Abstract: In a black character detection processing, RGB data read from a line buffer is converted into YIQ data. For a subject pixel, a subject area centered on the subject pixel is set, and a judgment pixel that has the lowest brightness in the subject area is set. Then, a judgment area is set as being centered on the judgment pixel. If the absolute values of the averages of chroma components I and Q in the judgment area are both less than the corresponding thresholds T1 and T2, the subject pixel is determined as being an achromatic pixel. Black codes are added to fine-line pixels and edge pixels if the fine-line pixels and edge pixels are determined as being achromatic. Thus, the fine-line pixels and edge pixels can be specified as to be printed in black monochromatic ink. Therefore, black character or similar fine-line or edge part images can be outputted with high quality.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reduced image generating part generating a reduced image having a lower resolution than that of an original digital image. A first extracting part distinctly extracts a first foreground image and a first background image from the reduced image. A first continuous tone converting part converts, into a continuous tone, a halftone dot pattern of the first background image extracted from the reduced image. A combining part combines the first background image of which halftone dot pattern is converted into the continuous tone and an image based on the first foreground image extracted by the first extracting part.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing digital multi-colour images for the reproduction thereof on a colour printing and/or copying system. Image dots of marking particles of the respective colours associated with the respective colour separation images are positioned contiguous to each other as long as the print area corresponding to the image part to be reproduced is not fully covered so as to create a first layer of marking particles. If the area is fully covered and the image is not yet completely rendered, a second and any following layer of contiguously positioned marking particles is formed on top of the first layer of image dots. The halftoning of the digital image is such that within the same layer all images dots, irrespective of their colour, are obtained using a raster of the same matrix structure, while image dots associated with different layers are obtained using rasters of different matrix structures.

Abstract: According to an image processing method for performing color processing in accordance with a plurality of image objects, image data representing the plurality of image objects is input. The relationship between the plurality of image objects is analyzed. The plurality of image objects are grouped based on the result of analysis. The same color processing condition is set for the plurality of image objects belonging to the same group. Thus, the same color processing condition is set for the plurality of image objects divided from a single original image, thereby obtaining a high-quality output image.

Abstract: A line memory has a source image area and a decoration image area allocated thereto. The source image area sequentially retains partial source image data corresponding to at least one line of a screenful of a source image. The decoration image area retains decoration image data corresponding to a decoration image for decoration of the source image. An image superimposing circuit repeatedly performs superimposing processing to superimpose the partial source image data retained in the line memory with partial decoration image data corresponding to the partial source image data, until a screenful of the source image is superimposed. Thus, the source image data and the decoration image data can be superimposed without use of a system bus. This can prevent increase in system bus utilization.

Abstract: An image of a picture frame photographed on a photo film is displayed on a screen of an image input device, or is printed out as a hard copy. A graphic image is written by a user in the image of the picture frame, and graphic data of the graphic image is detected from the image of the picture frame having the graphic image written therein. The graphic data is associated with the picture frame, and is transferred from the user to a photofinisher through electronic transmission, or is recorded on a data recording medium which is forwarded to the photofinisher along with the photo film. A synthetic print containing the picture frame and the graphic image is made from the picture frame and the graphic data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying an input image as black and white or color is described. The method calculates a first ratio of a color pixel portion to a total pixel portion in the input image. Next, the method calculates a second ratio of the color pixel portion to a combined pixel portion in the input image, where the combined pixel portion comprises the color pixel portion and a dark black and white pixel portion. Finally, the method returns an indication the input image is black and white if the first ratio is less than a first threshold and the second ratio is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: In case of a “N-up” function, a correcting unit executes a correcting process operation with respect to an image read by an image input unit, a editing unit executes a magnification changing process operation, and thereafter, “N” sheets of images are placed side by side to form a single synthesized image at a time when the processed image is stored into a storage unit 15. When transmitting the synthesized image, an attribute of the image set from a U/I is added to the synthesized image and the control unit transmits the resulting image to an external apparatus. As a result, a reception side can execute an optimum processing operation with respect to the synthesized image with reference to the attribute added to the image. As a consequence, even in a “network copy”, the “N-up” function can be realized in a high image quality similar to that of a “direct copy”.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically inspecting a display employs sub-pixel accuracy for each primary color to take into account angle of rotation. The method includes capturing images of a display with R×S sensors; determining sets of sensor coordinates mapping to a pixel, determining multiple misalignment angles between the pixel on the display and the R×S sensors, determining multiple x scaling ratios, determining multiple weighting factors associated with R×S sensors in response to the corresponding multiple misalignment angle and the corresponding multiple x and y scaling ratios, determining multiple luminance values for R×S sensors, determining multiple total luminance values in response to the weighting factors and the luminance values, forming scaled images including first and second luminance values, and inspecting the scaled image to identify potential defects of the pixel on the display.

