Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed which processes moving images each divisible into a plurality of shots, the image processing apparatus including: a holding unit configured to hold discrimination models acquired by learning beforehand a first rule and a second rule from a moving image formed by a plurality of known shot groups which are made up of at least one shot each and from which a highlight is to be extracted in accordance with the discrimination models, the first rule governing relevance between the shots, the second rule governing relevance between frames within each of the shots; and an extraction unit configured to extract from a newly input moving image a shot group recognized as the highlight in accordance with the discrimination models held in the holding unit.

Abstract: A motion capture apparatus includes: generating means; predicting means; projecting means; evaluating means; and estimating means. The generating means generates a kinematics model having joints connected to one another. The predicting means hierarchically calculates predicted positions at a current time of the joints of the objective person, and predicts three-dimensional positions and postures of the joints and the limbs. The projecting means projects the three-dimensional positions and postures of the joints and the limbs of the objective person on a two-dimensional image plane, the three-dimensional positions and the postures being predicted by predicting means. The evaluating means evaluates reliability about projection positions projected by the projecting means based on the observation image of the objective person.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to impeller of aerators, and more particularly to a laminated impeller of paddlewheel aerator. To solve the shortcoming of existing impeller of aerator: single-body structure, large volume, complicated manufacturing technique and high production cost, fixed blade quantity and axial length, narrow application range and inferior universal use, the present invention provides a laminated impeller that is characterized by simple structure, easy installation and better universal use. The technical scheme of the present invention comprises single impeller body consisting of impeller seat and blade connecting on the seat, a plurality of single impeller body connected in succession to form a laminated impeller, connecting mechanism provided on impeller seat to connect neighboring single impeller, axial impeller length adjusted according to the power needed actually and blade quantity changed to meet wider application.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an object recognition device for recognition of an object that exists in an image, the device including: an edge image creator configured to create an edge image from a target image; a local feature extractor configured to extract a feature of each edge point on an edge image, and determine a base point and a support point from edge points in a local area defined for the edge image; a feature matching unit configured to implement, with reference to a memory, feature matching of a base point and a support point to thereby acquire a matching pair; and a matching pair determiner configured to determine final matching pairs by employing matching pairs having a highest matching cost among matching pairs obtained by the feature matching unit, wherein an object in a target image is identified based on matching pairs determined by the matching pair determiner.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus is disclosed which can produce parallax data between a plurality of image data with a high degree of accuracy. Probability density functions are updated successively, and a corresponding relationship which minimizes the energy in each of the probability density functions is specified. Then, that one of the probability density functions which finally minimizes the energy and parallax data corresponding to the correspondence relationship are specified.

Abstract: Directions normal to images of an object captured by at least two cameras from different points of view are aligned with each other to form corrected object images, and a correspondence is determined between at least one pixel position on a horizontal line in one of the corrected object images and at least one pixel position on the same horizontal line in another of the corrected object images. The correspondence is determined by determining a similarity in brightness and color components at the pixel positions and a parallax between the corrected object images A robust, accurate image matching can be done by making dynamic matching between all pixels on a scan line in the images captured by the cameras.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus and method as well as a medium by which a corresponding point can be found out and matching between images can be performed with a higher degree of accuracy. A template deformation section produces a plurality of deformed templates by linear interpolation from a template inputted thereto from a template setting section and inputs the deformed templates to a plurality of matching operation sections. The matching operation sections use an image of an epipolar line from among reference images stored in image memories and the deformed templates to perform template matching on the epipolar line. Selection sections determine one of the deformed templates which exhibits the highest similarity degree from results of the template matching and determine coordinate values then as a parallax.

Abstract: A texture picture with a highest resolution is selected among a plurality of pictures taken from different points of view for each patch surface, and texture mapping is carried out by pasting a texture picture selected for a patch surface on the patch surface. Then, processing is carried out to correct differences in concentration, which are caused by differences in beam-source condition, between pictures or between patch surfaces. As the correction processing, inter-frame picture-concentration-value correction, inter-patch texture-picture-shift correction and inter-patch boundary concentration smoothing correction are performed to allow texture mapping with a high picture quality to be carried out to produce a three-dimensional picture having a high quality. It is thus possible to provide a texture mapping technique capable of producing a three-dimensional picture having a high picture quality.

Abstract: A texture picture with a highest resolution is selected among a plurality of pictures taken from different points of view for each patch surface, and texture mapping is carried out by pasting a texture picture selected for a patch surface on the patch surface. Then, processing is carried out to correct differences in concentration, which are caused by differences in beam-source condition, between pictures or between patch surfaces. As the correction processing, inter-frame picture-concentration-value correction, inter-patch texture-picture-shift correction and inter-patch boundary concentration smoothing correction are performed to allow texture mapping with a high picture quality to be carried out to produce a three-dimensional picture having a high quality. It is thus possible to provide a texture mapping technique capable of producing a three-dimensional picture having a high picture quality.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus is connected to a terminal which executes a program for a number of different games, through a network. The information processing apparatus includes a storage device for storing information on a character that can appear in the different games in the terminal. A transmitter is provided to transmit the information on the character to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for picking up an image signal used for measurement of three-dimensional shape, which includes a projector for projecting non-periodic pattern light on an object of measurement; a generator for generating image signals of a number of frames by using optical images of the object of measurement; a limiter for limiting input of the optical images of the object of measurement to the generator; and a timing controller for controlling the projector, the limiter, and the generator so that a signal of a pattern image of the object of measurement being irradiated with the non-periodic pattern light and a signal of a texture image of the object of measurement not being irradiated with the non-periodic pattern light are generated as the image signals of the frames in succession; wherein the timing controller allows the projector to project the non-periodic pattern light on the object of measurement for a period of time shorter than an open time within the open time, the open time being a period