Abstract: A system for a droplet detection device to monitor the dispensing operation in an ultra high throughput (uHTS) system. The system includes a microtitre plate with a defined number of wells and well walls, a dispenser for dispensing fluids into the wells, an illuminating sensor to extract image features from the wells and well walls, and a controller for analyzing the extracted image features to determine the presence or absence of the dispensing fluid on the wells and well walls.

Abstract: Calibration and normalization methods for a grating-based sensor design are disclosed. The sensor may be constructed in a manner optimized for both label-free and luminescence, e.g. fluorescence, amplification detection in a single device. Such a sensor, based on grating or another periodical structure with appropriate coating, dramatically increases the diversity of applications and allows realizing novel concepts that provide qualitative and quantitative information/data for each location or capture element in the sensor surface. The invention takes advantage of these different modes to carry out a quality control (QC) step and a calibration of each individual location of the sensor. Thus, the assay data can be flagged according to their quality and local density variations, batch variations and variations in the printed deposition of probes or the materials to the surface can be compensated.

Abstract: A system for creating an inspection recipe, includes an inspection target selection module selecting an inspection target; a critical area extraction module extracting corresponding critical areas for defect sizes in the inspection target; a defect density prediction module extracting corresponding defect densities predicted by defects to be detected in the inspection target for the defect sizes; a killer defect calculation module calculating corresponding numbers of killer defects in the defect sizes based on the critical areas and the defect densities; and a detection expectation calculation module calculating another numbers of the killer defects expected to be detected for prospective inspection recipes determining rates of defect detection for the defect sizes, based on the numbers of the killer defects and the rates of defect detection prescribed in the prospective inspection recipes.

Abstract: To provide a device that analyzes the matching data upon determining conditions for the inspection using data processing equipment and that analyzes differences between inspection tools, thereby significantly improving and upgrading the operability of data importing and improving the usability, the present invention comprises data processing equipment connected through a communication line to a plurality of appearance inspection tools for detecting defects in a plurality of samples and a plurality of review tools for acquiring images of the defects to acquire features of the defects, wherein inspection data related to the defects in the plurality of samples from the plurality of appearance inspection tools and review data acquired by the plurality of review tools with respect to the defects are displayed on a display of the data processing equipment, and, in response to an instruction for acquiring data other than the inspection data or the review data displayed on the display, the data processing equipment a

Abstract: A computer-based method for measuring digital images of a workpiece includes: reading each of images of different parts of the workpiece from a source file and merging all the images to generate a combined image of the workpiece; selecting an object to be measured on the combined image; extracting an image of the selected object from the combined image; and measuring the selected object on the extracted image and displaying measuring results. A related system is also provided.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and method for vision processing on a network based intelligent service robot system and a system using the same. A robot can move to a target object, avoiding obstacles without helps of a robot server interfaced with a robot terminal over network, by extracting/processing three-dimensional distance information of external objects, using a stereo camera, a low price image processing dedicated chip and an embedded processor. Therefore, the intelligent robot can travel and move using only a stereo camera image processing without other sensors, and further provides users with various functional services with low expense.

Abstract: An isosurfacial three-dimensional imaging system and method uses scanning electron microscopy for surface imaging of an assumed opaque object providing a series of tilt images for generating a sinogram of the object and a voxel data set for generating a three-dimensional image of the object having exterior surfaces some of which may be obscured so as to provide exterior three-dimensional surface imaging of objects including hidden surfaces normally obscured from stereographic view.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a dynamic depth of stereo-view or multi-view images. The method includes receiving stereo-view or multi-view images, generating a disparity histogram by estimating the disparity of two images corresponding to the received images and measuring the frequency of the estimated disparity, determining the disparity control amount of the stereo-view or multi-view images by convoluting the generated disparity histogram and a characteristic function, and rearranging stereo-view or multi-view input images by controlling parallax according to the control amount of parity.

