Abstract: A method to quantify the vascular irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Inner wall and/or outer wall outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: The present invention is operative to determine the angular pose of an assumed object. A series of projection sums are calculated from a sample image of the known object where the known object has an assumed pose. The projection sums are calculated for a range of angles and organized into a two dimensional array coined a projection image. An image of the known object is provided where the known object has an unknown pose. A projection sum is calculated across the image of the known object with the unknown pose preferably at the perpendicular. This projection sum is correlated against the projection image and the angle corresponding to the best correlation is determined to be the angular pose of the known object.

Abstract: A method of recognizing an object in an image using multi-sensor integration through conditionally optimal geoscene generation and registration is provided. At least two images, one of which is a conditionally optimum, ortho-rectified base image, are input and used to generate a geoscene using at least two ground control points in a latitude-longitude geospatial domain. Georegistration of the geoscene produces a registered geoimage which may be output. A virtual geospatial information system database may be compiled from the georegistered images. A virtual transverse Mercator (VTM) projection is defined which allows processing images falling on both sides of the equator or across traditional UTM boundaries. An Affine transform is used for coordinate transformation in generating geoscenes.

Abstract: A portable data carrier comprises a communication means and a memory with a biometric template which is intended to be compared with a biometric sample for identity check. The biometric template is divided into a private part which is adapted to be exclusively used in the portable data carrier and a public part which is adapted to be transferred, with the aid of the communication means, to an external processing unit and be used therein. Moreover, a processing unit for use in biometric identity check is described, comprising a processor and a communication means. The communication means is adapted to receive a biometric sample and a public part of a biometric template, the processor is adapted to compare the received public part of the template with the biometric sample, and the communication means is further adapted to transfer, when a comparison criterion has been satisfied, at least part of the biometric sample to the portable data carrier for further comparison on the data carrier.

Abstract: A method to quantify the radial endoluminal irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Radial endoluminal outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each endoluminal outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the endoluminal outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the endoluminal outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the endoluminal outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: A method for extracting an object of interest from an image is provided. The method initiates with defining an image feature space based upon frequency information. Then, the image feature space is filtered to smooth both focused regions and defocused regions while maintaining respective boundaries associated with the focused regions and the defocused regions. The filtered image feature space is manipulated by region merging and adaptive thresholding to extract an object-of-interest. A computer readable media, an image capture device and an image searching system are also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to counting techniques for counting biological agents on a biological growth plate or similar medium. In order to automate the counting of biological agents, a biological growth plate is inserted into a biological scanning unit. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanning unit generates an image of the plate. Then, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed either by the scanning unit or an external computing device, such as a desktop computer, workstation or the like. A variety of counting rules are described herein that can be used to improve the accuracy of automated counts of biological agents on a biological growth plate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for segmenting a first region and a second region. A method for defining a boundary separating a first region and a second region of a digital image includes determining using a learning machine, based on one or more of the color arrangements, which pixels of the image satisfy criteria for classification as associated with the first region and which pixels of the image satisfy criteria for classification as associated with the second region. The digital image includes one or more color arrangements characteristic of the first region and one or more color arrangements characteristic of the second region. The method includes identifying pixels of the image that are determined not to satisfy the criteria for classification as being associated either with the first region or the second region. The method includes decontaminating the identified pixels to define a boundary between the first and second regions.

Abstract: An apparatus for embedding digital watermark information in an image, includes an image divider dividing the image into a plurality of partial images; and an embedder embedding in each of the partial images a digital watermark which indicates the digital watermark information. The digital watermark includes a plurality of watermark elements arranged in a sequence which is different for each of the partial images.

Abstract: A hand pattern switch device recognizes a hand pattern from an image of a hand in an image pickup zone and detects a hand motion. One of controlled objects is selected based on the recognized hand pattern and/or hand motion. In accordance with the selected object, a mode of detection of operation information based on hand motion is changed. In a moved distance detecting mode, a moved distance of the hand in the zone is detected as operation information, and in a stop time detecting mode, a stop time of the hand at a stop position to which the hand has been moved in the zone is detected as operation information. The image pickup zone is at a location which is located laterally to a steering wheel and to which a driver can extend his/her arm without changing a driving posture.

Abstract: A method for reducing a number of shapes, and a computer readable program code adapted to perform said method. The method forms first and second shape patterns. The second shape pattern includes the first shape pattern and error shapes. The error shapes are extracted from the second shape pattern. At least one environment shape corresponding to each error shape is derived from a subset of the error shapes. For example, each error shape in the subset may be expanded to form a corresponding expanded shape, and at least one environment shape corresponding to each expanded shape may be formed by removing all portions of the expanded shape common to the second shape pattern. The environment shape reflects a local geometric environment of its corresponding error shape. A subset of the environment shapes are deleted such that only unique environment shapes satisfying a selection criterion remain.

