Abstract: Side coordinate groups that correspond to the four sides of the well are extracted from the edge coordinate group. Approximate lines are generated from the side coordinate groups. Corner coordinate groups that correspond to the four corners of the well are extracted from the edge coordinate group. Two intersecting approximate lines are selected from the approximate lines, and a contact candidate coordinates is set on each of the two approximate lines. Every possible pair of one contact candidate coordinate on one of the two approximate lines and one contact candidate coordinates set on the other approximate line are generated. For the generated pairs, processing for calculating an approximate curve by polynomial approximation from the corner coordinate group is performed, the approximate curve being in contact with two contact candidate coordinates. An approximate curve that is closest to the corner coordinate group is selected from all the calculated approximate curves.

Abstract: Definition is calculated for each pixel in a plurality of captured images while changing a focal position. For each coordinates, an image reference value indicating the number of a to-be-referenced captured image is determined. Then, a luminance value is calculated for each coordinates on the basis of the image reference value and the definition. At this time, the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value of peripheral coordinates is reflected in the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value of each coordinates. The calculated luminance values are combined to generate an omnifocal image. Accordingly, a smooth omnifocal image is generated. The image reference values themselves are not changed. This prevents unnecessary luminance values of pixels existing in captured images that ought not to be referenced from appearing in the omnifocal image.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image processing technique for generating an all-in-focus image with less distortion from images obtained by imaging an imaging object carried together with a liquid in a well at different focus positions. An image processing method of the invention includes obtaining a plurality of images captured by imaging an imaging object carried together with a liquid in a well with a focus position changed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a liquid surface, calculating a local movement amount between the plurality of images, determining a correlation between a distance from a center of the well and an image distortion amount based on the local movement amount, and synthesizing the plurality of images by correcting pixels in each image based on the correlation and generating an all-in-focus image.

Abstract: An image processing method that includes setting a plurality of search areas of a predetermined size having mutually different circumferential positions along a peripheral edge part and extending in a radial direction from a center of a recess toward the peripheral edge part near the peripheral edge part in an image, executing an edge detection in each search area to obtain detected edge position and edge intensity for each search area, obtaining a relative shift amount for making a degree of similarity of image patterns highest for each search area when another search area adjacent to the search area in the circumferential direction is shifted in the radial direction with respect to the search area, and specifying a position of the boundary in one search area based on the edge positions, the edge intensities and the relative shift amounts in the search area and each of the search areas in neighboring ranges in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A plurality of captured images is first acquired by capturing images of an object while changing a focal position along an optical axis. Then, variations in magnification among the captured images are acquired. On the basis of the variations in magnification, corresponding pixels in the captured images are specified, and definition is compared among the corresponding pixels. Then, an image reference value indicating the number of a captured image that is to be referenced as the luminance value of each coordinates in an omnifocal image is determined on the basis of the result of comparison of the definition. The omnifocal image is thereafter generated by referencing the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value for each coordinates. In this way, the omnifocal image that reflects the position and size of the object accurately can be generated.

Abstract: Side coordinate groups that correspond to the four sides of the well are extracted from the edge coordinate group. Approximate lines are generated from the side coordinate groups. Corner coordinate groups that correspond to the four corners of the well are extracted from the edge coordinate group. Two intersecting approximate lines are selected from the approximate lines, and a contact candidate coordinates is set on each of the two approximate lines. Every possible pair of one contact candidate coordinate on one of the two approximate lines and one contact candidate coordinates set on the other approximate line are generated. For the generated pairs, processing for calculating an approximate curve by polynomial approximation from the corner coordinate group is performed, the approximate curve being in contact with two contact candidate coordinates. An approximate curve that is closest to the corner coordinate group is selected from all the calculated approximate curves.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image processing technique for generating an all-in-focus image with less distortion from images obtained by imaging an imaging object carried together with a liquid in a well at different focus positions. An image processing method of the invention includes obtaining a plurality of images captured by imaging an imaging object carried together with a liquid in a well with a focus position changed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a liquid surface, calculating a local movement amount between the plurality of images, determining a correlation between a distance from a center of the well and an image distortion amount based on the local movement amount, and synthesizing the plurality of images by correcting pixels in each image based on the correlation and generating an all-in-focus image.

Abstract: A plurality of captured images is first acquired by capturing images of an object while changing a focal position along an optical axis. Then, variations in magnification among the captured images are acquired. On the basis of the variations in magnification, corresponding pixels in the captured images are specified, and definition is compared among the corresponding pixels. Then, an image reference value indicating the number of a captured image that is to be referenced as the luminance value of each coordinates in an omnifocal image is determined on the basis of the result of comparison of the definition. The omnifocal image is thereafter generated by referencing the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value for each coordinates. In this way, the omnifocal image that reflects the position and size of the object accurately can be generated.

Abstract: An image processing method is for detecting the edge of a well where cells are analyzed, from image data obtained by capturing the well and surroundings of the well, and an edge coordinate group for the well is extracted from the image data. If a plurality of edge coordinate groups has been extracted, edge candidates for the well are generated for each of the plurality of edge coordinate groups. Then, an edge candidate that satisfies a predetermined reference value is selected from among the generated edge candidates. If a plurality of edge candidates has been selected, relative evaluations are conducted to determine the edge of the analysis region from among the plurality of edge candidates.

Abstract: In an image inspection apparatus, a first accumulation part acquires a reference accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in a reference image arranged in an image recording direction. A second accumulation part acquires an inspection accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in the inspection image arranged in the image recording direction. A sensitivity correction part performs sensitivity correction wherein a plurality of accumulated values other than a local peak in the inspection accumulated value distribution are corrected so as to relatively approach a plurality of corresponding accumulated values in the reference accumulated value distribution, based on a ratio between the inspection accumulated value distribution from which the local peak has been removed and the reference accumulated value distribution.

Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes a pre-printed element reduction section that reduces influence of a pre-printed element on inspection and generates an inspection object image, and a comparative inspection section that compares the inspection object image with the additionally-recorded data, to inspect a performance level of a result of overprinting. Captured image data of the pre-printed paper image and the overprinted image is given to the pre-printed element reduction section. By using the captured image data of the pre-printed paper image, the pre-printed element reduction section reduces the pre-printed element included in the captured image data of the overprinted image and newly prepares the inspection object image.

Abstract: In an image inspection apparatus, a first accumulation part acquires a reference accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in a reference image arranged in an image recording direction. A second accumulation part acquires an inspection accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in the inspection image arranged in the image recording direction. A sensitivity correction part performs sensitivity correction wherein a plurality of accumulated values other than a local peak in the inspection accumulated value distribution are corrected so as to relatively approach a plurality of corresponding accumulated values in the reference accumulated value distribution, based on a ratio between the inspection accumulated value distribution from which the local peak has been removed and the reference accumulated value distribution.

Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes a pre-printed element reduction section that reduces influence of a pre-printed element on inspection and generates an inspection object image, and a comparative inspection section that compares the inspection object image with the additionally-recorded data, to inspect a performance level of a result of overprinting. Captured image data of the pre-printed paper image and the overprinted image is given to the pre-printed element reduction section. By using the captured image data of the pre-printed paper image, the pre-printed element reduction section reduces the pre-printed element included in the captured image data of the overprinted image and newly prepares the inspection object image.