Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF.

Abstract: Dot templates are used for detecting objects within images. A computer-implemented method is performed for each of a number of dot templates corresponding to the object to be detected within an image. Each dot template is defined as a collection of points. At each position within the image, a value of the image is determined at each point of the dot template. The dot template is effectively overlaid at the given position within the image. A score of the dot template at this position is determined, based on the values of the image determined at the points of the dot template. Where the score is greater than a predetermined threshold, it can be concluded that the object is at least potentially located within the image at the position in question at which the dot template has been effectively overlaid.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus (20, 44) includes an array (22) of optical sensing elements (24), characterized by a pitch, which is adapted to generate a signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the elements. Objective optics (26, 46), which have an optical axis (134) and are characterized by a cylindrical symmetry about the axis, are arranged to focus the optical radiation from an object onto the array with a point spread function (PSF) having an extent greater than twice the pitch of the array at an optimal focus of the objective optics.

Abstract: Two aiming targets are arranged at positions that are away from two infrared cameras by a predetermined distance. One of the infrared cameras images one of the aiming targets, and the other of the infrared cameras images the other of the aiming targets. Assuming that the obtained images relate to an image of one aiming target, a parallax offset value is calculated. The correction of position is performed based on the parallax offset value.

Abstract: A first object and a second object arranged in an actual space with coordinates (Xn, Zn) and (Xn?D, Zn) are imaged, and respective coordinates x1* and x2* of the first object and the second object in the image are calculated. Then, a coordinate x1 of the first object in the image and a coordinate x2 of the second object in the image are calculated by equations: x1=F·Xn/Zn x2=F·(Xn?D)/Zn where F is a design parameter of an imaging unit. An image distortion corrective value ? to correct the design parameter F is calculated by equations: ?·x1*=x1 ?·x2*=x2 using a difference between the coordinates x1 and x1* and a difference between the coordinates x2 and x2*.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and computer program product is disclosed, each capable of correcting distortion in a scanned image, using at least a character line extracted from the scanned image. The character line is extracted based on a circumscribed rectangle, representing the vertical component of the character. The distortion in the scanned image is corrected based on the length of the circumscribed rectangle in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an image storage and display system including: an image storage server that includes an image file storing unit for storing image data; and image display terminals that are connected to the image storage server via a network and display an image sent from the image storage server. In the image storage and display system, the image storage server includes: an information managing unit that acquires and manages information on a system including at least one of environmental information and operation information of the system; and an image file compressing unit that sets an optimum compression ratio on the basis of the information to compress the image and stores the image in the image file storing unit. According to the constitution, it is possible to reduce time for, for example, adjustment of a compression ratio of an image by a user or a service person by automatically optimizing the compression ratio.

Abstract: In an image enhancement method, a regular enhancement function and an aggressiveness parameter are computed using characteristics of a digital image. A first, relatively slow enhancement algorithm is applied to the digital image using the regular enhancement function, when an aggressiveness parameter is in a predetermined high range. A second, relatively fast enhancement algorithm is applied to the digital image using the regular enhancement function, when an aggressiveness parameter is in a predetermined low range. A modified enhancement function is calculated using characteristics of the digital image and is used with a second, relatively fast enhancement algorithm, when the aggressiveness parameter is in a predetermined medium range.

Abstract: Methodologies and systems to compare images with different levels of contrast are provided. Contrast is normalized between the images with different contrast levels and brightness is set. When normalizing contrast a derivative of gray level is determined for a first digital image having a first contrast level, and a derivative of gray level is determined for a second digital image having a second contrast level that is greater than the first contrast level. A ratio of the derivative of gray level for the first digital image to the derivative of gray level for the second digital image is determined, and the derivative of gray level for the first digital image is equalized with the derivative of gray level for the second digital image. Brightness of at least one image may be set automatically, such as by calculating an average pixel value excluding background and text, or manually.

