Abstract: Flickering artifacts are removed from a displayed image by storing digital luminance values in a compressed form using disallowed luminance values clipped from a range of luminance values to encode run lengths of identical values of truncated luminance values and bits corresponding to bits truncated from the luminance values. A correction value is derived from a filter transfer function computed by summing an increase in correction value above a threshold within a range of luminance differences with a maximum change in correction value in each lower range, this providing a piecewise linear substantially quadratic transfer function without discontinuities that would engender other image artifacts. The non-linearity of the transfer function is this adaptive to different image conditions and types in regions of respective image planes and the correction factors implemented by the transfer function are freely adjustable to accommodate, for example, different scanning standards and display refresh rates.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and computer program products for scan plane geometry definition in tomographic data acquisition via an interactive three-dimensional (3-D) graphical operator interface. The apparatuses, methods and computer program products are initially proposed for use in cardiac MRI, but have a much broader area of application. The apparatuses and methods utilize 3-D computer graphics aspect views of slice planes to show a new scan, represented as semi-transparent uniformly-colored planes. Intersections of these planes with opaque texture-mapped gray-level views of previously acquired images enable the orientation of a new scan to be viewed in a much more intuitive fashion. Advantageously, the apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide for more efficient elimination of positional ambiguity that is often associated with conventional 2-D intersection line views.

Abstract: Described herein is an audio watermarking technology for detecting watermarks in audio signals, such as a music clip. The watermark identifies the content producer, providing a signature that is embedded in the audio signal and cannot be removed. The watermark is designed to survive all typical kinds of processing and all types of malicious attacks that attempt to remove or modify the watermark from the signal. The implementations of the watermark detecting system, described herein, support quick, efficient, and accurate detection of watermarks by the specifically designed watermark detecting system. In one described implementation, a watermark detecting system employs an improved normalized covariance test to determine the presence of a watermark using less expensive materials (hardware), quicker calculations, and a more accurate test (than the original correlation test).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding digital image data wherein region of interest can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process (127), such that the priority of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines (128).

Abstract: The difference data between the real patter data Sij, and a 5×5 window with a noticed pixel in the center and the design pattern data Rij obtained by the design pattern data of the window being shifted in a plurality of directions with respect to the design pattern data Rij is found by a shift direction operation section, and the design pattern data in the direction in which the total of the pixels is minimum is selected from the difference data by a selection section, the difference between the central pixels Sij, Qij of the selected design pattern data and the central pixels Sij, Qij of the windows of the real pattern data is found by a difference operation section, and the difference and a threshold are compared in a defect judgement section, and thereby the pattern inspection of the object is carried out.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing an image containing only an object of interest, without any background. They are directed at making the background appear so much brighter than the object that the brightness differential can be used to discriminate between the two and then to strip the background from the image.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a seed vigor index for a lot of seeds by analysis of a scanned image of a plurality of seedlings grown from lot of seeds, including automatically separating and analyzing overlapped seedlings. According to one aspect of the current invention, seedling analysis software is used to analyze an image of seedlings. The seedling analysis software preferably analyzes both hypocotyl and radicle lengths and thus determines the separation point between the two for each seedling. The seedling analysis software also preferably separates overlapped seedlings, preferably using a simulated annealing technique. According to another aspect of the present invention, a low-cost scanner placed in an inverted configuration in a scanner enclosure is used to generate high-quality, reproducible images of seedlings. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using ordinary germination boxes, i.e.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting an image adapted to a first display area size, such as a standard computer screen having a particular pixel-by-pixel resolution, to an apparatus having a smaller second display area size by scaling the image through coefficient cropping its frequency domain representation. When the cropped frequency coefficients are used to display an image within the second smaller display area, a scaled version of the image is displayed. In a specific embodiment, frequency domain coefficients are cropped such that a region of interest of the image is scaled down less than the remainder of the image when displayed in the second smaller display area. Scaling in this manner provides the user with a readable region of interest with the remainder of the image scaled down so as to facilitate easy image navigation by the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid grain size analysis on a textured polycrystalline material, by generating average grain size and grain size distribution data from x-ray diffraction data of such material. Raw diffraction data is obtained by capturing a plurality of diffraction arcs within a single data capture frame. The raw diffraction data is digitally registered; (3) and the registered diffraction data is filtered to remove background noise, exclude diffraction overlaps or truncations, and compensate for biased data obtained from regions of highly preferred orientations. Average grain size and grain size distribution data are then correlated with the filtered diffraction data. The apparatus for acquiring raw diffraction data includes a collimated x-ray source having means for adjusting beam size and divergence of the x-ray generated, a 2-dimensional area detector for registering diffracted x-ray, and a sample motion assembly for moving the sample in the sample plane.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a wavelet transformation unit for wavelet-transforming input image data on a per-image basis, and an encoder for changing transformation coefficients, which have been obtained by the transformation, to bit planes from higher- to lower-order bits, and encoding the bit planes one bit plane at a time. A code-quantity prediction unit determines whether all encoded data of each of the image data that have been encoded can be stored in the memory when the encoded data obtained by the encoder is stored in the memory image by image. If all of the encoded data cannot be stored, the encoded data that overflows the memory is divided and the divided encoded data is stored in the memory by writing the divided encoded data equally over storage areas of the lower-order bit planes of each of the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting two-dimensional image shapes from image data on a pixel array. The method comprises the steps of selecting intensity vs. pixel information in a plurality of directions in the vicinity of an edge of the image shape, and recognizing scans with sufficient contrast as containing edge information. Acceptable scans are subjected to an edge detection algorithm, the edge location is detected, and a locus of points is generated, from the detected edge values, that define the two-dimensional shape of the image. The edge detection algorithm may be a user defined edge detection algorithm that is tailored to the application. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the selecting step includes the step of selecting intensity vs. pixel information in at least four directions, and the plurality of directions are angularly spaced apart at least about 22 degrees. With one embodiment, one of these directions may be normal to an approximate edge location.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for encoding frames of image data. Selected blocks one frame in a sequence are encoded with one or more quantization levels in a first range, and selected other blocks in the one frame are bypassed. In a frame that follows the one frame, the blocks corresponding to the bypassed blocks are encoded with one or more quantization levels in a second range of quantization levels, and the other blocks are bypassed for encoding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that provide proper identification of visual and neurological abilities related to defects in the neurological component of the brain, that improve visual and neurological performance, and that develop improved neural performance in the brain and nervous system. All of these methods are carried out over a communications network such as the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reconstructing data from higher moment data. The method and apparatus include performing a finite Radon transform, generating an average function to allow inversion of transform in one step and correlating the transform output at each point. A resultant set of duplications is calculated using the correlation process to generate a new average function. Partial backprojections of the Radon transform are summed at each point, and the new average function for each point is subtracted from the sum of the partial backprojections at that point.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided to efficiently embed digital watermark information in a gray scale image while suppressing deterioration in the image quality. The image processing device includes an input unit for inputting gray-scale image data in which each pixel is formed of one component. A converter converts the format of the gray-scale image data into color image data in which each pixel is formed of a plurality of components. An embedding unit embeds the digital watermark information in part of the components of the color image data obtained by the converter.

