Abstract: A digital image processing system reduces errors in the parameters of a sensor geometry model, through which points in a captured digital image are geolocated to the surface of the earth by means of a `real time` co-registration mechanism that refines the geometry model associated with the working image in a matter of seconds. Using a co-registration mechanism such as that described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,937, the system co-registers the reduced accuracy working digital image with a reference image, geographical spatial locations of respective pixels of which have been previously determined with a high degree of accuracy. The imagery co-registration operator adjusts the respective geometry models associated with its input images, in accordance with differences in cross-correlations of the respectively different spatial resolution versions of the two images, so as to bring the respective images into effective co-registration on image registration surface.

Abstract: A work transportation line includes a work handling apparatus which has an operation that is automatically changed in response to alteration of a work type, from one type to another, so as to be suitable for a work type to which a subject work is altered. An indication of a work type alteration is provided as a result of a comparison between specified attributes of a subject work, which are extracted from a two-valued image of the subject work, and predetermined reference attributes for various work types.

Abstract: In the past, contact imaging devices were large and costly. It has been proposed that for contact imaging device adoption for the personal computing market, cost and size must be reduced. In an attempt to address these concerns, a biometric pointing device such as a mouse is presented incorporating therein a contact imager. The contact imager fits within a small enclosure. Further, data transmission means within the mouse provides a signal to a single port on a computer indicative of the output data from both the contact imaging means and the pointing device.

Abstract: A system (1) for enhancing the resolution of a video image by a predetermined enhancement factor is provided. System (1) generally includes an interpolation subsystem (10), a data storage module (20), and a pixel insert positioning module (30). Included within interpolation subsystem (10) are a classification module (100), a bilinear interpolation module (200), and an adaptive interpolation module (300). Classification module (100) receives the original image pixels in a specified field of the given video image and designates for each original image pixels it receives one of a plurality of predefined classifications. Based upon this classification, one of the bilinear interpolation (200) and adaptive interpolation (300) modules is selected for actuation in generating the supplementary image pixels necessary to support resolution enhancement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying individuals for the purposes of determining clearance access or surveillance is characterized by enrolling an image of a person's face either voluntarily or secretly to be later used for comparison when the person voluntarily desires clearance or is covertly detected. The system can recognize or identify individuals regardless of whether the individual is wearing eye glasses or attempted disguises. In one embodiment, the system allows an authorized operator to enroll an image of a person through a facial scan for subsequent clearance access. The system records the camera positioning, captures an image, scales the image and records data from a region of interest within the scanned image to a database for later comparison. Enrollment data and the corresponding image information are then associated with a personal identification number assigned to the person.

Abstract: An inspecting apparatus is arranged on an electronic component mounting line for inspecting whether a mounting state of the component mounted on a printed circuit board by a mounting apparatus in a precedent process or a printing state of a cream solder by a cream solder printing apparatus in a precedent process is non-defective or defective.

Abstract: A method for automatic matching of planar point patterns in a reference pattern with a test pattern includes course mating, calculation of a mated possibility for one point in each pattern, preliminary selection of mated pairs based on these possibilities, and calculation of a similarity value based upon the number of mated pairs, the mated rate of the reference and test patterns, and the average mating possibility and average distance between mated points.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to simultaneously perform input or output of picture signals for a plurality of components. An image data input interface (310) is capable of input of picture signals (Pm) of three components at its maximum. For example, when picture signals (Pm) of three components are inputted, a clock divider (410) supplies a 1/3 divided signal of a clock signal (CLK) to the image data input interface (310) on the basis of a selection signal (SEL). In the image date input interface (310), the picture signals (Pm) of three components are simultaneously inputted in synchronization with the 1/3 divided signal and they are sent out to a discrete cosine transform unit (4) in synchronization with the clock signal (CLK). The component to which the sent picture signals (Pxy) belong sequentially changes for every 8.times.8 picture elements.

Abstract: A method of generating an upsampled target pixel positioned between two lines of input source data includes the step of comparing pixels of different lines of the source data in a region surrounding the upsampled target pixel to be generated in at least two different directions. An interpolation direction based on the comparison is selected and interpolations between selected pixels of the source data in the determined interpolation direction are carried out to compute intermediate pixels on a line segment passing through the upsampled target pixel. An interpolation between the intermediate pixels is carried out to generate the upsampled target pixel. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A facility is provided for correcting fixed column noise that may appear in a fingerprint image acquired from a capacitive fingerprint sensor. In particular, corrective gain and offset values are determined for each column of pixel signals generated by the sensor and are applied to such signals to greatly diminish the fixed column noise that may be present in that column.

