Abstract: A system for on-site detection at remote locations of various microscopic contaminants in samples without requiring use of growth media or involving extensive testing methodologies. Electronic transmission of such digitized high-level resolution photomicrographs to a certified mycologist or other technically trained personnel for rapid analysis is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and method for detection of an object or a person in the interior of a motor vehicle. The device (1) is operated by means of an analytical unit (3), such that the device (1), for detecting an object or a person in the interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a image recording unit (2) and an analytical unit (3) for the image data transmitted from the image recording unit (3), is operated in a first operating mode while an acceleration threshold value is not determined to be exceeded by the analytical unit (3) and in a second operation mode while the acceleration threshold value is determined to be exceeded by the analytical unit (3).

Abstract: Change detection apparatus for detection of changes between first and second stereoscopic image pairs obtained at different times of a substantially similar view, comprises: a two-dimensional image filter for comparing first and second image pairs to obtain an initial list of change candidates from two-dimensional information in the image pairs, and a three-dimensional image filter for comparing the image pairs at locations of the change candidates using three-dimensional image information. The apparatus retains those change candidates correlating with three-dimensional image change and rejects change candidates not correlating with three-dimensional image change, and produces a refined list of change candidates.

Abstract: A three-dimensional-based modeling method and system designed for dentistry and related medical (and appropriate non-medical) applications. Data capture means produces a point cloud representing the three-dimensional surface of an object (e.g., dental arch). Three-dimensional recognition objects are provided, particularly within those areas in the image field that have low image definition, and particularly in such of these areas that appear in overlapping portions of at least two images, to provide the three-dimensional image processing software with position, angulation, and orientation information sufficient to enable highly accurate combining (or “stitching”) of adjoining and overlapping images. Alignment, and creation of aligned related objects or models thereof, such as maxillar and mandibular arches, is facilitated.

Abstract: A document authentication station, for use with passports or the like, includes a 2D image sensor (e.g., CCD- or CMOS-based video camera), and a computer device. The image sensor produces produce image data corresponding to a presented document. From this image data, the computer extracts two or more identification data. One is a digital watermark. The other can be a bar code, data glyphs, OCR data, etc. The processor then proceeds to check that the two identification data correspond in an expected fashion. If not, the document is flagged as suspect or fake. Reliability of detection may be enhanced by processing plural frames of data from the image sensor before issuing a result.

Abstract: An image signal compression method and system. Without involving the current processing pixel, an encryption key and a decryption key are respectively and separately generated by a compression subsystem and a decompression subsystem. Both of the encryption and decryption keys are separately generated using the same principle of pixel prediction. Both of the encryption and decryption keys have the same value. In the compression subsystem, the encryption key is subtracted from the pixel value of the current processing pixel to generate a compressed data. In the decompression subsystem, the decryption key is added to the compressed data to recover the pixel value of the current processing pixel.

Abstract: A pattern inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a defect or defective candidate of patterns on a sample includes picking up an image of a sample by shifting a sampling position on the sample, measuring geometric distortion in an image of a standard sample, beforehand, and defining a size for which the measured geometric distortion is neglectable, obtaining a first image of the sample and a second image to be compared with the first image, dividing the first image and the second stage into images of a division unit having a size not greater than the defined size, comparing a divided image of the first image with a divided image of the second image, and for calculating a difference in gradation values between both of the divided images. The defect or the defect candidate of the sample is extracted in accordance with the difference in the gradation values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detection of defects with simple specification of the coordinates, in the inspection of an object having a plurality of patterns in which a portion having the two-dimensional repetition and portions having the repetition only in the X direction and in the Y direction are mixedly present. The cross comparison between a notice point and comparison points, for example which are repetitive pitches away from the notice point, is carried out, and only the portion having the difference which can be found out with any of the comparison points is extracted as a defect candidate, which results in that the portion having the two-dimensional repetition as well as the portion having the repetition only in the X direction or in the Y direction can be inspected.

Abstract: Digital pixel data is obtained from radiographic imaging of one or more objects, and corresponds to an imaged area containing a feature to be measured. A data profile for a region around the measured feature is created from the digital pixel data. A reference profile is then created from the data profile. The reference profile represents an expected data profile for a reference condition of the objects, and accounts for the point spread function of the imager. The difference between the data profile and the reference profile is calculated. Based on that difference, the degree by which the actual condition of the objects varies from the reference condition is determined. The calculated difference can be compared to a lookup table mapping previously calculated differences to degrees of variation from the reference condition. The calculated difference can also be used as an input to an experimentally derived formula.

