Abstract: A method for highlighting particular features of an image photographically captured and stored in a computer is disclosed. The method essentially comprises capturing an image of an object using a video or similar electronic camera and storing the image as a series of numbers in the memory of a computer. The computer contains an image capture board and a graphics board so as to acquire and display the image on a monitor. The operator enlarges a region of the image of interest so as to display the individual pixels comprising the image. The operator, through the computer, selects individual pixels from the image to comprise a test set of pixels to be used to discriminate against all of the pixels comprising the image. Once the test set is defined, the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the test set are calculated to define an ellipsoid encompassing substantially all of the test set data points. In essence, the ellipsoid defines an envelope in color space.

Abstract: A method for determining an image point in an object image comprises the steps of, on the basis of an image signal comprising image signal components representing image information at respective picture elements on a recording medium on which a radiation image including an object image has been recorded, weighting the respective picture elements with image signal values corresponding to the respective picture elements or with the reciprocals of the image signal values, thereby to find the center of gravity on the recording medium. A position, at which the center of gravity is located, is determined as the image point in the object image.

Abstract: On recognizing first through P-th input patterns as first through P-th recognized patterns (P being greater than one) by using a plurality of reference patterns and a plurality of memorized indentifiers identifying the reference patterns, a processing circuit processes the first through the P-th input patterns into first through Q-th provisional patterns different from one another, where Q is not greater than the above-mentioned plurality. A calculating circuit calculates dissimilarity degrees had by the reference patterns relative to the first through the Q-th provisional patterns to select, with repetition allowed as selected patterns, the reference patterns which have the dissimilarity degrees less than a predetermined degree. The calculating circuit thereby selects R particular identifiers and S different identifiers from the memorized identifiers, where R plus S is not greater than P and is not less than the plurality.

Abstract: A fingerprint input apparatus is constructed to have simple construction. It serves to provide an excellen S/N ratio and reliably input a fingerprint pattern. The fingerprint input apparatus includes a light source for emitting a ray of light, a lightguide plate having a predetermined location at which a finger can be contact with the lightguide plate, a unit for directing the ray of light into at least one surfaces of the lightguide plate in a manner to keep such an angle of incidence as allowing the ray of light to be totally reflected within the lightguide plate, the lightguide plate being constructed to direct the ray of light into the predetermined location, and an image pickup unit located near the predetermined location of the lightside plate and outside of an opposite surface to a surface having the predetermined location, the image pickup unit being constructed to pick up a right irregularly reflected on a fingerprint surface of the finger contacted with the predetermined location.

Abstract: On collating an input streaked pattern (fingerprint) with a reference streaked pattern, a local streak direction is extracted from a local area defined in the input streaked pattern by one of reference feature positions of reference feature points of the reference streaked pattern. Direction coincidence or non-coincidence is checked by comparing the extracted streak direction with a reference streak direction at the above-mentioned one reference feature position. If direction coincident, the presence or absence of one of the input feature points of the input streaked pattern is confirmed in the local area. If present, pattern coincidence is judged when a count of the input feature points reaches a threshold value. If the value is not reached, collation repeat and pattern non-coincidence is judged when all reference feature positions and streak directions are not yet or already used in extraction and subsequent check, respectively.

Abstract: A character segmentation process for skewed documents divides the document bit map into vertical blocks and within each vertical block estimates initial top and bottom bounds of each character in a character row from horizontal projections of the vertical block, thereby avoiding the effects of skew. Operations in the document bit map to compute the exact top, bottom, left and right boundaries of the character are confined within the narrow strip between the initial top and bottom bounds of the character so as to greatly reduce the amount of data fetched from memory during such operations and thereby speed up the segmentation process.

Abstract: A method of determining the flow rate of a viscous fluid stream comprises passing the fluid stream through a field of view of an electronic imaging device, which produces output signals representing images of the fluid stream at successive times t.sub.0, t.sub.1, . . . t.sub.n. Signals representing an image of the fluid stream at a first time t.sub.i are stored in a first memory, while signals representing an image of the fluid stream at a second time t.sub.j, are stored in a second memory. The time t.sub.j -t.sub.i is less than the time taken for a point on the fluid stream to cross the field of view of the imaging device. The stored signals are then analyzed to derive width signals W(y) representing the width of the fluid stream as a function of y, where y represents a coordinate in the direction of fluid flow, and the first and second stored signals are compared to identify a common point on the fluid stream in the respective images represented thereby.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a digital signal that represents the profile of a movable part such as a bolt. The part is moved by a part carrier between a source of radiant energy and a sensor and the sensor develops a voltage that is a function of the profile of the part. This voltage is processed by a programmed microprocessor. The processing of the voltage and the microprocessor operates to develop a digital representation of the part that does not vary with the changes in speed of the part. The part carrier is moved between the source and sensor and voltage variations due to vertical motion of the part carrier are compensated.

