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.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method which inputs multivalued image data capable of m-level representation, performs image processing on the input data, and converts the processed data into multivalued image data capable of n-level (m<n) tonality. Upon forming an image on a print medium based on input image data, the image is formed such that the difference between an image density D(x) of the image formed on a print medium at a tonality level x and an image density D(x+1) of an image formed on the print medium at the next tonality level x+1 satisfies D(x+1) -D(x).ltoreq.A.times.D(x) (A.ltoreq.0.08) (A.ltoreq.0.08). Further, a pattern signal having a rectified sine wave having a predetermined period is generated, and a pulse-width modulated signal for generating a beam is generated by performing pulse-width modulation on the input image data based on the pattern signal.

Abstract: An optical character recognition system recognizes character images in a document image comprised of character areas and non-character areas. The system includes a step of obtaining multi-value image data representing the document image, the multi-value image data having a first resolution and comprising plural pixels each having a pixel density value. The system binarizes the multi-value image data to produce binary image data having a second resolution for the document image, the second resolution being greater than the first resolution. The target pixel in the multi-value image data is binarized based on pixels adjacent to the target pixel.

Abstract: Fingerprint image entry device having no ground electrode provided in a position with which a finger is in a direct contact, wherein accurate fingerprint image can be entered independently of the initial electrostatically charged condition of the finger. The device comprises an electrode which is in the form of mesh or comb for radiating a high frequency wave toward a finger, a plurality of signal sensing electrodes for forming electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes and the finger and a signal switching means for consecutively connecting each of these signal sensing electrodes to a signal sensing circuit.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for determining deviation of characteristics of a sample workpiece from predetermined characteristics of a control workpiece. The apparatus preferably includes an illumination system for producing a collimated beam having substantially parallel rays, a positioning system for placing a sample workpiece between outer edges of the collimated beam so that the sample workpiece partially occludes the collimated beam to produce a silhouette within the collimated beam, an imaging apparatus oriented normal to said collimated beam and including a plurality of discrete light sensing elements for producing pixel data representative of an image including the silhouette, and a processor for determining deviation of characteristics of the sample workpiece from predetermined characteristics of a control workpiece using the pixel data according to pixel data representative of a diffraction band generated through interaction of the sample workpiece and the collimated beam.

Abstract: An image and method for determining the location of known pattern of data in a captured object image wherein a feature analysis is performed upon a representative plurality of pixel locations to determine a starting point, feature analysis is performed upon the pixel locations surrounding the starting point and the starting point is moved to another pixel location if provides a higher feature analysis value than the starting point; the process of performing feature analyses and moving the starting point continues until the starting point is moved a maximum feature analysis value; once the maximum feature analysis value is found, the object image data may be rotated incrementally with respect to the reference pattern data and the feature analysis/starting point selection process repeated for each iteration until an object image location and object angle of rotation is determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of collating images and an apparatus for collating images capable of collating an image for collation taken in as digital data with an image for reference stored as digital data comparatively simply and surely.

Abstract: A system automatically generates a representative image to represent a video sequence of a video program, and facilitates editing and manipulating of the video program. The system comprises receiving means (such as a frame selector or a unit extractor) for receiving a frame having at least one unit from a sequence of frames, resolving means (such as a unit extractor) for resolving one of the at least one unit, and generating means (such as an image engine) for generating an image representative of the sequence based on the unit. The system may further comprise a sequence divider for dividing the video program into multiple video sequences, and a frame selector for selecting the first sequence from the multiple sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensing device comprising a planar array of closely-spaced capacitive sense elements. When a finger is placed in close proximity to the sensing device, the capacitive sense elements measure a capacitance between the finger and a single capacitor plate in each sense element. This is accomplished by precharging each capacitor plate, and then using a known current source to remove a fixed amount of charge from each capacitor plate. The measured capacitance varies as a function of the distance between the capacitor plate and the finger surface. Thus, a capacitance measurement allows the distance between the capacitor plate and the finger surface to be determined. Distance measurements across the array of sense elements are combined to produce a representation of the pattern of ridges on the finger surface which comprise a fingerprint.

Abstract: A system and method for automated data capture of sequential form numbers at a collator/press assembly machine is provided. The system of the present invention includes an optical reader, a conventional personal computer including generally available spreadsheet software, an optional printer and a standard form collator/press assembly machine.

Abstract: An invention for determining a rectangular bounding box encompassing a photograph or object(s) represented within a digital image is disclosed. The rectangular bounding box is determined irrespective of the device used to acquire the digital image. First a set of contrast points is derived; these contrast points representing changes in the characteristics of a pixel from that of a traversed neighbor. After ordering the contrast points according to their radial angle around a central reference point, a list of lines is generated by selecting two points separated by q positions in the ordered list of contrast points. If the four lines generated the most often roughly form a rectangle, then they correspond to the sides of the rectangular bounding box. Else, the line with the highest count is used as a base side of the rectangular bounding box.

