Abstract: Part of the (synthetic material) substrate (8) of a display is combined with a light source, e.g. a LED (14) and a photodetector (20) to be used as an optical microphone. A membrane (11) is formed which deforms due to air pressure fluctuations caused by sound waves. The fluctuations are detected by the photodetector for further processing.

Abstract: A multichannel hearing aid is provided with at least one frequency channel having a compressor with a compression threshold with an output level below the hearing threshold and an attack time above 0.5 seconds whereby hearing of a sudden sound in a stationary sound environment is facilitated.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hearing aid as well as a hearing aid having at least one input transducer for picking up an input signal and converting it into an electrical signal, having an A/D converter for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, having a signal processing unit for processing the digital signal and having an output transducer that the electrical input signal be compressed before the A/D conversion based on the criterion of a compression characteristic, and that the compressed digital signal or a signal proceeding from it can be expanded after the A/D conversion based on the criterion of an expansion characteristic that is at least approximately inverse relative to the compression characteristic.

Abstract: An acoustic element comprising a platelike active element. The platelike active element comprises creases. The creases can be produced such that the platelike active element forms a space comprising at least one opening and/or gap, whereby the space and the opening and/or the gap constitute a Hemholz resonator.

Abstract: A headphone device according to the present invention includes an earpad (5) to be worn from the outside of the ear (15) on the head (14), and a housing (4) that is provided with a speaker unit as well as a fitting portion (8) on which the earpad (5) is fit. The earpad (5) comprise a cushion (9) and a facing (10) that covers the cushion (9). The earpad (5) can be attached to and detached from the housing (4). By means of making it possible to detach the facing (10) from the cushion (9) as well, a headphone device can be obtained, in which the earpad can be kept clean and that have improved hygiene.

Abstract: An image processing method comprises the steps of developing coded data into image data by analyzing them, at the same time, creating the positional information within one display of the image data, discriminating the area to embed a pattern that indicates a specific addition information therein in accordance with the kind of image data and the positional information created in the development step at the time of development, and embedding the information hardly discriminately by eye-sight in the area discriminated in the discrimination step.

Abstract: A value added watermarking technology is provided to permit enhanced information services. In such a technology a characteristic pattern is derived for a piece of content and the characteristic pattern is associated with content-related information. The content-related information may be stored in a remote database and retrieved using the characteristic pattern. The characteristic pattern is translated in a watermark to be embedded in the piece of content. After embedding in the piece of content, the watermark enables a user to access the content-related information when playing out marked content with a player equipped with the appropriate software to detect and read the watermark.

Abstract: A system and a method for attaining a selectable image sequence are provided. The system includes a viewer display component configured to transmit a request from a user's interface component for the selectable image sequence. The request obtains a handle which corresponds to the selectable image sequence, a display description in which the handle is embedded and a reply response containing the handle that corresponds to the selectable image. The viewer display component is also configured to receive the reply response and to render the selectable image sequence on a display screen of the user's interface component.

Abstract: A digital watermark in video includes a plural-bit payload that sets different permissions governing usage of the video. One bit, for example, may flag whether fast-forwarding of the video is permitted. Another may flag whether storage in non-encrypted form is permitted. A compliant video appliance governs its actions in accordance with such flag data provided by a video watermark detector.

Abstract: A method for detecting persons or objects in a detection zone covering a mechanical system that is to be controlled as a function of propel or objects being detected at present in the detection zone an initialization phase consisting in checking the hardware and software elements of a monitoring processor coupled to a control device for controlling the mechanical system; a processing loop comprises for active camera connected to the processor and covering the detection zone: acquiring and processing an image supplied by the camera in order to generate detection data and determine which commands to apply to the control device; and checking both the image quality and the position of the camera relative to the detection zone; and a phase in which the control device is controlled using commands determined in the processing loop and as a function of any faults detected while carrying out the checks.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for relief texture map flipping. The relief texture map flipping technique provides realistic avatar animation in a computationally efficient manner.

Abstract: In the method of motion estimation a tree (120) of segments (102-114) of an image (100) is generated by performing a hierarchical segmentation. The tree (120) of segments is analyzed to control the generation of a set (118) of candidate motion vectors of a segment (104). For the motion vectors of the set (118) match penalties are calculated. Finally, a particular motion vector (116) is selected from the set (118) of candidate motion vectors on the basis of match penalties. In the method of depth estimation depth data is calculated on the basis of a motion vector and the rules of parallax.

