Abstract: Measures for dynamically regulating the microphone sensitivity of a MEMS microphone component at low frequencies by way of variable roll-off behavior are proposed. The micromechanical microphone structure of the component, which is implemented in a layer structure on a semiconductor substrate, encompasses an acoustically active diaphragm having leakage openings which spans a sound opening in the substrate back side, and a stationary acoustically permeable counterelement having through openings which is disposed in the layer structure above/below the diaphragm. The component furthermore encompasses a capacitor assemblage for signal sensing, having at least one deflectable electrode on the diaphragm and at least one stationary electrode on the counterelement, and an arrangement for implementing a relative motion between the diaphragm and counterelement parallel to the layer planes.

Abstract: An ear muff and headphone device having a warmth optimizing mode and a sound optimizing mode includes an earmuff body including at least one coupling element disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of said earmuff body. A cushioning member is mounted on an interior side of the earmuff body, said cushioning member defining a rim area having a perimeter. At least one insulator member having at least one coupling element able to be releasably attached to the at least one coupling element of the earmuff body is provided.

Abstract: The embodiments herein disclose a system and a method for managing and sharing at-least one lottery ticket via a plurality of mobile devices. The system comprises a central server and a plurality of mobile devices. The plurality of mobile devices is connected to the central server via a communication media. The plurality of mobile devices comprises a data capturing unit, a data processing unit and a data sharing unit. The data capturing unit captures an image of a lottery ticket. The data processing unit converts a captured data into a plurality of data packets. The data processing unit compresses the plurality of data packets. The data sharing unit transfers the plurality of compressed data packets to the central server as well as a plurality of user devices. The central server implements a software application which reassembles the plurality of data packets received from the data sharing unit to form the lottery ticket.

Abstract: A security document or device is provided which includes at least one area formed from a transparent plastics material which is exposed on at least one side to form a window or half-window, and a first colour shifting ink composition and a second colour shifting ink composition which both include different colour pigments and interference pigments but which both, at a first viewing angle, exhibit substantially the same colour when the interference pigments are viewable, and at other angles exhibit different colours when viewing the colour pigments.

Abstract: A method of encoding a hidden image in high frequency spatial frequencies of a line pattern of a host image. A set of host image spatial frequencies is generated based on a predefined mapping of a domain of a set of representative scalar values of the hidden image mage and a domain of the host image spatial frequencies. The line pattern of the host image is generated based on the set of host image spatial frequencies. The host image may be composed of tiles containing parallel line segments, with each tile encoding a corresponding one of the scalar values. The host image may be composed of a stochastic line pattern generated from a white noise image convolved with a space variable kernel based on the predefined domain mapping. The hidden image may be decoded algorithmically or optically in a single step.

Abstract: A three-dimensional position and orientation tracking system comprises one or more pattern tags, each comprising a plurality of contrasting portions, a tracker for obtaining image information about the pattern tags, a database with geometric information describing patterns on pattern tags; and a controller for receiving and processing the image information from the tracker, accessing the database to retrieve geometric information, and comparing the image information with the geometric information. The contrasting portions are arranged in a rotationally asymmetric pattern and at least one of the contrasting portions on a pattern tag has a perimeter that has a mathematically describable curved section. The perimeter of the contrasting portion may comprise a conic section, including for example an ellipse or a circle. The tracking system can be implemented in a surgical monitoring system in which the pattern tags are attached to tracking markers or are themselves tracking markers.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein for solving for surface normals of objects in the scene observed in a video stream. The system and method may include sampling the video stream to generate a set of keyframes; generating hypothesis surface normals for a set of mappoints in each of the keyframes; warping patches of corresponding mappoints in a first keyframe to the viewpoint of a second keyframe with a warping matrix computed from each of the hypothesis surface normals; scoring warping errors between each hypothesis surface normal in the two keyframes; and discarding hypothesis surface normals with high warping errors between the first and second keyframes.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for fast visual simultaneous localization and mapping are described. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional (3D) target is initialized immediately from a first reference image and prior to processing a subsequent image. In one embodiment, one or more subsequent reference images are processed, and the 3D target is tracked in six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, the 3D target is refined based on the processed the one or more subsequent images.

