Abstract: A digital image processing method for generating a low resolution, low bit depth digital image from a higher resolution, higher bit depth input color digital image, includes the steps of: generating a gray scale image from the input color digital image; generating a low resolution sketch image from the grayscale image; generating a low resolution halftone image from the gray scale image; and combining the low resolution sketch image and the low resolution halftone image to form the low resolution, low bit depth digital image.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for obtaining one high-resolution image from a plurality of low-resolution images having predetermined resolutions, comprising steps of detecting relative positions among the plurality of low-resolution images with a resolution less than a pixel pitch in the predetermined resolutions, and forming a new image having a high resolution as compared with the predetermined resolutions using the plurality of images in accordance with information indicating the relative positions, so that the high-resolution image is obtained without any disorder. Moreover, there is disclosed a method for detecting motion vectors among a plurality of frames with a higher resolution, comprising steps of using orthogonal transform coefficients of images in the plurality of frames in motion images to detect the motion vectors among the plurality of frames with the resolution less than the pixel pitch in the predetermined resolutions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing an image to be displayed on a screen 10 such that a viewer in any current spatial position O in front of the screen 10 can watch the image with only a minimal perspective deformation. According to the invention this is achieved by estimating the current spatial position O of a viewer in relation to a fixed predetermined position Q representing a viewing point in front of the screen 10 from which the image could be watched without any perspective deformation and by providing the image by applying a variable perspective transformation to an originally generated image in response to said estimated current position O of the viewer, such that the viewer in said position O is enabled to watch the image without a perspective deformation.

Abstract: A region data describing method for describing, over a plurality of frames, region data about the region of an arbitrary object in a video, the method specifying the object region in the video with at least either of an approximate figure approximating the region or characteristic points of the region, approximating a trajectory obtained by arranging position data of the representative points or the characteristic point in a direction in which frames proceed with a predetermined function and describing the parameter of the function as region data. Thus, the region of a predetermined object in the video can be described with a small quantity of data. Moreover, creation and handling of data can easily be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding (622) digital image data wherein a region of interest (606) can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process, such that the priority (616) 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.

Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. A post processing stage is provided where detections are analyzed in the context of a set of images for a patient. Three analysis methods are used to distribute a limited number of detections across the image set and further within each image, and additionally to perform a normalcy classification.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the electronic recording of an image of the surface of an object, which image can be displayed as a function G(x, y), wherein x and y are the coordinates of a respective image point of the image and G designates its gray value, wherein the object is recorded sequentially over different times ti, where ti+1>ti, from different perspectives as function Gi in order to form the total image G from the individual images Gi(x, y) such as when rolling a finger for recording a fingerprint, wherein portions are cut out of the individual images and joined together depending on the respective recorded view, wherein a curved intersection line is determined for defining the portions of every image aside from the first image Gi by comparison with the image content of the previously recorded or assembled image Gi−1, wherein the portion of the image Gi−1 is defined by this curved intersection line and the corresponding portion of the image Gi is subsequently added to this intersec

Abstract: An object model has a plurality of features and is described by a model state. An unregistered feature of the object model, and an available frame from a sequence of images are selected to minimize a cost function of a subsequent search for a match of the selected model feature to the image in the selected frame. Upon a match, the feature is registered in that frame. The model state is then updated for each available frame. The steps of selecting, searching and updating are repeated. A video storage module may contain only one frame corresponding to a single time instance, in which case the framework used is based on integrated sequential feature selection. Alternatively, the video store may contain the entire video sequence, in which case feature selection is performed across all video frames for maximum tracking efficiency.

Abstract: A method and image processing system are disclosed that extract feature information from an image using a model. An object in the image is first identified. The model is used at the front-end to quickly determine/define the approximate location/position of specific features of the object. Based in this modeling information, the location/position of the specific features are then determined. A feedback process may also be used to update/customize the model and improve performance.

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 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: There is disclosed an image combining apparatus for generating a single image by combining a plurality of sensed images. When the panoramic image sensing mode is set, the image sensing angle is detected, and is stored together with a plurality of sensed image obtained in the panoramic image sensing mode. Upon combining the plurality of sensed images, a combining method is adaptively selected on the basis of the angle information.