Abstract: A camera system includes a display monitor which displays an image of an object, taken by an optical unit, on a screen of the monitor. A reading unit reads a preceding image and a current image among a plurality of partially overlapping images, from a memory device, the preceding image and the current image containing a common element. A determining unit determines a positional relation between the preceding image and the current image based on a common pattern derived from the common element in the two adjacent images read by the reading unit. A displaying unit displays an image indicating a boundary of the preceding image on the screen of the monitor at a shifted position according to the positional relation determined by the determining unit, with the current image concurrently displayed on the screen of the monitor.

Abstract: Images may be registered using temporal (time-based) and spatial information. In a film implementation, because film is a sequence of frames, using information from neighboring frames may enable a temporally smoother visual experience. In addition, it may be beneficial to take advantage of the fact that consecutive frames are often shifted similarly during the photographic process. Distortion measures may be used that discount candidate transformations that are considered to be too far from one or more preferred transformations, such as, for example, an optimal transformation from another frame or block or a currently-optimal transformation from the same frame/block. Composite color images may be processed to provide registration of underlying components.

Abstract: A method and system for fusing image data includes an electronic circuit (L) for synchronizing image frames. An adaptive lookup table unit (302a, 302b) receives the image frame data sets and applies correction factors to individual pixels. The size of an image is then scaled or otherwise manipulated as desired by data formatting processors (312a and 312b). Multiple images communicated within parallel circuit branches (P1 and P2) are aligned and registered together with sub-pixel resolution.

Abstract: When a shutter button of a digital camera is pressed, a picture signal fetched from a CCD is converted to a digital signal and compressed and written into a nonvolatile memory means like a flash memory card as a picture file which can be identified uniquely. A user can produce a control file for controlling print processing, display processing, transmission processing and the like for the picture file by selecting a particular picture file using an operation key. If multi-screen print is carried out on a printer unit, a vertical direction of each picture is unified. Further, upon reprint operation for multiple order persons, sorting work after the print is facilitated by providing with an identification means for identifying each order person.

Abstract: A print drive is present in an electronic pre-press workflow that includes a raster image processor (“RIP”) and an output device to receive, store, combine and transmit raster data processed by the raster image processor. A prepress imposition scheme is created at the front end and processed by the RIP. Prepress imposition parameters are used to generate a press sheet template image, which is transmitted to the print drive. The print drive is capable of applying the press sheet template to page raster data on demand to form a multi-page press sheet assembly so that raster images of individual pages remain independent. Among other benefits, this improves electronic prepress workflow by eliminating the need to generate combined raster images of multi-page press sheets to correct or modify a portion of the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for generating a printable representation of multimedia information that can be printed on a paper medium to provide a paper-based interface for the multimedia information. The paper-based interface provided by the present invention provides a more readable and comprehensible representation of the multimedia information.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for generating a printable representation of multimedia information that can be printed on a paper medium to provide a paper-based interface for the multimedia information. The printable representation for the multimedia information is annotated to identify locations of information in the multimedia information that may be of interest to a user. A multimedia paper document generated by printing the annotated printable representation on a paper medium displays the annotations. The annotations provide visual indications of information relevant to the user.

Abstract: An image processing device, an image processing program and an image processing method for forming a composite image by superimposing an overlay image on a base image. Fixed length compressed image of the base image fixed length compressed data of the overlay image are formed by dividing data of the base image and data of the overlay image respectively into a plurality of blocks and by encoding a statistical parameter of each block, including a gray level representing the block, and quantization levels of respective pixels in the block. Then, while the fixed length compressed data is being checked in a block-by-block manner, the fixed length compressed data of the base image is taken in if the gray level of the block of the overlay image is 0, and the fixed length compressed data of the overlay image is taken in if the gray level of the block of the overlay image is not 0.

Abstract: In order to efficiently process image data in a circuit dividing single image data into a plurality of data and processing the data with a plurality of MPUs in parallel with each other, the MPUs process image data input through an input image data in parallel with each other. An address bus inputs addresses of the image data, and address memories provided on the MPUs store the addresses of the image data processed by the MPUs respectively. When the image data are completely processed, the image data are output through an output image bus while the addresses of the image data are output through the address bus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for generating a synthesized image in which an auxiliary image is superimposed on a normal image, includes an image data synthesizing unit to which normal image data comprising color information and image attribute information correspondent to pixels bitmap-expanded from the normal image and auxiliary image data comprising at least color information correspondent to pixels bitmap-expanded from the auxiliary image are supplied, and which generates synthesized image data for each pixel by synthesizing pixel data of the normal image data and pixel data of the auxiliary image data based on the color information and image attribute information of the normal image data.