Abstract: An image/map association division displays map data stored in a map data storing division, and sets a plurality of segment points and a “path” (route) sandwiched by two segment points on a map. The image/map association division reproduces video data stored in an image data storing division, and displays the map data stored in the map data storing division. If the route set on the map and desired frames of the video data being reproduced are designated via an operation division, association data for associating the segment points at both ends of the “route” with the designated frames is generated and it is stored in the association data storing division.

Abstract: A method of recognizing a test face given an imprecise localization and/or a partially occluded face. Using an eigenspace representation of the test face, a subspace is computed that represents localization errors within the eigenspace. This is computed by calculating an actual localization error of the localization of the test face. Accounting for the calculated actual localization error, all possible morphed faces are projected onto the eigenspace. For all possible faces, the subspace is modeled where all of the possible localizations of the possible faces lie using of a Gaussian distribution. To accommodate for possible partial occlusions, for all possible faces, the possible faces are divided into n different local parts. Each of the n local parts are modeled using a Gaussian distribution. A global identity of the test face is computed by adding all local probabilities defined by the Gaussian distribution.

Abstract: Provided is a method of transforming an image of a biometric surface comprising the steps of sensing a biometric surface to provide biometric image data, receiving data relating to a plurality of parameters for use in transforming image data different parameters for resulting in differently transformed image data for a same biometric image data, the data received from another processor, transforming the biometric image data in accordance with the received data to provide transformed biometric image data in a format relating to the received data, and providing the transformed biometric image data as output image data having the format, wherein the transformed biometric image data is different for different parameters enabling provision of images of a same biometric surface having different image formats. There is further provided a biometric imaging device for executing the above described method, as well as memory for storing data, relevant to the above-described method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic fingerprint identification method. In the method according to the invention, identification is executed in three phases. In coarse alignment (32), fingerprints are compared using a few reference points. In fine alignment (33), coincidence of fingerprint minutiae are used to find the best fingerprint matching transformation. In the matching phase (34), individual minutiae of the fingerprint examined and a known template are matched against one another, and parameters are computed from matching minutiae, which parameters are used in making the final identification.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an endoscope including the steps of placing a calibration target in front of the endoscope, capturing an image frame of the calibration target by the endoscope, determining a pixel value for each pixel of the image frame, comparing each pixel value with a reference value and determining a compensation value for each pixel.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional data set assigns data values to positions in a multi-dimensional geometrical space. A visualization is derived from the multi-dimensional data set, for example, by way of a volume or surface rendering technique. The visualization is reproduced on a display and parts that have been missed in the display are detected and indicated. For example, a new representation is made on the basis of the detected missed parts, for example, from another point of view and/or another field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus having image processing function performs image processing method. In the image processing method, a first portion of data is acquired as a data stream obtained from image data that has been sequentially converted and encoded, then the acquired data is decoded to obtain a two-dimensional image. The two-dimensional image is analyzed to determine a region of interest within the two-dimensional image. Then, a second portion of data is acquired as a data stream obtained from the image data based on the region of interest. Thus, areas that are useful to the diagnosis can be displayed promptly and in detail.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the repositioning of imaging, digital systems, particularly for medical applications, upon employment of a first image dataset as well as of a position acquisition system with position sensors, comprising an image reconstruction system (5) that uses a position viewing algorithm to calculate the anticipated view from the modified position data and displays it on a picture screen (6).

Abstract: A point of sale terminal includes an input device, for reading information to be stored as part of a financial transaction, and a storage device in which data derived from the information is stored, with the amount of data stored being determined by the financial value of the transaction. The terminal may include a document scanner providing an image of a check or of another form of identification associated with a check, and a digitizing tablet, which provides an indication of movement of a pen or stylus to form a signature. The terminal may also include optical character recognition, which is used to obtain a name and address from the check, which is also stored according to the value of the check.

Abstract: In a pattern inspecting apparatus, images of places which have been detected by repeating stage scan and stored successively in the order of detection and which can be expected to be the same pattern are compared with one another, then different places are selected as defect candidates, and a place which has become a defect candidate twice is regarded as a true defect. However, a comparison of images obtained by different stage scans and the occurrence of a place capable of being inspected only once lead to a deterioration in the performance of detecting various error defects and an area incapable of being inspected, respectively.

