Abstract: A technique of capturing a stereoscopic panoramic photographic image of a scene, includes capturing a first 360.degree. panoramic image of a scene from a first point on a vertical axis; and capturing a second 360.degree. panoramic image of the scene from a second point on the vertical axis, the second point being displaced from the first point by a stereoscopic baseline distance.

Abstract: A system and method for creating three-dimensional or depth image font text characters using graphic three-dimensional object creation techniques and graphics processors. The text characters can be represented as set descriptions of the characters. The text characters can also be represented as a three-dimensional geometric model including polygons constructed from vertices defined by three-dimensional coordinates. The representations are stored in a font storage and when a user specifies the text characters to be used in a depth image along with the font to be used for the text characters, the geometric representations of the characters are retrieved. If stored as a set, the set is converted into a geometric plot. Appropriate scaling and surface texturing operations are performed as designated by the user to create three-dimensional text character graphic objects.

Abstract: A method of encoding and decoding a transaction card with a block of image data digitally representing the features of a digital portrait of an authorized transaction card user is disclosed along with apparatus for performing the method. The encoding method partitions the digital portrait of the transaction card user into feature blocks. Each feature block is compared against a library of like feature blocks to determine the best match with a pair of library feature blocks. The library's feature blocks are derived from a plurality of portraits taken from the general population. Each library feature block is represented (addressed for access) by a code-vector in a codebook.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a geometric graphic image of an object to be rendered as a depth image is created. The viewpoint of the viewer of the depth image is determined by the user. Once the viewpoint is determined the number of views is automatically determined along with the spacing between or positions of the views. The system adjusts the aspect ratio of each view and rotates the object prior to rendering. The rendered views are then stored as electronic interleaved images which are used to produce a depth image, such as a lenticular print.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a halftone image. An ensemble of correlated minimum visual modulation two-dimensional binary patterns are provided. Each pattern corresponds to one density level of a digital input signal. The set of patterns is generated simultaneously to minimize an ensemble cost function which is the variance of non-zero spatial frequencies weighted by a human visual system modulation transfer function. The patterns are then modularly addressed to select bits to form halftone pattern.

Abstract: The disclosed method for compressing an image to be stored on a transaction card at one of a plurality of quality levels performs the steps of: a. providing a number of compression codebooks each corresponding to a quality level of the to be compressed image data; b. determining the quality level of the compressed image to be stored on the transaction card; c. determining the compression codebook that best corresponds to the determined quality level of step b; and d. compressing the image with the determined compression codebook. A decompression system is disclosed for processing, the transaction cards having the compressed image data stored thereon at one of a plurality of quality levels by, determining the maximum quality level common to the transaction card and the decompression system; and decompressing the compressed image data at the above maximum quality level. At each quality level of compression/decompression that represented image is of equal size.

Abstract: A continuously variable hydrostatic transmission includes an input shaft connected to drive a hydraulic pump unit, a grounded hydraulic motor unit, and an output shaft. A wedge-shaped swashplate is pivotally mounted to the output shaft in driving connection to receive output torque resulting from the exchange of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump and motor units through ports in the swashplate. A hydraulically actuated ratio controller is pivotally linked to the swashplate to selectively adjust the swashplate angle relative to the output shaft axis and thereby change transmission ratio.

Abstract: Multiple validations of printed documents incorporating image information and authorizing data on a printed document assist in the printed document validation process. This technique requires the authorized document holder to have an image identification accompany the application or production of the document. Image information is converted to a storable image that is used in one of a plurality of validating schemes that assures that the presenter of the printed document is not a substitute. Such schemes included visual comparison of the printed document presenter and extracted image information and validation that the data has not been altered. Non-reversible encryption of the data, as it is read from the document at the document presentation site is used to formulate encoded authorization data that is then compared against like encoded authorized document holder data stored at a centrally located data base.

Abstract: A system and method that generates computer graphic images using anti-aliasing rendering to create sets of offset images each of a lower resolution than the resolution desired. The anti-aliasing rendering is performed using offset weights that effectively cause a graphic model to be rendered at different rendering points for each low resolution image which are offset between low resolution images. The lower resolution offset images are then interlaced or combined to produce the desired high resolution image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a halftone image for a multi-level output device employing a dither matrix generated by minimizing a visual cost function. The dither matrix is addressed by the least significant bits of a pixel address and the value supplied by the dither matrix is added to the pixel value. The resulting sum is quantized in a quantizer to produce the multi-level halftone value.

Abstract: A technique involving the standardization of the subject matter of an image and the compression of the image using features of the standardization can provide for a high compression ratio. This technique can be used to improve the quality of a restored image for a predetermined amount of storage space.