Abstract: By applying identification processing to each index included in a captured image, a set of an identifier, image coordinates, and an image number is acquired for each index, and the acquired set is registered in a data saving unit. The data saving unit manages the numbers of times of previous identification for respective identifiers. A display unit displays the number of times managed in association with an identifier in a set to be registered every time the set is registered. An index position and orientation calculation unit calculates the positions and orientations of indices corresponding to a set group using the set group registered in a memory.

Abstract: A local bi-gram model object recognition system and method for constructing a local bi-gram model and using the model to recognize objects in a query image. In a learning phase, the local bi-gram model is constructed that represents objects found in a set of training images. The local bi-gram model is a local spatial model that only models the relationship of neighboring features without any knowledge of their global context. Object recognition is performed by finding a set of matching primitives in the query image. A tree structure of matching primitives is generated and a search is performed to find a tree structure of matching primitives that obeys the local bi-gram model. The local bi-gram model can be found using unsupervised learning. The system and method also can be used to recognize objects unsupervised that are undergoing non-rigid transformations for both object instance recognition and category recognition.

Abstract: A hue segmentation system and method thereof suitable for image devices are described. First, a plurality of hue segments are generated based on color data of a plurality of colors in a color gamut. Then, the area difference between the hue segments and the color gamut is calculated. If the area difference is greater than a predetermined value, the hue segmentation system searches at least one vertex among the hue segments to divide the segments for generating a plurality of additional hue segments. The above-mentioned steps are performed repeatedly until the area difference is less than the predetermined value. Thus fewer hue segments indicate the color gamut of color processing of the image devices to effectively decrease calculation times and save required memory.

Abstract: A character image can be readily formed into an image appropriate as a pictographic character for use in an E-mail document. A mobile telephone is equipped with a character image registering system that registers a pictographic character formed from a character image generated by an imaging operation. A character component detecting part detects a character component from the character image to be subjected to image processing. A character image cutting part cuts the image corresponding to a portion including the detected character component. An image processing part adjusts a color of the character component and a color of a background on the basis of different criteria, respectively, with respect to the cut image. Further, the image processing part adjusts a line width of the character component or changes the color of the character component in accordance with a request through an operation unit, as appropriate.

Abstract: A method for discriminating a color of an object image. Whether unit data showing a color of a part of the object image corresponds to any position on a two-dimensional color plane is discriminated. A distribution value showing a width of a distribution range of the unit data in the color plane is acquired based on the discrimination result. Whether the object image corresponds to a full color image having mixed color expression, a specific color image not having mixed color expression or an achromatic color image is discriminated based on the distribution value.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus converts a color image signal into a luminance signal and a color signal in a predetermined color space (111), and performs tone conversion processing on the luminance signal on the basis of a predetermined tone conversion characteristic (112). A function for chroma correction processing is then set using the luminance signal, the tone conversion-processed luminance signal, a maximum value of the luminance signal in the color space, and a luminance value when a maximum chroma is indicated in a hue region to which the color image signal belongs, as parameters (113), whereupon chroma correction processing is performed on the color signal using the luminance signal, the tone conversion-processed luminance signal, and the set function (114).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for color image restoration and enhancement. In at least one embodiment, color signals for individual channels of an image (e.g., red, green, or blue) are adjusted based on a weighted set of averages (e.g., of the entire image, the center portion, the surrounding portion, or other portions). In one example, pixels with extreme values of color signals (e.g., pure black or white pixels) are ignored for the purposes of restoring color; and, the different averages are weighted according to the pixel location (e.g., the distance from the pixel to a center point). In one example, after color restoration for individual channels, the luminance of each pixel is adjusted back to their original levels; and the range of luminance of the image is further adjusted to provide improved brightness and contrast, where in determining the luminance the red, green and blue color channels are given an equal weight.

Abstract: A method of automated image calibration that corrects for non-uniform illumination and calibrates color that is simple, fast, automated, accurate and reliable. A gray balance algorithm is applied to correct for non-uniform illumination and a color calibration algorithm is then applied to calibrate the human subject data. The system has been applied in multiple clinical sites with different instruments.

