Abstract: A position sensing device is provided which can include a first sensing unit for outputting a detection signal periodically changing in accordance with the movement of an object, a second sensing unit for sensing a reference position of the object, and an arithmetic unit for determining position data corresponding to the position of the object based on the detection signals, where the position sensing device can determine the relative position of a lens unit.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an image projected onto a warped surface is provided. The method initiates with capturing calibration points within a calibration image projected onto the warped surface. The method includes analyzing the calibration points to determine relative locations among the calibration points. In one embodiment, the method utilizes a pseudo origin for locating beginning points for successive rows of calibration points. The calibration points are ordered according to the relative locations. The ordered calibration points may be applied to alter the image data prior to projection of the image data onto the warped surface. A system for calibrating points so that an image projected onto a warped surface does not appear as distorted is also provided.

Abstract: To prevent detection of facial images for whom detection is unnecessary, without reducing the detection ratio of registered players from facial images. An image acquisition unit acquires an image taken by a camera, and provides the image to a masking process unit. The masking process unit reads a masking pattern that has already been adjusted by a masking pattern adjustment unit and a movable masking area setting unit so that characteristic quantities of a facial image that does not need to be recognized as a facial image cannot be detected, from a masking pattern recording unit. A masking process is applied to the image provided, and the masked image is provided to a facial image extraction unit. The facial image extraction unit extracts a rectangular shaped facial image, and provides the facial image to a transmission unit. The transmission unit transmits the rectangular facial image provided to a face recognition server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and/or storage media for passwords. An exemplary method tiles an image, associates an index with each tile and optionally determines offsets for select tiles. Further, the tiling optionally relies on probability and/or entropy. An exemplary password system includes an image; a grid associated with the image, the grid composed of polygons; an index associated with each polygon; and an offset associated with each polygon wherein password identification relies on one or more indices and one or more offsets.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for analyzing and assessing documents using a writing profile for documents, such as a payment instrument. A method may include providing a document to a computer system. In an embodiment, the method may further include comparing writing in information fields of the document to at least one forger writing profile representation. In some embodiments, at least one forger writing profile representation may be obtained from at least one information field of at least one document that includes forged information. In an embodiment, the document may be identified as a document including forged information from an approximate match of at least one forger writing profile representation with writing in the document.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting status of digital signatures. A digital document is received that defines a presentation structure and includes a digital signature. The digital document specifies a representation of the digital signature and a location in the presentation structure for the representation of the digital signature. A status is determined for the digital signature. A status representation is associated with the digital signature, where the status representation identifies the status determined for the digital signature. Without altering the representation of the digital signature, at least a portion of the digital document and the status representation of the digital signature are presented in a user interface, where the status representation is presented in the presentation structure at a location that depends upon the location of the digital signature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that facilitate wireless device communications and configuration. A detection component identifies N devices that are coupled together via a biological medium, N being an integer, wherein the medium includes direct or indirect touching to a device or devices. After biological contact, a configuration component initiates a configuration between a subset of the devices. Although configurations and/or other communications can be conducted through a medium such as the human body, the present invention can employ an initial touch to identify respective devices whereby other electronic configuration sequences commence without further device contact. Other aspects include chain touching between users and/or devices to facilitate contact between the devices.

Abstract: Devices and methods for signature authentication of a bearer of a payment processing device during financial transactions are provided. The payment processing device is provided with a signature input panel configured to receive user input signature information for the purpose of authenticating the signature. After the bearer of the payment processing device writes her signature into the signature input panel, the input signature information is compared to a pre-stored signature profile stored in the payment processing device for authentication.

Abstract: A marker placement information estimating method includes a constraint condition setting step for setting a constraint condition that can be defined with a geometric condition regarding placement information of markers, a capturing step for capturing photographed images including a marker image, a marker detecting step for detecting markers from the photographed images, and an estimating step for estimating the placement information of the markers using the positions of the detected markers on the images and the constraint condition. Thus, even if a constraint condition regarding the placement of markers exists, the placement information can be obtained with precision so as to satisfy the constraint condition.

Abstract: Among other things, a holder for an electronic stylus includes a cavity in which the stylus can be placed when not in use. The cavity includes a receptacle at one end for a writing end of the stylus and a stop at the other end. The stop has an opening into which an opposite end of the stylus can be placed. The receptacle has a resilient element to urge the stylus against the stop.

Abstract: Every time to-be-verified biometric is input, the apparatus reflects the degree of fluctuation in the to-be-verified biometric information on narrowing down of registered feature information. After to-be-verified biometric information is input through the a biometric information input unit, the to-be-verified sub-feature information obtaining unit extracts two or more items of sub-feature information from the to-be-verified biometric information. Based on the pieces of to-be-verified sub-feature information, the to-be-verified sub-feature information assessing unit assesses an acquisition stability of each item of to-be-verified sub-feature information. According to the acquisition stability assessment, the registered feature information narrowing unit selects one or more pieces of registered feature information to be subjected to comparison/verification, thereby narrowing down the registered feature information.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for embedding and detecting watermarks in a set of data frames, where a secondary domain is used for combining the data frame, watermark, and a geometric pattern for holding the watermark, and that secondary domain is used for post-combination filtering of the modified data frame. The secondary domain is preferably a wavelet domain or sub-band domain. The geometric pattern for holding the watermark is reversibly mapable between a complex pattern in the original domain of the data frame and a simple pattern in the secondary domain where combination and filtering takes place.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting status of digital signatures. A digital document is received that defines a presentation structure and includes a digital signature. The digital document specifies a representation of the digital signature and a location in the presentation structure for the representation of the digital signature. A status is determined for the digital signature. A status representation is associated with the digital signature, where the status representation identifies the status determined for the digital signature. Without altering the representation of the digital signature, at least a portion of the digital document and the status representation of the digital signature are presented in a user interface, where the status representation is presented in the presentation structure at a location that depends upon the location of the digital signature.

