Abstract: A method for segmenting a composite image containing a plurality of individual images, comprising: locating line segments corresponding to edges in a composite image; defining a plurality of candidate rectangles by identifying sets of four line segments having a first pair of line segments that are parallel to and a second pair of line segments that are perpendicular to the first pair of line segments; identifying image regions that are more than a predefined isolation distance from any of the line segments; identifying a set of enclosing rectangles from among the candidate rectangles for each of the identified image regions; selecting a rectangle for each of the identified image regions from the corresponding set of enclosing rectangles by applying geometric constraints; forming a plurality of sub-images from the composite image by extracting the digital image data corresponding to the selected rectangles; and; and storing the sub-images in a processor-accessible memory.

Abstract: A method for segmenting a composite image containing a plurality of individual images, comprising: locating line segments corresponding to edges in a composite image; defining a plurality of candidate rectangles by identifying sets of four line segments having a first pair of line segments that are parallel to and a second pair of line segments that are perpendicular to the first pair of line segments; identifying image regions that are more than a predefined isolation distance from any of the line segments; identifying a set of enclosing rectangles from among the candidate rectangles for each of the identified image regions; selecting a rectangle for each of the identified image regions from the corresponding set of enclosing rectangles by applying geometric constraints; forming a plurality of sub-images from the composite image by extracting the digital image data corresponding to the selected rectangles; and; and storing the sub-images in a processor-accessible memory.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for a geographic database is disclosed. Speed and position data are collected using a plurality of mobile computing platforms moving in a geographic region. The speed and position data are analyzed to identify a location of a traffic sign corresponding to a change in the speed. The geographic database is updated to indicate the location of the traffic sign.

Abstract: An image scanning system for producing an electronic version of a hardcopy element which is compensated for spectral content of an illumination source in the image scanning system, the image scanning system includes a sensor for receiving light containing the hardcopy element for forming and storing an electronic version of the hardcopy element; a spectral sensor for receiving light from the illumination source and storing an electronic version of spectral contents of the illumination source; and a conversion system for receiving the electronic versions of the illumination source and the hardcopy element and creating a compensation table that compensates subsequent hardcopy elements passed through the conversion system.

Abstract: A method for electronic color dropout utilizing spatial context to enhance accuracy comprises scanning a document to produce a color digital image. A thresholding apparatus is applied to the color digital image to produce a bitonal image. A region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image. An average color for the region is computed and compared to a predetermined dropout color. If the average color matches the predetermined dropout color, the region is erased from the bitonal image. Once it is determined that all features of the bitonal image have been examined, the process is complete. If all the features of the bitonal image have not been examined a region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image.

Abstract: A method for electronic color dropout utilizing spatial context to enhance accuracy comprises scanning a document to produce a color digital image. A thresholding apparatus is applied to the color digital image to produce a bitonal image. A region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image. An average color for the region is computed and compared to a predetermined dropout color. If the average color matches the predetermined dropout color, the region is erased from the bitonal image. Once it is determined that all features of the bitonal image have been examined, the process is complete. If all the features of the bitonal image have not been examined a region of the color digital image is selected corresponding to a feature of the bitonal image.

Abstract: A color image reading device, an output controller and a method of controlling an output from a color image reading device provide for an improved signal-noise ratio for the scanning of two-dimensional objects, as in document scanners. In the present invention, the position of a color image reading device with respect to an object to be read is oriented in order to optimize illumination in, for example, the blue wavelength. Pixel data for each line is read, generated in reverse order and/or re-phased so as to compensate for offset linear sensors on the color image reading device.