Abstract: An adaptive interpolation technique with artifact reduction is described that technique generates digital images with full-color RGB (red, green, blue) information, from raw pictures (e.g., Bayer-mosaiced single-color images) created by single-CCD digital cameras. The technique employs an improved criterion for choosing the interpolation criterion, which takes into account an output interpolated value. It employs small changes to filter coefficients, for better results and accommodation of “correction attenuation”. In one embodiment, the technique further employs a “correction attenuation” step, which reduces “color sprinkling” artifacts for certain kinds of diagonal edges. The technique makes only a single pass over the image; all colors are interpolated during that pass, vice the multiple passes required by other better performing algorithms (in some cases over ten).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an effective method of representing a set of digital objects across at least two category-based dimensions for facilitating efficient access to such objects. These digital objects are typically media objects such as digital image files, digital video clips, digital audio objects, such as “MP3” files, or other digital documents that can be collected by a user and distributed over a variety of storage media and storage locations.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus creates a brightness histogram of image data including a plurality of pixel data composed of a plurality of color data. The image processing apparatus includes: a histogram storage memory which stores number information used to specify the number of pixels classified by the similar colors by classification; an address generating unit which generates address data by masking some of the color data included in the pixel data; and a histogram creating unit which accesses the histogram storage memory and creates the brightness histogram by incrementing the number information specified as an address generated by the address generating unit.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus and image processing method including an image separation processing section for separating an inputted image signal into a transparent image portion having transparency and a background image by detecting a pixel data common among a plurality of frames within the inputted image signal; a frame interpolator that performs frame interpolation using the separated background image; and a composition processing section for combining the frame-interpolated background image with the separated transparent image portion, wherein the frame interpolation is performed only to the background image so that the influence on the frame interpolation of the transparent image portion is reduced.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus 100 comprises the image pickup unit 1 to pick up an image of the subject which a user desires, a detecting of the face image area which includes the face of the subject person in the picked-up image based on the image information of the picked-up image, a recognizing of the expression of the face in the detected face image area, a ranking of the face image areas in the order of good smile of the recognized expressions and a displaying of the face image areas F arranged in the order of ranking and the entire picked-up image G on the same screen.

Abstract: A method for segmenting at least a pair of regions of an image. High resolution data is obtained of the image. Each one of the pair of the regions in the image is marked. Graph cuts are used on the downsampled data to obtain first voxels along an outer boundary of a selected one of the pair of marked regions and second voxels along an inner boundary the selected region. The graphs cuts are projected to the previously obtained high-resolution image data. First and second sets of seeds are placed on the first voxels and a second set of seeds respectively. The first seeds grow into first areas extending inwardly of the selected region while simultaneously the second seeds grow into second areas extending towards the first extending areas until the first areas and the second areas meet to thereby establish the outer boundary of the selected region.

Abstract: The document generating apparatus is provided with: an acquiring unit that acquires information on a first operation on a display screen and information on a second operation on the display screen, the first operation being for designating a part area of an image as an area to be included in an electronic document, and the second operation being for setting a size of a medium on which the electronic document is printed; an adjusting unit that adjusts the part area of the image designated in the first operation into the medium of which size is set in the second operation; and a generating unit that generates the electronic document based on the image adjusted by the adjusting unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying data patterns from data comprising at least one data object, said data having at least one existing pattern class associated therewith, said data object being represented by a base feature vector, at least one of said base feature vectors having a structure of higher-level and lower-level feature vectors such that at least one element of a higher-level feature vector is itself a lower-level feature vector.

Abstract: A method for displaying an input string of character codes as a sequence of glyphs. In one implementation, an ordered list of instructions for transforming an input string of character codes may be generated using syntax-directed translation. The ordered list of instructions may be executed to generate a sequence of glyph indices. A sequence of glyphs corresponding to the sequence of glyph indices may be displayed.

