Abstract: A method and system for classifying a raster scanned target image by collapsing the image into a vector corresponding to a horizontal line of the image, mathematically transforming this vector into a feature vector which corresponds to the power spectrum of the collapsed image, and comparing the feature vector with stored decision rules corresponding to classes of possible target objects to determine if the image represents an object in one of the classes.

Abstract: A pen-type character recognition apparatus includes an input data detecting section for detecting input character data as data representing a certain character according to a change in pressure applied to a tip element of a pen. A data processing section standardizes the output data from the input data detecting section by compressing the output data to a predetermined number of data for the character, so as to generate corresponding standardized data. A data registering section registers in advance selected standardized data as standard pattern data for corresponding to the predetermined input character data when a character is written with the pen tip element, and an input character recognizing section recognizes the character represented by the input character data by comparing the standardized data generated from the data processing section with the data registered in advance in the data registering section.

Abstract: A segmentation apparatus utilized in an image processing system for recognizing a pattern in an image inputted thereto includes a separate circuit for outputting logical values of m by n pixels separated from the inputted image, an encode circuit for storing in advance therein codes to be determined according to the content of an inputted pattern and for outputting a code indicating that which set of pixels is identical to the objective pixel by using as an input pattern the logical value outputted from the separate circuit, and a select circuit for selecting a label of the objective label, from the label data of neighborhood pixels already determined and the new label data assigned, in accordance with the output from the encode circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing errors in digital processing of electrical signals whereby a digital input signal is divided into a digital useful signal having a lower resolution than the input signal and into a digital error signal having lower resolution than the input signal. A deviation of the useful signal is reproduced from the input signal and a check is performed to see whether the sum error of a plurality of successive useful signal values crosses a prescribed upper or lower threshold. When a threshold is crossed, an error value of the useful signal which comes closest to this threshold is identified and the useful signal and the error signal of this signal value are corrected such that the sum error no longer crosses the threshold.

Abstract: Multiresolution processing apparatus (which may be programmed as pyramid processing apparatus) comprised of a filter logic unit comprised of one or a plurality of identical interconnected programmable modules; a set of programmable multiplexers (MUX), a plurality of programmable random access-memories (RAM), and a timing and control means including an instruction memory for programming the flow of information data through and the operation of the filter logic unit, the set of MUX and the plurality of RAM. This permits a single stage to sequentially operate as each separate stage of an FSD or Burt Pyramid analyzer or of a pyramid synthesizer.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with bit map data and methods of conveying bit map data into and out of a band buffer and shift register to an image output terminal to provide either portrait or landscape printing during print time. In particular, for portrait printing; and 8 to 1 multiplexer selects one of 8 bits to send for each register scan. For landscape printing, the 8 bits are sent to a shift register and then all 8 bits are sent as part of the raster scan.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus comprises a detector for detecting an edge of an image and a control unit for controlling a black reproduction quantity for the edge in accordance with an output of the detector.

Abstract: Image scanning process for detecting set forms, the main characteristic of the process being that it includes a first stage consisting in analysing signals representing points on the said image, in selecting first points defining areas in which the variation in contrast exceeds a given threshold, and in determining the direction of the tangent line relative to each of the said first points; a second stage consisting in detecting whether, for each of the said first points there exist other first points lying on at least one line having a set length and angle in relation to the direction of the line tangent with the point in question and in projecting onto said tangent line if the direction of the said other point lying on the said line has a second set angle in relation to said tangent line; a third stage consisting in memorizing and accumulating the number of the said projections relative to the said projection points and in extracting the said projection points whose accumulated value exceeds a given number

Abstract: A method and apparatus for omnidirectional reading of data fields is provided. Such data fields contain at least one data track containing contrasting printed indicia and a PIC pattern. The PIC pattern indicates the position and orientation of the data tracks. The data field appears at an image window which is scanned by an opto-electronic scanner operating in a point raster scan and individual raster point signals are generated which correspond to the light/dark values of the original image. The signals are stored as a corresponding image arranged in row and column form. A search raster then probes the stored image in a sequence of rows, but the rows of the search raster scan the stored image at a predetermined search angle relative to the rows of the stored image itself upon each pass of the search raster. The video signal produced by each pass of the search raster is examined for the presence or absence of the PIC pattern.

Abstract: A sheet information input apparatus for an electronic file system comprises an sheet input device for inputting an image sheet into the apparatus, a sheet recognition device responsive to the input device for judging a type of specific code on the inputted sheet, and an information reading device responsive to the judging device for reading information from the sheet.

Abstract: A system and method for locating intelligence data like the courtesy or monetary amount on a document. The intelligence data is presented in the form of a matrix of binary data which corresponds to image data associated with a financial document like a check or deposit slip. From the matrix of binary data, an input character located on a predetermined side of the data is examined. If the input character is identified as a clue character, it means, generally, that a portion of the matrix of binary data which is associated with the clue character may be the binary data associated with the monetary amount. In the embodiment described, the clue characters are asterisks (*) and dollar signs ($) of different expected varieties. Having found the binary data associated with the monetary amount, it can be subjected to character recognition techniques to machine-read the monetary amount on the document.