Abstract: An image scanning system for producing an electronic version of a hardcopy element which is compensated for spectral content of an illumination source in the image scanning system, the image scanning system includes a sensor for receiving light containing the hardcopy element for forming and storing an electronic version of the hardcopy element; a spectral sensor for receiving light from the illumination source and storing an electronic version of spectral contents of the illumination source; and a conversion system for receiving the electronic versions of the illumination source and the hardcopy element and creating a compensation table that compensates subsequent hardcopy elements passed through the conversion system.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention a scanner comprises a transport mechanism for moving a document. A sensor detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the document. The sensor turns off a drive mechanism when a leading edge of the document is detected. A drive mechanism is started when a trailing edge of a document is detected. A camera scans the document and detects a skew angle of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the document. A front end controller receives a digital signal from the camera and detects the document in a field of the camera within a specified range of pixels.

Abstract: A system and method in which an image capture device such as a scanner can be automatically switched between a plurality of scanning modes without the need for manual intervention. In the system and method of the present invention, a document scanner can automatically switch or toggle between scanning modes while documents are being scanned. In one implementation of the present invention, the scanner can automatically switch between monochrome scanning and color scanning and vice versa based on a defined pattern on a document to be scanned. The document to be scanned can be in the form of a scanning mode switching document inserted into or associated with a stack of sheets of a jobstream. The scanning mode switching document can include a switching pattern that is detected by a processing system of the scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for radial and vertical runout of an optical disc using an actuator having a lens for focus of a laser beam and wherein the focus and tracking currents control the position of the lens in the vertical and radial directions is disclosed. The apparatus focuses the actuator lens along at least one revolution of a track on an optical disc and producing lens position signals. Structures provided which responds to the lens position signals to produce the frequency content of surface height and track deviations of the optical disc using a frequency transform technique. The surface height and track deviations frequency content are stored and a signal representing the focusing and tracking actuator currents and in response to the focusing and tracking actuator current signals and the stored surface height and track deviation frequencies the lens position is controlled thereby reducing focusing and tracking errors.

Abstract: A method for deriving a track offset signal to be applied to a tracking error signal particularly adapted for use with a disc drive having a servomechanism and actuator for positioning a read or write spot on a track of a disc in response to the tracking error signal is disclosed. The method includes determining a signal representation of the focus height as a function of disc radius, and differentiating the focus height signal to derive a cross-track tilt signal, applying the cross-track tilt signal to a transform which produces a track offset signal.

Abstract: A method for detecting and processing synchronization marks extracted from a prerecorded wobbled groove formed in a compact disk in order to produce pseudo-sync signals using a high frequency phase locked loop servoing to the disk speed to generate the signals.

Abstract: Track jumping in the present system is accomplished by using a two step track jump method which accelerates the tracking actuator toward the desired track at maximum acceleration and then decelerates the tracking actuator at a maximum deceleration so that the desired track is reached in a minimum amount of time without the actuator ringing. A matrix containing the times for each jump pulse from track X to track Y is recorded. The matrix table is updated after each jump to compensate for variance factors. The table is stored in memory which allows the system to become more accurate with each jump. If the actuator falls short of the desired position, the jump pulse next applied is lengthened slightly. If the jump pulse causes the actuator to overshoot, the desired position the jump pulse is shortened for the next jump.

Abstract: The present method operates upon an optical disk type servo-system of the type having an optical tracking servo for maintaining a lens centered over a track on a disk and a tracking position servo for moving an optical head's lens to a desired position. Included within such a system is an eccentricity sub-system for providing a compensating sine wave signal for reducing errors in tracking due to disk decentering. The present method automatically adjusts the gain in one of the servos to match the gain appearing in the other servo so as to improve the smoothness of control when switching between the servos.

Abstract: The present invention automatically performs a series of measurements on an optical media based on writing a power ramp signal of known power levels (amplitudes) on a target sector of the optical media. The amplitudes of the written power levels are measured. A comparison of the measured amplitude of each level of the recorded power ramp signal against reference amplitudes is made to establish a matching factor. The power level having the closest matching factor is selected as the power level to be used for the best recording of data onto the optical media. The procedure may be iterated a number of times to form an average that can then be used as the write power level. The present method also provides a pre-emphasis calibration by writing a pre-emphasis ramp in a target sector which is compared against a desired duty cycle to select the pre-emphasis which yields the desired duty cycle.