Abstract: A method and computer program and device for evaluation of the radiographic image quality of a phantom containing cells with two visualizable objects in which: the coordinates of each phantom cell are determined on each phantom image; for each phantom cell containing at least two objects: a level of a radiographic reference signal is calculated in an area of reference at right angles with the first object whose position in the cell is known; for each area of the cell capable of containing the other object: a search area formed by a set of pixels is defined; for each pixel of the search area: a signal sample is extracted in an area of interest centered on the pixel and of the same size as the reference area; a logarithmic probability function is calculated between the sample and the reference signal, the probability function corresponding to a mathematical observer; a surface parameter of the set of probability values thus obtained is calculated; the area of interest whose surface has a peak is selected as are

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for estimating a pixel prediction mode to be used in a video encoding or decoding process.

Abstract: Prestack seismic data is imaged by calculating an individual reflectivity for each frequency in the seismic data. Then, a mean reflectivity is calculating over the individual reflectivities. A variance is calculated for the set of reflectivities versus frequency. A second variance is calculated for the upgoing wavefield, using the mean reflectivity. A spatially varying pre-whitening factor is then calculated, using the variance for the reflectivities and the variance for the upgoing wavefield. A reflectivity is calculated at each location, using the spatially varying pre-whitening factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and a method for biometric authentication by means of reference data stored in a memory of a portable data carrier. For biometric authentication methods to make their final breakthrough with respect to more widespread use, there is a need for standardized generation of reference data for the particular biometric features used for authentication. Different suppliers of methods and devices for biometric authentication have hitherto used algorithms for generating the reference data which normally lead to different reference data which are not interchangeable. This limits the employability of biometric methods to the supplier's particular system. The present invention avoids this problem by storing several sets of biometric reference data, thereby increasing the likelihood of the evaluation of at least one set of stored biometric reference data being possible. Thus, the desired system-independent authentication can be attained.

Abstract: An optical probe system comprises an optical probe that is inserted into a body cavity, a light source that generates light which is irradiated to an object, and a high-magnification observation unit included in the distal section of the optical probe. The optical probe system further comprises: an image digitization unit that digitizes a luminance signal produced by the high-magnification observation unit; an image parameter sampling unit that samples an image parameter from an image; an optimization parameter calculation unit that calculates an optimization parameter on the basis of the image parameter; an image optimization unit that optimizes an image according to the optimization parameter; an image display device on which an optimized image is displayed; and a digital image preservation unit in which a digitized image is preserved.

Abstract: A digital imaging system includes an image sensor, a frame buffer and a tone correction circuit. The tone correction circuit computes tone corrected pixel data using one or more tone correction curves. In operation, tone corrected pixel data for a first pixel is computed by generating a pixel mask for an m×n neighborhood of pixels surrounding the first pixel, applying a blending mask of weight factors to the pixel mask and computing a selector value based on the pixel mask and weight factors associated with the blending mask. The selector value is used to derive a first tone correction curve for use to compute the tone corrected pixel data for the first pixel. The first tone correction curve can be selected from the multiple tone correction curves based on the selector value or it can be derived by blending multiple tone correction curves based on the selector value.

Abstract: A method of reliably capturing biometric print images includes determining the print quality of a scanned image, detecting prints in the scanned image, and determining whether the scanned image is ready for capture. The method includes filtering the scanned image, binarizing the filtered image, detecting print area, print contrast, and print shape of the binarized image, and separating the print image into individual print images based on the print area, contrast, and shape. Each individual print image is classified base on a predetermined quality threshold and a quality classification of each individual print image is indicated. The method includes a predetermined capture delay time period, quality time period, and scanner timeout period. An operator can annotate issues regarding missing or unacceptable print images. A system of reliably capturing biometric print images includes a scanner including a print capture manager, a computer, and a communication link between the computer and scanner.

Abstract: A modified projection on convex sets (POCS) algorithm and method for partial k-space reconstruction using low resolution phase maps for scaling full sets of reconstructed k-space data. The algorithm can be used with partial k-space trajectories in which the trajectories share a common point such as the origin of k-space, including variable-density spiral trajectories, projection reconstruction trajectories with a semicircle region acquisition, and projection reconstruction trajectories with every other spike acquired.

Abstract: A searching device includes: a storage section for storing target information; a display section for displaying target images; an instructing section for selecting a target-image among the displayed target images; and a narrowing-down controlling section for narrowing down the target information, and for displaying the target images corresponding to the narrowed-down target information, wherein the narrowing-down controlling section includes: a feature information calculating section for calculating feature information; a coordinate space setting section for setting a coordinate space based on the feature information; a target information coordinate identifying section for identifying a coordinate of target information; a narrowing-down section for narrowing down a scope of coordinate space; and a narrowed-down target information extracting section for extracting the target information within the scope, and the narrowing-down controlling section performs control to repeat the identifying, the narrowing down,