Abstract: An image data processing apparatus for generating a dot data, which is converted from a runlength data, to control multi-channel exposure beams which record image patterns through scanning, having a converter for generating a dot signal which corresponds to a length of an exposure portion designated by the runlength data, and a memory block for forming the dot data by storing the dot signals in M scanning lines, where M is the number of the exposure beams. Then it generates the dot data which corresponds to the number of the exposure beams.

Abstract: A method of detecting a designated image area from plural image areas included in a frame of a microfilm which is read by an image sensor through scanning operation. The method includes the steps of detecting plural image areas included in the frame, extracting the image area which contains a pre-set position in the frame, and then obtaining and storing the addresses which define the periphery of the designated image area. Also provided is an image area detecting device which comprises an image area detecting circuit for detecting plural image areas contained in the frame, a latch circuit for determining the designated image area including a pre-set position in the frame, memory for storing the addresses of the periphery of the designated image area, and a mask for extracting the designated image area defined by the thus stored addresses.

Abstract: In processing a text image prior to optical character recognition processing, non-text graphical material is removed from the image by first discarding all lines in accordance with the length of the line and/or the percentage of black pixels in the entire pixel row (or column) in which the line is located. The line length and black pixel percentage are parameters which are traded off against one another on a sliding scale. Then, the remaining objects in the image are processed in a two-step process in which: (a) objects whose size is above a maximum threshold or below a minimum threshold are discarded and (b) individual sub-objects comprised within any of the discarded objects whose individual area and height are within threshold percentages of the median area and height of all objects in the image are restored to the image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for obtaining a shading image from a plurality of two-dimensional tomogram images includes a first obtaining section for obtaining a plurality of distance gradation images from the plurality of two-dimensional tomogram images and a second obtaining section for obtaining a distance image having density data is selected from the distance gradation image density data in units of pixels in gradation. The distance image has density data representing, in gradation, distances from a pre-designated area on a pre-designated plane to an object in gradiation. The image processing apparatus further includes a third obtaining section for obtaining a normal image having as density data normal vector components of the object from the distance image, and a fourth obtaining section for obtaining the shading image having as density data luminance data obtained from the density data of the normal image and direction data representing a designated direction from when the object is viewed.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representation of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect area consolidation.

Abstract: An outline font formation which when a character is in a regularly-used size, forms a character pattern by approximation with short line segments using an outline font of a first representing mode. When a large character is designated, and the magnification thereof exceeds the limit value, and the character pattern is formed by using an outline of the second representing mode which is able to avoid the deterioration of the quality of the character pattern represented by the first representing mode at the same magnification.

Abstract: Preliminary sharp signals S.sub.0, S.sub.45, S.sub.90 and S.sub.135 are generated based on the shapes and directions of long regions R.sub.0, R.sub.45, R.sub.90 and R.sub.135 respectively. Then differences between the preliminary sharp signals S.sub.0, S.sub.34, S.sub.90 and S.sub.135 and an unsharp signal U are obtained and the difference which has the maximum absolute value is selected as a detailed original signal. A detailed signal is generated by multiplying the detailed original signal by a predetermined coefficient K. A sharp signal S added with the detailed signal and thereby an enhanced pixel data S.sub.N is generated.

Abstract: A microcomputer based digital analysis system is disclosed which includes a microcomputer and a flatbed optical scanner to analyze test sheets of paper fabricated from a batch of pulp to be tested. A keyboard is utilized by an operator to select one of a predetermined number of reports. After a report is selected, a menu is displayed on a CRT which enables the operator to start the sample tests under the control of the microcompuer. Once the total document is scanned either by operator manipulation or under the control of an automatic document feeder, the microcomputer tabulates the data retrieved during each of the individual sheet tests as necessary to generate the report selected by the operator. The microcomputer processes the image data on a line by line basis. A dot buffer is created having a location for each pixel across the scanned line, wherein numbers are incremented as dots having image data are encountered in the scanned line.

