Abstract: The present invention is to provide a system and method for setting various acoustic and visual parameters for optimal or intended reproduction of digital multi-channel surround encoded audio and for optimal or intended reproduction of a visual image from a display device in a home theater system. For example, one feature of the present invention is to incorporate a hand-held remote control device which operates the main surround sound unit (e.g., home theater receiver and/or digital decoder) and the display device via electromagnetic link, for example. Of course, it is not necessary to the invention that the device be incorporated in the remote control device of the surround sound unit, or the display device.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation system is operative to reduce noise transmission through a vehicle air induction system. The active noise cancellation system includes a controller that utilizes computer modelling to ensure adequate noise cancellation. The controller generates a modelling sound to make determinations regarding the noise cancellation system, such as timing constraints associated with a speaker or microphone of the system. The modelling sound is selected to be consistent with a sound typically heard by an individual, given the current engine operating status. In another example, the selected sound masks another modeling sound such as random noise.

Abstract: A digital voice enhancement, DVE, communication system includes an instability detector detecting an unstable acoustic feedback condition from a loudspeaker to a microphone by sensing a condition of the electrical signal transmitted from the microphone to the loudspeaker, and a corrective processor responsive to the instability detector to modify the electrical signal to reduce unstable acoustic feedback. The sensed condition may be magnitude, power, or, preferably, the sinusoidal characteristic of the electrical signal, namely the electrical signal becoming sinusoidal in nature.

Abstract: An audio converting device including a digital high-pass filter, an expander, a digital low-pass filter, a delta-sigma modulator, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog low-pass filter and a gain control unit is provided. The digital high-pass filter in this invention can filter out a direct-current component of digital audio data such that the production of noise is avoided when the volume is adjusted by users.

Abstract: The present circuit is for a resonant, regenerative switching piezomotor drive amplifier that efficiently converts electrical energy into mechanical work through a piezoelectric actuator. The actuator driver of the present invention drives the real work-producing part of the system load over a broad range of frequencies from DC to several kHz, dramatically increasing the system power efficiency and full power bandwidth. The gains in efficiency are obtained by operating the motor/amplifier system at both electrical and mechanical resonances for the system. The amplifier's efficiency is greater than 80% when driving a 1 &mgr;F piezoelectric load with a 500 V peak-to-peak signal. The available output power is greater than 20 watts continuously from DC to 2.0 kHz.

Abstract: A dj mixer architecture using two faders for each phono/line input channel on a dj mixer. The two faders for each phono/line input channel are linearly aligned, located above and below each other both positioned in a vertical sliding direction. Each fader, a manipulator made into a unit to be used during play in real time, has it's own specified volume curve thus each having a different manipulative effect on the same audio input channel, providing a required short distance when instantaneously transferring from the upper manipulator to the lower manipulator, or vice-versa, in order to achieve a desired manipulative effect on the same audio signal during real-time, achieving the ability to apply a broad range of desired real-time manipulative effects one might create, to a single audio signal, enabling convenient usage and/or simultaneous usage of both manipulators without being in the way of the hand on it's approach to reaching any fader on a dj mixer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to manufacturing of a heanng aid housing comprising a face plate and a shell that is individually matched to the shape of the auditory canal of a user. Manufacture of the face plate includes at least one automatic processing step based on data from a CAD/CAM model of the hearing aid housing. For example, data relating to the circumference of the face plate may be provided to a numerically controlled machine that automatically cuts a separately manufactured face plate along the desired contour that matches the circumference of the corresponding shell. In another embodiment, the hearing aid housing is manufactured with an integrated face plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing aid for insertion in the auditory canal, comprising a hearing aid housing produced according to any of the preceding claims and comprising a face plate and a shell that is matched to the auditory canal of a user and has a tightening protrusion that extends along the surface of the shell and at least partly encircles the shell thereby providing a tight seal against the auditory canal wall when the shell is inserted in the auditory canal.

Abstract: A hearing/speaking configuration (1) having a housing (2), having sound-reproducing means (20) accommodated in the housing (2), and having sound-receiving means (19) designed without a boom, wherein the sound-receiving means (19) is accommodated in the housing (2), as is the sound-reproducing means (20), wherein a first sound passage opening (16) and a second sound passage opening (25) are provided in the housing (2) and the sound-receiving means (19) has a directional characteristic with a main direction (28) and an extinction direction (30), and wherein the extinction direction (30) extends from the sound-receiving means (19) to the sound-reproducing means (20).

