Abstract: Methods and system according to the present invention enable a highly streamlined and efficient fabric or textile sampling and design process particularly valuable in the design and selection of floor coverings, wall coverings and other interior design treatments. A digital library of fabric models is created, preferably including digitized full-color images and having associated a digital representation of positions that are located within and which characterize the models. Via an application implemented according to conventional software methods and running on conventional hardware having high resolution graphics processing capabilities, a user may navigate among the set of alternative models, and may modify the positions of the selected models to test out desired combinations of characteristics--such as poms or yarn ends, for models of floor coverings--and view the results in high resolution.

Abstract: An image processing method is for automatically detecting objects of a predetermined type among diffuse objects in an original image, in the form of a two-dimensional matrix of pixels which have digitized intensity values. The method is carried out by a processing chain. A first transformed image (11A, 11B) is formed by a first smoothing (120A, 120B) of the original image (10A) to the resolution of the objects to be detected, in which local intensity optimums (LIST1A, LIST1B) are determined (130A, 140A; 130B, 140B). A second transformed image (13A, 13B) is formed via a second smoothing (220A, 220B) of the original image (10A) to the resolution of diffuse objects, in which homogeneous intensity regions are determined (230A, 230B), local intensity optimums (LIST1A, LIST1B) determined on the basis of the first transformed image are placed (240A, 240B) in the homogeneous regions determined on the basis of the second transformed image.

Abstract: A method of determining the skin-line in a digital medical image comprising the steps of:providing a digital medical image including a matrix of lines and columns of pixels;determining the minimum gray level of the background pixels using a background detection routine;selecting all or at least a representative sample of said lines and/or columns of said image, and for each selected line or column;smoothing the line to minimize the effect of noise on the delineation of pixel gray level transitions;identifying significant transitions from segments of monotonically decreasing gray level values that span a minimum gray level range and start near or above said minimum background gray level;computing a set of features for each identified significant transition; andbased on the set of features computed for each of the identified significant transitions, classifying the transition as either a skin-line transition or as a non-skin-line transition.

Abstract: An apparatus enables the blind and the severely visually handicapped to recognize images by way of the tongue. Optical image information, in the form of video images, is processed electronically and transferred as an image representation to flat monitor matrix which is worn in the oral cavity in the tactile region of the tongue. Electrical current density, temperature or relief images are used to create the representations, whereby the images can be scanned by the tongue and recognized. High image resolution is attainable over the matrix region, and the tip of the tongue can be concentrated on any image detail, thus approximating sharp vision perceived by the normal eye.

Abstract: This invention includes an optical characterization method capable of determining various characteristics of samples that preferably include naturally-occurring color deviations. In the preferred embodiment, this method is used in connection with food products and, particularly, potato products such as french fried potatoes. The method of this invention overcomes such disadvantages by generating from the RGB pixel values a sample-based color space that corresponds to the naturally-occurring color deviations of the samples. Preferably, the method includes generating HSI pixel values that correspond to the RGB pixel values and are defined with respect to an HSI color space having hue, saturation, and intensity coordinates. The sample-based representation of the color characteristics of the samples is determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis. As a result, color grades for the samples can be assigned according to the distribution of pixels within the sample-based representation.

Abstract: A surface analysis system can contactlessly, automatically, and rapidly detect, classify, and evaluate a surface of an object, particularly, an optical fiber end face, for discontinuities to derive a single pass/fail conclusion regarding the surface. The surface analysis system has a scope for capturing an image of the end face. A computer is connected to the scope. A machine vision system is associated with the computer for receiving the image. A surface analysis program is associated with the computer for driving the machine vision system. The program searches for any discontinuities in the image by analyzing each pixel and a corresponding pixel structure of pixels to determine whether a discontinuity resides at each pixel. Discontinuities are classified as one of the following: binary thresholds, local gradients, and directional gradients. The pixel structure includes a plurality of pixels that were previously analyzed.

Abstract: An optical character recognition system cuts between touching characters. A first cut is made between touching characters based on white spaces, and the cut characters are subjected to character recognition processing. All characters not recognized are then cut again. A pair of adjacent vertical bars is detected in a vertical histogram of character image data of unrecognized characters, the vertical bars having a vertical component in the histogram that exceeds a predetermined vertical threshold. Horizontal crossings are detected in each of three discrete horizontal bands between the vertical bars. The vertical bars are classified according to the detected horizontal crossings, and, based on the classification, a decision is made whether or not to cut between the vertical bars, and where to cut between the vertical bars.

Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement wherein imaging means generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to a data base storage unit (DBS); this arrangement also including a tag stage for creating tag bits unique for each such imaged document; these tag bits to be transferred with the imaging bits for each document to each such processing stage that handles the imaging bits, on a per document basis, and finally to DBS interface means for final matching and removal of the tag bits.

Abstract: An improved three-dimensional, support socket digitizing system to be used primarily to manufacture a precisely configured clinical support device such as an orthotic brace and/or a prosthetic limb. The digitizing system includes at least one probe which is to be passed over a portion of the body to be supported, the probe including an exterior housing of known dimensions and being structured to have a position element disposed therein. The position element is structured to provide specific six-degree of freedom position and orientation information relative to a reference element which is also included in the digitizing system.

Abstract: A method for imaging or reconstructing an image of an object includes the following steps: obtaining multiple original views of the object, each original view being obtained at a different relative orientation of the object from each other view; combining the multiple original views in an image plane to obtain a first composite image; phase inverting the first composite image to obtain a phase inverted composite image; combining the phase inverted composite image with each original view to obtain a second composite image; determining a differential between the second composite image and each original view to obtain a plurality of differentials; applying the plurality of differentials to the second composite image to obtain a resulting composite image; and optionally amplifying the resulting composite image to obtain a reconstructed image. Apparatus for carrying out the method may use analog circuitry, a high speed computer or a combination of analog and digital techniques may be used.

Abstract: A process for cutting or stamping individual parts from an animal skin in which the contours of the individual parts are stored in a computer and can be assembled to form a cutting pattern, and, for optimizing the cutting, the cutting pattern is established individually as a function of the quality of the skin and is projected by a projection device onto the skin, with which the advantages of large-area nesting can be combined with the advantages of small-area cutting or stamping.

Abstract: Apparatus and process capable of rapid detection and counting of rarely occuring mammalian cells in blood and other tissues which have been labeled with a fluorescent dye.The process includes: scanning a solid support on which a specimen potentially containing fluorescent cells has been deposited, with an incident beam from a laser, forming a laser spot on the solid support, the laser spot being substantially greater than the cells to be detected, the laser spot size being between 15 and 30 .mu.m; and simultaneously: detecting the resultant fluorescent light at least at one wavelength; establishing a set of correlated-features by a line-to-line correlation of individual features; comparing the correlated-features on each pair of adjacent lines in time synchrony, at least at two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.

Abstract: The presented invention provides the velocity of a moving target from a remote location. A CCD camera receives the image of the target vehicle and records this information on CCD array. The camera then outputs this information in a standard video format such as RS-170, NTSC, or equivalent to the frame grabber circuit card assembly located in the main computer. Custom software along with commercial frame grabber imaging software operates the computer in a Windows or DOS environment. The system will correlate the image of multiple frames stored in the frame grabber circuit card, along with the overlain reference lines and determine the velocity of the target vehicle in miles or kilometers per hour. The image data will be stored in the computer on removable media, along with all pertinent data of the incident including the time/date/location stamp, along with calibration factors and an image of the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting images of samples stained with two, three, or more stains accurately and reliably into multiple single-color images which represent the mass density of the stain at each position in the sample. The system includes a computer-controlled microscope and CCD camera, and at least one computer which includes data storage media for storing image data and which runs software for controlling image acquisition and analysis. To analyze tissue stained with N stains, images must be obtained at N different wavelengths, from multiply stained and singly stained samples. Relative stain mass densities are calculated with the use of the ratio of absorptivities measured at different wavelengths. The theoretical and practical basis for implementing the method with two, three, or more stains is presented. A method for selecting the wavelengths which provide optimal image accuracy and resolution is also provided.

Abstract: A method for correcting a height map produced by an optical height profiler while scanning a target surface. Regions of bad data are identified and erroneous height values are replaced with provisional height values based selected from neighboring valid height values. Each provisional height value is also assigned a position index corresponding to its proximity to the boundary of the region. Starting from the interior of the region, the technique then replaces each provisional height value with a corrected height value calculated by interpolation of valid height values as a function of distance from the boundary as represented by the position indices. The resulting corrected height map is suitable for on-line visual display.