Abstract: An object of the invention is to easily and firmly read an image and to reduce power consumption. An image reading and displaying apparatus comprises a scanner for reading an image of a document arranged on the side of a read face where photocells are arranged in a matrix form, to output image information, a RAM for storing the image information from the scanner and a display device of a light transmitting type such including a display face for displaying the image information stored in RAM, the display device being such arranged that a back face of the display face contacts with a back face of the read face. Since the back face of the display face is arranged so as to contact the back face of the read face, an operator can confirm the image to be read, whereby the image can be read with certainty.

Abstract: A data control apparatus is structured to execute complementary recording on one pixel array by dividing the scans of a recording head into four. In a nozzle context memory, the nozzle context data, which can be updated, are stored as control data to determine discharge or non-discharge of ink from discharge ports. In an operational circuit, the nozzle context data and image data are processed operationally, thus outputting drive data for the recording head. The data that indicates ink discharge in one pixel array are sequentially assigned to recording data per scan appropriately by use of the nozzle context data and the operational circuit. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to implement making the capacity of memory smaller for use of data to control recording or non-recording, and also, to execute an intermittent recording by controlling recording or non-recording as required.

Abstract: A method of virtualizing reality, i.e., a method of creating virtual reality from images of a real event, is comprised of the steps of capturing a plurality of images of each time instant of a real event using a plurality of cameras positioned at a plurality of angles. Each image is stored as intensity and/or color information. A suitable internal representation is computed from these images and the information regarding the camera angles. An image of each time instant may be generated from any viewing angle using the internal representation of it. The virtual viewpoints could be displayed on a single TV screen or using a stereoscopic display device for a true three-dimensional effect. The event thus virtualized can be navigated through, and interacted with, any virtual reality system.

Abstract: A request condition managing table is provided to a request-sender digital copying machine. For example, when the request-sender digital copying machine is reset to a predetermined condition, the PCU of the request-sender digital copying machine outputs a clear signal to a request-receiver digital copying machine through a transmitting apparatus, so that the image data stored therein on behalf of the request-sender digital copying machine are cleared. Alternatively, the operator can erase such image data manually by checking the request condition managing table. In this manner, when the image data read by the request-sender image forming apparatus and stored temporarily in the request-receiver image forming apparatus become useless, the request-sender image forming apparatus so notifies the request-receiver image forming apparatus and directs the same to erase the image data, thereby preventing the request-receiver image forming apparatus from storing useless image data over a long period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that determines the topology of a sequence of images and then globally aligns the images with respect to each image's neighboring images. The apparatus includes a topology determination module, a local coarse registration module, a local fine registration module, a global consistency module, and a color matching/blending module. To accurately render a mosaic image from a sequence of images the topology determination and global alignment processes are iterated to progressively produce accurately aligned images. The apparatus efficiently and accurately combines a plurality of source images into a seamless panoramic mosaic representation of a scene, of arbitrarily wide spatial and angular extent, regardless of the order of image acquisition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture performs an image processing operation directly on the runs of a runlength encoded bitmap of pixels. In the method, a first selection step selects, in the first instance, at least two runs from one or more series of runs of one or more images on the basis of pixel position information. A runlength processing operation is then performed on the selected runs in accordance with the image processing operation in order to obtain a resultant run having a resultant runlength and a resultant pixel value. In a shortening step the runlengths of the processed runs are shortened by a value derived from the determined resultant runlength. In a step size determining step a step size is derived from the resultant runlength.

Abstract: A method and apparatus optimizes the process of locating an image of a part by exploiting at least one set of regular co-linear features in the image of the part. A selected one of the at least one set of regular co-linear features is used to quickly correlate a set of image points and a set of model points which are likely to correspond to each other. A one to one correspondence of a subset of model points to a subset of image points yields a single possible location for the part in the image, which location can be quickly and reliably checked for correctness, and if incorrect, a next possible set to set correspondence can be tested until the correct location is found.

Abstract: A moving picture processing apparatus comprises an image capture unit for taking in time-series images (moving picture series) of a target object, a feature point extraction unit for extracting feature points constituting the surface of the object whose model is to be made, a three-dimensional position information extraction unit for finding three-dimensional position information on the feature points by correlating the feature points contained in the image at a point in time with those at another point in time in the time-series images and analyzing positional coordinate information on the correlated feature points, a three-dimensional patch group generating unit for generating three-dimensional patch groups constituting the surface of the target object on the basis of the feature points for which the three-dimensional position information has been found and supplying the three-dimensional patch groups as information on a model of the target object to an output section.

Abstract: In a system for real-time inspection of patterns formed on a base, the pattern including surfaces and edges. The system provides for a detector that includes: (i) two input channels for receiving streams of pixels representing the patterns. Each pixel representing the surface and/or edge of the pattern in sub-pixel boundary, (ii) two line width measurement devices being responsive to the streams of pixels for processing in real time the pixels in a manner that corresponds to a predetermined direction in the patterns, so as to measure, in sub-pixel boundary, line width data between two edges. This measurement is effected by executing the following steps: (i) detecting an opening edge, (ii) successively updating line width; and (iii) providing a line width measurement in response to detecting a closing edge.