Abstract: A method of filtering an electronic medical record (EMR) based on a selected body part (SBP). The method may be controlled by one or more controllers and may include one or more acts of obtaining image information of a patient, analyzing the image information using an object recognition method, identifying a SBP of the patient based upon the analyzing of the image information, and filtering the EMR of the patient in accordance with the SBP.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for estimating gravity and/or scale in a mobile device are presented. A difference between an image-based pose and an inertia-based pose is using to update the estimations of gravity and/or scale. The image-based pose is computed from two poses and is scaled with the estimation of scale prior to the difference. The inertia-based pose is computed from accelerometer measurements, which are adjusted by the estimation for gravity.

Abstract: A candidate output element configured to output recognition target commodities as candidates of a recognized commodity in a descending order of the similarity degrees calculated by the similarity degree calculation element, a distance measurement element configured to measure the distance from the image capturing section to a commodity photographed by the image capturing section, and a changing element configured to change the number of candidates of a recognized commodity output by the candidate output element according to the distance measured by the distance measurement element.

Abstract: A commodity recognition apparatus comprises a feature amount extraction unit configured to extract the appearance feature amount of a commodity contained in an image captured by an image capturing section; a distance measurement unit configured to measure the distance from the image capturing section to a commodity captured by the image capturing section; a file selection unit configured to select a recognition dictionary file corresponding to the distance measured by the distance measurement unit from the recognition dictionary files for each distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a library apparatus capable of indicating an availability state of a slot according to the availability state of the slot that a magazine has. The storage library apparatus 1 rotates the first position P that indicates a usable state of a slot 7 by a first protection lever 4 being pushed by a accessor 3 which can convey, contacts against in a stopper 6, accordingly, is fixed by a lock component 5 and is fixed to the lock component 5 by rotating a second position R that indicates the unusable state of a slot 7.

Abstract: A commodity recognition apparatus comprises an image interface, a memory and a processor. The image interface is configured to acquire a commodity image captured by a camera. The memory is configured to store a candidate of a commodity recognized from the commodity image acquired by the image interface. The processor is configured to try to read a commodity recognition code from the commodity image acquired by the image interface and reset the candidate of the commodity stored in the memory if the commodity recognition code is read.

Abstract: Distances between edges which are detected and paired from images which show a driver's face are computed sequentially. Based on a change in the computed distances, a low-probability candidate for a pair of eyelid edges is eliminated. The edge pairs ultimately remaining as a result thereof are detected as upper eyelid edge and lower eyelid edge pairings. It is thus possible to carry out a detection which takes into account not only a feature which is near to an eyelid edge, but also movement as an eyelid. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect edges of a driver's eyelids.

Abstract: The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.

Abstract: An image processing method for generating a vehicular image includes the following steps: providing a first image, wherein the first image has a first specific region, and pixel data of each pixel in the first specific region is converted to a predetermined value; providing a second image, and overlapping the first image and the second image to form an overlapping region; comparing the predetermined value with pixel data of each pixel in the first image overlapped on the second image to generate a comparison result; and determining whether pixel data of each pixel in the overlapping region is pixel data of the first image or pixel data of the second image according to the comparison result, and accordingly generating the vehicular image.

Abstract: This invention proposes an identification system for license plates captured in low-quality motion video, such as accidental footage from security cameras, amateur video, cell phones, etc, including situations when the license plate number is completely unreadable. This is done by dividing the surface of the license plate into a pattern of segments assigned to a number of groups, each group possessing unique optical properties such as shading, reflectivity, IR absorption, etc. Taking advantage of the the varied light response among the segment groups, the pattern can encode identifying information, e.g. a binary sequence, which helps identify the vehicle. Using image processing software, this information can be decoded from low-quality video footage via an analysis of temporally correlated luminance levels.

Abstract: Multiple-object speed tracking apparatuses are disclosed, including a camera configured to capture a set of images of a monitored area (e.g., a roadway). The camera's longitudinal axis may be positioned at any viewing angle relative to a longitudinal axis of a roadway such that at least two moving objects moving on the roadway are included in a set of high or low resolution images. A computer system is configured to analyze the set of images to detect the two moving objects and substantially simultaneously determine a calculated rate of speed of at least one of the two moving objects. The computer system also provides an on-site speed calibration process for transforming locations of an image among the set of images into real-world coordinates by considering both perspective and scale of the image. An apparatus mount for at least one of either the camera or the computer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing seismic data may include receiving input seismic data (di) comprising N spatial coordinates, where the input seismic data is in a first spatial domain, expanding the N spatial coordinates of the input seismic data (di) to N? modified spatial coordinates, where N? is greater than N, to provide spatially expanded seismic data (de) that is in a second spatial domain, transforming the spatially expanded seismic data (de) to a model domain to provide model domain data (dm), and generating a final image (df) of a subsurface using the model domain data (dm).

