Abstract: An MRA image is corrected for motion artifacts using an iterative, autocorrection process in which corrections are tried and the quality of the resulting reconstructed image is measured. Corrections are made to the acquired three-dimensional data while the metric which measures image quality is applied to a two-dimensional projection image.

Abstract: In an image decoding apparatus that generates a decoded image from a code sequence. The decoding apparatus has a bus, a computer and a memory, wherein the computer and the memory are connected to each other via the bus. The code sequence is generated by performing orthogonal transform, quantization and entropy coding on image data, which is stored in the memory. The decoding apparatus includes an entropy decoding unit, achieved by the computer, for reading one code out of the code sequence, which is stored in the memory, via the bus and performing entropy decoding on the read code in to generate a decode value. The apparatus also includes a coefficient generating unit, achieved by the computer, for generating at least one orthogonal transform coefficient according to the generated decode value. Also, a writing unit is achieved by the computer, for writing the generated at least one orthogonal transform coefficient into the memory via the bus.

Abstract: A watermark can be permanently and simultaneously added to image data, such as to a video data stream, produced by an image sensor. To produce the watermark in the image data, color filters of a filter array overlying pixels of a sensor array can be arranged in a watermark pattern different from the normal pattern of other color filters of the filter array. The color filters in the watermark pattern can have different colors than other color filters of the filter array. Alternatively or in addition to the watermark pattern of the color filters, a pattern can be formed in a microlens array overlying the filter array. The pattern in the microlens array can have regions devoid of microlenses, microlenses having different shapes, or microlenses having different colors.

Abstract: In a method of inserting watermark information into digital data, a specified data value is determined in response to the watermark information. A data-value occurrence-frequency distribution of a predetermined number of samples of the digital data is changed into a modified occurrence-frequency distribution in which the specified data value occurs at a frequency extremely different from frequencies of occurrence of data values other than the specified data value.

Abstract: A method is described to imbed hidden information in output images that are rendered using error diffusion. The idea is to introduce a bias in the dot placements and then modulate that bias with the pattern to be hidden. The method particularly involves the steps of rendering the output copy using an error diffusion routine that parses through a plurality of stored pixels representing an image; modifying the error diffusion routine with a biasing pattern that influences where on the output copy each of the plurality of pixels is rendered; and further modifying the error diffusion routine with a watermark pattern that modifies the biasing pattern for pixels that are positioned within the watermark.

Abstract: By combining a plurality of encoding methods actively, an encoding efficiency is enhanced. The first encoder encodes a result of determination whether a prediction error is zero or not. The second encoder encodes the prediction error unless the prediction error is zero. The third encoder encodes the prediction error regardless of whether the prediction error is zero or not. The mode determinator determines the encoding mode, and the encoding controller selectively operates the first encoder, the second encoder, and the third encoder according to the encoding mode determined.

Abstract: An optical member inspection apparatus includes an inspection optical system having a light source, and a diffusing means for diffusing the light emitted from the light source. The diffusing means has a central portion and a peripheral portion. The diffusion transmittance of the peripheral portion is higher than the diffusion transmittance of the central portion. The inspection optical system is also provided with an image pick-up means to pick-up an image of the optical member to be inspected, and is positioned so as to receive that light emitted from the light source and transmitted through the diffusing means and the optical member. A judging means is also provided, for judging whether or not the optical member has a defect, in accordance with image signals output from the image pick-up means.

Abstract: An image-processing apparatus, as well as an image-processing method, is provided with a first inspection circuit which, with respect to density values of pixels within a specific area consisting of a target pixel and pixels in a vicinity thereof in image data for each color component, calculates an average density value, the sum of density differences, that is, the sum of absolute values of differences between the target pixel and the peripheral pixels, and the number the peripheral pixels having the same density value as the target pixel, so that a judgement is made as to whether the target pixel is a maximum value or a minimum value, and also calculates a run-length and the degree of busy from the pixel forming the maximum value or the minimum value.

Abstract: An interface card includes a housing sized for reception by a host system, for example, a laptop computer. A sensor is movably connected to the housing and has a first position in which the sensor receives a relief object and generates an electronic representation of the relief object, and a second position in which the sensor is inactive. An interface module is coupled to the sensor and configured to provide for communications between the interface card and the host system.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading an original image photoelectrically includes: a light source; a holding device to hold an original having the original image in a predetermined read position, a light quantity control device to control quantity of read light incident on the original image, an image sensor having a row of line sensors with regard to three primary colors or more colors, each line sensor corresponding to each color and having a plurality of photoelectric transducing elements arranged in a direction, a scanning device to relatively move the original and an optical system to an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the element arrangement direction and an adjusting device to adjust read conditions at the image sensor for each line sensor independently.

