Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for distortion detection of a scanned image. The method for distortion detection of a scanned image comprises: a) obtaining a first value representative of a first scanning position for the image; b) obtaining a second value representative of a second scanning position for the image; and c) comparing the first and second values to determine there is a line-drop situation when the first and second values obtained in a sequential order are not predeterminedly sequential values. The apparatus for distortion detection of a scanned image comprises a value generator generating two values respectively representative of two scanning positions for the image, and a comparing unit for comparing the two values to determine there is a line-drop situation when the two values obtained in a sequential order are not predeterminedly sequential values.

Abstract: A handwritten pattern recognition system for recognizing an input pattern is provided. The system has a plurality of parameter determining units, each determining the value of a desired parameter for an input pattern to be recognized. The system also includes a pattern match determiner which produces match values for each parameter of the input pattern with its corresponding parameter of each reference parameter. The match determiner also produces an overall match value for each reference pattern. A pattern classifier selects the reference pattern whose parameter set is "closest", by some matching criterion, to that of the input pattern.

Abstract: A video decoding system examines a block of DCT coefficients prior to computation of an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) to determine the number of nonzero coefficients. A plurality of IDCT engines are available in the video system including an IDCT engine utilizing fewer computations for a sparse picture and an IDCT engine utilizing fewer computations for a nonsparse picture. The video decoding system selects an IDCT engine to minimize the number of computations performed and to thereby reduce the computational burden of IDCT transformation.

Abstract: An edge detecting method and an edge detecting device detecting from a picture element group which is changing rapidly as compared with its surroundings an edge from within image data in which each picture element is composed of independent N numbers of dark and light data R, G, and B respectively, by calculating N sets of coefficients Wr, Wg, Wb corresponding to N numbers of dark and light data R, G, B respectively, and each picture element is judged whether it is an edge or not depending upon N numbers of dark and light data R, G, B and N sets of coefficients Wr, Wg, Wb.

Abstract: A method for checking cytological system illumination including the steps of checking global illumination variation, static field uniformity, dynamic field uniformity, specimen thickness variation, strobe repeatability, calibration plate cleanliness, and strobe dropout. A calibration plate and test target is employed for various illumination checks.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of fingerprint verification that includes the steps of capturing a complete fingerprint of a number of enrollees; capturing a portion of a claimant's fingerprint, where the portion is less than an entire fingerprint; dividing the portion of the claimant's fingerprint into a number of segments; comparing each of the segments against the fingerprint of the enrollee the claimant claims to be; generating a correlation score for each of the segments; calculating a distance error for the segments; combining the distance errors into an average distance error; generating a verification vector based on each of the correlation scores for each of the segments and the distance error; establishing a threshold vector; and comparing the verification vector against the threshold vector in order to determine whether or not the claimant is the enrollee the claimant claims to be.

Abstract: Improved image enhancement methods are disclosed which may be performed on conventional video processing systems. These methods operate in real time to improve the appearance of images as perceived by the human eye, and/or to render these images more suitable for computer analysis. A first preferred embodiment enhances color images without degrading the fidelity of the image. A second preferred embodiment enhances scanned gray-level document images by decreasing the blurring of the image and increasing the contrast between light and dark regions of the image.

Abstract: An image containing characters and lines, which is inputted by a scanner or the like, is binarized and stored in a memory. A thickening process is repeatedly applied on groups of significant bits stored in the memory, until a predetermined condition is fulfilled. After this process, the thickened image is thinned at least a greater number of times than the number of times the thickening process is repeated in order to eliminate lines. As a result, characters are determined to exist at areas where groups composed of remaining significant dots exist, then characters are separated from the input image based on the areas of groups composed of the remaining significant dots.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosis of living tissue diseases is described. The system includes a computer device for controlling its operation. An operator control device is coupled to the computer device. A viewing screen is coupled to the computer device for displaying digitized images of the living tissue. The operator, using the control device, selects desired portions of the digitized image for further image enhancement according to a desired image enhancement feature selectable from a plurality of image enhancement features. The image enhancement features include any combination of grey scale stretching, contrast enhancement based on logarithmic histogram equalization, spot enhancement and magnification. The system further includes means for visualization and quantification of micro-calcifications, and means for visualization and quantification of mass spiculations.

Abstract: An image input system includes: an image pickup device movable at least from side to side; an image pickup direction designating device for designating the direction of movement at least from side to side of the image pickup device; a display form switching device for switching a display form for an image picked up by the image pickup device between two display forms: a real image display form in which the image is displayed as it is and a mirror image display form in which the image is displayed reversed left to right; and a control direction changing device which, when the display form is switched by the display form switching device, changes the correspondence of the designation regarding the direction of movement from side to side, given by the image pickup direction designating device, and the direction of movement from side to side effected in response to the designation.

