Abstract: Contrast in an image is enhanced by mapping an input intensity value to an output intensity value in accordance with a mapping function. A mean intensity value of the image is determined. Co-ordinates of the mapping function are calculated in accordance with the mean intensity value and a plurality of predefined parameters. The mapping function is applied to the input intensity value for determining the output intensity, wherein the mapping function is generated dynamically for each image.

Abstract: Assuming that an original pixel adjacent to a first original pixel and opposite to a second original pixel is a third original pixel, and an original pixel adjacent to the second original pixel and opposite to the first original pixel is a fourth original pixel, and letting d1 be pixel data on the first original pixel, d2 be pixel data on the second original pixel, d3 be pixel data on the third original pixel, and d4 be pixel data on the fourth original pixel, a first edge component E is calculated on the basis of an equation for operation E=?d3+d1+d2?d4 in the first step, and a second edge component Es is calculated on the basis of an equation for operation Es=|d3+d1?d2?d4|.

Abstract: The positional offset of an image is corrected without performing any processing for the setting of a reference position with respect to a document image, e.g., the setting of markings. Pieces of information about a reference image, including a reference position, are stored in a predetermined storage unit. Information about the input image is extracted from the input image, and a target position on the input image is calculated on the basis of the extracted information. In addition, a reference image with respect to the input image is specified on the basis of the information about the input image from the predetermined storage unit. The positional offset of the target position with respect to the reference position of the specified reference image is calculated. The positional offset of the input image with respect to the reference image is corrected on the basis of the calculated positional offset amount.

Abstract: A method of producing a tone scale function which can operate on a source digital image to improve tonal characteristics, includes generating the tone scale function having a highlight tone scale segment and a shadow tone scale segment defined relative to a reference point on the tone scale function, and that is adapted to operate on the source digital image to improve its tonal characteristics by: using a first function with a monotonically decreasing slope characteristic to produce the highlight tone scale segment that includes points that are equal to or greater than the reference point; and using a second function with a monotonically increasing slope characteristic to produce the shadow tone scale segment that includes points that are equal to or less than the reference point.

Abstract: A process for the image sharpening of a photographic image with a multitude of image elements is disclosed, wherein a correction mask for the change of the image sharpness is determined from the image data representing the image to be corrected, whereby the elements of the correction mask for the change of the image sharpness locally describe the degree of contrast change to be carried out for the individual image elements, and whereby additional information relating to the image is used for the determination of the elements in addition to information on the local contrast.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the best fit of a population mixture model to data. In the digital imaging area, the use of histogram data is employed. A plurality of sub-population functions are defined and then optimized to fit the data. An objective function is employed, which is based upon the parameters of the underlying functions. The number of underlying functions is added to the parameter mix, such that no a priori knowledge of the number of sub-populations is required. In an illustrative embodiment, a genetic algorithm is used to evolve the objective function to an optimal fit of the data. Once an optimal fit is found, through comparison with stopping criteria in a fitness function, the data is segmented according to threshold determined based of classification error in the data.

Abstract: A method for registration of first and second images out of registration. The method includes the steps of: (a) making the edges in the first and second images more prominent; (b) thresholding the first and second images from the previous step using a threshold for which N percent of the pixels of each of the first and second images are over the threshold; (c) reducing the resolution of the first and second images from the previous step; and (d) registering the first and second images of reduced resolution from the previous step.

Abstract: A method simplifies a data structure representing physical measurements of a real-world phenomena, such as an image of a scene of an object. Input data are first acquired, sensed, or measured. If the data are acquired with a camera, then measurement errors for data points in the data structure are not normally distributed. Therefore, an error term for each data point is constructed according to a Lorentzian estimator. The error term can be determined by taking a difference between the value of the data point, and the value at the data point when a model is fitted to the data structure. The error term is then minimized using a downhill simplex minimization process. Finally, each data point is adjusted by the minimized error term to produce a simplified data structure of the real-world phenomena.

Abstract: An image-based tele-presence system forward warps video images selected from a plurality fixed imagers using local depth maps and merges the warped images to form high quality images that appear as seen from a virtual position. At least two images, from the images produced by the imagers, are selected for creating a virtual image. Depth maps are generated corresponding to each of the selected images. Selected images are warped to the virtual viewpoint using warp parameters calculated using corresponding depth maps. Finally the warped images are merged to create the high quality virtual image as seen from the selected viewpoint. The system employs a video blanket of imagers, which helps both optimize the number of imagers and attain higher resolution. In an exemplary video blanket, cameras are deployed in a geometric pattern on a surface.

Abstract: A cubic convolution interpolating apparatus and method for performing interpolation by optimizing a parameter which determines the interpolation coefficients according to the local property of an image signal, which can minimize the quantity of information loss in a scaled or resampled image signal. The cubic convolution interpolating apparatus includes an image signal divider dividing an image signal into a plurality of subblocks, and a block generating parameters which determine cubic convolution interpolation coefficients in units of subblocks, and perform cubic convolution interpolation.

