Abstract: To obtain a position detection device capable of detecting highly accurate and robust position by suppressing affect of error detection of an edge, provided is a configuration for performing a validity determination of edges detected by binarizing an image signal (21) converted by a light-receiving element (3) for receiving light irradiated from a light source (1) toward a scale (2) having a code pattern, and performing position detection after removing the edges determined to be invalid as edges that have been affected by foreign matter and the like among the edges on which the validity determination has been performed.

Abstract: To obtain a position detection device capable of detecting highly accurate and robust position by suppressing affect of error detection of an edge, provided is a configuration for performing a validity determination of edges detected by binarizing an image signal (21) converted by a light-receiving element (3) for receiving light irradiated from a light source (1) toward a scale (2) having a code pattern, and performing position detection after removing the edges determined to be invalid as edges that have been affected by foreign matter and the like among the edges on which the validity determination has been performed.

Abstract: Provided is an absolute encoder capable of detecting the absolute angle at high resolution and with high precision. An image sensor receives light in an absolute value code pattern of a scale, an edge detecting unit detects from the received light signal an edge pixel position and an edge direction, and an edge position correcting unit corrects the edge pixel position based on the edge direction. A phase detecting unit detects from the corrected edge pixel position the phase shift amount of a shift from a reference pixel position of the image sensor, and a high precision detection unit uses a rough absolute position detected by a rough detection unit and the phase shift amount detected by the phase detecting unit to detect the absolute position with high precision.

Abstract: Provided is an absolute encoder capable of detecting the absolute angle at high resolution and with high precision. An image sensor receives light in an absolute value code pattern of a scale, an edge detecting unit detects from the received light signal an edge pixel position and an edge direction, and an edge position correcting unit corrects the edge pixel position based on the edge direction. A phase detecting unit detects from the corrected edge pixel position the phase shift amount of a shift from a reference pixel position of the image sensor, and a high precision detection unit uses a rough absolute position detected by a rough detection unit and the phase shift amount detected by the phase detecting unit to detect the absolute position with high precision.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for correcting the exposure of a digital image. An exposure predictor may be generated based on a set of images for which ground truth data are known. After identifying an optimal set of features, the exposure of the digital image may be corrected by extracting values of the selected optimal features from the image, using the predictor to predict a desired exposure correction for the image, and correcting the exposure of the image by the predicted desired amount. Exposure correction is based on a model that relates intensity of light in the world to the RGB digits of the digital image. The model comprises a gamma function that models the response of a typical monitor and a S-shaped curve that compresses the large dynamic range of the world to the small dynamic range of the RGB digit space.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus determines a geometry of a scene by projecting one or more output image into the scene, in which a time to project the output image is t1. Input images are acquired of the scene, in which a time to acquire each input image is t2, and in which t1>t2 and in which the input image includes a distinguishable stripe of pixels with an edge due to t1>t2. An amount of distortion of the edge is measured from a straight line to determine a geometry of the scene.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for correcting the exposure of a digital image. An exposure predictor may be generated based on a set of images for which ground truth data are known. After identifying an optimal set of features, the exposure of the digital image may be corrected by extracting values of the selected optimal features from the image, using the predictor to predict a desired exposure correction for the image, and correcting the exposure of the image by the predicted desired amount. Exposure correction is based on a model that relates intensity of light in the world to the RGB digits of the digital image. The model comprises a gamma function that models the response of a typical monitor and a S-shaped curve that compresses the large dynamic range of the world to the small dynamic range of the RGB digit space.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for correcting the exposure of a digital image. An exposure predictor may be generated based on a set of images for which ground truth data are known. After identifying an optimal set of features, the exposure of the digital image may be corrected by extracting values of the selected optimal features from the image, using the predictor to predict a desired exposure correction for the image, and correcting the exposure of the image by the predicted desired amount. Exposure correction is based on a model that relates intensity of light in the world to the RGB digits of the digital image. The model comprises a gamma function that models the response of a typical monitor and a S-shaped curve that compresses the large dynamic range of the world to the small dynamic range of the RGB digit space.

