Abstract: Method and apparatus for encoding moving pictures in which a bitstream of encoded moving pictures has a bit rate contained within a pre-set range. The bit rate of a unit domain, such as a GOP, of an encoded bitstream is compared to a reference value. If the bit rate exceeds the reference value, the unit domain is converted, typically by re-quantization, so that its bit rate will no longer exceed the reference value.

Abstract: A picture processing apparatus having a shape memory with shape data of an object previously stored therein, a processor to set a coordinate value of an object in a three-dimensional virtual space of the basis of the shape date stored in the shape memory, a transformation device to receive the coordinate value set by the processor and transform the coordinate value into a visual field coordinate system based on a specified visual point, and a visual point setting device to move the visual point position from a predetermined standard position for a predetermined base object as defined in the three-dimensional virtual space on the basis of data of the base object as well as changes in the situation caused by the movement of the base object, and for sending a new position after the movement to the transformation device.

Abstract: In order to measure a distance with high accuracy, a corresponding pixel extraction section reads a projection transformation matrix from a storage section, determines a reference pixel corresponding to a standard pixel, and outputs the pixel value thereof to a correlation value computation section. The correlation value computation section computes the mutual correlation value between a predetermined small area with the standard pixel being the center and a similar small area with the reference pixel being the center, as the sum of the squares of the difference of each pixel within the small area. A distance computation section extracts the point of the smallest value of an addition value input from the correlation value computation section and the points before and after it, creates a second-order curve passing through the three points, and outputs a distance corresponding to the smallest value of the second-order curve, as the distance of the standard pixel, to a distance image memory.

Abstract: Predetermined multiple points of the front passenger seat and its periphery are irradiated with spot beams, caught with a camera, and distances are measured based on the irradiation position of the spot beams. Conversely, the characteristics for each status of use of the seat such as the shapes of the contour of the seat or the contour of a child seat are detected from the picture information caught with the camera. The status of use of the seat is decided based the characteristics for each status of use and the distance information that was previously measured. Based on this decision, the operation of a passive safety device such as an air bag device is controlled.

Abstract: An evolutionary algorithm evolves alternative architectures and parameters for an image classification system. In a preferred embodiment, a learning system is employed, and during the training period of the learning system, the architecture of the learning system is evolved so as to create a learning system that is well suited to the particular classification problem set. In like manner, other parameters of the image classification system are evolved by the evolutionary algorithm, including those that effect image characterization, learning, and classification. An initial set of parameters and architectures are used to create a set of trial classification systems. A number of pre-classified evaluation images are then applied to each system, and each system's resultant classifications for each test case is compared to the proper classification of each test case. Subsequent trial classification systems are evolved based upon the parameters and architecture of the better performing classification systems.

Abstract: A method of 3-dimensional structure estimation of the invention, making use of a plurality of stereo-pictures, repeats, for each pixel of a first picture, a step of extracting corresponding small regions (4) corresponding to the concerning pixel according to a depth estimation (68); a step of calculating a neighboring correspondence value for each of the corresponding small regions representing correspondence among neighboring corresponding small regions of picures taken by neighboring cameras; a step of obtaining a sum (61) of the neighboring correspondence values; and selecting a value of the depth estimation (68) which gives a singular value of the sum (61) representing correspondence among the corresponding small regions.

Abstract: To obtain a decoded image almost identical to an original image using a small amount of data, compressed data obtained by thinning-out original image data is corrected and the corrected data is outputted. At a local decoder the original image data is predicted based on this corrected data and this predicted value is outputted. Then, at an error calculator a predicted error for the predicted value is calculated with respect to the original image data. The above process is then repeated at a determination unit until the prediction error is determined to be less than a prescribed value, and the corrected data when the estimation error is less than a prescribed value is then outputted as the coded results for the original image data.

Abstract: A method of controlling an object having a first and a second print executed at different stages, the method providing for acquiring an image of the object; calculating a relative deviation between the first print and the second print of the object; forming a virtual specimen image by superimposing a reference image of the first print and a reference image of the second print and taking into account the relative deviation; comparing the image with the specimen image; and emitting an error signal in the event the luminance values of the image fail to fall within an acceptance range of the luminance values of the specimen image, and the relative deviation is above a given value.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting defects in integrated circuit wafers related to photolithographic processing of the wafers. The system has an image processor, or image computer, and an image memory, which has image data for production wafer types stored therein. A defect detection wafer is scanned by an objective lens and the image is detected by an image detector. The image detector data output is fed to the image processor along with image data for a selected production wafer type from the memory. The image processor feeds image data to a visual display which displays a superimposed image of the defect detection wafer and the selected production wafer type. This superimposed image makes it easier to detect actual defects in a production wafer.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides processes for locating a pattern within an image that can comprise the acts of providing a template representative of the pattern to be located within an image. The image can be subdivided into a plurality of sub-images, each being representative of a portion of the image. The process can then compare each of the sub-images to the template to generate a plurality of score signals representative of a location of the pattern, and can then process the score signals to determine a location for the pattern. In one practice, the step of processing the score signals can include a step of identifying at least one sub-image that includes a degraded image. As described above, a degraded image can include an image that has had a portion obscured by shadows or debris. Additionally, an image can be degraded at spots of high-reflection that create glare and wash-out portions of the image.