Abstract: A handwriting apparatus includes unit acquiring first-handwriting data, unit storing one-stroke-handwriting data and a first command as an instruction, the instruction corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data and being executed with a device, unit, when the first-handwriting data corresponds to one stroke, searching the storage unit for the first command corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data corresponding to the one stroke, unit planning to execute the first command when the corresponding first command is searched out from the storage unit, unit storing one-stroke-handwriting data and a second command as an instruction which corresponds to the one-stroke-handwriting data, the second command being different from the first command, unit regarding the first-handwriting data as one-stroke-handwriting data at time intervals and search the storage unit for the second command corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data, and unit, when the corresponding second command is searched out from the

Abstract: A character input apparatus, includes a detection unit configured to detect coordinate data of handwriting, a handwriting display unit configured to sequentially display styled handwriting obtained by styling the handwriting during handwriting operation in accordance with a designated text style and the coordinate data, a recognition unit configured to recognize a character corresponding to the handwriting, and a character display unit configured to display a styled character obtained by styling the recognized character in accordance with the text style and the coordinate data.

Abstract: A forward pass through a sequence of strokes representing a handwritten equation is performed from the first stroke to the last stroke in the sequence. At each stroke, a path score is determined for a plurality of symbol-relation pairs that each represents a symbol and its spatial relation to a predecessor symbol. A symbol graph having nodes and links is constructed by backtracking through the strokes from the last stroke to the first stroke and assigning scores to the links based on the path scores for the symbol-relation pairs. The symbol graph is used to recognize a mathematical expression based in part on the scores for the links and the mathematical expression is stored.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that when executed cause a method to be carried out. The method includes dividing at least a portion of a picture of a video stream into parts of blocks, and processing the parts in parallel by a plurality of interconnected processors. The processing of a respective part by its respective processor includes determining block-level temporal difference features. Each processor also performs coding functions on its respective part of the picture. The method also includes block-level processing using the block-level temporal difference features to determine which blocks in the picture are likely to be that of a face, the block-level processing being at the granularity of at least a block. In one version, the processing in each processor includes edge detection and color segmentation to determine block-level edge features including block-level color-segmented edge features that are then used in the block level processing.

Abstract: An image search apparatus and method is provided for searching plural images stored in storage for specific images. The apparatus includes an object setting unit that sets plural objects on a certain region of a screen of the image search apparatus, each object having at least one attribute of shape, size, color, and texture; a feature extraction unit that extracts a relative positional relationship between the plural objects and an attribute of the respective object as a feature that is used when searching for the specific images; and an image extraction unit that extracts images having the extracted feature from the plural images stored in the storage.