Abstract: There are provided a 3D-shape displaying program and an image processing apparatus which can display complicated three-dimensional objects by employing a distinctive data structure, and which allows the positional relationship between a specific point such as a character and a plane of a 3D-object to be easily grasped. A regular octahedron whose vertices are on one of the three-dimensional axes is used as a basic 3D-shape. Each of the eight planes of the regular octahedron is previously subdivided into a plurality of triangular regions, which are given specific ID numbers which can identify addresses in a memory. In the memory, a data storage area is previously secured for each ID number, where data such as a distance from the origin to each vertex of the triangle, a plane equation for the triangle, and a surface pattern are stored.

Abstract: When a CG image is synthesized with an actually photographic image (dynamic image), it is controlled that the synthesized image becomes unnatural. An image pickup section 2 picks up a plate 1 while moving. When synthesizing a ball formed through CG with a continuous image picked up by the image pickup section 2, how 12 patterns (in the portion enclosed by a frame 21) Aj (j=1, . . . , 12) present nearby a ball 5 are transformed in the continuous image picked up by the image pickup section 2 is shown by a rotational transform function and a rectilinear transform function to obtain the synthesis position of the projected image of the ball 5 in each image by using the rotational transform function and rectilinear transform function.

Abstract: A three-dimensional information processing apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional information from an object having a three-dimensional shape, and performing predetermined information processing, comprises: a camera for sensing images of the object from a plurality of coordinate positions using an image sensing system having one or a plurality of optical systems. A plurality of depth information are extracted from image sensing related information sensed by the camera at the plurality of coordinate positions, and the plurality of extracted depth information are converted and unified into depth information expressed by a unified coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of producing left and right eye images for a stereoscopic display from an original 2D image including the steps of: a) identifying at least one object within said original image, b) outlining said or each object, c) defining a depth characteristic for said or each object, d) respectively displacing selected areas of said or each image by a determined amount in a lateral direction as a function of the depth characteristic of said or each object, to form two stretched images for viewing by the left and right eyes of the viewer.

Abstract: An image recognizing apparatus and method is provided for recognizing behavior of a mobile unit accurately with an image of external environment acquired during the mobile unit is moving.

Abstract: A system for separating text and drawings in a digital ink file (e.g., a handwritten digital ink file). A stroke analyzer classifies single strokes that have been input by a user as “text” or “unknown.” The stroke analyzer utilizes a trainable classifier, such as a support vector machine. A grouping component is provided that groups text strokes in an attempt to form text objects (e.g., words, characters, or letters). The grouping component also groups unknown strokes in an attempt to form objects (e.g., shapes, drawings, or even text). A trainable classifier, such as a support vector machine, evaluates the grouped strokes to determine if they are objects.

Abstract: The present invention comprehensively acquires a make-up color image and provides a make-up color image classification method and make-up color image map that enables make-up to be applied effectively. A color image index indicating warm/cool and a color image index indicating light/heavy are formed as two coordinate axes and the colors located therealong, the make-up color image is classified and a make-up color image map produced, making it possible to achieve a make-up color image accurately and easily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for an illuminant compensation. In particular, these methods and systems include a method for operations on an image, for example, an image of a human face. In the described methods and systems, it is determined for each pixel in the image whether it is part of the face region. A surface fitting is then determined based on only the pixels that are determined to be part of the face region. Also, described are methods and systems for image normalization wherein the standard deviation and average for the gray levels of the pixels are determined and then used to normalize the image so that the gray level for each of the pixels falls between a particular range.

Abstract: The same circuitry is used for effecting FIR filtering and color space transformation. The input to a multiply-add array of a conventional FIR filter is appropriately multiplexed to provide the alternative uses of the same multiply-add array. In this manner, for example, the same multiply-add array can be used for scaling an image and for transforming the image from one color space to another.

Abstract: After identification of an image or image area where correction is to be effected for red-eye defects, and identification of eye regions within the image or the image area, color data from the area is provided, collected or analyzed according to color channel information. The color channel information may be defined for specific or collections of wavelength values or color content values, usually with at least two channels, up to four or more color channels used to carry all of the information (and with digital images, pixel information) for each color. By using color channel information, local color content information can be readily accessed and evaluated, and after the exact nature or degree of a red-eye effect is determined from evaluation of the color channel information, the data may be readily corrected by a number of different techniques.

