Abstract: An associative pattern conversion system is disclosed which may be used for image recognition. The system includes an image input portion, an image processing portion and a recognition portion. The image processing portion includes a process unit for extracting characteristics and a frame memory for holding image data. The recognition portion, which includes a component for the learning of data to be associated, obtains the extracted characteristics from the image processing portion and performs associative pattern conversion from the image input portion. The system of the present invention may be applied to any neutral network, preferably a matrix calculation type neural network.

Abstract: Cutout mask data is easily obtained while setting small unit areas in an original image and displaying them in order on a display unit. Unit areas including vertexes of an outline of a cutout mask are first designated. Unit area images within the unit areas are simultaneously displayed on a display unit. An operator sequentially designates positions of the vertexes while watching the unit area images arrayed in order of the designation. Cutout mask data are formed on the basis of the positions of the vertexes.

Abstract: In each of two images obtained by a digital radiography system, for example, a mask image and a live image, two regions of interest are set by a cutout position setting section. Images within corresponding regions of interest are subjected to subtraction in a subtraction processing section. By calculating the entropy of one of two subtraction images in an entropy calculating section, amounts of shift to make the entropy local minimum is searched for. By using the amounts of shift to make the entropy local minimum, an amount of rotation is searched for, which makes the entropy of the other subtraction image local minimum. The amounts of shift and rotation are set by a parameter setting section in accordance with the calculated entropy.

Abstract: An image registering and retrieval system includes a plurality of first memories for storing a plurality of blocks of image information, a plurality of second memories for storing compressed data from the plurality of blocks of the image information, a plurality of compressing and restoring sections that are provided for each block of the image information so that the image information is compressed or the compressed data is restored and a display device for displaying the image information. The plurality of compressing and restoring sections simultaneously process the image information.

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: An image data filing system wherein an original drawing is converted into digital image data, which is made to have a unity-scale for file management, then divided into several divisional image data having a fixed data size as units of storing data within a record file, can easily perform a continuous display with adjacent drawings, and also, a high speed reduced/enlarged display similar to original-size one because of storing the image data of several different scales within the record file.

Abstract: Texture mapping apparatus in which two sides of a polygon on a display plane and two sides of a polygon on a texture plane are linearly interpolated synchronously, line segments obtained are linearly interpolated synchronously, linear interpolation data of the line segments on the texture plane are loaded in a mapping memory, and data read out from the mapping memory are projected on the display plane, whereby a texture original figure is mapped.

Abstract: A printed-circuit board inspection apparatus for checking the condition of each circuit component mounted by soldering on a printed-circuit board is disclosed in which a luminance signal obtained from the reflected light scattering from the printed-circuit board being illuminated is converted through a given threshold level to binary signals, then the binary signals and mask data are processed to calculate the ratio of an area represented by the number of binary "1" signals to an area represented by the number of binary "0" signals, and the soldering condition of the component is judged based on the area ratio. With this arrangement, the inspection is not negatively influenced by the misalignment of the component with a mating soldering land, is capable of judging the amount of solder, and can be performed automatically and efficiently.

Abstract: An image-processing integrated circuit device comprises a delay circuit and adder group, a multiplication block group, and an adder group. Image data in a window are fed to the delay circuit and adder group simultaneously row by row and then added up for every symmetrical positions in the window. The respective sums of the image data thus added up for every symmetrical positions are multiplied by corresponding coefficient data in the multiplication block group. Lastly, the respective results of multiplication obtained from the multiplication block group are added up by the adder group to thereby obtain a filter output. The delay circuit and adder group, the multiplication block group, and the adder group can be integrated to form one image-processing integrated circuit device. Accordingly, the number of parts is reduced.

Abstract: The forgery of signatures is made more difficult if the dynamic features of a signature can be checked when the signature is verified. Signatures to be verified are written with a pen which is sensitive to light received at its tip, each signature being written on an area having shading in intensity or color which varies with position. As the pen is moved a signal which depends on the light received by the pen varies in a way which is characteristic of the dynamic features of the signature. Verification is by comparing the time variation of the said signal with a previous authentic version as well as by comparing signatures. Comparison may be carried out automatically or by an operator who views a display of the authentic signal. The invention may also be used for data capture when characters are written on paper which has areas of different intensity or color of shading.