Abstract: The outer peripheral site of a loudspeaker unit is provided with predetermined air passages formed along substantially the overall inner perimeter of an opening in a baffle plate for allowing a communication between the interior and the exterior of an enclosure, whereby there is provided a loudspeaker system capable of achieving, e.g., improvements in low-frequency characteristics and in transient characteristics while implementing reductions in size and weight.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes: a first diaphragm; a second diaphragm provided in a central portion of the first diaphragm, the second diaphragm comprising a magnetic material having a first opening in a central portion thereof; a yoke disposed so as to oppose the first diaphragm; a center pole disposed between the yoke and the first diaphragm, wherein the center pole has a shape which allows insertion into the first opening; a coil disposed so as to surround the center pole; and a first magnet disposed so as to surround the coil.

Abstract: A receiver, such as for use in a hearing aid, is disclosed. The receiver comprises a housing and a diaphragm assembly disposed within the housing. The diaphragm assembly acoustically divides the housing into a front volume and a back volume. The diaphragm assembly comprises a paddle having a perimeter, a flexible annulus connected to the paddle, and a diaphragm support, wherein the diaphragm support secures the perimeter of the annulus to the housing. The receiver further comprises a plurality of apertures in the diaphragm assembly, wherein the plurality of apertures provides an acoustic distortion of no greater than 2% THD.

Abstract: A computer is provided with software that looks for certain activities that may be illicit (e.g. processing of a graphic file corresponding to a banknote). If such an activity is detected, tracer data detailing the activity is generated and secretly stored in the computer. If the computer is later searched or seized, the tracer data can be recovered and employed as evidence of the computer's use, e.g. in counterfeiting.

Abstract: A multi-layered copy protection scheme distinguishes between security failures due to faulty watermark detection schemes and true security failures. At an initial security level, the fault-tolerance is low. If the security test fails at this initial security level, the process enters a next level of security, wherein the fault-tolerance is increased, but at the expense of additional processing time. If the security test again fails at this increased security level, the process enters a higher level of security, wherein the fault-tolerance is further increased, but at the further expense of additional processing time. Eventually, either the security test is passed, and the protected material is rendered, or a determination is made that the failures are not due to faults in the watermark detection process, indicating that the content material is, in fact, copy protected, but not authorized for rendering.

Abstract: An apparatus for embedding a watermark into contents data includes a parameter converting device for converting a parameter of first contents data to generate second contents data. A mixing device operates for embedding parameter information into the second contents data as watermark information. The parameter information represents a condition of the conversion of the parameter by the parameter converting device. The watermark information may include copyright information.

Abstract: The present invention provides steganographic embedding techniques. A digital watermark signal is reduced to a set of spatial positions. The set of spatial positions sufficiently conveys the digital watermark signal. Message objects are positioned according to the set of spatial positions. Non-message objects are combined with the message objects to form an image or design. The message objects include distinguishable characteristics, e.g., via color, contrast, gray-scale level or luminance, in comparison to the non-message objects. The digital watermark signal is detected by distinguishing the message objects from the non-message objects (e.g., via color or contrast differences) and analyzing the relative placement of the message objects within the image or design.

Abstract: A given data object can effectively contain both a graphical representation to a network user and embedded information, such as the URL address of another network node, thereby to permit the object itself to serve as an automated hot link. The underlying development tools and web site browsers create and identify such an object for use in a manner similar to a hot link, as provided on the World Wide Web.

Abstract: When a video signal having electronic watermark information embedded therein is recorded on a recording medium, a reference signal is inserted in the video signal at a position different from a position of embedment of the electronic watermark information. The electronic watermark information is embedded in the video signal by alteration of a luminous value of a luminance signal included in the video signal. When the video signal is reproduced from the recording medium, a luminous value of the electronic watermark information is modified based on the reference signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for automatically embedding information of an object in a video picked up by a camera device. A camera device generates imaging position information relating to an imaging position of the video, and view point information relating to the direction and range of the video taken from the imaging position. An object contained in the video taken by the camera device is searched in an object location managing server, based on object position information relating to the position of the predetermined object, and the imaging position information and the view point information generated by the camera device. The object information of the object hit in the object location managing server is searched in the object information managing server. The display presents an image corresponding to the video picked up by the camera device and an image corresponding to the object information of the object contained in the video.