Abstract: The magnetic field data display device make it possible to display on the same screen: a process function display area showing process function items; an analysis data display area showing at least one of measured magnetic field data and its processed magnetic field data; and an operating region display area showing operating items corresponding to the measured magnetic fields and the processed magnetic fields, analysis data display area displays data of at least one of the channels showing the plurality of measurement positions of the test sample, the operating region display area displays a channel display area in which the channels are displayed and whether or not a data of each of said channels is displayed in the analysis data display area.

Abstract: A method for detecting an image edge within a dithered image. A pixel within a support region is selected for processing. The differences between pixel values in the region and the selected pixel are computed to form a current difference map. Whether the selected pixel in the region differ by no more than one resolution level from any other pixel of the region is determined from the current difference map. An edge is determined not to exist within the region if the difference map for a region contains no values differing by more than one resolution level. An edge is determined to exist within a region if the difference map for the selected pixel and region contain values differing by more than one resolution level. Alternatively, a difference map for the selected region of support is determined and compared to a table of all possible valid difference maps. If a corresponding difference map is found within the table then an edge does not exist within the presently processed region of support.

Abstract: An input image is subjected to transform by a DCT transforming unit 20. A coefficient analyzing unit 30 compares a predetermined coefficient and coefficient data 120, and obtains low-frequency image data 150 of the input image by a high-frequency coefficient masking unit 50 and an inverse DCT unit 60 on the basis of a result of that comparison. A pixel subsampling unit 70 receives this low-frequency image data 150, and generates a subsampled image on the aforementioned result of comparison. The subsampled image and coefficient information are transmitted to a decoding side. A decoding apparatus decodes an image on the basis of the subsampled image and the coefficient information.

Abstract: A method for segmenting and recognizing license plates, in accordance with the present invention includes capturing an image of a license plate and preprocessing the image to prepare the image for segmentation and recognition. Forward splitting regions of the license plate image into suspected characters regions, the suspected character regions are recognized in the license plate image and a confidence score is provided based on a probability of a correct match. If the suspected characters have a confidence score below a threshold value, backward merging is employed which merges adjacent suspected character regions. The backward merged suspected character regions in the license plate are recognized. If the backward merged suspected character regions have a confidence score below the threshold value, the backward merging and recognizing steps are repeated to improve the confidence score.

Abstract: A portable imaging device includes a user operable pointing device that operates together with interactive segmentation functions and an OCR application for capturing and converting digitally recorded images to text. The user operable pointing device permits a user of the portable imaging device to identify a region in an image with textual content. The portable imaging device evaluates whether textual and formatting content in the segmented region can be properly analyzed by the OCR application. In addition, the portable imaging device provides a mode for translating text identified in recorded images.

Abstract: The present invention allows the positional relationship among a plurality of image layers constituting a composed image to be precisely recognized. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an image composition processing apparatus which generates a composed image which is a superposition of a plurality of image layers and displays it within a window of the screen. When the user designates one of the image layers and moves the pointer into the displayed composed image, the image composition processing apparatus converts only a predetermined area of the image layers above the designated image layer, for example, the area which is superposed in the range of a radius of m picture elements centering the coordinate of the pointer in the composed image, to a translucent state.

Abstract: A method of conversion of a quadtree representation of image data into a corresponding representation of edges of regions within the image is disclosed. In one configuration the method comprises recursively processing (70) each quadrant using a number of steps. A first step examines if the quadrant is of a first particular uniform type (74), and if so, the method forms a series of lists (76) defining the boundary structure of the quadrant. A second step examines if the quadrant is of a second particular uniform type (80), and if so, the method forms a series of empty lists (82). A third step is applied where a quadrant is of an intermediate type containing data values of the first particular uniform type and the second particular uniform type, and the method divides the quadrant into a series of sub-quadrants (84,88) and recursively (86) applies the first, second and third steps to each of the sub-quadrants in accordance with the quadtree representation.

Abstract: A system and method reduces the amount of variation in a fingerprint image due to distortion from elastic deformation of the finger surface and projection onto a planar coordinate system. The amount and extent of distortion is estimated, and the process is inverted in a systematic way, so that the amount of distortion is minimized, and the distortion present is consistent, so that different images of the same print will have very similar distortion and thus matching of the fingerprints will be reliable and unaffected by the distortion.

Abstract: An image compression system for implementing a zerotree wavelet compression algorithm. The compression system uses a wavelet based coding system which takes advantage of the correlation between insignificant coefficients at different scales.

Abstract: A camera system includes a display monitor which displays an image of an object, taken by an optical unit, on a screen of the monitor. A reading unit reads a preceding image and a current image among a plurality of partially overlapping images, from a memory device, the preceding image and the current image containing a common element. A determining unit determines a positional relation between the preceding image and the current image based on a common pattern derived from the common element in the two adjacent images read by the reading unit. A displaying unit displays an image indicating a boundary of the preceding image on the screen of the monitor at a shifted position according to the positional relation determined by the determining unit, with the current image concurrently displayed on the screen of the monitor.