection that utilizes a patterned background. Patterned backgrounds are chosen such that each reference image analyzed will have both light and dark pixels. The method calculates the difference between the expected value for the light pixels and the expected value of the dark pixels in the reference image. This difference is used to chose a threshold value. The difference in expected values for the corresponding pixels in a live image is calculated and compared to the threshold value. If the difference in expected values of the live image are less than the threshold value, object detection is indicated.

Abstract: A method for enhancing electronic images of a document, in which the electronic images contain a background with foreground markings, includes receiving an electronic image containing pixels and assigning an initial provisional foreground/background status to the pixels. The initial foreground/background estimate is revised and a determination is made as to whether the revised foreground/background estimate is to be the final status assignment for the pixels of the image. If a final pixel status assignment has not been achieved, the estimate is again revised until a final foreground/background status is reached for the image pixels prior to creation of an output image.