Abstract: An image processing system for converting gray level, digital, pixel information into binary data. Pixels with digital values close to the threshold value are further processed to determine the binary value to be specified for that pixel. In such cases, the adjacent horizontal pixel is tested and, if that test is inconclusive, the adjacent vertical pixel is tested. Depending upon the tests of whether the adjacent pixels were also close to the threshold value, the current pixel value is assigned the opposite value as the previous adjacent pixel. This has the effect of specifying, for transition areas at the boundaries of text characters and graphic lines, alternating pixels which produce a serrated edge along the borders of the character or line. These edges are of high spatial frequency and are substantially undetectable under ordinary circumstances by an observer. These edges are also smoothed in the printing process by the fusing of the toner to the output medium.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed in which the various image processing circuits are arranged in a pipeline such that the output of each circuit is passed on to the next circuit in the pipeline without storing the data between circuits of the pipeline. The individual processing circuits are program-controlled by a common controller in order to properly synchronize various operations such as scanning, compressing, expanding, rescaling, windowing and rotating. The rescaling operation is carried out by executing a sequence of program instructions applying to single pixels, or to single lines of the image. These instructions include deletion, duplication and passing through of the image element. Windowing is provided by inserting start-of-window and end-of-window instructions in the appropriate places in the sequence of rescaling instructions.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representation of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect area consolidation.

Abstract: A system is described which determines the characteristics of a substantially rounded feature, such as via hole in a printed circuit board. The system includes an image scanner for providing a serial flow of a raster scan image of pixels which represent the rounded feature. Tangent detecting circuits are further provided which select groups (i.e., neighborhoods) of pixels from the scan image, each group including pixels clustered about a plurality of chosen azimuths and adjacent to a tangent to a boundary of the rounded feature. Processing circuits are further provided to trim each selected group of pixels to eliminate pixels not lying on the tangent line. The pixels which remain after the trim operation are representative of the limits (e.g., diameter, radius, etc.) of the rounded feature and enable an analyzing circuit to determine the characteristics of the rounded feature by examining the relationships between the tangent line pixels.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representation of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect area consolidation.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed that is capable of locating human faces in video scenes with random content within two minutes, and capable of recognizing the faces that it locates. The machine uses images obtained from a video camera and is insensitive to variations in brightness, scale, focus, and operates without any human intervention or inputs. When a motion detection feature is included, (one of its options), the location and recognition events occur in less than 1 minute. One embodiment of the system uses: a camera, a Micro-Vax computer, an analog-go-digital A/D converter, and a hard copy print out to process video scenes with random content using an original computer program to locate human faces and identify them. In operation, the camera converts the video scenes into an analog electrical signal, which is converted into digital and forwarded to the computer.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a specialized scanning system for sampling the metal includes an annular light source for omindirectionally illuminating the surface, a light regulator, and a matrix camera for forming a grey level image of the surface. The image is histogramed according to grey level. The first four statistical moments are calculated from the histogram. The moments are then used as a feature vector to identify the metal surface. If no match is found within the catalogued metal surfaces, allowing for predetermined tolerances for each moment, then the feature vector is catalogued for future recognition.

Abstract: A system for comparing a subject image against a reference image for determining the closeness of match, or against a plurality of reference images for determining the one of the reference images which corresponds to the closest match. The closest match is determined in response to the extrema of light transmitted through complementary versions of the images. More specifically, the present system compares the true subject image against the complement of each reference image, and the complement of the subject image against each true reference image. Alternatively, the true subject image is compared against each true reference image, and the complement of the subject image against each complement reference image. The particular reference image which achieves a preselected minimum or maximum of transmitted light for each such comparison is selected as the image which most closely matches the subject image.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representation of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect area consolidation.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representastion of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect area consolidation.

Abstract: An image area discriminating device for automatically discriminating whether each of the scanned areas of an input image information has been previously subjected to halftone dotting treatment or not. The image area discriminating device may be assembled in a digital copier or like apparatuses. In order to effect better processing of images born on respective areas of the document depending on the characteristics of individual images, the image area discriminating device is used to discriminate precisely and automatically whether the individual images in respective image areas are halftone images or binary-coded images, particularly whether or not the images have been previously subjected to halftone dotting treatment.

Abstract: A laser pattern inspection and/or writing system which writes or inspects a pattern on a target on a stage, by raster scanning the target pixels. Inspection can also be done by substage illumination with non-laser light. A database, organized into frames and strips, represents an ideal pattern as one or more polygons. Each polygon's data description is contained within a single data frame. The database is transformed into a turnpoint polygon representation, then a left and right vector representation, then an addressed pixel representation, then a bit-mapped representation of the entire target. Most of the transformations are carried out in parallel pipelines. Guardbands around polygon sides are used for error filtering during inspection. Guardbands are polygons, and frames containing only guardband information are sent down dedicated pipelines. Error filtering also is done at the time of pixel comparisons of ideal with real patterns, and subsequently during defect are a consolidation.