Abstract: A PCB testing circuit for an automatic inserting apparatus and method thereof can minimize an inferior rate of the PCB.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing documents which automatically identifies, separates and processes different document types from a single business entity or multiple business entities is disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for forming an image transformation matrix for an arbitrarily shaped image segment of a digital image with a computer, a prescribable scan sequence is determined for the picture elements of an image segment of the digital image, a covariance matrix for the picture elements is determined on the basis of this scan sequence. An image transformation matrix is derived from the covariance matrix on the basis of the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix.

Abstract: Light which bears image information carried by a subject is two-dimensionally read through tricolor separating optical systems with linear image sensors for the three colors R, G, B. Odd- and even-numbered pixel signals outputted from the linear image sensors 1 are alternately read to produce an image signal which comprises a series of pixel signals. The image signal is corrected successively by an offset level corrector, a sensitivity variation corrector, an auxiliary scanning curvature/odd- and even-numbered pixel level difference corrector, a main scanning aberration/magnification corrector, and a luminance-to-density conversion corrector, thereby producing an image signal for producing a high-quality reproduced image.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional shape extraction apparatus, a distance distribution extraction unit (54) obtains the distance distribution of an object on the basis of a plurality of images which are sensed by a camera at different image sensing positions, so that the images of the object partially overlap each other, and the position information of the respective image sensing positions of the camera. A three-dimensional model forming unit (55) forms a three-dimensional model of the object by sequentially combining the sequentially calculated distance distributions and the sensed images using the position information. A 3D display image generation unit (56) generates and displays a two-dimensional image from the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: The outer appearance of a golf ball (1) having a multiplicity of dimples (9) in its surface is inspected for detecting a defect (10) on the ball surface, by illuminating light to the golf ball (1), rotating the golf ball at a constant speed in one direction, operating a line sensor camera (4) to take a series of plurality of line images of the ball surface along a line (b) perpendicular to the rotational direction (a), the camera delivering image data including the line images, constructing a two-dimensional image from the image data, converting a brightness change appearing in the two-dimensional image in the rotational direction of the ball into a variation per preset unit, and subjecting the resulting variation data to binary processing on the basis of a threshold set between the variation associated with the dimple (9) and the variation associated with the defect (10), thereby detecting whether or not the defect (10) is present.

Abstract: A plurality of linear images are cut, the cut linear images are scanned successively on other images to detect positions where the degree of similarity is high, and these detected coordinate values are partially combined, and when the image is collated, combinations which does not satisfy the relative positional relation corresponding to these linear images are excluded from the processing target with reference to the relation between coordinate values of the detected positions. The image collation device thus enables a fingerprint collation device to obtain collation result consistently within a short time.

Abstract: With regard to an optical communications system, in a system using a single optical fiber cable between subscribers and an exchange and in which bi-directional transmission is performed using the same 1.3-.mu.m wavelength, the exchange-to-subscriber signal is a high-speed, wideband signal which is bandwidth limited by means of a lowpass filter, and the subscriber-to-exchange signal is a carrier having a frequency higher than the upper limit of the exchange-to-subscriber signal and which is modulated with a low-speed, narrowband signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a location and span of an object in an image. The determined location and span of the object are used to process the image to simplify a subsequent classification process.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus wherein the original image to be read by main scanning is prescanned first to obtain reading parameters optimum for the main scanning, is characterized in that the apparatus processes image data picked up at predetermined dots from among all image data by a median filter during the pre-scanning, and processes all image data by the median filter during the main scanning.

Abstract: A method for verifying that an eye is present and accurately located in an image that is used for identifying an individual using iris identification techniques begins with an image in which the eye is believed to be present at a selected location. The image is then subjected to a series of tests to confirm that an eye is present at the selected location.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for digital 3-dimensional imaging of an object which allows for viewing images of the object from arbitrary vantage points. The system, referred to as the Lumigraph system, collects a complete appearance of either a synthetic or real object (or a scene), stores a representation of the appearance, and uses the representation to render images of the object from any vantage point. The appearance of an object is a collection of light rays that emanate from the object in all directions. The system stores the representation of the appearance as a set of coefficients of a 4-dimensional function, referred to as the Lumigraph function. From the Lumigraph function with these coefficients, the Lumigraph system can generate 2-dimensional images of the object from any vantage point. The Lumigraph system generates an image by evaluating the Lumigraph function to identify the intensity values of light rays that would emanate from the object to form the image.

