Abstract: Methods of identifying the location and dimensions of a contaminant particle on a calibration strip comprise imaging a calibration strip comprising a plurality of channels and a plurality of pixel columns. The method also includes generating a normalized local average pixel intensity value and locating a contaminant particle in a pixel column by comparing the intensity of an individual pixel in the pixel column to the normalized local average pixel intensity value. An intensity value of an individual pixel less than a predefined limit set below the normalized local average pixel intensity value corresponds to a location of a contaminant particle. The method further includes identifying the number of adjacent pixels in a pixel column less than a predefined limit set below the normalized local average pixel intensity value.

Abstract: A scanning or copying system can include imaging elements and one or more system processors that are programmed or adapted to perform image processing methods and algorithms on image data, and in some instances, to enhance the image. Image data is acquired using imaging elements. Some imaging elements may have overlapping or rotated fields of view or employ differing resolutions. For each imaging element, its output is recombined together with the output of one or more other imaging elements. To perform the recombination, the system can extract features in an overlapping region and match these features in multiple images. In some instances, the features matched can be edges. Alternatively, the recombination can be performed by positioning each subimage with respect to a larger image through image matching and location techniques. Parameters from the recombined image can be extracted and these parameters can be used to correct for geometrical and spatial distortions and thereby enhance the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning device with a positioning senor and a processing method to obtain images, comprising a casing, linear contact image sensor (CIS), further comprising a system processor P3 for controlling the work of said CIS by timing signal, the optical coordinate sensors and the displacement processor P1 and P2 for estimating the coordinate increment (8001) and the coordinate increment (8002) of the real-time displacement, an A/D circuit and data buffer; said system processor P3 packets original scanning data with positioning information (8004), and then transfers to the upper machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gaseous discharge and applied biotechnology. In particularly, the present invention relates to a method for killing organisms in the course of conveying ballast water in ship, comprising applying a voltage with frequency of 400-40000 Hz between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the free radical generator, thereby forming strong ionization discharge of electric field strength of 250-600 Td between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, ionizing, dissociating, and exciting O2 and H2O, or O2, processing into active particles comprising O3, OH. and HO2, dissolving excitedly to obtain free radical solution mainly consisted of OH, adding the free radical solution to conveying pipeline of ballast water, conveying for 2-20 s in the pipeline, thereby killing organisms of ballast water selected from the group consisted of bacteria, single cell alga, and protozoan.

Abstract: A method is provided for compensating two-dimensional images for non-uniformity variations in the illumination of a document, or a scene, that is acquired by a digital camera. The invention can include a printer and/or a personal computer to perform some or all of the compensation calculations, if desired. The present invention captures initial image data, determines a region or area of that data having substantially, or somewhat, uniform pixel intensities and uses that as a background or border region. This border data is used to calculate correction data to correct or compensate the non-border pixel values for non-uniformities in the illumination of the image when it was first acquired, without needing a separate reference frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information card with multiple storage media. Combining reading and writing characteristics of magnetic strip storages, ICs, PFIDs, and etc. with large storage capacity of a compound printing 2D barcode, the invention uses a base card with a magnetic strip storage medium or a base card beset with an IC read-write chip, and a RF read-write chip. On said base card contains a first 2D barcode which has difference reflectivities to lights in the first spectrum area between bars and spaces, there is a designated relation between data stored in the magnetic strip or the IC chip, RF chip and data stored in the first 2D barcode. The invention discloses a read-write device of the information card comprising a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), a magnetic head or an IC chip reader, an RF chip reader. The invention further discloses a method for reading and writing data in said information card.

Abstract: A method of estimating light output of a lamp in a scanner prior to the lamp being fully warmed-up. The method includes measuring a spectral characteristic of light emitted by a lamp in a scanner at a time t0 prior to the lamp being fully warmed-up and estimating the light output of the lamp at a time t1 based on the measured spectral characteristic, wherein t1 is greater than t0. A method of scanning, as well as a scanning apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: Methods of identifying the location and dimensions of a contaminant particle on a calibration strip may be used to compensate for contaminant particles on a calibration strip. A method of locating a contaminant particle on a calibration strip comprises imaging a calibration strip comprising a plurality of channels arranged in rows and a plurality of pixel columns, wherein each channel comprises a plurality of horizontally adjacent pixels, and each pixel column comprises pixels from a plurality of channels. The method also includes generating an average pixel intensity value by normalizing the channels and locating a contaminant particle in a pixel column by comparing the intensity of an individual pixel in the pixel column to the average pixel intensity value. An intensity value of an individual pixel less than a predefined limit set below the normalized local average pixel intensity value corresponds to a location of a contaminant particle.