Abstract: An image comparing apparatus for comparing a particular inspect image with a search image containing a subject shown on the inspect image, including a search-image supplying unit storing therein a plurality of search images, an image acquisition unit acquiring information characterizing the subject image, the image acquisition unit selectively extracting at least one search image from the search image supplying unit according to the acquired information, and an image specifying unit specifying a particular search image by comparing the inspect image with each of the search-images extracted by the image acquisition unit.

Abstract: A system and method for processing digital video. The invention allows for manual level and gain adjustment of the video similar to that used in a histogram based automatic level and gain control system using a cumulative distribution function. Level changes are made by an offset to the existing automatic level and gain. Level changes are first made by applying an offset L and the midscale gray intensity bin on the histogram is located. Gain changes are made by changing the relative gain multiplier (G) which acts on the automatic level and gain algorithm causing the gain to change equally about midscale gray (i.e., midscale gray is maintained). In accordance with the invention, as part of the histogram based manual level and gain algorithm, the local gain is clipped to a predetermined maximum in order to prevent an overly noisy picture when too much gain is applied. The inventive method determines how to prevent a shift in the level when increasing the gain (i.e., G>1) even when clipping is applied.

Abstract: A system and method for performing pattern matching to locate an instance of one or more of a plurality of template images in a target image. In a preprocessing phase a unified signal transform (UST) is determined from the template images. The UST converts each template image to a generalized frequency domain. The UST is applied at a generalized frequency to each template image to calculate corresponding generalized frequency component values (GFCVs) for each template image. At runtime, the target image is received, and the UST is applied at the generalized frequency to the target image to calculate a corresponding GFCV. The UST may be applied to pixel subsets of the template and target images. A best match is determined between the GFCV of the target image and the GFCVs of each template image. Finally, information indicating the best match template image from the set of template images is output.

Abstract: It is controlled by a non-transformation coefficient calculated by a non-transformation calculation section, whether feedback is performed or not. When the feedback is ended, a collation value calculation section calculates a collation value (coincidence coefficient×non-transformation coefficient). A display process section compares the collation value with a predetermined threshold value. When the collation value is a threshold value or more, a signature is decided as a true signature, and the transformation-corrected image and the reference image are displayed such that these images overlap.

Abstract: An object recognition apparatus comprises a moving picture decoding section which decodes data obtained by encoding a moving picture. A background image producing section produces a background image based on encoding information and a reproduction image. An object recognizing section sets a predetermined region to detect a feature quantity of an object, and carries out matching between the reproduction image and the background image, thereby recognizing the object in the moving picture.

Abstract: An input image is subjected to transform by a DCT transforming unit 20. A coefficient analyzing unit 30 compares a predetermined coefficient and coefficient data 120, and obtains low-frequency image data 150 of the input image by a high-frequency coefficient masking unit 50 and an inverse DCT unit 60 on the basis of a result of that comparison. A pixel subsampling unit 70 receives this low-frequency image data 150, and generates a subsampled image on the basis of the aforementioned result of comparison. The subsampled image and coefficient information are transmitted to a decoding side. A decoding apparatus decodes an image on the basis of the subsampled image and the coefficient information.

Abstract: An apparatus for coding keys of graphic animation data and a method thereof are provided. The coding apparatus for encoding key data corresponding to time variables among graphic animation comprises a quantizer which quantizes the key data and generates quantized data; a differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) processing unit which DPCM processes the quantized data, receives the DPCM processed data, and by repeatedly performing DPCM processing, selects and outputs DPCM data having the lowest dispersion among N-th order DPCM data generated in the DPCM processing; a polar value removing unit which reduces the range of data by removing a polar value in the DPCM data output form the DPCM processing unit; and an entropy encoder which removes the redundancy of binary bits in the data output from the polar value removing unit and generates a compressed and encoded binary bit stream.