Abstract: Image data received from an original-document reading portion is stored in an image memory, and then transmitted to another facsimile apparatus. At this time, whenever image data for one communication is transmitted, information indicating a result of the transmission is stored. Also, image data received from a personal computer is stored in an image memory, and is then transmitted to the other facsimile apparatus. At this time, whenever image data for one communication is transmitted, information indicating a result of the transmission is stored. A communication management report is then output which enables identification to easily be performed with respect to whether image data supplied from the original-document reading portion has been transmitted or image data supplied from the personal computer has been transmitted.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus subjects image data photoelectrically read out by an image reading apparatus to predetermined image processings and outputs the read-out image data as image data to be recorded. The image processing apparatus includes a plurality of memories for storing image data read out by the image reading apparatus; an image processing unit for reading the image data from the memories and for carrying out the predetermined image processings by pipeline processing; a condition setting unit for setting image processing conditions in the image processing unit; an image data bus for inputting and outputting the image data; and a control bus for inputting and outputting control data. The image processing apparatus permits a scanner to continuously read images, and a printer to continuously record the images of an application requiring high speed output of finished prints (i.e., a digital photoprinter). Thus, finished prints can be effectively output at high speed.

Abstract: System components provide for a method of: processing an exposed photographic film at a processor-scanner station which has both a scanner and a processor at the same location, to produce one or more hardcopy images at the processor-scanner location; reading data on the film which indicates that a set of one or more of the hardcopy images, is to be communicated to a hub station, which hub station is remote from the processor-scanner station; scanning the set at the same processor-scanner location at which the film was processed, to obtain a corresponding image set signal; communicating the image set signal from the scanner to the hub station; and storing the communicated image set signal at the hub station.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automotive tire condition and other article assessment is based upon radiation analysis of a rotated tire. Analysis of reflected radiation on the basis of intensity sensing provides a measure of tread depth and sidewall profile, together with tread location and other data. By positional analysis of the tread depth locations there is provided complementary information on the tread wear pattern. Sidewall profile determination enables identification of other tire condition factors. Tread depth and sidewall profile are also determined by laser or other radiation line image displacement techniques and a mounting system is provided for the apparatus enabling determinations to be made without the use of a roller bed. Proper positional alignment of the wheel to the apparatus is determined by means of a reference datum derived from reflected radiation within the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming system, wherein a second digital copying machine stores image data temporarily on behalf of a first digital copying machine at its request and returns the stored image data upon receipt of a return request. When the second digital copying machine has not received any return request from the first digital copying machine within a predetermined period, the second digital copying machine erases the stored image data to utilize its own memory efficiently.

Abstract: A character extraction apparatus is provided for extracting character data for each character from a text image which is represented by first pixels corresponding to character images and second pixels corresponding to background images. The character extraction apparatus comprises a character row detecting means for detecting character rows from the text image and obtaining position data of each character row; a pixel array extracting means for extracting arrays of continuous first pixels in an area specified by the character row position data and computing position data of each of the arrays of continuous first pixels; a character array linking means for linking the arrays of continuous first pixels in the area based on the position data of the arrays of continuous first pixels; and a character extracting means for recognizing each set of arrays of continuous first pixels linked by the character array linking means as a character and outputting character data.

Abstract: A mounting coordinate input method and apparatus images a printed circuit board on which a surface mount device is mounted and edits a coordinate and component information necessary to mount the surface mount device on the PCB to produce a mounting information to be inputted to surface mount device equipment. In the method, an image of a printed circuit board is taken. Component information of the surface mount device to be mounted on the printed circuit board at an arbitrary angle is inputted to display a surface mount device mark printed on the printed circuit board corresponding to the component information. Coordinates of first and second reference corners of the surface mount device mark is set and center coordinates of the surface mount device mark is calculated. A reference rectangle of the surface mount device mark is displayed.

Abstract: A multi-tone-level image is converted into an M-tone-level image using M-1 threshold values, where M-1.gtoreq.2. Middle-tone-level pixels in the M-tone-level image are treated as unknown pixels, tone levels other than the middle tone levels are given to the unknown pixels based on the states of pixels in the neighborhood of the unknown pixels, and thus produces an N-tone-level image, where M>N.gtoreq.2. Two threshold values of the M-1 threshold values are used for determine the middle-tone-level pixels, the two threshold values corresponding to the lightest tone level of a first image region and the darkest tone level of a second image region respectively. The first image region has tone levels which are darker than the middle tone levels and the second image region has tone levels which are lighter than the middle tone levels.

Abstract: An automatic inspection method and apparatus using structured light and machine vision cameras to inspect an object in conjunction with the geometric model of the object is disclosed. Camera images of the object are analyzed by computer to produce the location of points on the object's surfaces in three dimensions. During a setup phase before object inspection, the points are analyzed with respect to the geometric model computer file of the object. Many points are eliminated to reduce data-taking and analysis time to a minimum and to prevent extraneous reflections from producing errors. When similar objects are subsequently inspected, points from each surface of interest are spatially averaged to give high accuracy measurements of object dimensions. The inspection device uses several multiplexed sensors, each composed of a camera and a structured light source, to measure all sides of the object on a single pass. Calibration and compensation methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A detector system locates a feature in an input signal. The input signal is applied to a multiscale filter bank which produces a corresponding set of filtered signals that are applied to a multiscale detector. A scale space tree table is produced by the detector which indicates the location in each filtered signal where the feature is possibly located. A MAP correlator examines the scale space tree table to determine which indications therein are feature locations. One-dimensional and two-dimensional embodiments are described. In addition, the design framework is disclosed for extending a one scale filter to a multiscale filter, for designing a filter bank from the multiscale filter and for designing the MAP correlator dependent on the feature being located and the chosen filter bank.

Abstract: An object rendering system having a specialized algorithm is provided to convert a material and geometric description of an object to an X-Ray image of that object for use in medical applications and industrial non-destructive testing, thus to permit presentation of an object not the result of X-Ray in an X-Ray format. The system operates by considering that the object is composed of nested geometric solids, each defined by an enclosing surface, with the material property of each nested solid being defined in terms of an X-Ray mass-attenuation coefficient. Means for adjusting the mass attenuation coefficient of each of the enclosing surfaces is provided to permit each solid to be rendered independently.