Abstract: A banking system in which this invention is used is disclosed. The system includes an imaging device which produces digitized image data of one side of documents, like checks, as they are moved along a document transporter. The system is designed to read, automatically, the "courtesy" or monetary amount of the documents from the digitized image data. Handwritten, courtesy amounts which have touching or overlapping characters or numbers must be separated or segmented prior to being subjected to character recognition. According to this invention, the digitized data is processed to "single out" image data which ostensibly contains data for more than one character. Special window "masks" are used to examine the image data (which is binary) to search for a potential joint between the "two characters". When the potential joint is found, potential segmentation vectors at different angles are examined to determine the preferred segmentation vector.

Abstract: A method of determining whether the writer of a sign is the same as the writer of a previously written sign at least one characteristic feature of which has been prerecorded comprises: (a) detecting at least one characteristic feature of the written sign; (b) comparing the or each detected feature with the corresponding prerecorded feature (s); (c) generating an acceptance signal if all differences between the detected and the prerecorded features lie within first predetermined limits; (d) if an acceptance signal cannot be generated, obtaining one or more further written signs (up to a predetermined maximum) and repeating steps (a) to (c) with the or each further written signs; (e) if an acceptance signal cannot be generated for the or any of the further written signs, comparing the differences between the characteristic features of each written sign and the corresponding characteristic of the prerecorded sign and, if all the differences fall within second predetermined limits; (f) comparing corresponding cha

Abstract: In an image area measuring apparatus of the type wherein an image bearing surface of a lithographic printing plate is photographed with a television camera to produce an image signal, the image signal is converted into a digital signal to obtain a measured value and an image area of each one of a plurality of zones of the image bearing surface is determined by an arithmetic operation utilizing the measured value, the image signal is judged by the step of judging the image signal by taking the percentage of dot ratio of a predetermined constant value as a 100% dot ratio when the image bearing surface does not contain a portion corresponding to 100% dot ratio.

Abstract: A method for converting an image from a bit map to a run end or run length representation includes the steps of: storing the image as a bit map representation; accessing for each byte in an image by a look-up table a selected routine, corresponding to such byte, from a number of routines for converting bit strings to run representations, wherein the look-up table accessed is selected in accordance with a color value of a preceding pixel binary bit; and executing the selected routine on the current byte to convert the bit string to a run representation; storing in a run representation buffer, as a count value, each run representation; repeating the above steps of accessing and executing for each byte and storing for each run of continuous color to the end of the image.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing and displaying handwritten characters and figures in which input stroke information on a handwritten input character or figure is read out by an electromagnetic tablet, recognition means performs character/figure recognition on the basis of the feature of the input stroke information, display means displays the input stroke information and the result of recognition, and when the result of recognition is displayed on a display screen of the display means, stroke information having been used for recognition is erased from the display screen, and stroke information which is not yet used for recognition, is left on the display screen.

Abstract: Apparatus with optical detecting device for reading a mark sheet provided with plural mark rows, each of which includes a reference mark, a skew detection mark and mark writing regions. The apparatus reads the mark sheet by use of a predetermined nominal scan window address for each of the regions. Optical shift of the optical detecting device is detected and the scan window addresses are corrected in accordance with the detected shift. Further, skew of the mark sheet is detected, and scan lines for reading the mark sheet is selected in accordance with the detected skew.

Abstract: In the particular embodiment of the invention described in the specification, the identity of an unknown character is determined by comparing matrices representing the unknown character with matrices representing known characters and determining the deviation beween matrices for the unknown and each known character. To obtain the matrices to be compared, a transformation chain is expressed in terms of horizontal, vertical and diagonal vectors, permitting all types of transformation chains to be used. Two-dimensional memory units having superposed shift registers are used in comparing matrices to determine minimum deviation.

Abstract: An image analyzer for analyzing the position of a vehicle driver in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The analyzer comprises a light emitting element for emitting an infrared light the driver's face portion and an image detector arranged to receive reflected infrared light to generate an optical image of the driver's face portion. A microcomputer includes a memory for storing an electronic image corresponding to the optical image and processes the stored image to determine the position of a facial feature, such as an eye, in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Position indicating data is utilized in a driver assistance system.

Abstract: A signal rotation processing method for transforming an original image expressed on two-dimensional orthogonal coordinates into an image rotated by an arbitrary angle of .theta. radians. In order to raise the transforming speed, the method includes a skew coordinate transformation step of multiplying the original coordinates of the image elements by a matrix of ##EQU1## and an enlarging/reducing transformation step of conducting multiplication by a matrix of ##EQU2## .