Abstract: A system capable of pattern matching between a less noisy face image and a noisier face image obtained in different imaging conditions. A weighted sum of a covariance matrix calculated from less noisy sample images obtained for a plurality of sample faces and a covariance matrix calculated from differences between the less noisy sample images and corresponding noisier sample images obtained for the sample faces is first obtained. A principal component analysis is applied to the weighted sum to find and store in memory a result with which principal components are calculated from a given face image. In actual pattern matching, a first face image and a second face image are first obtained. The degree of similarity between the first and second face images is calculated based on a conventional formula by using the result of the principal component analysis. The matching between the first and second face images is achieved based on a comparison of the degree of similarity with a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving the laser scanning process by supplementing data obtained by laser scanning with data obtained through photogrammetry. More specifically, both a laser scanning visual database and a photogrammetry visual database are obtained, and color values from the photogrammetry visual database are used to provide color values for the points in the laser scanning visual database.

Abstract: The portable spent cartridge casing examination imaging apparatus has a carrying case in which all the necessary components for field imaging of spent cartridge casings are contained securely for transport when the case is closed, and can be solidly assembled in the field for imaging. The case includes a base, a lid which locks in a vertical open position. A spent cartridge casing mounting device is provided for holding the cartridge substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis with the primer surface of the cartridge being substantially perpendicular to the axis, and an imaging system consisting of a cartridge microscope, camera, and light source are solidly interconnected with the mounting device to form a unit which is connected to the lid such that when the lid is open, the unit is substantially vertically disposed, while being at least partially received by the base of the case when the lid is closed for safe storage.

Abstract: A portable communication device (100, 300, 400, 500) comprises a fingerprint identification system (709) including a scanner (115) for scanning a fingerprint (123) of a finger (121) to generate an image of the fingerprint (123). In a first embodiment, the scanner (115) is positioned relative to a switch (201) on the device (100, 300, 400, 500) to permit the finger (121) to generate the actuation force for the switch (201) when the fingerprint (123) is positioned on the scanner (115). In a second embodiment, the scanner (115) is ergonomically positioned on a housing (113, 117, 119) of the device (100, 300, 400, 500) where the finger (121) or a thumb naturally rests on the housing (113, 117, 119) when the person holds the housing (113, 117, 119) while the device (100, 300, 400, 500) is in use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining linear image post-processing operations with an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) operation are described. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention IDCT and downsampling operations are combined into a single operation to achieve the same image processing result as sequential IDCT and downsampling operations. By combining the two operations and performing downsampling in the DCT, as opposed to pixel domain, significant complexity reduction is achieved over embodiments where the two operations are performed sequentially. In one particular embodiment, when interlaced images are being processed, combined IDCT/downsampling circuits which perform field based, as opposed to frame based, downsampling in the DCT domain are employed. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be used to implement circuits which perform a combined full order IDCT/downsampling operation and/or a reduced complexity combined full order IDCT/downsampling operation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a high definition image using both an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) and an inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) to provide a relatively lower definition image is provided. Image data encoded with a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is decoded using both an IDCT and an IDWT to generate IDCT processed image data and IDWT reduced image data. The IDCT processed image data and the IDWT reduced image data are combined to generate reduced image data that has a relatively lower definition than the image data and a relatively higher definition than the IDWT reduced image data.

Abstract: In a reverse vending apparatus for detecting containers, e.g., bottles of glass or plastic, or packaging made of metal, wood, glass or plastic which for the recycling of materials or reuse of the container are inserted in the machine and conveyed past a detector station containing a video camera, a video image analyser (125, 130) is connected to the video camera in order to analyse the video image whilst the container (B) is conveyed in lying position and with its axis parallel to the direction of transport past the video camera (109). The video analyser (125) contains a calculator component (130) for determining, when the container moves into the video image, whether the container enters the detection zone (video image) mouth (B1) (e.g., top portion or neck of bottle) (FIG. 3b) first or bottom (B2) (FIG.

Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus that adaptively utilizes at least chrominance information to control bit allocation in an MPEG-like compression encoder. The invention controls bit allocation of a video signal by examining at least color difference (U, V) components within the video signal, identifying, illustratively, flesh-tone indicative portions of the color difference signals, and preferentially encoding those identified portions of the video signal by allocating additional bits to, e.g., macroblocks associated with the flesh-tone indicative portions of the signal.

Abstract: A method and system of recognizing handwritten words in scanned documents, wherein by processing a document containing handwriting, features for word localization are extracted from handwritten words contained in said document through basis points taken from a single curve of text lines. The method is independent of page orientation, and does not assume that the individual lines of handwritten text are parallel, and the method does not require that word regions be aligned with text line orientation wherein intra-word statistics are derived from sample pages rather than using a fixed threshold. The method has applications in digital libraries, handwriting tokenization, document management and OCR systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid three dimensional geometry parametrization of a three dimensional surface. A random speckle pattern is projected upon the surface and imaged to obtain a plurality of two dimensional digital images. The two dimensional images are processed to obtain a three dimensional characterization of the surface. The illuminated surface may be modeled to obtain a parameter set characterizing the surface based upon the two dimensional digital images.