Abstract: A sensing device for sensing region identity data and generating movement data when the sensing device is moved relative to a region of a surface, the region identity data being indicative of an identity of the region, the movement data being indicative of the movement of the sensing device relative to the region, the surface having disposed upon it coded data indicative of at least one region associated with the surface, the sensing device including: region identity sensing means configured to sense the region identity data using at least some of the coded data; motion sensing means configured to generate the movement data; and communications means configured to communicate the region identity data and the movement data to a computer system.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus embeds information into image data without an overhead. The image processing apparatus includes a selection unit for selecting some of the pixels forming the image data. A changing unit embeds the information into the pixels selected by the selection unit by swapping the bits of the values of the selected pixels according to the information.

Abstract: In order to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method whereby a high quality output image can be consistently obtained, regardless of the order in which an operator sets the parameters for the performance of filtering, (I) a GUI module (9a) stores, in an input value storage area (9p) of a RAM, reference signs that are employed for first to fourth processes for the filtering of reduced image data, and (II) a filtering module (9f) refers to the reference signs in the input value storage area (9p) when performing the first to the fourth processes for the filtering of input image data, and obtains output image data.

Abstract: An image compression method is provided including separating an image into a plurality of color channel sub-images processing each of the color channel sub-images by sub-sampling the sub-image transform coding the sub-sampled sub-image decoding the transform-coded image forming a plurality of square groupings of pixels in the decoded image predicting a value for a pixel within each of the x-shaped groupings determining a prediction error for each predicted pixel value within each of the square groupings coding the prediction error forming a plurality of at least partly diamond-shaped groupings of pixels in the decoded image predicting a value for a pixel within each of the diamond-shaped groupings and combining each of the processed color channel sub-images with the coded prediction errors, thereby forming a compressed image.

Abstract: The truth of a paper type to be examined is judged by measuring, with respect to each of true paper types previously prepared, a plurality of types of characteristic amounts by a plurality of types of sensors for each of a plurality of portions for examination previously determined, analyzing principal components on the basis of obtained results of the measurement, to find an equation of straight line corresponding to the predetermined principal component, and producing reference data composed of a value relating to the predetermined principal component for the portion for examination on the basis of the foundation of straight line.