Abstract: Feature information collecting apparatuses, methods, and programs acquire vehicle position information that represents the current position of a vehicle, acquire image information for a vicinity of the vehicle, and carry out image recognition processing on recognition target objects that are included in the image information. The apparatuses, methods, and programs store recognition information in a memory that represents a result of the image recognition of the recognition target objects in association with information for the recognition position of the recognition target objects, the recognition position determined based on the vehicle position information.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an image based on singular value decomposition is provided. The system includes: a feature point extracting module for extracting at least one of feature points from an input image using strength of a Gaussian curvature of each pixel from the input image; an identifier detecting module for detecting a local identifier based on SVD (singular value decomposition) for blocks adjacent to the extracted feature points; and a matching module for determining whether an image is duplicated or not by comparing the detected local identifier from the identifier detecting module with an image database storing at least one of images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate templates from web images for searching an image database are described. In one embodiment, one or more retrieved images (e.g., from the Web) may be used to generate one or more templates. The templates may be used to search an image database based on features commonly shared between sub-images of the retrieved images. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting an error in an image data stream in a device environment where digital image data is reproduced, especially, in a wired/wireless network such as a personal portable device. The method comprises determining whether or not an error is present in an input image data stream; determining a similarity between patterns of transform coefficients that are generated in the course of decoding the input image data stream; and detecting the starting position of the error based on the similarity determination. Accordingly, a decoder can independently detect the position of the error accurately, and the quality of an image which is replaced and restored using error concealment can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated safety system having at least one projector to direct electromagnetic energy into a region of space associated with a security, warning, or safety zone. A detector or detectors senses an interruption of the electromagnetic energy in the region of space by an object or person that may enter the space. The system includes a processor and a storage component, wherein the processor determines the interruption by comparing a current image from the detector with a previously stored image in the storage component. Upon detection, the processor triggers an event based upon the comparison, whereby the event includes such aspects as activating an output, de-energizing a machine, sounding a warning, sounding an alarm, storing data associated with the event, and sending a notification to a local or a remote system, for example.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for facilitating visual identification of a prohibited object in an image during security screening are provided. Data derived from an apparatus that scans the receptacle with penetrating radiation conveying an image of the contents of a receptacle is received. Information from an automated threat detection processor is also received and indicates an area of interest in the image potentially containing a prohibited object. The image is then processed to generate an enhanced image. In a first example, portions of the enhanced image outside the area of interest are visually de-emphasized. In a second example, features appearing inside the area of interest are visually emphasized. The enhanced image is then displayed on a display device. Optionally, thumbnail images associated with previously screened receptacles are displayed and a user is enabled to select one or more thumbnail images. An enhanced image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is then displayed.

Abstract: A video discrimination apparatus executes learning processing by acquiring a plurality of sample video pictures and information indicating a category of each sample video picture, classifying sample video pictures of each category into subcategories, determining a subcategory with a closest relation to each sample video picture for each combination of subcategories, which are selected one each from the respective categories, and calculating, for each combination of subcategories, a video discrimination parameter based on the frequency of occurrence of matches between a category to which the subcategory determined to have the closest relation to each sample video picture belongs and a category of that sample video picture. The video discrimination apparatus executes video discrimination processing for classifying video pictures into categories based on the integration result of a plurality of video discrimination parameters obtained by the learning processing.

Abstract: A video analyzing unit 1 analyzes features of an input video. A video classifying unit 2 estimates, based on results of an analysis by the video analyzing unit 1, whether the input video is one shot by a professional cameraman or one shot by an amateur to carry out classification. The video analyzing unit 1 includes a shot density measuring unit 11, a camera-shake determining unit 12, a blur determining unit 13, and a contrast measuring unit 14. Further, a sound analyzing unit that analyzes features of a sound accompanying the input video can be provided to use results of an analysis thereof as information for video classification.

Abstract: Retinal images can be classified by selecting a classifier and a figure of merit for quantifying classification quality; selecting a transform to generate features from input data; using a recursive process of functional dissipation to generate dissipative features from the features generated according to the transform; computing the figure of merit for all of the dissipative features generated; searching for at least one of the dissipative features that maximize the figure of merit on a training set; and classifying a test set with the classifier by using the “at least one of the dissipative features.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for character string recognition may be provided that enables prevention of a decrease in recognition accuracy for a character string even when distortion of an image appears in a direction perpendicular to a medium transfer direction.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for compressing a set of digital images to achieve an average compressed data rate over the entire set. A subset of images are selected from the set of images. A threshold viewing distance and a desired average compressed data rate are specified, and compression parameters are determined from the threshold viewing distance. The subset of images is compressed with the compression parameters to produce compressed data, and an average compressed data rate is calculated for the compressed data from the subset of images. The average compressed data rate for the subset of images is compared to the desired average data rate. If the average compressed data rate for the subset of images is less than or equal to the desired average compressed data rate, remaining images from the image sequence that are not in the subset of images are compressed using the compression parameters that were used for the subset of images.