Abstract: A multicolor imaging system is described wherein at least two, and preferably three, different image-forming layers of a thermal imaging member are addressed at least partially independently by a thermal printhead or printheads from the same surface of the imaging member by controlling the temperature of the thermal printhead(s) and the time thermal energy is applied to the image-forming layers. Each color of the thermal imaging member can be printed alone or in selectable proportion to the other color(s). Novel thermal imaging members are also described.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying means for varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus determines a geometry of a scene by projecting one or more output image into the scene, in which a time to project the output image is t1. Input images are acquired of the scene, in which a time to acquire each input image is t2, and in which t1>t2 and in which the input image includes a distinguishable stripe of pixels with an edge due to t1>t2. An amount of distortion of the edge is measured from a straight line to determine a geometry of the scene.

Abstract: A method determines an amount of time consumers are viewing an advertising display. A sequence of images is acquired by a camera of a scene in front of an advertising display. Faces are detected in the sequence of images. For each detected face, determine an orientation of the face with respect to the advertising display and a preference for a particular advertisement can be determined.

Abstract: A system and method aligns an array of projectors by performing independently a parametric coarse alignment for each projector, and by performing jointly a non-parametric fine alignment for each projector and adjacent projectors. The non-parametric fine alignment can also be performed independently for each projector.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for correcting the exposure of a digital image. An exposure predictor may be generated based on a set of images for which ground truth data are known. After identifying an optimal set of features, the exposure of the digital image may be corrected by extracting values of the selected optimal features from the image, using the predictor to predict a desired exposure correction for the image, and correcting the exposure of the image by the predicted desired amount. Exposure correction is based on a model that relates intensity of light in the world to the RGB digits of the digital image. The model comprises a gamma function that models the response of a typical monitor and a S-shaped curve that compresses the large dynamic range of the world to the small dynamic range of the RGB digit space.

Abstract: In a rear projection television, cathode ray tubes are mounted inside an enclosure so that each cathode ray tube projects output images onto a rear projection screen using a corresponding electron beam. Calibration images are generated for each cathode ray tube. A camera, also mounted inside the enclosure, acquires an input image of each calibration image. A distortion in each input image is measured, and the output images of the cathode ray tubes are corrected by adjusting the signals controlling the corresponding electron beams according to the distortion.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing color correction in a color printer. An RGB test image is printed to produce a printed calibration image. Colors in the printed calibration image are measured and compared to expected color values. A color corrector generates a printer lookup table (LUT) based on this comparison. The LUT may be generated based on models of the printer's print engine and previous LUTs. The color corrections are applied to subsequent print jobs to improve the quality of color output. Color measurement and correction may be performed using a closed-loop system contained within the printer that includes a color measurement device (such as a scanner) and a computer.

Abstract: A multicolor imaging system is described wherein at least two, and preferably three, different image-forming layers of a thermal imaging member are addressed at least partially independently by a thermal printhead or printheads from the same surface of the imaging member by controlling the temperature of the thermal printhead(s) and the time thermal energy is applied to the image-forming layers. Each color of the thermal imaging member can be printed alone or in selectable proportion to the other color(s). Novel thermal imaging members are also described.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for producing a halftone of a source image. The halftone includes halftone pixels. The halftone pixels are suitable for containing halftone dots. The method selects glyphs corresponding to intensities of regions (e.g., pixels) in the source image. The glyphs contain one or more halftone dots. The method locates halftone dots within the halftone pixels such that for at least one pair of halftone dots contained within a pair of halftone pixels sharing a common boundary, the halftone dots in the pair of halftone pixels extend in opposite directions from the common boundary.

Abstract: An adaptive halftoning method where the difference between a digital image and a filtered digital image is introduced into the system on a pixel by pixel basis is disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for producing a halftone of a source image. The halftone includes halftone pixels. The halftone pixels are suitable for containing halftone dots. The method selects glyphs corresponding to intensities of regions (e.g., pixels) in the source image. The glyphs contain one or more halftone dots. The method locates halftone dots within the halftone pixels such that for at least one pair of halftone dots contained within a pair of halftone pixels sharing a common boundary, the halftone dots in the pair of halftone pixels extend in opposite directions from the common boundary.