Abstract: An adaptive face recognition system and method. The system includes a database configured to store a plurality of face classes; an image capturing system for capturing images; a detection system, wherein the detection system detects face images by comparing captured images with a generic face image; a search engine for determining if a detected face image belongs to one of a plurality of known face class; and a system for generating a new face class for the detected face image if the search engine determines that the detected face image does not belong to one of the known face classes. In the event that the search engine determines that the detected face image belongs to one of the known face classes, an adaptive training system adds the detected face to the associated face class.

Abstract: There are provided a living body collating device, a living body collating system and a living body collating method, which is equipped with optimization candidate data extracting means 35 for extracting optimization candidate data for data renewal from past record data of living body information achieved, optimization candidate data storage means 36 for storing the optimization candidate data extracted by the optimization candidate data extracting means 35, and renewal storage means 37 for storing, as new registration data, the data having higher priorities of the optimization candidate data stored in the optimization candidate data storage means 36 and registration data stored in registration data storage means.

Abstract: A biometric identification system directed toward use of dual-band visual-infrared imaging with appropriate techniques for integrating the analysis of both images to distinguish less reliable from more reliable image components, so as to generate a composite image comprised of layers. Correlation and analysis of the composite layers enables improved reliability in identification. The method and apparatus of the invention provide for efficient and optimized use of dual-band imaging for biometric identification of faces, fingerprints, palm and hand prints, sweat pore patterns, wrist veins, and other anatomical features of humans and animals.

Abstract: A medical analysis system for reading and interpreting an occult blood test (OBT) device is provided. The instant system comprises an image sensor for capturing an image of the entire test area of the FOBT device and for converting the image into a digital data. The system further comprises a data processor conventionally coupled to the image sensor. The data processor compares the digital data with pre-determined threshold conditions of a positive FOBT by utilizing a spectrographic and morphologic image analysis algorithm and determines a presence of the occult blood in the sample. A hue angle analysis for data processing may be used. A method of performing a FOBT on a sample is also provided.

Abstract: A method for extracting geometrical data from a 2-D digital image of the spine, comprising steps for determining spine outlines, endplates and corners wherein:

Abstract: A method is developed for automatic analysis of the reliability of an automatic registration of perfusion cardiovascular MR images. A parameter, for example, a similarity measure between the successive images, is calculated first in order to quantify the success of the registration process between these images for the data set. A criterion is then introduced, for example a threshold is imposed on the similarity measure. The successively registered images that have a calculated similarity measure that exceeds the defined threshold are automatically accepted for further analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of using current but incomplete data to prepare an approximated complete image of a patient potentially undergoing radiation therapy. A limited patient image, such as that obtained from a CT scan is fused with a complete image of the same area using image registration techniques. The fused image is converted to sinogram data. This data is compared to sinogram data corresponding to the limited patient image to determine what data exists beyond the scope of the limited sinogram. Any additional data is added to the limited data sinogram to obtain a complete sinogram. This is reconstructed into an image that approximates the complete image that would have been taken at the time the limited image was obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus, article of manufacture, and method for modeling an elongated object located internal to a body (e.g., blood vessels such as the carotid artery or the renal artery). Magnetic resonance data of the area of concern is collected. The magnetic resonance data is analyzed, extracting gradient information. The extracted gradient information may include the gradient of the magnitude gradient. Contemporaneously, a tubular coordinate system is interactively generated as an initial model of the artery. An axis and a reference circumferential direction are defined for the coordinate system with radial lines extending outward from the axis. Intersecting radial lines are merged. All vertices at radial and circumferential positions are initialized with the extracted gradient information. Then, the initialized model is deformed subjecting initialized vertices to image and smoothing forces, thereby completing the surface model of the artery, effectively reconstructing the artery surface.