Abstract: A mask defect repair system which repairs, by irradiating a particle beam, a defect on a mask made of a transparent substrate and a mask material formed on the substrate, includes an imaging beam irradiation unit for two-dimensionally scanning and irradiating the beam for imaging on a surface of the mask, a detector for detecting a first intensity distribution of secondary particles emitted from the surface of the mask by irradiation of the beam for imaging, an image processing unit for performing image processing of at least part of the first intensity distribution of the secondary particles to prepare a second intensity distribution, an image display unit for displaying the first and second intensity distributions as an image, an external input unit for setting, on the image, a desired region to be processed with the beam, an irradiation region determination unit for determining, on the desired region to be processed, a beam irradiation region on the basis of the second intensity distribution, a repair beam

Abstract: A summing interpolation method is provided for transferring images between coordinate systems in an affine transformation, using a simplified series of interpolation formulas. The small number of interpolation formulas required by the present invention permits the calculation of an interpolated pixel value through the addition of pixels with discrete locations bordering a calculated, non-discrete, pixel location. The data of discrete pixel locations closer to the calculated location are added more often in the interpolation than those further away. Specifically, the non-integer remainder of the calculated location is rounded off to one-quarter increments in the X and Y axis, and an interpolation formula is chosen in response to the rounded increment location values. In this manner, all possible calculated locations are interpolated with a small number of fixed interpolation formulas. A interpolation summing system, for use in an affine transformation, is also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object X is recognized by a method which includes the steps of: a) storing in a memory, a set of two-dimensional enrollment images X.sub.1 -X.sub.n of the object X as viewed from n different directions; b) acquiring a two-dimensional access image of an unidentified object as viewed from a new direction which lies between the n different directions; c) generating, from the stored set of images, a rotated two-dimensional image of the object X as viewed from a direction which is closer to the new direction than any of the n different directions; and, d) identifying the unidentified object as the object X only if a correlation between the image of the unidentified object and the rotated image exceeds a predetermined threshold. By generating the rotated image, misalignments with the access image of the unidentified object are reduced; and thus the predetermined threshold can be raised to reduce recognition errors.

Abstract: In order to realize a neural network for image processing by an inexpensive hardware arrangement, a neural network arranged in an image processing apparatus is constituted by an input layer having neurons for receiving information from picture elements in a 7.times.7 area including an interesting picture element in an image, an intermediate layer having one neuron connected to all the 49 neurons in the input layer and five groups of nine neurons, the nine neurons in each group being connected to nine neurons in the input layer, which receive information from picture elements in at least one of five 3.times.3 areas (1a to 1e), and an output layer having one neuron, which is connected to all the neurons in the intermediate layer and outputs information corresponding to the interesting picture element.

Abstract: Horizontal lines of a character are divided into groups of lines which are not offset from each other and distances between which are less than a predetermined value. Further, on conditions that two groups contain at least one common line and overlapping portion of lines of one group is offset from none of lines included in the other group, these two groups are combined. Consequently, space correction groups for the horizontal lines are formed. Then, by using areas of the horizontal lines included in the groups obtained as described above as space correction areas, spaces defined by points on outline of each line are corrected. As a result, it is possible to form a character of high quality by using data which does not include information on space correction.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus which can be connected to a host computer as an image data supplying source and also connected to a second image forming apparatus so that the host computer can be selectively and reliably connected to one of the first and second image forming apparatuses. The first image forming apparatus is connected to the host computer so as to print the image data provided from the host computer. The second image forming apparatus is operatively connectable to the host computer via the first image forming apparatus so as to print the image data sent from the host computer. A switching device is provided in the first image forming apparatus. The switching device switches a connection of the host computer so that one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is operatively connected to the host computer.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for digital 3-dimensional imaging of an object which allows for viewing images of the object from arbitrary vantage points. The system, referred to as the Lumigraph system, collects a complete appearance of either a synthetic or real object (or a scene), stores a representation of the appearance, and uses the representation to render images of the object from any vantage point. The appearance of an object is a collection of light rays that emanate from the object in all directions. The system stores the representation of the appearance as a set of coefficients of a 4-dimensional function, referred to as the Lumigraph function. From the Lumigraph function with these coefficients, the Lumigraph system can generate 2-dimensional images of the object from any vantage point. The Lumigraph system generates an image by evaluating the Lumigraph function to identify the intensity values of light rays that would emanate from the object to form the image.