Abstract: A document processing system directs documents at a high rate of speed past an optical scanner which captures written information on the documents as video image data. The video image data is directed over a data channel to a host computer system where the data is stored on a mass data storage device for subsequent retrieval. A buffer is provided between the scanner and the data channel, which receives data a rate which varies in relation to the amount of information present on the documents. Data is extracted from the buffer at a rate which is limited by the host computer's channel transfer rate. A control means is associated with the buffer and is operable for controlling a hierarchy of actions ranging from slowing down the incoming data stream to stopping the data stream altogether in order to prevent any loss of video image data due to overfilling of the buffer.

Abstract: A method of extracting a feature of a character includes the steps of dividing a contour image of a character into a plurality of segments by a pair of dividing lines provided for the contour image, dividing each of the segments into a plurality of sub-segments, combining the sub-segments together to thereby form a plurality of combined segments in accordance with a predetermined rule indicative of a combination of the sub-segments, and extracting a feature of each of the combined segments.

Abstract: A method of detecting undesired microorganisms when cells are cultured in a light permeable container is disclosed. TV camera monitors the image of a well containing microorganisms through a microscope. The output of the TV camera is processed by a picture digital processor so as to count the number of cultured living cells. On the other hand, change of the light absorption of the visible light by the cultured solution is measured. Then the number of undesired microorganisms can be calculated by the number of the living cells and change of the light absorption.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus has a CCD sensor, a white standard plate of a uniform density, a shading data memory, an analog/log converter or a digital/log converter, and a shading correction circuit. Shading correction can be performed with a simple circuit and requiring only a small-capacity memory.

Abstract: Each row of characters is extracted from document data representing rows of characters by a character row extracting circuit. The characters are separated from the row by a character separating circuit. In a reference line detecting circuit two histograms are formed, one pertaining to the upper sides of the rectangles bordering the extremities of the characters, and the other pertaining to the lower sides of these rectangles. Two reference lines are defined from the histogram. The characters are sorted intoseveral categories, in accordance with their sizes and the positions they take with respect to the reference lines. The pattern of each character is compared with the dictionary patterns of the same category.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is composed of a first adder whose first output is assigned to the digitized output signals of the photosensors and a second input connected to the outputs of a white level memory, and a second adder at whose input side the currently stored white level are linked with the correction signal and which reads the resultant signal back into the white level memory, the comparator following the first adder which, dependent upon the threshold level derived from maximum and average blackening values of the output signal of the first adder supplies a black signal or a white signal. A correction signal derived from a plurality of influencing variables serves for white level correction, the correction signal supplying a white level increment/decrement for delivery into the white level memory dependent on a carry signal that appears or, respectively, that does not appear at the first adder.

Abstract: A letter pattern recognition method preprocesses each character pattern to effect characteristic extraction based on elements such as a loop, a straight line and an arc and is adapted to compare the character pattern with a preregistered classification code after the normalization thereof, the character pattern being subjected to balance and stroke checks if necessary as a result of the comparison. Notwithstanding this, if the character is not defined, the character pattern is identified by means of detail classifications such as those of a divergent mode of the arc, and a length ratio of the elements and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handwriting analysis wherein a signature or other writing can be subjected to comparison with a reference signature. The apparatus and method rely on the collection of measurements of the optical density of a plurality of elements in the specimen and selectively retaining said measurements and then comparing each density measurement to a threshold value. Ultimately, only those density measurements are retained which are located within a bounded locus. After the retained density measurements have been established, they are automatically compared to the measurements of the specimen signature to permit the apparatus to accept or reject the signature on the presented document.

Abstract: A map is prepared from a satellite image defined by digital data by integrating the image data with a digitised representation of geographical features within the map area and with text data defining textual material to appear in the finished product. This integration of data includes comparing each element of image data with an element or elements of feature data and replacing or modifying the element of image data as required to incorporate any feature or features defined by the element of feature data, and comparing the resulting combined image and feature data element with an element or elements of text data and replacing or modifying the combined data element as required to incorporate textual material defined by the element of text data. This integration of data may also include modification of the elements of integrated data in boundary regions surrounding features or text to provide a "burned-in" appearance in the finished product, as distinct from the appearance provided by overlay printing.

Abstract: A Fine-Grained Microstructure Processor (FMP) (10) for solving assignment and correlation problems that utilizes a pair of arrays (22, 24) of cells (26) to represent the position of two set of two-dimensional data points (14). The arrays (22, 24) are divided by a predefined shaped (16) having a plurality of regions (18). The FMP (10) counts the number of data points (14) in each region (18) and then finds the difference between the resulting sums from corresponding regions (18) in the two arrays (22, 24). The differences for each regions (18) are added together by an accumulator (34) to determine a correlation factor. The data in the second array (24) is then shifted until a different data point (14) occupies a particular position with respect to the predefined shape (16) and a new correlation factor is found.