Abstract: An image display apparatus used while it is mounted on a user's head or facial area includes a display unit configured to display an inside image viewable from the user; an input unit configured to input an identification pattern from the user; a checking unit configured to check the identification pattern; and a control unit configured to control the image display apparatus on the basis of a result of the checking by the checking unit.

Abstract: An identification apparatus keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications, and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. The apparatus comprises a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or structure for a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member is located in the guide member where a fingertip is positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with where a finger to be imaged should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images. The apparatus may also include dual light sources power saving functionality, and means for limiting the interference of external light sources.

Abstract: A method for performing truncation artifact correction includes acquiring a projection dataset of a patient, the projection dataset including measured data and truncated data, generating an initial estimate of a boundary between the measured data and the truncated data, using the measured data to revise the initial estimate of the boundary, estimating the truncated data using the revised estimate of the boundary, and using the measured data and the estimated truncated data to generate an image of the patient.

Abstract: Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for method and apparatus for tissue region identification may include segmenting the image into a plurality of regions, filtering out regions in the plurality of regions which are curvilinear, and isolating a target area where the tissue sample is identified as the plurality of regions not filtered.

Abstract: Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for orienting tissue samples for comparison may include incrementally rotating orientation of a first image by a predetermined rotation angle while maintaining orientation of a second image at a fixed angle, checking alignment of the orientation of the first image with the orientation of the second image at each predetermined rotation angle by matching a plurality of points in the first image and the second image, determining whether a predetermined rotation angle is a correct rotation angle for alignment based on a count of the plurality of points being greater than a threshold value and rotating to the next predetermined rotation angle when the count of the plurality of points is less than or equal to a threshold value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a method is provided that includes obtaining mole image information; detecting a particular mole from among the one or more moles based on the mole image information to provide particular mole image information; obtaining mole diameter information; analyzing the particular mole image information to determine (i) whether the particular mole is substantially asymmetrical, (ii) whether a border of the particular mole is substantially circular, and (iii) whether the particular mole comprises one or more substantially different colors to provide asymmetry, border, and color (ABC) analysis data; analyzing the mole diameter information to determine whether an estimated diameter of the particular mole exceeds a predetermined threshold to provide diameter (D) analysis data; and generating a plurality of melanoma risk assessments for the particular mole based on at least the ABC analysis data and the D analysis data.

Abstract: One variation of a method for triggering blood cell salvage for a patient includes: processing a first photographic image of a canister to estimate a content of a blood component within the canister; processing a second photographic image of a gauze sponge to estimate a content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; estimating an aggregate salvageable blood component content for the patient based on the estimated content of the blood component within the canister and the estimated content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; and in response to the estimated aggregate salvageable blood component content exceeding a threshold salvageable blood component content, generating a prompt to salvage the blood component from fluid within the canister and from the gauze sponge.

Abstract: Improvement is made in efficiency of positioning between images when comparing a plurality of images to perform a radiographic image interpretation in an image diagnosis assisting apparatus. An image diagnosis assisting apparatus, which assists an image diagnosis by use of registration among a plurality of images, comprises: a radiographic image interpretation terminal (104) for executing the registration; and storage devices (101, 103) for storing model images and the like to be used for the registration. The radiographic image interpretation terminal (104) executes the registration among the plurality of images by use of a positioning reference area, which was defined beforehand in a model image selected on the basis of both a purpose of checking the plurality of images and a part of interest and also by use of parameters of the registration determined on the basis of a manipulation of checking the plurality of images.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered a multi-layer quality control/quality assurance system that provides higher quality data, without human intervention, by rejecting images that do not achieve a pre-determined quality threshold. In some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a new method of processing an image from a data set through a pipeline wherein quality control/assurance allows to determine a quality of the image processing, the method comprising; receiving a test image; pre-processing the test image; registering the test image to a reference image; calculating a test image quality using a correlation of image intensity values between corresponding locations of the test image and the reference image; providing a plurality of training images and calculating training image quality distribution statistics for the training images with respect to the reference image; and relating the test image quality to the training image quality distribution.

Abstract: In order to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method for detecting deterioration of a transducer of an ultrasound probe in which or by which deterioration of a transducer of an ultrasound probe can be correctly detected, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasound probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a tomographic image constructing part for constructing a tomographic image from reflected echo signals received with the ultrasound probe is provided with a brightness analyzing part for analyzing brightness of a plurality of regions of interest in the tomographic image, and a judging part for judging whether a transducer of the ultrasound probe has deteriorated or not on the basis of analyzed brightness.