Abstract: A method for matching a color of a target surface involves capturing a digital image of the target surface and a test card having a pattern of color fields, each color field having a known true color. The digital image is analyzed to determine the captured target color and the captured colors of the of the test card color fields. A correction model accounting for ambient lighting conditions and distortions due to the image capturing device is computed from the captured and known colors of the test card color fields. The correction model is applied to the captured target color and the resulting estimated true target color is compared to a database of true product colors to determine a nearest matching product color.

Abstract: A web camera system and a method of operating the same, the system including a computer connected to a video camera that outputs a captured image. A program runs on the computer to generate a histogram that provides a distribution of pixel intensities associated with the image. A static image indicating a low contrast image is uploaded to the web server when a width of the distribution is less than a predetermined threshold value; otherwise, the captured image is uploaded to the web server.

Abstract: Apparatus and a concomitant method of identifying the direction of motion within a scene that is represented by a sequence of images, e.g., a series of frames in a video sequence. The apparatus contains a flow field generator, a flow field segmentor, and alarm detector and an alarm processor. The flow field generator processes the sequence of images and generates a substantially distortionless flow field representing the motion within a scene. The flow field is a vector representation of the motion of the scene that represents both the magnitude and the direction of the motion. The flow field is generated by correlating at least two frames in the sequence of images. This flow field is analyzed by a flow field segmentor to determine the magnitude and direction of motion with the scene and segment the motion information from the static portions of the scene. An alarm detector then processes the motion information to determine if an alarm should be generated based upon the motion information.

Abstract: In the present invention, RGB data outputted by a transmission side CRT monitor 3 is converted by a profile P1 stored in a converter 11 into XYZ data which is corrected in agreement with the viewing conditions on the transmitting side by having reference to detection signals from sensors S1, S2 so that the data is outputted as L+M+S+ data. A viewing condition conversion circuit 15 refers to detection signals from sensors S3, S4 to correct the L+M+S+ data in agreement with the viewing conditions on the reception side to supply the resulting XYZ data to the converter 16. The converter 16 refers to a profile P4 to convert the XYZ data into RGB data which is outputted to a CRT monitor 4. This equates color appearance of a picture on an input device on the transmission side to that of a picture on an output device on the reception side.

Abstract: Software of a simple configuration checks whether an original image to be corrected is an image picture, and an image correction process based upon a formed histogram of the original image is not performed for an image different from the image picture. An image processing condition is set in accordance with the formed histogram to perform the image correction process for the original image. An image processing method judges from a shape of the formed histogram whether the original image is an image picture, and does not perform not perform the image correction process for the original image if it is judged that the original image is not an image picture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for analyzing, identifying, and comparing images. The method can be used with any visually-displayed medium that is represented in any type of color space. An identified image can be authenticated, registered, marked, compared to another image, or recognized using the method and apparatus according to the present invention. At least one characteristic of an image's color space is selected and determined to generate a unique description of the image. This identification information is then used to compare different identified images to determine if they are identical according to a set of predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can be adjusted to permit the identification of images that are identical in part. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a software search application, such as a search engine or a spider, is used to locate and retrieve an image to be identified from an electronic network.

Abstract: Based on the result of image recognition of the first wafer, the scan area of image recognition in the second and later wafers is determined. For example, in an appearance inspection process of semiconductor pellets, the first wafer is scanned over for image recognition to determine a contour (hereinafter referred to as the polygon) of a set constituted by pellets excluding non-shaped pellets as the scan area for the second and later wafers. This allows for reducing the scan area for the second and later wafers, thereby eliminating unnecessary areas to scan and saving time and costs required for the work.

Abstract: Correction for color fog is securely achieved with limited load of processing. The RGB image data are converted into the luminance Y and the chromaticity values C1, C2, then a highlight point and a shadow point are determined and are connected to define the axis of the color solid. The color solid is rotated so as that the axis becomes parallel to the luminance axis Y and is so translated in parallel manner that the pixel of the minimum luminance coincides with the original point of the color space.

Abstract: A system encodes a separate assist channel that carries only a small amount of additional information in a hardcopy document to compensate for failure of an OCR system to accurately reconstruct a scanned electronic version of the hardcopy document. The assist channel protects symbols printed on the hardcopy document by computing guard values that are derived from a hash of the character code of each character on the hardcopy document. Template match searches that are performed during decoding are limited to those interpretations that produce matching guard values.

Abstract: A rendering area of a memory resource in the unit of a band to be used by print information written in a predetermined page description language is suppressed as much as possible from not being reserved in the memory resource. A rendering process in the unit of a band can be executed as many times as possible to obtain a high quality print. The print information is converted into intermediate language data for each data type judged by a CPU. CPU also judged whether the total capacity of the converted intermediate language data exceeds a capacity set to a management RAM to control switching between rendering process modes used by a hardware renderer.