Abstract: A technique for generating motion vectors in video and film signal processing uses constraint equation based motion estimation. Simplifications of the processing and hardware are made possible by generating motion vectors based on the normalized constraint equation. The temporal and spatial image gradients are calculated using temporal and spatial differentiators (16, 17, 18). An angle (&thgr;) corresponding to the orientation of the spatial image gradient vector and the motion speed (vn) in the direction of the vector are calculated using apparatus including a rectangular to polar coordinate converter (32). &thgr; and vn are the parameters of the normalized constraint equation.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an apparatus, and related method, for sensing a person's facial movements, features and characteristics and the like to generate and animate an avatar image based on facial sensing. The avatar apparatus uses an image processing technique based on model graphs and bunch graphs that efficiently represent image features as jets. The jets are composed of wavelet transforms processed at node or landmark locations on an image corresponding to readily identifiable features. The nodes are acquired and tracked to animate an avatar image in accordance with the person's facial movements. Also, the facial sensing may use jet similarity to determine the person's facial features and characteristic thus allows tracking of a person's natural characteristics without any unnatural elements that may interfere or inhibit the person's natural characteristics.

Abstract: The computer imaging analysis of bakery products for quality control and other purposes is disclosed. Apparatus and methods useful in such analysis are disclosed. The methods are useful on all types of bakery products. They can be used to analyze for parameters, such as size, shape, area and volume. They can also be used to analyze holes, grain or crust. Viewable images may be provided. The parameters can be compared with prescribed specifications and can be used on a plurality of products to determine substantial uniformity.