Abstract: A novel and useful mechanism for generating a fly-through review for digital images such as tissue sample scans. A fly-through path based on the sample image is determined and one or more fly-through curves are generated. Two-dimensional image manipulations are applied to the sample image in accordance with the one or more fly-through curves and any user preferences to generate a sequence of frame images to be displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for penalized-likelihood reconstruction of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) image includes generating a regularization function in which a smoothing parameter is modulated by one or more data-independent spatially variable modulation factors to compensate for sensitivity variations in a PET voxel dataset, and reconstructing the PET image from the PET emission dataset using the regularization function.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for partial volume correction in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) image reconstruction includes receiving emission data related to an activity distribution, reconstructing the activity distribution from the emission data by maximizing a penalized-likelihood objective function to produce a reconstructed PET image, quantifying an activity concentration in a region of interest of the reconstructed PET image to produce an uncorrected quantitation, and correcting the uncorrected quantitation based on a pre-calculated contrast recovery coefficient value to account for a partial volume error in the uncorrected quantitation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for quantifying fat and iron in anatomical tissue includes acquiring a plurality of multi-echo signal datasets representative of the anatomical tissue using a magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence. A plurality of multi-echo signal datasets are selected from the plurality of multi-echo signal datasets and used to determine a first water magnitude value and a first fat magnitude value. In response to determining that the multi-echo signal datasets include at least three multi-echo datasets, a first stage analysis is performed. This first stage analysis comprises selecting a first effective transverse relaxation rate value. Next, first algorithm inputs comprising the first water magnitude value, the first fat magnitude value, and the first effective transverse relation rate value are created.

Abstract: A method of image reconstruction for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes obtaining k-space scan data captured by the MRI system, the k-space scan data being representative of an undersampled region over time, iteratively reconstructing preliminary dynamic images for the undersampled region from the k-space scan data via optimization of a first instance of a minimization problem, the minimization problem including a regularization term weighted by a weighting parameter array, generating a motion determination indicative of an extent to which each location of the undersampled region exhibits motion over time based on the preliminary dynamic images, and iteratively reconstructing motion-compensated dynamic images for the region from the k-space scan data via optimization of a second instance of the minimization problem, the second instance having the weighting parameter array altered as a function of the motion determination.

Abstract: An apparatus for delineating a structure of interest includes: a plane selection interface for selecting a contouring plane of selectable orientation in a three-dimensional image or map; a contouring interface for defining a contour in the selected contour plane; and a mesh constructor configured to construct a three-dimensional polygonal mesh delineating the structure of interest in the three-dimensional image or map. The mesh constructor positions constrained vertices on or near a plurality of non-coplanar delineation contours defined using the contouring interface.

Abstract: Physician interactive workstations with global voxel distribution visualization may also include one or more of a 3-D color scale image of a population of voxel in target regions, organs or systems. The workstation may be configured to evaluate intensity or other measures of voxels of patient images associated with tissue for early detection of a global injury.

Abstract: A subtraction image is generated by performing subtraction between a mask image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing an object, at least of a specific region of which does not include contrast medium, and a live image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing the object which includes the contrast medium. The emphasis degree serving as the degree of emphasis processing for the subtraction image is determined based on at least either the mask image or live image. The emphasis processing is performed for the subtraction image based on the emphasis degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure from x-ray images.

Abstract: A method is described for correlating microscopy images from a number of modalities in a sub diffraction resolution environment. The method may include receiving a number of datasets that may represent microscopy captures from a number of different modalities. The microscopy captures may contain feature markers that may be used to register a number of data points contained in a dataset with data points from another dataset. Upon registering the data points of the datasets, a combined dataset may be produced and a visual image of the combined dataset may be provided.

Abstract: A method of classifying, with a computer processor, at least one feature of cells from a low contrast, digital image. The method includes generating a contrast-enhanced image by applying a high-pass filter to the low contrast, digital image. The contrast-enhanced image is smoothed with a first low pass filter. A background image, generated from the low contrast, digital image, is subtracted from the smoothed, contrast-enhanced image to form an analysis image. The at least one feature is identified in analysis image.

Abstract: A paper medium identifying device and an identifying method. The paper medium identifying device comprises an image data obtaining unit, a faulty wire detecting unit, an image dividing unit, a standard template data storage unit, a comprehensive analyzing unit, a new template generating unit and a judging unit. The paper medium identifying device divides the standard template into new sub-templates by dividing the template from a faulty wire position as margin, and then matches the sub-templates with a papery medium image which being identified so as to avoid the influence of faulty wires on the template match identification and improve the acceptance rate of the papery medium identifying device.