Abstract: A drawing is read by a scanner to create raster data. A labeling process is executed for the data to extract a contour line for each pattern element resultant from the labeling process to produce contour line data and region data to manage, in a tree structure, information related to a circumscribed rectangle of each line segment of the contour line. When the operator picks by a pointing device a predetermined region on the screen of a display and a pair of line segments for recognition, there is retrieved region data corresponding to the specified region. After extracting contour line data associated with the retrieved region data, a center line creation process is executed according to the extracted contour line data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding an edge contour in an image of an object is provided that is robust against object/background misclassification due to non-uniform illumination across an image, while also being computationally efficient, and avoiding the need to select a classification threshold. The invention can be used to partition an image of a scene into object regions and background regions, or foreground regions and background regions, using edge contours found in the image. The invention is particularly useful for analysis of images of back-lit objects. The edge contour is progressively formed by finding a sequence of one-dimensional edge positions, each one-dimensional edge position being determined by processing a set of pixels arranged along at least one imaginary line.

Abstract: The head in a series of video images is identified by digitizing sequential images, subtracting a previous image from an input image to determine moving objects, calculating boundary curvature extremes of regions in the subtracted image, comparing the extremes with a stored model of a human head to find regions shaped like a human head, and identifying the head with a surrounding shape.

Abstract: A method of combining height profiles of adjacent sections of a test surface to produce a composite profile of the surface consists of taking successive measurements of adjacent sections of the surface of the test sample by sequentially placing them within the field of view of the instrument and profiling them by phase shifting or vertical scanning. The x-y translation of the microscope between successive measurements from one section to the next adjacent section of the surface being profiled is carried out by overlapping such sections, so that spatial continuity is maintained between measurements. The height data generated for each section are then combined to form a larger image corresponding to the entire surface tested and discontinuities and/or errors introduced by the x-y translation process are corrected by normalizing the overlapping portions to a common reference plane.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a block adjustment method and apparatus which simultaneously aligns a set of overlapping images in order to construct an image mosaic. For each one of the images of the set, the invention performs the alignment by determining ray directions relative to a 3-dimensional coordinate system at plural predetermined pixel locations in the one image. For each one of the plural pixel locations in the one image, ray directions are determined relative to the 3-dimensional coordinate system of the corresponding pixel location in each one of the other images overlapping the one predetermined pixel location of the one image. Then, incremental deformations of the overlapping images are computed which simultaneously minimize differences between the ray directions of plural pairs of the overlapping images which include the one image. The foregoing is performed for each of the plural predetermined pixel locations of the one image simultaneously.

Abstract: An information distributing apparatus for operating within a computer network environment. The information distributing apparatus includes a computer having an operating system and is configured to operate within the computer network environment. The apparatus has an application configured for running on the computer via the operating system, the application configured to generate a source job in the form of an intermediate file format comprising an output instruction file. The apparatus includes a print processor in the form of an intermediate executable code for operating on the output instruction file. The apparatus also includes at least one output device having an output device driver configured to convert the output instruction file to output instructions usable by the output device for producing output.

Abstract: An image combine apparatus for combining a plurality of images to generate a panoramic image. The image combine apparatus identifies an overlapping region of two inputted images and determines a boundary of the two images. The image combine apparatus then sets a tone correction area having a predetermined width such that the boundary of the two images is the center of the area, and performs tone correction within the area. The image combine apparatus performs linear tone correction in accordance with a distance between a pixel and the boundary. In the neighbor of the boundary of the two images within the tone correction area, density of the image gradually changes, thus a combined image whose boundary of the two images is inconspicuous is obtained.

Abstract: A method and device for securely duplicating sensitive documents. A marking element is entered on the original document to identify its confidential nature, as well as an encoded rules elements which defines duplication restrictions of the document. For each duplication request (101) for a sensitive document (102), the document is digitized (103) to determine the presence of a marking element (104) and to find the duplication restrictions, i.e., the encoded rules elements (106). Duplication may be performed (110) depending on the restrictions defined in the rules elements (106) and after an authorization check (108). A duplication may be obtained by requesting the computerized original of the document from the document issuer. In addition to the selective control of reproduction of documents the method and device is particularly suitable for preventing the duplication of documents for fraudulent purposes, multiple duplication of selected documents, and for copyright administration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automated defect spatial signature alysis on a data set representing defect coordinates and wafer processing information includes categorizing data from the data set into a plurality of high level categories, classifying the categorized data contained in each high level category into user-labeled signature events, and correlating the categorized, classified signature events to a present or incipient anomalous process condition.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual from examination of their natural physical characteristics is shown. The method comprises obtaining from an individual during a registration process, a fingerprint image having at least one registration pore and at least one registration macrofeature; wherein registration pore data is derived from the registration pores, and registration macrofeature data is derived from the registration macrofeatures. In a bid step, a fingerprint image having at least one bid pore and at least one bid macrofeature is obtained; wherein bid pore data is derived from the bid pores and bid macrofeature data is derived from the bid macrofeatures. Bid associated data is constructed from associating the bid pore data with the bid macrofeature data, and constructing registration associated data derived from associating the registration pore data with the registration macrofeature data.