Abstract: Creating a dental model from a series of images of an intra-oral object includes the steps of (a) capturing a series of images of an intra-oral object from a plurality of capture positions, where the object includes common surface features and a control target arranged with respect to the object to provide control features; (b) measuring the common features from the series of images of the object and the control features from the control target imaged with the images of the object; (c) analytically generating a 3-dimensional model of the object by photogrammetrically aligning the measurements of the control features, thereby reducing image errors due to the variability of the capture positions; and (d) adjusting the photogrammetrically aligned 3-dimensional model of the object by aligning the common features of the model to like features on the image of the object, thereby producing an aligned dental model from the series of images.

Abstract: An example-based facial sketch system and process that automatically generates a sketch from an input image depicting a person's face. Sketch generation is accomplished by first training the system using example facial images and sketches of the depicted faces drawn with a particular style by a sketch artist. The trained system is then used to automatically generate a facial sketch that simulates the artist's style from an input image depicting a person's face. Nonparametric sampling and a flexible sketch model are employed to capture the complex statistical characteristics between an image and its sketch.

Abstract: An image interpolating method for interpolating a pixel at an intermediate position between a first original pixel and a second original pixel adjacent to the first original pixel, comprising a first step of calculating an edge component for judging whether or not an interpolated pixel is positioned in the vicinity of an edge position of original image data, a second step of determining a range where pixel data on the interpolated pixel is settable on the basis of the calculated edge component and pixel data on the first and second original pixels, and a third step of selecting a plurality of sets of opposed pixels between which the interpolated pixel is sandwiched diagonally, and determining, for each of the sets, the pixel data on the interpolated pixel in a case where a correlation value represented by the sum of the absolute values of the differences between the pixel data on the interpolated pixel and pixel data on the opposed pixels is the minimum in the range where the pixel data on the interpolated pi

Abstract: An image collation apparatus includes a collation unit, minimum coincidence ratio extraction unit, and determination unit. The collation unit obtains a coincidence ratio between first and second images within a printing element range for each collation unit by collating the first and second images with each other. The minimum coincidence ratio extraction unit obtains a minimum coincidence ratio from coincidence ratios obtained from the collation unit. The determination unit determines that the first and second images are identical, if the extracted minimum coincidence ratio is smaller than a predetermined threshold. An image collation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A patterned mask is located at a distance from a linear detector array. A point radiating source illuminates the aperture to cast an image onto the array. A computer is employed to identify frequencies in the frequency domain to determine the image scale and shift along the detector array axis. Determination of the magnification of the aperture image is made employing frequency domain techniques, the aperture pattern being re-scaled to match that of the actual image, so that determination of pattern shift can be made. A first embodiment of the present invention has two variations, one of which employs the use of multiple single frequency components and phase methodology, the second of which uses multiple single frequency components as well as a variable frequency component. In a second embodiment, a composite image is also used except that only one single frequency component is used in addition to a non-periodic function.

Abstract: A system and a method for rapidly tracking multiple faces uses a face-like region generator to find a face-like region by skin color, motion, and silhouette information. A face tracking engine tracks faces based on new and old faces, and skin colors provided by the face-like regions. The tracked face is fed into a face status checker for determining whether the face-like regions are old faces tracked in a previous frame or are possible new faces. If the face-like regions are old faces, a face verification engine checks whether there exists a predefined percentage of overlapping area between an old face and a skin region. If yes, the old face is still in the current frame and its position is in the center of the skin region, otherwise, the position of the old face is found by a correlation operation.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for processing image data create a third image of large pixel number and large channel number by combining two images obtained by photographing an identical subject, a first image being of large pixel number and small channel number and a second image being of small pixel number and large channel number. The method and apparatus perform principal component analysis on the image data in a specified region including a point in the second image which corresponds to a pixel of interest at a specified point in the first image, determine coefficients in linear sums so that the linear sums of a specified number of principal component vectors obtained by the principal component analysis render output values of the pixel of interest in the first image and determine spectral information of said pixel of interest based on the coefficients to create the third image. The recording medium is loaded with a program for executing the above method.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the delivery of workpieces to a position by: storing a digital reference image of the position prior to the delivery of workpieces; storing a digital operating image of the position during delivery of workpieces; performing image arithmetic on the reference image and the operating image to produce a digital evaluation image comprised of a plurality of pixels; establishing a threshold image condition for the evaluation image that correlates to the existence of an operating condition relevant to the control of the delivery of workpieces; and examining the pixels in the evaluation image to determine whether the threshold image condition is met.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that efficiently identifies input characters and the like by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus performs distance measurement by performing three-dimensional measurement by pattern projection to characters written to a manuscript, whiteboard, and the like, gets an intensity image used as a so-called actual image and an image for distance measurement in parallel, and identifies input characters by an intensity image analysis based on range information. The image processing apparatus picks up characters, patterns, and the like written onto paper or the like with a pen, performs geometric transformation for picked-up images, and performs natural input character analysis and reading processing. Furthermore, by comparing images picked up in a time-series, noise elimination and manuscript position modifications become possible.

Abstract: A method and system for image resample by spatial interpolation. The method and system allow more than simple angle interpolation by allowing spatial interpolation to be performed on small angle edges. Multiple interpolation directions are established. Once an interpolation direction is selected, verifications are performed on the selected interpolation direction in order to rule out erroneous selection. If the selected interpolation direction passes all verification, then spatial interpolation will be performed along the selected interpolation direction. Otherwise, a default interpolation direction is used as the interpolation direction.