Abstract: A device and a method for recording of text by imaging the text on a light-sensitive sensor (8). The device converts the images (14–17, 47–49) into a set of characters (50, 51) each using character recognition, and then assembling the acts of characters (50, 51) with the aid of the characters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. Source image confusion in a rendered composite image is controlled by application of a multi-illuminant gray component replacement (GCR) technique to the darkness common to the different colorants under the multiple illuminants.

Abstract: When a CG object is overlapped onto a photographed real scenery image as a background and an image of a photographed real photographic subject is synthesized in front of the overlapped image, an image in which the photographed real background and the photographic subject are imaged simultaneously without imaging the photographed real background and the photographic subject independently, is synthesized with CG. A photographed real image including a specific image is acquired, and area information representing an area of the specific image from the photographed real image, and an area other than the area of the specific image of the photographed real image is synthesized with a computer graphics image using the area information so detected.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.

Abstract: A CCD camera 10 picks up multiple adjacent targeted portions on a document 2, and to obtain distance information, a distance measurement unit 11 calculates the distances to the targeted portions of the document 2. Based on the distance information, a synthesization controller 16 prepares perspective information for the images, adjusts the sizes of the multiple obtained plane images so they correspond, and synthesizes the resultant plane images to form a single image.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting edge locations where intercolor bleeding would likely be a problem, and reducing the amount of ink printed at those locations. The method operates on image data including a set of pixels with each pixel having multiple separation values. Upon receipt of the image data, the data is analyzed to identify those pixels located at an edge. A coverage value is computed from the separation values for those pixels identified as being located at an edge. Based on the coverage value, a reduction factor is determined. The reduction factor is used to multiply the separation values for the pixels located at the edge to yield reduced pixel values.

Abstract: A parallel, non-iterative, memory efficient method of determining image skew. A document skew angle is determined from a fast scan second order moment data set and a slow scan second order moment data set. A slow scan second order moment data set can be generated by receiving a current scanline of image data, updating columns sums for a set of rotation angles using scanlines within a buffer comprising a band having a predetermined number B of scanlines, and updating the buffer with the current scanline.

Abstract: A duplex image reading apparatus has a transportation path for transporting a sheet original to a reading region by an original transporting device, and first and second reading devices placed corresponding to respective transportation sides of the sheet original in the reading region of the transportation path, and is constructed in such structure that each of the first and second reading devices is of such a configuration that a color reference portion used as a color reference for reading is opposed to a reading portion while the color reference portion and the reading portion are placed on two sides with the transportation sides of the sheet original in between, wherein the first and second reading devices are arranged so that either one of the reading portion and the color reference portion is supported so as to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an image reading surface of the reading portion.

Abstract: A method for printing documents containing transparent graphics objects includes creating a transparency list containing the transparent graphics objects of said document, and printing only objects contained in said transparency list as bitmaps.

Abstract: An annotated digital photograph processing system that forms a plurality of composite image files from a plurality of corresponding digital images, annotation information and process control information, and prints them as a plurality of composite images on a roll of photographic medium. Each composite image file may be generated by a server computer, which also receives the components thereof, the file comprising the image and a first symbol. The first symbol includes process control information, and may optionally include annotation information. A roll containing the composite images is processed by a novel printing apparatus that comprises a scanner and inkjet print-heads connected to a control computer, to print the annotation and a second symbol, which includes process control information, directly behind the image to which they correspond after the destructive effects of photo-processing chemicals occur. Then, the first barcode is severed from the medium for each printed image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of storing and of progressively transferring a still image so that it can be conveniently previewed during the transfer and so that a user can terminate the transfer at an early stage if the image turns out to be undesirable. The methods of the invention include transforming the image into a plurality of decomposition levels using a discrete wavelet transform. Each decomposition level comprises a plurality of subimages which allow reconstruction of an image representation of the still image. The decomposition levels are transmitted beginning with a base decomposition level providing a low level of image resolution and then proceeding with decomposition levels providing increasingly higher levels of image resolution. Within each decomposition level, rows of the various subimages are arranged or interlaced together in contiguous blocks, so that all data for a single row, at a single decomposition level, is transmitted together.