Abstract: The present invention operates as an expert system to automatically determine an optimal method for reducing the size of an electronic file containing at least one embedded image by determining optimal methods for compressing each image. Further, in one embodiment, linked images are also compressed. User control of relevant parameters such as image compression options, retention or removal of unnecessary data associated with embedded or linked images, and downsampling images to better match the output resolution of specific output devices is provided in further embodiments. Further, to prevent cumulative degradation of images through repeated lossy compression, images that have already been compressed or optimized are preferably flagged so that they are not compressed more than once.

Abstract: To compress and encode an image by dividing the image into units of blocks, a method in which features of each block are detected and different operations are applied according to the features has been used often so as to reduce coding distortion and improve subjective image quality, but this method requires additional information representing features of blocks to be recorded and transmitted together, thereby deteriorating the coding efficiency. A rounding operation with respect to a calculation result is modified so that the rounding operation is varied according to features detected as to each block. By so doing, adaptive compressing and coding is implemented by only the processing upon coding, without recording or transmitting additional information.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus according to the present invention comprises, as shown in FIG.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of serializing frequency based image data in a digital cinema system is described. At least one group of data that may be represented as a 16×16 block of data is compiled. Alternatively, a frame of data is compiled. The group of data is divided into four groups, each which may be represented as an 8×8 blocks. Each of the four 8×8 blocks of data are serialized using zig-zag scanning vertical scanning, and/or horizontal scanning.

Abstract: A method of noise removal from a digital image, especially moiré noise, comprising providing a three-dimensional representation of a at least one image color channel as a surface over the plane of the image, creating a virtual surface patch, placing the surface patch against topography in the three-dimensional surface mapping of the image so that the virtual surface patch intersects topography of the three-dimensional surface with respect to at least some pixels of the image surface region, adjusting the height, tilt and curvature of the surface patch with respect the image surface in order to optimally represent the surface, then estimating a palliative value for the image surface for at least one pixel within the area of the surface patch from the adjustment of the surface patch, and replacing the value of the at least one pixel in the at least one image color channel with the palliative value.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed that allows a user to participate in a given content selection or to substitute any of the actors or characters in the content selection. A user can modify an image by replacing an image of an actor with an image of the corresponding user (or a selected third party). Various parameters associated with the actor to be replaced are estimated for each frame. A static model is obtained of the user (or the selected third party). A face synthesis technique modifies the user model according to the estimated parameters associated with the selected actor. A video integration stage superimposes the modified user model over the actor in the original image sequence to produce an output video sequence containing the user (or selected third party) in the position of the original actor.

Abstract: An image processing method takes advantage of the recursive rendering capabilities of graphics hardware devices to blur images in real-time, without a significant amount of computational precision. The image blurring method makes copies of the image to be blurred, transforms the copies using different transformation amounts, and then averages the transformed images together into a blended image. This general process is repeated a predetermined number of times, using the blended image in the subsequent steps, to generate a blurred image.

Abstract: An original image signal, which represents an original image and are composed of original image signal components representing a plurality of sampling points, that are arrayed at predetermined intervals and in a lattice-like form, is obtained. A judgment is made as to whether an interpolation point belongs to an image edge portion, at which the change in the original image signal is sharp, or belongs to a flat portion, at which the change in the original image signal is unsharp. Interpolating operation processes, one of which is to be employed for the interpolation point, is changed over to each other in accordance with the results of the judgment.

Abstract: Configurable image processing logic is provided for use in image processing devices. The configurable image processing logic includes memory and a plurality of image processing logic modules implementing different image processing algorithms. The logic modules are selectively configured and operated via communication logic that allows for a variety of different paths through the image processing logic modules to form an applicable image processing pipeline for a given image processing data/task.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laundry retaining device comprising a strap and a bag. The strap is suitable for retaining larger articles of clothing that have openings to pass the strap through, such as shirts and shorts. The bag, preferably a mesh bag, retains smaller articles of clothing or articles that do not have openings to pass the strap through. The device allows for the washing and drying of a set or several sets of clothes at once without having to sort and recreate each set of laundered clothes.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for turbo-machines containing a bearing housing, a rotor mounted on a rotor shaft in an overhung position, and a roller bearing set. The roller bearing set contains at least two roller bearings arranged on a one-part cylindrical bearing carrier with a minimum installed clearance. The bearing carrier is inserted into a bearing bore of the bearing housing leaving a radial installed gap that permits dampened movements of vibration. The carrier is supported on the peripheral side of the bore with initially tensioned, elastic vibration damping elements.