Abstract: A plurality of alignment marks disposed on a substrate is photoelectrically detected, and detected photoelectric signals are added to phase-shifted signals produced by shifting the phase of the detection signals to produce a sum signal. The phase is shifted by quantities corresponding to the intervals between the marks to superpose the peaks of the detection signals on the peaks of the phase-shifted signals. A correlation is determined between the sum signal and a reference signal corresponding to the narrow width of detection. A position where the coefficient of correlation is a maximum value is taken as the mark position. Thus, it is possible to use a reference signal having less peaks and a narrow width in the detecting direction, so that the number of times of product-sum calculation for calculation of the correlation can be small as compared with that when a reference signal having as many peaks as the marks and a same periodicity.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture performs an image processing operation directly on the runs of a runlength encoded bitmap of pixels. In the method, a first selection step selects, in the first instance, at least two runs from one or more series of runs of one or more images on the basis of pixel position information. A runlength processing operation is then performed on the selected runs in accordance with the image processing operation in order to obtain a resultant run having a resultant runlength and a resultant pixel value. In a shortening step the runlengths of the processed runs are shortened by a value derived from the determined resultant runlength. In a step size determining step a step size is derived from the resultant runlength.

Abstract: System components provide for a method of: processing an exposed photographic film at a processor-scanner station which has both a scanner and a processor at the same location, to produce one or more hardcopy images at the processor-scanner location; reading data on the film which indicates that a set of one or more of the hardcopy images, is to be communicated to a hub station, which hub station is remote from the processor-scanner station; scanning the set at the same processor-scanner location at which the film was processed, to obtain a corresponding image set signal; communicating the image set signal from the scanner to the hub station; and storing the communicated image set signal at the hub station.

Abstract: A mounting coordinate input method and apparatus images a printed circuit board on which a surface mount device is mounted and edits a coordinate and component information necessary to mount the surface mount device on the PCB to produce a mounting information to be inputted to surface mount device equipment. In the method, an image of a printed circuit board is taken. Component information of the surface mount device to be mounted on the printed circuit board at an arbitrary angle is inputted to display a surface mount device mark printed on the printed circuit board corresponding to the component information. Coordinates of first and second reference corners of the surface mount device mark is set and center coordinates of the surface mount device mark is calculated. A reference rectangle of the surface mount device mark is displayed.

Abstract: To provide an apparatus for pre-selecting fingerprint cards having certain similarity to an S-card to be identified, at a high-speed, among a plurality of F-cards, an apparatus of the invention comprises: an F-side cluster index determination section (2) for designating a cluster wherein feature data of the plurality of F-cards are to be classified according to features extracted from the plurality of F-cards; an F-card feature storing section (3) for storing the feature data of the plurality of F-cards in the cluster designated by the F-side cluster index determination section (2); an S-card feature storing section (5) for temporarily storing feature data of the S-card; an S-side cluster index determination section (6) for designating clusters to be retrieved according to a combination of features extracted from the S-card; and a fingerprint card matching discrimination unit (8) for pre-selecting the fingerprint cards by comparing the feature data of the S-card with the feature data of the plurality of F-car

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for mounting of electronic components onto a board, there are provided a head section (35) having a plurality of nozzles (12, 13) for sucking electronic components and a recognition camera (15) for recognizing a posture of a sucked electronic component through its image. A controller (1) is provided for controlling the head section so that after the electronic components at a component feed section (30) are sucked by the nozzles, the sucked posture is image-recognized by the recognition camera and corrected.

Abstract: A PCB testing circuit for an automatic inserting apparatus and method thereof can minimize an inferior rate of the PCB.

Abstract: Light which bears image information carried by a subject is two-dimensionally read through tricolor separating optical systems with linear image sensors for the three colors R, G, B. Odd- and even-numbered pixel signals outputted from the linear image sensors 1 are alternately read to produce an image signal which comprises a series of pixel signals. The image signal is corrected successively by an offset level corrector, a sensitivity variation corrector, an auxiliary scanning curvature/odd- and even-numbered pixel level difference corrector, a main scanning aberration/magnification corrector, and a luminance-to-density conversion corrector, thereby producing an image signal for producing a high-quality reproduced image.

Abstract: A method for verifying that an eye is present and accurately located in an image that is used for identifying an individual using iris identification techniques begins with an image in which the eye is believed to be present at a selected location. The image is then subjected to a series of tests to confirm that an eye is present at the selected location.

Abstract: In a method of image subtraction a series of frames of a subject are taken using a video camera The subject is illuminated in a manner so that illumination is alternately on then off for successive fields within the image frame. A single frame is grabbed and an absolute difference between the odd field and the even field within that single image frame is determined. The resulting absolute difference image will represent the subject as illuminated by the system illumination only, and not by any ambient illumination, and can then be used to identify the subject in the image.