Abstract: There is described a three-dimensional imaging system for acquiring a succession of two-dimensional images of a target volume represented by an array of pixels and transforming the succession of two-dimensional images directly into a three dimensional image. Generally, the system comprises a scanner, a memory and a transformation means. The scanner scans the target volume using an angular scanning technique, and generates a succession of digitized two-dimensional images thereof representing cross-sections of the target volume on a plurality of planes spaced around an axis of rotation of the scanner. The memory stores the succession of digitized two-dimensional images and a data set. The data set comprises: (i) calibration parameters defining the geometric relationship between successive digitized two-dimensional images; and (ii) acquisition parameters defining the geometric and orientational relationship between successive digitized two-dimensional images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.

Abstract: An adaptive filter that, in one embodiment, filters rows of pixels of an image in a vertical direction, stores the results in row vectors, and then filters the row vectors in the horizontal direction, and displays the results or stores the results for later display. Coefficients of a reference filter are modified based on the output from the reference filter through a table-lookup process that accesses tables of modified filter coefficients. The output of the modified filter is added to a delayed version of the input to provide the adaptive filter output.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image on a substrate, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. At least one of the source images includes image content in the form of a textured image. When the rendered composite image is subjected to illumination by one of the narrow band illuminants for which a source image was encoded, the textured image in the recovered source image becomes visually detectable.

Abstract: Systems, methods, etc., that assist a print examiner to thoroughly search and compare a print or substantial portion thereof against a known print database contained within an AFIS system. In certain embodiments, the prints can be definitively matched to a corresponding same print in the database. A result of a more thorough search and comparison can be a higher hit score and accuracy rate. In certain embodiments, the database comprises a candidate list of previously obtained prints to assist in the identification.

Abstract: A method of computing neighborhoods of pixels which neighborhoods are bounded to include particular image characteristics including using the digital image to compute neighborhoods of pixels which are to be processed and wherein such neighborhoods of pixels are substantially bounded by pixels defining the particular image characteristic; computing an activity number for each pixel based upon the values of adjacent pixels; using the activity numbers for each pixel and activity numbers for adjacent pixels in a predetermined neighborhood to produce a plurality of trend numbers for each pixel related to the particular image characteristic; and using the trend numbers for each pixel to determine the neighborhoods of pixels which bound the particular image characteristic.

Abstract: Enhancement of contours in images that are noisy or otherwise corrupted is important in medical imaging, scanning for weapons detection, and many other fields. Here, the Curve Indicator Random Field (CIRF) is used as a model of uncorrupted images of contours for constructing linear, quadratic and cubic Volterra filters involving a number of adjustable parameters.

Abstract: A system and method of removing background noise from a digital image of a scanned document is described. The system and method is a reversible background noise removal technique that allows a user to select whether background noise is removed or not. In addition, since the present invention divides the background noise removal operations into a two phase process, the overall efficiency of the system and method are significantly improved.

Abstract: A technique wherein the number and position of a quantization parameter node is determined in response to the quantization parameters and a preselected error. The size of scene graph and the corresponding amount of memory required to store the scene graph can be reduced by selective placement of quantization parameter nodes in a scene graph. The scene graph is traversed depth first to establish an order and then traversed in reverse. At each node, a calculation relating to (1) the relative cost of inserting a quantization parameter node and (2) the relative savings that result from insertion of a quantization node is performed. Quantization parameter nodes are selectively placed in response to a result of these calculations. The maximum degree of acceptable error value is chosen for each quantization type. This error value limits the number of quantization parameter nodes that can be placed in a scene graph.

Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention is configured to reduce mosquito noise while retaining edges by calculating the maximum value Y of the difference values of adjacent pixels in an area of M×N around a notice pixel by using a difference value calculator and a maximum value calculator, by controlling a pixel replacement device depending on Y and the difference value X from the notice pixel in the area of J×K narrower than the area of M×N, and by carrying out more intense smoothing depending on the magnitude of X with respect to Y, that is, when X is smaller than Y.

Abstract: A method of registration of a functional emission image to another image, e.g. a structural/anatomical image, is disclosed in which the emission image is first processed to mask out regions of the background and lungs identified in a corresponding transmission image. Only areas which are not masked out in the emission image are matched to areas in the x-ray image. The x-ray image and masked emission image may then be displayed in superposition.

Abstract: A method and associated device wherein an inverse histogram based pixel mapping step is combined with an edge enhancement step such as unsharp masking. In such an arrangement the inverse histogram based pixel mapping step improves the performance of the unsharp masking step, serving to minimize the enhancement of noise components while desired signal components are sharpened.

Abstract: A scanned document image, including add-on information such as handwritten annotations in addition to printed text lines, is processed by a handwriting detection method. First, at least one projection histogram is generated from the scanned document image. A regular pattern that correlates to the printed text lines is determined from the projection histogram. Second, connected component analysis is applied to the scanned document image to generate at least one merged text line. Each merged text line relates to at least one of the handwritten annotation and the printed text line. By comparing the merged text lines to the regular pattern of the projection histograms, the printed text lines are discriminated from the handwritten annotations.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an encoding section and a decoding section. The encoding section includes means for encoding an input image to generate encoded data, means for receiving a designation of an image quality for display of the input image, and means for outputting, of the encoded data, encoded data necessary to display the input image at an image quality equal to or higher than the designated image quality. The decoding section includes means for decoding the encoded data output from the encoding section to generate image data, and means for, when an image based on the image data has an image quality higher than the designated image quality, converting the image data into image data having the designated image quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method. According to the present invention, an image processing method comprises the steps of retaining on file a profile for an input device and a profile for an output target film, employing the profiles for the input device and for the output target film to prepare a color reproduction table to facilitate the input of image data that is near that of the output target film, and correcting the colors of the input image data in accordance with the table that is prepared.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of processing a digital image that is initially represented by digital data indexed to represent positions on a display. The digital data is indicative of an intensity value Ii(x,y) for each position (x,y) in each i-th spectral band. A classification of the image based on its dynamic range is then defined in each of the image's S spectral bands.

Abstract: Embodiments of an architecture for processing gray-level images is disclosed.

Abstract: An efficient method of computing gamma correction tables of the present invention includes the following steps: determining a gamma correction equation between luminance values produced between two representations; determining at least one polynomial approximation to the gamma correction equation, the at least one polynomial approximation having coefficient values cI; for each coefficient value cI, grouping together all of the coefficient values over a range of &ggr; and then fitting a polynomial equation to each grouping to get a respective coefficient polynomial equation; computing coefficients for a given value of &ggr; using the coefficient polynomial equations; computing gamma conversion transformations using the computed coefficients and a simplified mathematical formula; and storing the computed gamma conversion transformations in a gamma correction table.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus having an input unit for inputting an image signal, a generation unit for generating a modulation mode signal in accordance with a designation made by an operator using an operation unit, and a modulation unit for selectively outputting a pulse-width modulated signal obtained by performing pulse-width modulation of the image signal input by the input unit in units of m pixels or in units of n pixels (m<n) in accordance with the modulation mode signal generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: An image detection method is disclosed wherein local edge information within an image is utilized for accurately detecting lines and curves of the images. The method can more accurately determine the location and orientation of a pattern and thus provides more reliable image match for pattern detection. A detector is trained off-line with example images resulting in a stored template generated by recording a test pattern similar to a pattern to be tested; anchor lines are identified within said template. Long lines are detected in subsequent test patterns using the disclosed method. The template is rotated and shifted before matching it to the test pattern so that anchor lines align with long lines detected within the test pattern. The template and test pattern are then compared to determine whether there is a match.