Abstract: Radiation image signals representing radiation images of a single object, which have been formed with several kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, are obtained. Energy subtraction processing is performed in accordance with predetermined parameters and on radiation image signal components, which represent corresponding pixels in the radiation images, and a desired tissue pattern embedded in the radiation images is thereby extracted or enhanced. A parameter, which concerns an image density shift quantity over an entire area of an energy subtraction image obtained from the energy subtraction processing, is calculated in accordance with the other parameters.

Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.

Abstract: A method of detecting a position of a lead of an electric component which additionally includes a body from which the lead extends, the method including the steps of illuminating a lengthwise limited portion of the lead, with a light incident thereto in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the lead, taking an image of the lead, on a side of a free end of the lead, in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the lead, and detecting the position of the lead by processing image data representing the taken image.

Abstract: A first and a second, distinguishable set of images are projected onto a surface, each image having a corresponding source element with known two-dimensional coordinates relative to the projector. A pose is determined of spaced two cameras in position to image at least a portion of the surface. The three-dimensional coordinates of at least some of the first set of images are determined with the cameras, from which are calculated an initial pose of the projector. Each of the at least some of the first set of images are matched with a corresponding source element, from which matching an improved projector pose is determined. The three-dimensional coordinates of at least some of the second set of images are determined using the improved projector pose and the cameras, and the surface is characterized from the three-dimensional coordinates of the first and the second set of images.

Abstract: A color management module which accepts input color image data and transforms the input color image data into output color image data based on information contained in at least one color profile, wherein the color management module includes an interface to an externally provided, pluggable gamut mapping module which is accessed by the color management module to map the input color image data from an input color gamut into an output color gamut.

Abstract: A resampling system and method for producing a resampled destination image from a source image by solving coefficients for a cubic polynomial transition model between first and second adjacent source pixels from the sample values of the first and second samples and approximations of the first and second sample gradients at the first and second samples, respectively. Approximations of the first and second color gradients are based on a multiple of first and second color slopes, such as twice the value of the color slope. The first color slope is calculated from the sample values of a previous pixel and the first sample and the second sample slope is calculated from the sample values of a subsequent sample and the second sample. The resulting gradient approximations and sample values are used in the cubic transition model to calculate an output sample value for rendering a resampled destination image.

Abstract: An automatic method for processing a color form includes: a) scanning the color form in color space, forming a digital color image, and converting the digital color image into a two-dimensional binary image in chrominance space; and b) conducting a color form dropout process.

Abstract: A system and method for acquiring, processing, and comparing an image with a stored image to determine if a match exists. In particular, the system refines the image data associated with an object based on pre-stored color values, such as flesh tone color. The system includes a storage element for storing flesh tone colors of a plurality of people, and a defining stage for localizing a region of interest in the image. A combination stage combines the unrefined region of interest with one or more pre-stored flesh tone colors to refine the region of interest based on color. This flesh tone color matching ensures that at least a portion of the image corresponding to the unrefined region of interest having flesh tone color is incorporated into the refined region of interest. Hence, the system can localize the head, based on the flesh tone color of the skin of the face in a rapid manner. According to one practice, the refined region of interest is smaller than or about equal to the unrefined region of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting object based on feature matching between segmented regions in images are provided.

Abstract: Red-eye detection based on red region detection with eye confirmation initially identifies pixels that correspond to the color of red-eye within an image. A determination is then made as to whether these identified pixels and surrounding areas are part of an eye or not part of an eye. Those identified pixels that are determined to be part of an eye are the detected red-eye regions.

Abstract: The present application relates to document boundary determination.

Abstract: Color correction method for correcting the colors of photographic images represented by image data, said image data defining color values, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for modifying images characterized in that it includes the ability to assign colour intensity values to pixels exposed during image manipulation operations comprising:

Abstract: A method for constructing a database having image information representing a plurality of images including the steps of: a) calculating L×5 number of normalized edge histogram bins to generate L number of edge histograms of a target image, wherein each edge histogram has five normalized edge histogram bins and represents a spatial distribution of five reference edges in a sub-image and L is a positive integer, wherein the reference edges include four directional edges and a non-directional edge; b) non-linearly quantizing the L×5 number of normalized edge histogram bins to generate L×5 number of quantization index values for the target image; c) storing the L×5 number of quantization index values to the database; and d) repeating the steps a) to c) until all of the stored images are processed to thereby construct the database having the image information.