Abstract: An intra-field interpolation method and apparatus for generating a target pixel value. The method includes the following steps of: receiving a plurality of pixel values of an image field; generating a first pixel difference set from the received pixel values using a first pixel difference algorithm; generating a second pixel difference set from the received pixel values using a second pixel difference algorithm; and blending the received pixel values according to the first pixel difference set and the second pixel difference set, to generate the target pixel value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention can estimate an image using an encodement provided by an optical component, an encodement provided by a detector array, or both an encodement provided by an optical component and an encodement provided by a detector array. The original image can be encoded with a dispersed point spread function created by the optical component. The detector array can be encoded with a pixel sampling function. The encoded image is measured using the detector array. An estimated image can be calculated from the pixel sampling function and the measured image, the dispersed point spread function and the measured image, or the dispersed point spread function, the pixel sampling function, and the measured image. The number of pixels in the estimated image is greater than the number of measurements in the measured image.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for segmenting an image of pixels into a number of fields. First the method finds field separators using the background of the image, in particular white areas on a newspaper page. Based on the areas in the image, a graph is constructed that has edges corresponding to the white areas and vertices where vertical and horizontal white areas intersect. The segmenting starts with assigning weights to the edges, in particular a weight indicating the Euclidean distance between the vertices. Then a list of shortest cycles is constructed via the edges and vertices in the graph. The fields are defined by the vertices and edges of the shortest cycles of the list.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital input image data indexed to represent positions on a display such that the digital data is indicative of an intensity value for each position. The intensity value for each position is transformed to generate an enhanced value, using a mapping function which transforms the same intensity value of input data to essentially the same intensity value of output data in the luminance channel.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an encoding device and an encoding method that allow even faster speeds to be achieved by reducing the waiting time during which variable-length encoding is performed. An encoding device performing run-length encoding and variable-length encoding sequentially inputs one block of m×n data, determines whether a value of each unit of input data is 0 (zero), stores the results of the determination to an information register and stores input data to a data buffer, controls the reading of data from the data buffer based on the results of the determination, performs run-length encoding using the data read from the data buffer and the results of the determination, and performs variable-length encoding using as a data pair the data and the number of consecutive data having a value of 0 (zero).

Abstract: A method of incorporating a second image into a primary image. A vectorial grid is created that is adapted for mapping on to the primary image. A deformation is applied to the grid using data from the second image. The deformed grid is then mapped onto the primary image to create an output image. The second image is revealable by applying a decoder to the output image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method, apparatus and storage medium for enhancing document image, and method, apparatus and storage medium for character recognition. For enhancing the document image especially half-tone block image and improving the recognition ratio thereof, the block image is segmented into line images, which are subject to noise reduction. Then, based on the connected component densities, the noise-reduced line images are sorted into three types including normal line image, broken-stroke line image and hollow-stroke line image. Based on their types and other properties, the noise-reduced line images are enhanced, generating enhanced line images, which as a whole constitutes an enhanced block image.

Abstract: A method for use in characterizing a digital imaging system (53) having an array of imaging elements (35), and in particular for measuring the modulation transfer function (sometimes called the spatial frequency response) even in directions (33) at large angles to both horizontal rows and vertical columns of the array of imaging elements (35), wherein at large angles compared to either horizontal rows or vertical columns of the array of imaging elements (35)—and even at angles other than for directions lying along a diagonal to the array of imaging elements—only non-interpolated readings of the imaging elements (35) are used in determining a supersampled characterization of the digital imaging system (53).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided with an image expansion unit to expand an image compressed code and to output an expanded image data, the image compressed code is obtained by compressing a master image data, and a picture quality judging unit to judge a relative picture quality of the expanded image data with respect to a picture quality of the master image data, based on the image compressed code, and to generate picture quality information indicating the relative picture quality.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital input image data indexed to represent positions on a display such that the digital data is indicative of an intensity value for each position. The intensity value for each position is adjusted to generate an enhanced value based on retinex theory by operating only on a luminance channel to essentially eliminate shading and color distortion problems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus from removing image compression artifacts includes comparing a center pixel value with a perimeter pixel value to generate a compare pixel value. The compare pixel value is compared with a threshold value such that when the compare pixel value is below a threshold value, a count value is incremented and an accumulation value is accumulated. The method and apparatus includes repeating the comparison of perimeter pixel values with the center pixel values. The method and apparatus further includes if the count value has been incremented, generating an output center pixel value based on the quotient of the accumulation value divided by the count value as the center pixel value.