Abstract: A user interface for setting parameters for an edge location video tool is provided. In one implementation, the user interface includes a multi-dimensional parameter space representation with edge zones that allows a user to adjust a single parameter combination indicator in a zone in order to adjust multiple edge detection parameters for detecting a corresponding edge. The edge zones indicate the edge features that are detectable when the parameter combination indicator is placed within the edge zones. In another implementation, representations of multiple edge features that are detectable by different possible combinations of the edge detection parameters are automatically provided in one or more windows. When a user selects one of the edge feature representation, the corresponding combination of edge detection parameters is set as the parameters for the edge location video tool.

Abstract: An optical inspection method including the following steps is disclosed. A tester is utilized to obtain an image of an inspection object. A target image region of the image is determined. Multiple central coordinates of multiple inspection ranges of a target image region are obtained. The central coordinates are filled to an array, and then the central coordinates are reordered according to relative relationships of the central coordinates to obtain a reordered coordinate array. The reordered coordinate array is compared with an original coordinate array to inspect whether parts of the inspection object corresponding to the inspection ranges are missed.

Abstract: An image processing method is configured to denoise three-dimensional image data. The image processing method includes an image transform step of performing a frequency transform for the three-dimensional image data in the optical axis direction and of calculating three-dimensional transformed image data, an image modulation step of reducing an absolute value of the three-dimensional transformed image data in a specific frequency region and of calculating three-dimensional modulated image data, and an inverse image transform step of performing an inverse frequency transform corresponding to the frequency transform for the three-dimensional modulated image data in the optical axis direction and of calculating three-dimensional inversely transformed image data. The specific frequency region is a part of a predetermined.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a luminance extraction means to extract luminance components of an input image; a contrast extraction means to extract contrast components of the input image based on the luminance components of the input image extracted by the luminance extraction means; a storage means to store a performance function indicating relation between the contrast components of the input image and depth amounts subjectively perceived, which is determined based at least in part on visual sense characteristics of human beings; and a contrast adjustment means to calculate present depth amounts of the input image from the contrast components of the input image extracted by the contrast extraction means based at least in part on the performance function with respect to region of the input image which are determined from depth information of the input image and adjusting contrast components of the input image.

Abstract: Methods and composition for denoising digital camera images are provided herein. The method is based on directly measuring the local statistical structure of natural images in a large training set that has been corrupted with noise mimicking digital camera noise. The measured statistics are conditional means of the ground truth pixel value given a local context of input pixels. Each conditional mean is the Bayes optimal (minimum mean squared error) estimate given the specific local context. The conditional means are measured and applied recursively (e.g., the second conditional mean is measured after denoising with the first conditional mean). Each local context vector consists of only three variables, and hence the conditional means can be measured directly without prior assumptions about the underlying probability distributions, and they can be stored in fixed lookup tables.

Abstract: When a printing fee is changed, if a printing fee is changed to one for a color amount that is smaller than an actual color amount of an input image, an image processing apparatus automatically performs image processing in order to maximize the color amount at the selected printing fee and prints an image processing result.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for identifying and locating an object in an image. In embodiments, an object in an image may be identified by segmenting a first image of an object into one or more superpixels; extracting local descriptors from the first image, each of the descriptors having an interest point with a location; correlating the local descriptors to the superpixels based on locations of the local descriptors and superpixels; determining a probability for an object label for each of a set of the superpixels; and assigning an object label to each of the set of the superpixels based on the probability and a smoothness factor that includes weighting in terms of one or more of spatial, colors, angular distances between superpixels. The superpixels of an image may be concatenated to predict an object label for the image and to determine the location of the image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus detects boundaries from an image; extracts straight-line segments from the boundaries; detects a region where differences between pixel values of near pixels located across the segments are larger than, or at least a predetermined first value; classifies the segments in the region into four sides of quadrangles; detects colors or densities in outer areas of the four sides; selects combinations that differences between the colors or the densities corresponding to the segments in the combinations are no more than, or smaller than a predetermined second value, from the combinations of the four sides that possibly form the quadrangles; detects coordinates of four vertexes obtained when the segments in the combinations are extended, and a combination that an area of a quadrangle formed by the corresponding four coordinates satisfies a predetermined condition; and corrects the quadrangle formed by the combination to a rectangle.