Abstract: Halftone pixels are distinguished from non-halftone pixels in pixels making up an image according to a predetermined algorithm based on a result of edge detection for determining whether the pixels are edge pixels. The pixels which have been determined to be non-halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm, are continuous to the pixels determined to be halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm including those which have been redetermined to be halftone pixels and are not lower than a predetermined threshold density in density are all redetermined to be halftone pixels.

Abstract: A method for advertising, comprising the steps of generating a high-quality image; placing one or more advertising data in a predetermined location of the high-quality image; and fixing the high-quality image and advertising data to a utilitarian object. The advertising data is thereby placed in the high-quality image on an object therein so that the advertising data appears to be part of the particular object in the high-quality image.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, printing information on a hardcopy medium includes the acceptance of data representing a first information and the acceptance of data representing a second information. Second information is printed in regions on the medium where first information data is not printed. Second information data is encoded into a grayscale or color data representation such that necessary or maximum data density is achieved. First information is printed using black (K) ink (or alternatively using a different color gamut than that used for printing the second information) such that first information can be filtered out in a straightforward manner upon scanning of the printed medium by a digital scanning apparatus, and second information can then be recovered and utilized to advantage.

Abstract: In transmitting image data from multiple cameras to an image processing section to produce a synthesized image from respective camera images, the amount of data transmitted through a transmission path can be cut down without sacrificing the quality of the synthesized image. In accordance with a correspondence between the synthesized and camera images as described on a mapping table, a resolution specifier specifies resolutions, which should be necessary for image synthesis, for respective areas of each camera image. A compressor, provided for each of the cameras, compresses the associated camera image data according to the resolutions specified. In this manner, the image data, which has been compressed in accordance with the correspondence between the synthesized and camera images, is transmitted through the transmission path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-precision alignment method, device and code for inspections that compare an inspection image with a reference image and detect defects from their differences. In one embodiment an inspection image and a reference image are divided into multiple regions. An offset is calculated for each pair of regions. Out of these multiple offsets, only the offsets with high reliability are used to determine an offset for the entire image. This allows high-precision alignment with little or no dependency on pattern density or shape, differences in luminance between images, and uneven luminance within individual images. Also, detection sensitivity is adjusted as necessary by monitoring alignment precision.

Abstract: A CCD camera 10 picks up multiple adjacent targeted portions on a document 2, and to obtain distance information, a distance measurement unit 11 calculates the distances to the targeted portions of the document 2. Based on the distance information, a synthesization controller 16 prepares perspective information for the images, adjusts the sizes of the multiple obtained plane images so they correspond, and synthesizes the resultant plane images to form a single image.

Abstract: Automatic interpretation processing operations, such as character recognition, require a binary image of information-bearing image elements and a background. Digital image data produced by scanning a color-containing document frequently contain many different colors so that a division into information-bearing image elements and background is not evident. The invention divides connected components (contiguous pixels with the same color) in the digital image into background and other connected components, whereafter the other connected components are allocated, in accordance with a predetermined criterion, either to the background or to a foreground. The foreground connected components are combined into information elements suitable for the automatic interpretation processing. The division into information-bearing image elements and background can be preceded by a color quantisation processing of the digital image data.

Abstract: A system electronically registers an image on an input document. The system includes a scanner for generating an image data stream representing an electronic image of the image on the input document and an edge detecting circuit for detecting edge data within the image data stream. A circuit detects a first corner of a leading edge of the input document based on the detected edge data and for establishing a first coordinate value therefrom and a second corner of a leading edge of the input document based on the detected edge data and for establishing a second coordinate value therefrom. The system further determines a minimum and maximum location for a leading edge of the scanned document and determines a minimum and maximum location for a trailing edge of the scanned document.

Abstract: A method of determining image skew in a scanned document includes scanning the image and determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis whether or not pixels are ON or OFF on scan lines and columns along both the fast and slow scan directions for a particular document rotation angle. Through one read of the image, image data is sampled simultaneously at a plurality of predetermined document rotation angles From the sampled data, the second order moment of the number of ON pixels is calculated as a function of document rotation angle for scan lines along both the fast and slow scan directions, yielding two independent skew angle estimates Skew angle estimates corresponding to valid second order moment data sets are compared and combined to provide a resultant skew angle estimate for the document.

Abstract: When a single X-ray image is formed by compositing a plurality of partial X-ray images, level differences among partial images are corrected. The level difference values at the boundary portions among partial images are statistically calculated using information of an image captured before the partial images to be corrected, and calculating correction values. An image is corrected using the calculated correction values. A system for calculating the correction values, and a system for correcting the partial images are built and driven independently.