Abstract: System and method of locating objects positioned in front of a user interactive, computer controlled display area performed by calibrating the system to obtain a coordinate location mapping function and an intensity mapping function between the display area and the captured display area in the capture area of an image capture device. Once calibrated, objects can be located during real-time system operation by converting display area image data using the mapping functions to obtain expected captured display area data, capturing the display area image to obtain actual captured display area data, and comparing the expected and actual data to determine the location of objects in front of the display area in the capture area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of performing high-quality image reproduction to even low-density and color characters in an original is provided. The character is recognized from an image, the character of the original is expanded into a dot font based on the recognition result, and the image is reproduced. Furthermore, the character density of the original is detected, a character style of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character density, a size of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character density, and density of the character used in the reproduction image is also determined according to the detected character density. Furthermore, a color of the character of the original is detected, and a color of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character color.

Abstract: In the apparatus for searching corresponding points between an input image and a reference image, a reference image and an input image are received through an image input section. The division process section produces a reference partial image and an input partial image. The similarity degree image production section respectively produces similarity degree images whose similarity degree between the reference partial image and the input partial image. The accumulation-addition processing section recursively performs an accumulation-addition of a plurality of similarity degrees. Based on the result, the corresponding points determination section determines the corresponding points between the input image and the reference image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for searching character image in an image whether the characters are incorporated into an image or separately picked up from a flip card, which are difficult to be detected by the prior art. The invention enables the character strings thereby detected to be searched in a common framework without relying on the language or the character font. An image is chosen, a character region is detected from the frame of the chosen image on the basis of its shape, and a visual feature of the character area is extracted. On the other hand, a character string to be searched for which has been entered by a character input means is drawn as an image, and a visual feature is extracted from the character area image. The visual feature of the obtained character area and the visual feature of the character area image are matched to determine a level of similarity, and the character region containing a character string the level of similarity of which has been determined is outputted.

Abstract: An image processing method for detecting an object from an input image using a template image, including inputting a specified image with respect to both a template image and an input image, calculating an edge normal direction vector of said specified image, generating an evaluation vector from said edge normal direction vector, subjecting the evaluation vector to orthogonal transformation, a step of performing a product sum calculation of corresponding spectral data with respect to each evaluation vector that has been subjected to orthogonal transformation and has been obtained for each of said template image and said input image, and a step of subjecting it to inverse orthogonal transformation and generating a similarity value map. The formula of the similarity value, the orthogonal transformation, and the inverse orthogonal transformation each have linearity.

Abstract: A method, system, and machine-readable medium for classifying an image element as one of a plurality of categories, including assigning the image element based on a ratio between an unoccluded perimeter of the image element and an occluded perimeter of the image element and coding the image element according to a coding scheme associated with the category to which the image element is classified. Exemplary applications include image compression, where categories include image foreground and background layers.

Abstract: A method of encoding a visual object. The method includes encoding the visual object to obtain compressed coded data using at least one of a plurality of different operations which can be performed on a block by block basis. The method also includes encoding information associated with a computational complexity of decoding the compressed coded data. The encoded information relates to the number of times each of the plurality of different operations is performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, device, computer program product, and method for representing a plurality of electronic ink data points. According to one embodiment, the system includes a first computing device having a writing stylus, a handwriting capture interface, a processing element and a transmitter. The handwriting capture interface captures a plurality of electronic ink data points based upon a position of the writing stylus, while the processing element is capable of determining a derivative of at least the second order of the electronic ink data points. The transmitter transmits data representative of the high-order derivative of the electronic ink data points. The system also includes a second computing device capable of receiving the data. The second computing device includes a processing element for reconstructing the electronic ink data points based upon the high-order derivative and independent of all but one of the electronic ink data points originally captured.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image forming apparatus utilizing the image processing apparatus that can decrease deterioration of image quality even when misjudgment occurs in judging a type of an image, such as a halftone-dot area and an edge area of a character, when performing predetermined image processing on the image. When an area judgment unit 440 judges that a target pixel is in an edge area of a character that is present on a halftone-dot area (when any one of signals S17 to S20 is “high”), an operation of image processing to be performed on the target pixel is switched in accordance with whether the target pixel is a color pixel or not and whether the halftone-dot area is a color area or not.