Abstract: To provide an image processing device able to accurately discriminate a specified image in an input image data, the input image is converted to binary based on black and red color extraction blocks 6-1 and 6-2 in binary processing unit 1. These binary data are consolidated by an OR circuit and stored in storage device 2. Mark location detection unit 3 extracts a square mark from the image data stored in device 2. Pattern shape extraction unit 4 extracts another mark which is inside the square mark. Pattern matching unit 5 obtains and outputs the goodness of fit between the extracted marks and previously established marks.

Abstract: To provide an image processing device able to accurately discriminate a specified image in an input image data, the input image is converted to binary based on black and red color extraction blocks 6−1 and 6−2 in binary processing unit 1. These binary data are consolidated by an OR circuit and stored in storage device 2. Mark location detection unit 3 extracts a square mark from the image data stored in device 2. Pattern shape extraction unit 4 extracts another mark which is inside the square mark. Pattern matching unit 5 obtains and outputs the goodness of fit between the extracted marks and previously established marks.

Abstract: An image processing device is disclosed which can reliably detect documents which may not be copied, which has a very small probability of false positives, and which can handle newly issued documents which may not be copied. In addition, an image processing scheme is disclosed which would accurately obtain the location of a pattern indicating a document to be detected; which would extract that pattern; which would determine correctly whether it is the right pattern; and which would make it difficult for anyone to tamper with the pattern. To achieve this, a specified pattern is imprinted before use on a document which may not be copied, and a previously specified number of positioning marks and dummy marks which identify the location of the pattern may also be imprinted. The device is able to detect a wide variety of documents and perform the required processing at high speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect marks of a specified shape and color on a document and to extract a specified pattern consisting of a number of these marks. An RGB color signal is sent, color by color, by way of image input unit 12 to binary processing unit 13. If the marks are yellow, the B signal for the pixels constituting the marks will be smaller than the other signals. The B signal is sent to mark shape extraction unit 13a and threshold processing is executed. Simultaneously, R, G and B are sent to mark color extraction unit 13b, and the fact that the marks are yellow is detected. AND element 13c finds the logical product of these processes, and a binary image is generated from which only the yellow pixels have been extracted. This binary image is transmitted to mark location detection unit 15 by way of storage unit 14. The shapes of the marks are matched against reference data and location data are extracted for the marks.

Abstract: The invention accurately generates counterfeit probability data indicating that a non-reproducible document is being processed even when the pattern which identifies such documents has been defaced. One set of rules and membership functions is stored in each of three memory sets, for each of (1) an unaltered pattern identifying a non-reproducible document, (2) an altered version of that pattern, and (3) a pattern identifying an ordinary reproducible document. A fuzzy inference unit uses these rules and membership functions to generate data representing the probability that a counterfeiting attempt is occurring. These probability data are transmitted to the copy machine through a control CPU to prevent unlawful copying.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an image processing device which would be able to extract a specified pattern accurately even if there are fine lines in its periphery. The invention is configured as follows in order to achieve this object. The density data for R, G and B are transmitted to fine line processor. There a count is made of the number of pixels among the eight surrounding a center object pixel, which have density values within a fixed margin of the center object pixel. If there are three or fewer, the center object pixel is judged to be part of a line segment, and the determination flag 0 is output. If there are four or more, the center pixel is judged to be not part of a line segment, but a part of pattern. Once the object pixel is judged to be a part of a line segment, then a line removal device remove the object pixel from the image data in order to extract a specified pattern.

Abstract: An image processing device is disclosed which can reliably detect documents which may not be copied, which has a very small probability of false positives, and which can handle newly issued documents which may not be copied. In addition, an image processing scheme is disclosed which would accurately obtain the location of a pattern indicating a document to be detected; which would extract that pattern; which would determine correctly whether it is the right pattern; and which would make it difficult for anyone to tamper with the pattern. To achieve this, a specified pattern is imprinted before use on a document which may not be copied, and a previously specified number of positioning marks and dummy marks which identify the location of the pattern may also be imprinted. The device is able to detect a wide variety of documents and perform the required processing at high speed.