Abstract: Method and associated apparatus for positioning a thermal donor media, having a plurality of transfer panels, each having a transfer area that is greater than the total area of a number of receiving media, such that a single transfer panel can provide an area of donor exclusively to each of the number of receiving media. The dimensions of unused areas of the thermal donor media are matched with the dimensions of the next to-be-printed image to enable a transfer printing to take place at an area that has dimensions that are equal to or greater than that required for the printed image. When an available area is identified the thermal donor media is moved into alignment and the transfer takes place. In one embodiment of the invention the thermal donor media is in the form of a ribbon that is wound between driven spools to bring unused areas into vertical printing alignment with the receiving media and the receiving media is displaced transverse to the ribbon to provide a horizontal alignment.

Abstract: In a string of characters on a storage medium in which a normally reserved character can appear in an inappropriate position, the field of characters is examined for a character which is not used in the field. The inappropriate reserved character is replaced by the permissible character. A field in the character string is reserved to permit the permissible character to be translated into the reserved character after the decoding of the character string.

Abstract: A transaction card is described in which data representing an identifiable image can be stored in a limited amount of storage space. The image to be stored is converted to an associated matrix of pixel values. The matrix of pixel values is partitioned into a plurality of ordered image portions corresponding to a like partitioning of the image. The partitioning is generally related to feature locations in the image. Each image portion is compared with a reference set of image portions represented by pixel groups. Associated with each pixel group is a signal group. For each image portion, a signal group is chosen for the associated reference pixel group that most closely matches with the pixel image portion. The signal groups representing the matrix of pixel values or the image to be stored are stored as bit patterns on the storage space of a transaction card. The bit patterns may then be read and converted to the signal groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing real-time computer animation of data used to simulate physical phenomena is disclosed. The animation system generates floating point geometrical element simulation data and byte width variable simulation data with a processing unit. The floating point geometrical simulation data is supplied to a graphics processor which generates element transformation matrices. The variable simulation data is applied to each of the element transformation matrices by the graphics processor to generate a plurality of layer transformation matrices. The layer transformation matrices are then applied to a stock piece-wise polygonal surface to generate a plurality of layer elements. The layer elements are displayed on a graphics display unit in real-time in the form of glyphs which animate the physical phenomena.

Abstract: Techniques for multiple verification of transaction cards incorporating digital image information and authorization data onto a transaction card to assist in the card verification process. This technique requires the authorized card holder to have a picture identification accompany the application for the card. Picture information is converted to a digital image that is stored and used in one or a plurality of means for verifying that the presenter of the card, at the point of the transaction, is the authorized user. Such means include visual comparison of card presenter and extracted digital image information and verification that the data has not been altered. Encryption of the data, as it is read from the card, at the point of origin is used to formulate encoded authorization data that is then compared against like encoded authorized card holder data stored at a centrally located data base.

Abstract: The secondary quantization of a plurality of signals such as scanner signals quantized in a colorimetric coordinate system for the modified spectral response of a display device. The secondary quantization reflects the nonlinear human response to color. Two embodiments of the secondary quantizationmethod are presented. The first method is a global cost reduction approach and the second is a method that diffuses the visual costs equally into each secondary quantization level or bin.

Abstract: This invention minimizes the color errors associated with performing conversion and/or correction of color digital image data using multi-dimensional look-up tables of a limited size. By distributing the errors across the color gamut it is possible to reduce the average color error as well as the maximum color errors associated with linear or conventional linear or nonlinear, e.g. cube-root or logarithmic, remapping schemes. The resulting advantage will be color images with greatly reduced artifacts.

Abstract: Techniques for multiple verification of credit cards incorporating digital image information and authorization data onto a credit card to assist in the card verification process. This technique requires the authorized card holder to have a picture identification accompany the application for the card. Picture information is converted to a digital image that is stored and used in one or a plurality of means for verifying that the presenter of the card, at the point of the transaction, is the authorized user. Such means include visual comparison of card presenter and extracted digital image information and verification that the data has not been altered. Encryption of the data, as it is read from the card, at the point of origin is used to formulate encoded authorization data that is then compared against like encoded authorized card holder data stored at a centrally located data base.

Abstract: A digital halftone image is produced by providing a binary bit image pattern having a minimum visual noise for each density level in the image, and the binary bit patterns being correlated in a manner that reduces visual noise resulting from transitions between patterns. The patterns are addressed by pixel density and x,y location to produce a halftone image. The patterns are generated by employing a stochastic minimization technique with a constraint to insure correlation between patterns.