Abstract: In a moving object detection system, an edge image is generated from captured images taken by CCD cameras and a moving object distance image indicative of a distance to a moving object (such as a human being) is generated by extracting pixel corresponding thereto. Then, pixels in the moving object distance image are summed to generate a histogram and a profile extraction region is set in the moving object distance image with its center line focusing on a position whose histogram is greatest, while the edge image is superposed on the moving object distance image to correct the center line of the profile extraction region such that the moving object is detected by extracting its profile in the region. With this, it becomes possible to detect the moving objects respectively even when the two or more objects are present in neighborhood.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting containers, e.g. bottles of glass or plastics, or cans made of metal, wood, glass or plastics, which for recycling of materials thereof or reuse thereof are moved in a lying posture and with their axis parallel to direction of transport into or past a detection zone associated with a detector station containing a video camera, a video image analysis of the container being carried out by a video image analyser, and said detector station having an entrance and an exit. There is analysed a sequence of video images of the container whilst it is moved into or past the detection zone of the video camera, and it is determined position and movement of the container in a viewing region of the video camera on the basis of continuous detection of position and movement of the container in the video image.

Abstract: An image acquiring display apparatus comprising an editing system for photographing conditions, a method of editing photographing conditions by using the apparatus, and a program for arranging photographing conditions, in order to select any of photographing conditions rapidly and certainly. The image acquiring display apparatus has: a display for displaying at least a selection screen for selecting a photographing condition required for a patient from a plurality of photographing conditions, and a display screen for displaying image data read out of a radiographic image conversion medium having a radiographic image of the patient, recorded thereon; and an editing section for editing a plurality of photographing conditions to be displayed on the selection screen, of predetermined master data including a plurality of photographing conditions.

Abstract: A position and orientation of a projector are determined from projected images. First, a homography between a camera and a planar surface, where the relationship between the camera and planar surface is fixed, is determined. Next, a known pattern is projected on the planar surface with a projector having known intrinsic parameters and an unknown position and orientation. An image of the known pattern is acquired with the camera, and a position and orientation of the projector is determined from the image using the homography and the intrinsic parameters.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for infrared resolution of closely-spaced objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of determining a set of infrared amplitudes for a set of closely-spaced objects includes receiving an unresolved infrared image of the set of closely-spaced objects, and expressing the set of infrared amplitudes as a function of a set of positions of the closely-spaced objects. The method further includes formulating a set of simultaneous equations at least partially based on the expression between the infrared amplitudes and the set of positions of the closely-spaced objects, and solving the set of simultaneous equations for the set of infrared amplitudes.

Abstract: An automated computerized scheme for detection and characterization of diffuse lung diseases on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images including obtaining image data including pixels of an organ; segmenting the image data into organ image data and non-organ image data; extracting predetermined features from the organ image data to produce a set of image features; comparing the set of image features against a reference set of organ image features containing image data known to correspond to normal and abnormal conditions; and producing a comparison result.

Abstract: A method supplies a dynamic vector map of properties within a region or a unified suite of quantification functionality for property functions, such as density functions, conduction functions (e.g., thermal conduction, electrical conduction, atomic or subatomic mass conduction, macromolecular mass conduction), defined on, defined in or defining a three-dimensional space, which functions may optionally vary in time.

Abstract: A system and method for object tracking using probabilistic mode-based multi-hypothesis tracking (MHT) provides for robust and computationally efficient tracking of moving objects such as heads and faces in complex environments. A mode-based multi-hypothesis tracker uses modes that are local maximums which are refined from initial samples in a parametric state space. Because the modes are highly representative, the mode-based multi-hypothesis tracker effectively models non-linear probabilistic distributions using a small number of hypotheses. Real-time tracking performance is achieved by using a parametric causal contour model to refine initial contours to nearby modes. In addition, one common drawback of conventional MHT schemes, i.e., producing only maximum likelihood estimates instead of a desired posterior probability distribution, is addressed by introducing an importance sampling framework into MHT, and estimating the posterior probability distribution from the importance function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling cameras and performing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of a container code and a chassis code on a containers and a chassis associated with a truck has at least one camera capable of viewing the truck as it passes the camera. When the truck passes the camera, which the camera may determine when it is in a first viewing position, and the truck stops, which may be determined by the camera when it is in a second viewing position, the camera views the truck and determines if it has a chassis and container, and if so, what is the container size. The camera then pans to another viewing position depending on container size, and images a container code. Another camera may determine chassis code.

Abstract: An image comparison device for comparing a target object (an object to be recognized or identified) with registered objects (objects which are preliminarily registered to be compared with the target object) includes a registration section and a comparison section. The registration section measures the 3-D shape and surface reflectance of each registered object and registers and stores them as registered data. In the comparison section, a photographing section photographs a target object and thereby obtains an input image. A position/pose estimation section estimates the position/pose of the target object in the input image and thereby obtains position/pose parameters.

Abstract: By narrow region communication between a gate side communication apparatus (G-COM) and a mobile unit side communication apparatus (M-COM) passing through an on-road real gate at an interconnection, the G-COM assigns a real identification code (R-ID) ID1 including an intersection number to the M-COM after receiving a R-ID ID0 having been assigned from the M-COM, while time series pictures of the intersection including all real gates are taken by a camera 15 installed to assign a virtual identification code (V-ID) to a mobile unit passing through a slit, corresponding to a real gate, in pictures by processing them. In response to the assignment of the R-ID, the R-ID is brought into correspondence with the V-ID. The mobile unit is tracked and when an anomalous behavior thereof is detected in pictures, warning information is transmitted to the M-COM using the corresponding R-ID.