Abstract: An image is processed taking into account the direction of a predominant structure of the image. Said predominant direction is derived from image information in the image. In particular, the covariance matrix having matrix elements depending on products of differences between pixel-values in separate directions is calculated. The eigenvectors of the covariance matrix correspond with the predominant direction of the image structure and the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix represent the strength of the structure in the image. The covariance matrix is computed locally, i.e. for separate regions in the images so as to take variations of the direction of predominant structures into account.

Abstract: An inventive method tracks IC devices through the assembly steps in a manufacturing process. Prior to die attach, a laser scribe marks the lead frame of each of the devices with a coded hole matrix that gives each device a unique ID code. During die attach, an optical hole reader retrieves the ID code of each of the IC devices, and a computer system stores the retrieved ID codes in association with the lot numbers of the ICs attached to the lead frames. The ID codes of the devices are then read at each step in assembly so the devices can be tracked through assembly individually, rather than by lots. As a result, the devices can proceed through assembly in a more efficient, continuous manner (i.e., without breaks between lots).

Abstract: A method and system automatically determines the width (i.e., left and right edges) of a document when it is loaded for scanning or copying. When a document is staged, the scanner collects a predetermined number scanlines of the leadedge of the document. Both first order and second order statistics of the scanner and document are then calculated based on the scanned data. The auto-width detection process is adaptive to CCD sensor output variation, document variation, and scanner variation, thus making it robust against dust in the sensor path and random fluctuations of the scanner.

Abstract: To provide an apparatus for pre-selecting fingerprint cards having certain similarity to an S-card to be identified, at a high-speed, among a plurality of F-cards, an apparatus of the invention comprises: an F-side cluster index determination section (2) for designating a cluster wherein feature data of the plurality of F-cards are to be classified according to features extracted from the plurality of F-cards; an F-card feature storing section (3) for storing the feature data of the plurality of F-cards in the cluster designated by the F-side cluster index determination section (2); an S-card feature storing section (5) for temporarily storing feature data of the S-card; an S-side cluster index determination section (6) for designating clusters to be retrieved according to a combination of features extracted from the S-card; and a fingerprint card matching discrimination unit (8) for pre-selecting the fingerprint cards by comparing the feature data of the S-card with the feature data of the plurality of F-car

Abstract: The focal length estimation method and apparatus claimed in this application aligns plural overlapping images with one another for constructing an image mosaic. This is accomplished by computing a planar perspective transformation between each overlapping pair of the images, computing from the planar perspective transformation a focal length of each image of the pair, computing from the focal length of each image a focal length transformation, computing a rotational transformation for each of the pair of images whereby a combination of the rotational transformation and the focal length transformation relates the respective image to a three-dimensional coordinate system. Registration errors between the pair of images are reduced by incrementally deforming the rotational transformation of one of the pair of images.

Abstract: A method of embedding digital data in a source image includes the steps of: a) generating a multi-level data image representing the digital data; b) convolving the multi-level data image with an encoding carrier image to produce a frequency dispersed data image; and c) adding the frequency dispersed data image to the source image to produce a source image containing embedded data. The data is recovered from the image by: a) cross correlating the source image containing embedded data with a decoding carrier image to recover the data image; and b) extracting the digital data from the recovered data image.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for mounting of electronic components onto a board, there are provided a head section (35) having a plurality of nozzles (12, 13) for sucking electronic components and a recognition camera (15) for recognizing a posture of a sucked electronic component through its image. A controller (1) is provided for controlling the head section so that after the electronic components at a component feed section (30) are sucked by the nozzles, the sucked posture is image-recognized by the recognition camera and corrected.

Abstract: The method uses a three-dimensional face model and a technique called eigenface decomposition to analyze the video at one end. The facial feature locations and eigenface coding of the face image are sent to a decoder. The decoder synthesizes the face image at the receiving end. Eigenface decoding is used to texture map a three-dimensional model warped by detected feature locations.

Abstract: A multiple parallel digital signal processor having a large number of bit processing processor elements arranged in one-dimensional array is treated as a processor block, and a plurality of the processor blocks are connected in sequence, while removing redundancy, to form a processor block column. A plurality of processor blocks are connected in sequence such that a processor block at a subsequent stage is supplied either with output of a processor block at a previous stage or with input data, and any of outputs of the processor block columns is delivered as a final output, thereby making it possible to realize a signal processing apparatus which has high performance, versatility, and simple configuration.