Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for recognizing text in images are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for recognizing text in an image is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of images. The method also includes processing the images to detect a corresponding set of regions of the images, each image having a region corresponding to each other image region, as potentially containing text. The method further includes combining the regions to generate an enhanced region image and performing optical character recognition on the enhanced region image.

Abstract: A method for detecting a defective image of the present invention includes obtaining an edge image by performing an edge tracking process on an original image, detecting an isolation point whose size is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size from a processed image obtained by performing an erosion process after an expansion process on the edge image, and detecting a defective image in the original image based on the isolation point.

Abstract: A technology is provided whereby correction may be carried out appropriately for both a person's face and other portions of an image, when performing color correction for image data of a photographic image in which a person appears. A process such as the following is carried out during color correction of image data of a photographic image. First, the image data of the photographic image is analyzed, and a first region which is part of the photographic image and in which a person's face is present is determined. Then, on the basis of the portion corresponding to the first region of the image data, a first parameter relating to color is calculated. On the basis of part of the image data corresponding to a second region which is part of the photographic image but different from the first region, a second parameter relating to color is calculated. The color tone of the data is then corrected on the basis of the first and second parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides gradient preservation of an input image. A method of providing gradient preservation of an input image, comprises the steps of: computing gradient fields of the input image; computing gradient fields of a remapped image, wherein the remapped image is the input image remapped; comparing a gradient of the remapped image to a predefined range of acceptable values, wherein the acceptable values depend on the input gradient; changing values of the gradient of the remapped image if the values of the gradient of the remapped image are not within the predefined range of acceptable values depending on the input gradient, resulting in x and y components of a modified gradient; and reconstructing the input image using the x and y components of the modified gradient.

Abstract: A method for pixel extraction and replacement is disclosed. In one implementation, the method includes generating a set of pixel values and pixel value frequencies for a pixel presented in a series of digital images of a scene. A digital image of the scene which includes a pixel value for the pixel is received and a comparison is made between the pixel value and the set of pixel values. A determination is performed to decide upon substitution of the pixel value with a different pixel value based on the comparison. Other techniques are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing luggage screening equipment operators is provides. A sequence of images of contents of luggage items derived from a device that scans the luggage items with penetrating radiation are received. The image generation device is characterized by introducing a certain distortion into these images of contents of luggage items. A display device is caused to display images derived from this sequence of images. Occasionally, the display device is caused to show a simulated threat in a luggage item by displaying a combined image derived based at least in part on an image in the sequence of images and a distorted threat image. The distorted threat image was derived by applying a distortion insertion process to a reference threat image wherein the distortion insertion process tends to approximate the certain distortion introduced in the images of contents of luggage items by the device that scans the luggage items with penetrating radiation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to automatically reproduce film grain into a new image. A reference image and new image are obtained. An image of the reference image is subdivided into two or more tiles. A grain simulation tool is then used to automatically determine if an object feature exists in each of the two or more tiles. Response curves are constructed for each of the tiles that does not contain an object feature. Frames of grain are produced/generated based on the response curves and added to the new image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing imagery using images acquired via any known Electro-Optical (EO) system. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a first frame of data is selected as a template frame (e.g., a given frame). A second frame of data can be captured using the EO system. At least a portion of the second frame can be correlated with the template frame to generate a shift vector. The second frame can then be registered with the template frame by interpolating the second frame using the shift vector and re-sampling at least a portion of the second frame to produce a registered frame. The template frame can also be re-sampled. The registered frame and the re-sampled template frame can then be combined to generate an averaged frame. The averaged frame can be spatially filtered to enhance edges within the averaged frame.

Abstract: First similarity values along at least four directions are ascertained within a local area containing a target pixel and weighted averaging is performed by adding the pixel values of pixels around the target pixel value to the pixel value of the target pixel, adding weight along a direction having a small first similarity value (along a direction manifesting a high degree of similarity). By incorporating the pixel value level differences among a plurality of pixels on adjacent lines extending adjacent to the target pixel into the first similarity values, it becomes possible to effectively remove jaggies that are difficult to eliminate in the prior art. Furthermore, by making a judgment on degrees of similarity by incorporating color information such as characteristics differences among different color pixels, a more accurate judgment can be made with regard to the image structure to enable very accurate direction-dependent low-pass filtering.

Abstract: An imaging device (10) has a card reader (13), a reflective scanner (14) and a film scanner (15). The scanners has a pre-scanning mode of a low resolution and a fine scanning mode of a higher resolution. A preview image is displayed on the basis of image data taken from an original image through the scanner in the pre-scanning mode, and a cropping area of the original is designated on the preview image. An input resolution setting section (26) automatically sets the higher resolution for the fine scanning in accordance with the original size of the cropping area, a print size of the cropping area, and an output resolution of a printer (16). Based on image data taken at the higher resolution from the cropping area of the original image, the printer prints out an image.

Abstract: An incremental motion estimation system and process for estimating the camera pose parameters associated with each image of a long image sequence. Unlike previous approaches, which rely on point matches across three or more views, the present system and process also includes those points shared only by two views. The problem is formulated as a series of localized bundle adjustments in such a way that the estimated camera motions in the whole sequence are consistent with each other. The result of the inclusion of two-view matching points and the localized bundle adjustment approach is more accurate estimates of the camera pose parameters for each image in the sequence than previous incremental techniques, and providing an accuracy approaching that of global bundle adjustment techniques except with processing times about 100 to 700 times faster than the global approaches.

Abstract: Image sharpening is performed by applying variable contrast stretching to pixels of interest in a digital image. For each pixel of interest, the amount of contrast stretching is a function of minimum and maximum intensity values in a local pixel neighborhood.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid grain size analysis on a textured polycrystalline material, by generating average grain size and grain size distribution data from x-ray diffraction data of such material. Raw diffraction data is obtained by capturing a plurality of diffraction arcs within a single data capture frame. The raw diffraction data is digitally registered; (3) and the registered diffraction data is filtered to remove background noise, exclude diffraction overlaps or truncations, and compensate for biased data obtained from regions of highly preferred orientations. Average grain size and grain size distribution data are then correlated with the filtered diffraction data. The apparatus for acquiring raw diffraction data includes a collimated x-ray source having means for adjusting beam size and divergence of the x-ray generated, a 2-dimensional area detector for registering diffracted x-ray, and a sample motion assembly for moving the sample in the sample plane.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a seed vigor index for a lot of seeds by analysis of a scanned image of a plurality of seedlings grown from lot of seeds, including automatically separating and analyzing overlapped seedlings. According to one aspect of the current invention, seedling analysis software is used to analyze an image of seedlings. The seedling analysis software preferably analyzes both hypocotyl and radicle lengths and thus determines the separation point between the two for each seedling. The seedling analysis software also preferably separates overlapped seedlings, preferably using a simulated annealing technique. According to another aspect of the present invention, a low-cost scanner placed in an inverted configuration in a scanner enclosure is used to generate high-quality, reproducible images of seedlings. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using ordinary germination boxes, i.e.

Abstract: In order to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method whereby a high quality output image can be consistently obtained, regardless of the order in which an operator sets the parameters for the performance of filtering, (I) a GUI module (9a) stores, in an input value storage area (9p) of a RAM, reference signs that are employed for first to fourth processes for the filtering of reduced image data, and (II) a filtering module (9f) refers to the reference signs in the input value storage area (9p) when performing the first to the fourth processes for the filtering of input image data, and obtains output image data.