Abstract: There are provided an image analyzing apparatus and an image analyzing method where, in analyzing a microscopic image of a microbe or a cell tissue, the manpower-independent observation and quantification are executed so as to enhance the analyzing performance. The configuration of the apparatus and the method is as follows: A frequency conversion processing, such as Wavelet transformation, is executed toward the microscopic image of the microbe or the cell tissue and, based on the result obtained, the quantitative analysis is executed. The configuration allows the automatic quantitative judgement to be executed concerning factors such as the position, the number, the magnitude, the degree of activity, the area ratio, the configuration, the direction, and the color. This condition makes it possible to reduce a burden imposed on a person who are in charge of the observation. Also, the noise can be eliminated, which also enhances the analyzing performance.

Abstract: An image matching method for matching a first image and an overlapping second image includes generating a first set of working layers of the first image and a second set of working layers of the second image. The method determines an overlap between an initial working layer of the first image and an initial working layer of the second image where the initial working layers have a smaller pixel array size and a lower image resolution than the other working layers. The method selects a feature point in the working layer of the first image and determines a position in the working layer of the second image corresponding to the feature point. The method then determines the motion parameters based on the feature point and the position in the first and second images.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for head tracking and color video acquisition via near infrared luminance keying is disclosed. The head of the local user is tracked in real time by uniformly illuminating a rear projection screen that surrounds a display cube with light having a wavelength in the near-infrared spectrum. A near-infrared image of the head of the local user is acquired by a near-infrared camera equipped with filters that discern the difference between the illuminated rear projection screen and any foreground illumination. A color image of the head of a local user and the projection of a remote location are acquired by a color camera, placed in close proximity to the near-infrared camera. A bounding box is then placed around the head of the local user in the near-infrared image. This bounding box is then translated to the view space of the color camera. This translated image is then used to crop the color image. The cropped color image is then transmitted to the remote location.

Abstract: A method for producing a compressed digital image from an input digital image is disclosed, wherein the compressed digital image is organized into layers having information that can be extracted in accordance with different desired viewing conditions and resolutions. The input digital image is decomposed to produce a plurality of subbands, each subband having a plurality of subband coefficients. The plurality of subband coefficients of each subband of the decomposed input digital image are quantized to produce a quantized output value for each subband coefficient of each subband. At least one bit-plane is formed from the quantized output values of subband coefficients of each subband. Each bit-plane of each subband in at least one pass is entropy encoded to produce a compressed bit-stream corresponding to each pass, wherein each subband is entropy encoded independently of the other subbands.

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 basis of 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: There is disclosed a space planning assembly adapted to provide a human readable graphical furniture layout and a machine readable graphical furniture layout. The assembly has two-dimensional model furniture pieces scaled and shaped to represent the size of real furniture that adheres to the layout board by magnetic attraction. The furniture pieces each carry an invisible machine readable symbol which is scanned into a computer system to identify the actual furniture pieces, their relative location and orientation as represented by the model furniture pieces. The machine readable symbol has a central dot which identifies the location of the symbol, a radial line extending from the symbol to determine the angular orientation of the symbol and arc segments of concentric axial lines spaced radially outward of and at least partially encircling the central dot where the number of arc segments provide for a symbol identification number that represents a real furniture piece.

Abstract: A compressed bit-stream represents a corresponding sequence having intra-coded frames and inter-coded frames. The compressed bit-stream includes bits associated with each of the inter-coded frames representing a displacement from the associated inter-coded frame to a closest matching of the intra-coded frames. A magnitude of the displacement of a first of the inter-coded frames is determined based on the bits in the compressed bit-stream associated with that inter-coded frame. The inter-coded frame is then identified based on the determined displacement magnitude. The inter-coded frame includes macro-blocks. Each macro-block is associated with a respective portion of the inter-coded frame bits which represent the displacement from that macro-block to the closest matching intra-coded frame. The displacement magnitude is an average of the displacement magnitudes of all the macro-blocks associated with the inter-coded frame.

Abstract: A portable image analysis system including a hand held head assembly with an imaging window in the bottom of a housing, at least one light source in the housing directed at the imaging window, and an imaging device in the housing optically coupled to the imaging window. A computer, coupled to the hand held head assembly includes an imaging quality analysis program and a monitor for displaying images in the imaging window of the housing captured by the imaging device of the hand held head assembly for performing in situ image quality measurements.