Abstract: A system determines the number of days livestock should be maintained on feed for maximum profit. In the preferred embodiment, current attributes such as marbling and backfat thickness are used to predict what these attributes, as predicted attribute values, will be at various times in the future. These predicted attributes along with other factors such as projected rate of weight gain, costs of feed and livestock prices are used to determine how many days the livestock should be maintained on feed in order to maximize profit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing spots from character images of a multi-character image read by an image scanner. A character image is cut out from the multi-character image. Separated segments in the cut-out character image are then detected. A respective segment of the detected, separated segments is deleted as a free spot if the number of detected segments exceeds a maximum segment number. After deleting a free spot, an attempt is then made to recognize a character in the character image. When a character cannot be recognized, a black pixel width is identified by analyzing the distribution of black pixel widths in the character image. Then, a circumscribed rectangle is defined in accordance with the identified black pixel width. Pixels of images lying outside the circumscribed rectangle are deleted from the character image as an externally contacted spot.

Abstract: A video decoding apparatus and method greatly reduces the computational burden of video decoding by processing several pixels in parallel, thereby reducing the computational load by a factor approximating the number of pixels processed at one time.

Abstract: In a method of obtaining a color correcting condition for a color image on an image frame, plural color component image signals are obtained for each pixel of the color image of the frame, and the frame is divided into plural blocks each of which is composed of plural pixels. A block color density value statistic is obtained for each block from the plural color component signals of the plural pixels of each block, wherein the statistic indicates a relationship between a density value and a number of pixels indicating the density value. A chroma level of each block is evaluated based on the block color density value statistic; a frame color density value statistic is obtained from the plural color component signals of the plural pixels of the plural blocks of the frame by reducing an influence of a block evaluated as a high chroma block; and the color correcting condition for the color image is determined based on the frame color density statistic.

Abstract: A multi-valued image signal I(x,y) is compared with a threshold signal TH by a comparator to produce a binary image signal P(x,y), and an error signal E(x,y) is determined from the binary image signal P(x,y) and the multi-valued image signal I(x,y). Error diffusion coefficients W1(k,l), W2(k,l), W3(k,l) are prepared in advance which correspond respectively to the filter characteristics of a "Jarvis-type filter", an "elongate rectangular filter", and a "Floyd-type filter". A mixing ratio setting circuit determines mixing ratios t1(I.sub.0), t2(I.sub.0), t3(I.sub.0) depending on the multi-valued image signal. The mixing ratios t1(I.sub.0), t2(I.sub.0), t3(I.sub.0) are accumulated and added to the error diffusion coefficients W1(k,l), W2(k,l), W3(k,l), and an error signal E(x-k,y-l) and an error diffusion coefficient W(k,l,I.sub.0) are accumulated and added, producing a diffusion error signal .DELTA.E(x,y). The diffusion error signal .DELTA.E(x,y) is added to the multi-valued image signal I.sub.

Abstract: An optical sensor system for validating documents transports a document under test between a light source and an optical interface circuit. A photodetector within the optical interface circuit generates an electrical current signal at its output based on the amount of detected light transmitted through and/or reflected by the document. A photodetector interface circuit is connected to the photodetector output and converts the current signal to a signal indicative of the detected light without undesirable electrical offsets, such as manufacturing, production and temperature offsets. In particular embodiments, the current signal is further processed to take advantage of the dynamic range of an associated analog converter.

Abstract: In a printing system including a faceup printer and a facedown printer, the faceup and facedown printers are paired to print one document. In this case, the document is printed by the faceup printer from the end to start of the document and by the facedown printer from the start to end thereof. Printing ends when one printer is to print a page being printed by the other printer. Therefore, even if the printing speeds of the two printers are different, the whole document can be printed most efficiently. Even for a system having a larger number of printers, printing can be efficiently performed by similarly pairing the printers.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for converting low-resolution information to high-resolution information and increasing the number of pixels of input image information by a factor of (N.times.M) includes interpolating unit for interpolating one pixel of low-resolution information to (N.times.M) pixels, quantizing unit for quantizing, to n values (n.gtoreq.2), image information within a block of (N.times.M) pixels after interpolation by the interpolating unit corresponding to a low-resolution pixel of interest, and arithmetic unit for summing and combining, at a set allocation ratio, information quantized by the quantizing unit and interpolated information from the interpolating unit, thereby making it possible to convert a low-resolution image to a high-resolution image and to obtain a high picture quality.

Abstract: A decoding system stores frequently-occurring DCT coefficient blocks in a memory and stores pre-computed spatial domain kernels which correspond to the stored DCT coefficient blocks. The video system examines a block of DCT coefficients prior to computation of an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) to determine whether the block is substantially similar to a stored frequently-occurring DCT coefficient block. If so, the spatial domain kernel corresponding to the frequently-occurring DCT block is utilized in the decoded picture, bypassing computation of the IDCT.

Abstract: An image region dividing apparatus includes a same-kind image region extraction unit for dividing a digital image into blocks by extracting boundaries, from the background, of regions where same kinds of images are present, from the digital image; horizontal and vertical difference detectors for obtaining the difference values of the luminance levels of adjacent pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions from a discrimination target block; a feature pattern discrimination unit for performing recognition processing on the basis of a correlation between the shapes of a calculated corrected luminance level histogram ys and a calculated gradient vector direction histogram .theta.r; and an image kind determination unit for determining image kinds. The apparatus performs image kind discrimination of each discrimination target block.