Abstract: An insert-type barcode reader has a body support with an insertion slot for receiving a card with barcode. A circuit board and a CIS component module electrically connected to the circuit board with each mounted to the body support to scan and process signals. A roller is mounted to the body support for movement relative to the CIS component module to allow the card to be properly guided into the insertion slot and tightly pressed onto the CIS component for accurate scanning of the barcode on the card. Two photoelectric sensors mounted to the body support are electrically connected to the circuit board for sensing the card entering and leaving the insertion slot to control starting, running and stopping of the scanning function of the CIS component module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for deflashing integrated circuit (IC) packages by laser irradiation. The method and apparatus include two lasers scanning flash area for performing deflashing operation. CO2 laser is used to remove top layer of flash and YAG laser is used to remove the thin layer of flash remained after CO2 laser deflashing. CO2 laser deflashing and following YAG laser deflashing can effectively remove flash and avoid damage of heat sinks as well as leads and bars in the IC packages.

Abstract: A method and system for combining a first image and a second image where the first image and second image include an overlap portion. The method includes selecting a first stitch location for a line of pixels, calculating a first line edge value for the first stitch location, selecting a second stitch location, calculating a second line edge value for the second stitch location and comparing the line edge values. The final stitch location is selected based upon the line edge values. A second embodiment provides a method and system for selecting an algorithm for combining a first image and second image including an overlap portion. The method includes applying a first stitching algorithm to the overlap portion, calculating an overlap edge value, and comparing the overlap edge value to a predetermined threshold. If the overlap edge value is greater than the threshold, a second stitching algorithm is applied.

Abstract: To reduce errors introduced by a scanner, an unmarked, digital master document may be generated and stored in digital form so that subsequent scanning of the document is unnecessary to place it in digital form for comparison to a marked version of the document. Additionally, regions or fields, rather than the entire digital master document, may be individually created, stored, and subsequently used for comparison to corresponding portions of a marked version. Further, test targets or patterns may be inserted into the content of a digital master document. Characteristics of image quality degeneration and distortion can be extracted from printed versions of the test targets or patterns and used to effect closed loop control to digitally reduce image quality degeneration caused by the scanner.

Abstract: Methods for automatically grading multiple choice tests using test question sheets marked by a test-taker. Image processing algorithms automatically recognize the circled answer selections on the test question sheets. Using the invention multiple choice tests may be scanned and graded automatically without the use of bubble sheets, thereby simplifying and reducing the cost of testing.

Abstract: Information on a document may be encoded using indicia, such as end-to-end line segments, that form one or more visually non-intrusive borders. The coded borders may be decoded from the document using a scanner, such as an optical scanner. The coded borders also serve as a visually non-intrusive way to separate and identify content in the document.

Abstract: Methods and devices for converting printed media into audio data. In one embodiment, a device includes a scanning platform for supporting the document to be scanned, a scanning mechanism for converting images on the document into image data, and a processor configured to convert the scanned image data into audio data. The device may further include printer components configured to create a hardcopy of the image data, an audio device such as a speaker, and an interface for outputting the image data or audio data.

Abstract: A gamut mapping algorithm especially adapted for printing business and presentation graphics with highly chromatic colors. To perform gamut mapping, gamut triangles corresponding to an input gamut and output gamut are defined and used to scale the lightness and chroma of input colors. The rescaled input colors are then mapped to the output triangle along lines of constant chroma. The chroma of the remapped colors is enhanced by moving the remapped colors toward the apex of the output gamut triangle along a line passing through the remapped color and the apex of the output gamut triangle.

Abstract: An insert-type barcode reader has a body support with an insertion slot for receiving a card with barcode. A circuit board and a CIS component module electrically connected to the circuit board with each mounted to the body support to scan and process signals. A roller is mounted to the body support for movement relative to the CIS component module to allow the card to be properly guided into the insertion slot and tightly pressed onto the CIS component for accurate scanning of the barcode on the card. Two photoelectric sensors mounted to the body support are electrically connected to the circuit board for sensing the card entering and leaving the insertion slot to control starting, running and stopping of the scanning function of the CIS component module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning device with a positioning senor and a processing method to obtain images, comprising a casing, linear contact image sensor (CIS), further comprising a system processor P3 for controlling the work of said CIS by timing signal, the optical coordinate sensors and the displacement processor P1 and P2 for estimating the coordinate increment (8001) and the coordinate increment (8002) of the real-time displacement, an A/D circuit and data buffer; said system processor P3 packets original scanning data with positioning information (8004), and then transfers to the upper machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information card with multiple storage media. Combining reading and writing characteristics of magnetic strip storages, ICs, PFIDs and etc. with large storage capacity of a compound printing 2D barcode, the invention uses a base card with a magnetic strip storage medium or a base card beset with an IC read-write chip, and a RF read-write chip. On said base card contains a first 2D barcode which has different reflectivities to lights in the first spectrum area between bars and spaces, there is a designated relation between data stored in the magnetic strip or the IC chip, RF chip and data stored in the first 2D barcode. The invention discloses a read-write device of the information card comprising a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), a magnetic head or an IC chip reader, an RF chip reader. The invention further discloses a method for reading and writing data in said information card.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for deflashing integrated circuit (IC) packages by laser irradiation. The method and apparatus include two lasers scanning flash area for performing deflashing operation. CO2 laser is used to remove top layer of flash and YAG laser is used to remove the thin layer of flash remained after CO2 laser deflashing. CO2 laser deflashing and following YAG laser deflashing can effectively remove flash and avoid damage of heat sinks as well as leads and bars in the IC packages.