Abstract: An improved technique for gray scale compression of document image data is disclosed. The method comprises evaluating subportions of an image array as to relative levels of sameness and attempting to create sub-arrays having the same pixel value. Successively smaller sub-arrays are evaluated as to gray scale sameness unti 2.times.1 pixel arrays are encountered. At that time a code unique to each possible 2.times.1 pixel arrangement is stored. A high speed, real-time compression implementation is facilitated through described hardware. Document images are subdivided into 8 pixel by 512 pixel slices. As one document slice is stored in a first buffer RAM, a previously stored slice is compressed. As the pixel information is stored, tests are performed for 8.times.8 and 4.times.4 array sameness and one bit data stored according to the results of those tests. High speed compression is facilitated by querying the stored data as to the 8.times.8 and the 4.times.4 array sameness prior to further processing.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system having inter-pattern spacing correction is disclosed which recognizes words and determines where to place spaces between those words by (a) storing each input character in one or more buffers in memory, (b) comparing the last entry of each buffer against a dictionary of known words, (c) copying last entries which match words to new buffers and placing a space after the last entry in the old buffer, (d) deleting a buffer when a last entry from that buffer does not at least match the beginning of a known word in the dictionary, (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) until all the buffers have been deleted or until an end character, such as a carriage return or period has been stored in each buffer, (f) again comparing the last entries from each buffer to the dictionary and deleting any buffer having a last entry which is not a known word in the dictionary or which does not end with a space followed by an end character, and (g) saving and/or outputting the remaining words.

Abstract: A particle image analyzer includes a first light source for applying strobe light to a sample solution flowing through a flow cell, first image pick-up means for taking a still picture of a particle in the sample solution irradiated by the first light source, a second light source for constantly irradiating the sample solution in the flow cell, and second image pick-up means for picking up an image of the sample solution in the flow cell irradiated by the second light source. When a particle is detected from the image pick-up data from the second image pick-up means, the first light source is flashed, based upon detection of the particle, in a predetermined image pick-up interval of the first image pick-up means.

Abstract: A system and a method of detecting a chipping of the rail part of a slider of a thin film magnetic head obtains the image of the object of detection and its boundary coordinates by tracing the boundary of the object of detection from the image. A chipping size is obtained from the coordinates of the points on the boundary, and the presence or absence of chipping is judged from the chipping size, thereby enabling the highly precise detection of a chipping defect generated on the boundary portion of the object of detection using a simple structure.

Abstract: An image information coding apparatus includes a cut-out or extracting unit for cutting out image information into blocks each having a predetermined size, e.g., 4.times.4 pixels, a preprocessing unit such as an orthogonal transformation unit (e.g., a Hadamard transformation unit) and a scalar quantization unit for performing predetermined preprocessing of the block as a matrix, a separator for separating a plurality of components (e.g., phase information, amplitude information, and zero information) from each element of the preprocessed matrix, information quantizers for coding individual pieces of information constituted by each component, and a synthesizer for synthesizing coding results.

Abstract: Arrangement for lifting image of checks, with Xenon lamp, Fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD Camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the Camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Abstract: Recorded data is read by an image sensor from a recording medium on which the data is two-dimensionally recorded in a mesh pattern, and the read data is stored in an image RAM. The stored data is subjected to data decoding and error correction to reproduce target data. A scanning reference pattern of a mesh pattern recorded on the recording medium serves as a guide when the stored recorded data read by the image sensor is reproduced by scanning in the image RAM. A reproduction apparatus has a capability of coping with a partial destruction of the scanning reference pattern. Error checking codes are added to the recording medium in addition to the target data. These items of data are recorded as an encoded image after being subjected to scrambling processing and randomization processing. The reproduction apparatus can easily cope with an error when the encoded image is reproduced.

Abstract: An individual identification recognition system for judging whether a card possessor is an authorized card user. The system includes a card storing a fingerprint of the authorized card user, a card reader into which the card is inserted, and which reads the fingerprint of the card possessor and a judging means for judging whether a card possessor is an authorized card user based upon the result of a comparison of the fingerprint of the card possessor taken in by the card reader with the fingerprint registered in the card, which judging means can be provided in the card or the card reader.

Abstract: A plurality of index members are arranged at desired positions on an end portion of a platen glass, the members being movable in a scanning direction of a scanner. A black mark is provided on a rear surface of each index member, and the mark as well as the original are read by an image reader, so that the positions of the index members can be detected. When one of the index members is detected as the scanner is moved, the image signals of the original included in the scanning region of the scanner are not outputted until the next index member is detected. In this manner, by continuously outputting image signals only of the desired areas of the original, the column skip edition can be readily and surely carried out.

Abstract: This invention relates to a document image registration system which adds a code which is referred to as "connection data" and inherent to each document to each of image data and indexing data, registrates the connection data added to the image data by use of a header sheet, and automatically associates the image data with the indexing data through the connection data in order to improve efficiency of registration.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for rapid compression of images composed of pixels into high-resolutions, compressed icon images, and for dynamic fault imaging of operating faults in integrated circuit devices employing such methods. Displaying a plurality of such icons juxtaposed on a screen permits ready tracing of a fault in an IC device under test, even by persons having little knowledge of the functionality of the devices.In accordance with the invention, an image made up of n.times.n pixels may be compressed into an icon of p.times.p pixels, where n.dbd.P.multidot.q and q is an integer, by dividing the image into p tiles of q.times.q pixels, selecting q pixels from each tile, where each of said selected q pixels is representative of predetermined directional orientations within the tile, and calculating the mean value of the selected q pixels, to produce a single pixel representative of the tile. The pixels representative of said tiles thus form an icon of p.times.p pixels.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image of the surface (12) on an object (14) is obtained in real time by a system (10) which includes first and second reflective surfaces (32,38). The first reflective surface successively reflects a separate one of the first and second lines of light (26,28) onto the surface of the object so that each line of light strikes a first strip of area (34) at an acute angle. The second reflective surface reflects the field of view of a linescan camera (40) onto the object's surface so that the camera captures the image of a second strip of area (41) contiguous with the first strip. The first and second reflective surfaces are rapidly rotated in unison by one or more actuators (50,52) such that the object's surface is spanned by the camera each time the surface is spanned by a successive one of the first and second lines of light.