Abstract: The image processing device of the present invention includes: an image acquiring section (2) acquiring image data; an image data generating section (32) generating attribute data including each attribute value indicative of an attribute to which each of a plurality of pixels constituting an image indicated by the image data acquired by the image acquiring section (2) belongs among predetermined attributes; and image data reducing section (34) reducing the attribute data by converting, to one attribute value, at least two attribute values included in the attribute data generated by the attribute data generating section, according to a priority given to the each attribute value. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize an image processing device that can reduce the attribute data while keeping important information included in the attribute data, and further improve encoding efficiency of the attribute data.

Abstract: A method of coding (decoding) an image comprised of a pixel block divided into a plurality of sub-blocks, which method autonomously determines an order of optimal coding (decoding) adapted to a correlation between adjacent sub-blocks without providing additional information. This method pays attention to context information accompanying the image information and instructing a correlation direction between pictures and so on, sequentially predicts a reference sub-block serving the best coding (decoding) efficiency among adjacent reference sub-blocks to be referred to for the coding (decoding) based on the correlation direction, and determining the order of coding (decoding) according to this prediction.

Abstract: An image distribution apparatus divides image data of a single frame into a plurality of blocks, orthogonally transforms the blocks and calculates transformation coefficients, quantizes the calculated transformation coefficients, codes the quantized transformation coefficients, and distributes the coded image data. The image distribution apparatus acquires the quantized transformation coefficients, stores the acquired transformation coefficients in a storage unit, calculates differences between the transformation coefficients of a first frame and the transformation coefficients of a second frame stored in the storage unit in a unit of block, counts blocks whose difference values calculated above are equal to or greater than a predetermined value as changing blocks of the first frame, and determines that the first frame has changed when the counted number of blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A system for selectively handling information. In an example embodiment, the system includes a first mechanism for processing information pertaining to one or more sub-blocks of a macroblock in a first stream and a second stream, and outputting a first processed stream and a second processed stream in response thereto. A second mechanism selectively combines information in the first processed stream and the second processed stream and provides an updated version of the first stream or the second stream to the first mechanism in response thereto. In a more specific embodiment, the first mechanism includes a processor, such as in intra 4×4 search, module, that processes a sub-block of a macroblock by performing intra prediction for the sub-block. The processor is adapted to process sub-blocks of a macroblock in parallel, such as in a pipelined fashion or via separate engines capable of operating in parallel.

Abstract: An image processing technology is provided that lends itself to improving precision of image matching. Keyframe to keyframe matching point information is generated by combining image frame to image frame corresponding point information obtained by computing matching in a group of image frames which includes a first keyframe and a second keyframe as a source and a destination, respectively. Image matching between the first and second keyframes is directly computed by using, of the entire keyframe to keyframe corresponding point information, the corresponding point information evaluated to be highly reliable as a constraint condition.

Abstract: An image stabilization method and an image stabilization device for processing a target image in a video stream are provided. A target accumulated global vector of the target image is first calculated. Then, a low-pass filtering procedure is performed on the target accumulated global vector to generate a final motion vector. Subsequently, the target image is adjusted based on the final motion vector. Thereby, the target image is stabilized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-view image are provided. The method of encoding the multi-view image can use a difference in views between pictures of the multi-view image, add an image area obtained from a picture at one view at a first time to a picture at another view at a second time, thereby generating a reference picture, and perform prediction encoding using the generated reference picture, thereby increasing prediction encoding efficiency.

Abstract: An image distribution apparatus divides image data of a single frame into a plurality of blocks, orthogonally transforms the blocks and calculates transformation coefficients, quantizes the calculated transformation coefficients, codes the quantized transformation coefficients, and distributes the coded image data. The image distribution apparatus acquires the quantized transformation coefficients, stores the acquired transformation coefficients in a storage unit, calculates differences between the transformation coefficients of a first frame and the transformation coefficients of a second frame stored in the storage unit in a unit of block, counts blocks whose difference values calculated above are equal to or greater than a predetermined value as changing blocks of the first frame, and determines that the first frame has changed when the counted number of blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.