Abstract: The present invention is in the area of gridlocking or sensor registration. Embodiments encompass systems of process and/or equipment to format tracks from more than one sensor to be compared or correlated by statistical and/or optical correlation techniques to provide coordinate transformations between one or more of the sensors based upon the objects or a subset of the objects tracked by each sensor. Embodiments may take into account determinations or calculations regarding tracks describing the same object by different sensors and may take into account errors in those determinations by comparing pairs of tracks associated with more than one object at the same or substantially the same time. Further, many embodiments comprise software that can execute on a laptop, desktop, or similar computer.

Abstract: An image fusion is carried out using a look-up table. The look-up table is addressed by the different kinds of images that will be used to carry out the fusion. Each address in the look-up table contains a precomputed image fusion between the two different kinds of images.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to convert a low-quality original image into a high-quality fractal-interpolated image. From a low-quality original image, original image blocks of n×n size, which are mutually overlapping and each centered on each pixel of the original image, are acquired. Also, similar image blocks of 2n×2n size, which are each similar to each of the original image blocks, are detected from the original image by affine transformation. The detected similar image blocks are reduced to the same size as the original image blocks, and then substituted for the original image blocks respectively. Then, overlapping portions of the substituted similar image blocks are adjusted by averaging. As a result, a high-quality fractal-interpolated image is generated.

Abstract: A method for detecting an image area in a digital image includes identifying in the digital image a first image region indicative of a background area and a second image region indicative of the image area, computing gradient values using the pixel values of the digital image, defining a list of strokes based on the gradient values, merging the list of strokes, defining a list of corners using the list of strokes, and defining an image area rectangle delimiting the image area using the list of corners and the list of strokes. The image area rectangle can be used to define a binding box for extracting the image area from the digital image. The method enables the automatic detection of multiple image areas in a digital image. Moreover, the method implements a robust algorithm for image area detection such that even imperfect image areas can be detected without errors.

Abstract: A method to identify a key profile, comprising: illuminating with two laminar beams emitted by two laser light sources said two sides of said shank of a key driven to move axially relative to said beams, reading with two video cameras, fixed relative to said sources and having their optical axis inclined to said planes in which said light beams lie, said two light profiles formed by said laminar beams striking said two surfaces of said shank of said keys, digitizing said optical images read in this manner, to obtain two sequences of signals representative of said profiles of said two lateral surface portions of said key, as instantaneously illuminated by said laminar beams and read by said video cameras, reconstructing from said signals, by means of a processor unit, a signal representative of the entire key profile, and comparing said thus reconstructed signal with said signal representative of profiles stored in said processor unit to obtain data identifying said profile of said read key.

Abstract: A print and method of making a print having a invisible coordinate system on the same side as the image using a digital printer. The print may include additional invisible information which relates to specific parts of the image.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating images by combining datas of the images to a data of a composite image including the images, has an image recording device for storing and respective datas of the images, and an image combining device for combining the datas of the images input from the image recording device to the data of the opposite image, and outputting the data of the composite image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a recording medium which can improve the quality of a color document image are provided. An input image is converted into an image having low resolution. A subtractive color image is generated using the converted image having low resolution. From the subtractive color image, adjacent pixels which are allocated to the same representative color are unified so as to extract an FCR (Flat Color Region) candidate region. A region candidate is redetermined using an image having resolution which is higher than the subtractive color image. Next, a boundary of the FCR is detected and an ultimate FCR is determined. Selection of a representative color of the determined FCR is carried out, and a specific color processing which replaces a color which is close to a pure color with the pure color is effected. Finally, image regeneration is carried out by overwriting and drawing (synthesizing) the FCR on the input image.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is to add information to image data of multicolor image and monochromatic image. An image processing apparatus capable of adding information on raw data performs a dispersion conversion on the spectrum of the additional information by multiplying a code sequence of the PN sequence generator 114 by the additional data which is inputted from the input terminal 111 and converted into serial data in P/S converter 112. At this time, the data sequence transmitted from the image signal processor 102 to the printer engine 107 is converted by the scan converter 109 to correspond to the spatial axis for desperation. The converted data sequence is added to the output from the adder 113 by the adder 110, and reconverted to the original scan by the scan inverter 115.

Abstract: A data acquisition portion 7 acquires any one of the composition data from a frame card in a case where the identifier of the whole file represents composition data and acquires image data from a memory card in a case where the identifier of the whole file represents the attributes of image data. A control portion 3 retrieves from ROM each parameter corresponding to the identifier of the composition data acquired from the frame card. With the parameters, the control portion 3 generates printing data by combining the image data acquired from the memory card with the composition data.