Abstract: Provided is an information management method for use in an information management system that includes a coordinate pointing device for identifying a paper medium, and a contents server for managing a digital document, and holds an attribute of the digital document and an attribute of a paper document obtained by printing the digital document on the paper medium, the information management method comprising: judging whether a paper document identified by the coordinate pointing device is a master of a document by referring to an attribute of the paper document; and permitting, when it is judged that the identified paper document is the master of the document, to update information annotated to the identified paper document in a digital document corresponding to the paper document to which the information has been annotated

Abstract: A method of verifying identity which includes recording coordinates of a reference signature which include two dimensional space coordinates x and y exerted by a writer's writing instrument on a recording medium. The method measures and records an indicium, which identifies a reference biometric within the reference signature having a selected characteristic. Next the reference biometric and the indicium are placed on a portable, readable substrate. The coordinates of an unknown signature which include two dimensional space coordinates x and y covered by a writer's writing instrument are also recorded. The method further includes reading and storing the indicium and the reference biometric in memory and using the indicium to locate an extracted biometric within the unknown signature. The extracted biometric is compared to the reference biometric to determine if they match within predetermined threshold criteria.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for registration comprises a computer and a server in communication via a network, an intranet and/or the Internet, means for entry of data into the computer, and a signature or biometric digitizer including coupling software for directly entering digitized signature or biometric data electronically into the computer. The data and digitized signature or biometric data are communicated to the server. The registration apparatus and method may be utilized for voter or other registration and/or another transaction.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system, method and computer program product for providing an object recognition blackboard system architecture. The system for recognizing objects in content can include: a blackboard comprising a plurality of experts, and data comprising original input data and data created by processing of any of the plurality of experts, and a controller operative to control the experts; a belief model, coupled to the controller, comprising a set of beliefs and probabilities associated with each belief of the set of beliefs; a belief network, coupled to the controller; and a relations subsystem, coupled to the controller.

Abstract: A code stream and data indicating a normalization method are inputted to a normalization processing unit 21, and the normalization processing unit applies normalization processing to the code stream to generate a normalized code stream. Next, when signature data is inputted, a verification processing unit 22 performs encryption and decryption processing with respect to the signature data using a public key Kp and calculates a Hash value (first Hash value) and, on the other hand, calculates a Hash value of the normalized code stream (second Hash value). Next, the verification processing unit compares the first Hash value and the second Hash value and, if the first Hash value and the second Hash value are equal, judges that the code stream is not falsified. On the other hand, if the first Hash value and the second Hash value are not equal, the verification processing unit judges that the code stream is falsified.

Abstract: A method of processing an X-ray image of articles contained in a transilluminated object and made visible for an observer on a monitor screen, includes the following steps: Placing individual markings about the image of certain, previously determined articles and automatically and stepwise combining the individual markings into a final added marking if at least two individual markings mutually fit. The combining step includes the steps of comparing for fit mutually facing sides of two adjoining individual markings and determining a ratio of an overlapping area of the two adjoining individual markings to the total area of at least one of the two adjoining individual markings.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a vascular tree that yields additional information concerning the vascular tree. To this end, a sequence of clusters is determined from spatially coherent voxels in the three-dimensional image of the vascular tree, the sequence of said clusters corresponding to the flow direction of the blood or the contrast medium in said vascular tree.

Abstract: A system and a method for the conversion of archived documents to a digital format and storage of the data extracted in repositories which may be easily extracted and searched by a user over a network such as the Internet. The data is preferably stored in the form of microfilm, although optionally the present invention could be operative with other types of physical media, such as microfiche, paper and any type of printed material. The microfilm data is preferably divided and/or grouped into at least one file. Optionally and preferably, each file undergoes the following automatic processing stages: combining files; analyzing image layout; segmentation; OCR; optional segmentation improvement; and output to XML, or another suitable output data format and/or language. In the last stage, the data contained in the files is preferably extracted and then more preferably transmitted to the relevant repository unit.

Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a sequence of spatial samples generated in response to a hand drawn representation of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising a segment processor arranged in operation to determine from the spatial samples stroke data representative of strokes performed in drawing the hand drawn representation of the image, a stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to generate parameter data from the sequence of spatial samples and the determined stroke data of the hand drawn representation, and an image identifier coupled to the stroke pre-processor which is arranged in operation to identity the image from the parameter data. The image identification apparatus finds application in many fields, including identifying hand drawn images for generating a story board from pre-generated images.

Abstract: In a system (10) and a method for interpreting visual information and transmitting it to a human being through tactile influence of sensorial organs in its body[. The], the system [comprises:] has a sensor module (12) capturing visual information; a control module (14), interpreting the captured information and controlling a tactile actuator module (16) in accordance with the interpreted information. An actuator module (16) transmits the interpreted information to a human being by electro-mechanically influencing sensorial organs in the skin of the human being, thereby creating an image in its brain. An image is corresponding to the visual information transmitted through the electro-mechanical actuator module (16).

Abstract: A method of determining whether a test sample belongs to the same individual as a plurality of reference samples. The method includes providing respective values of one or more identifying features from the test sample and the plurality of reference samples, representing the test and reference samples by respective points having coordinates in a multi-dimensional space indicative of the respective feature values, and deciding whether the test sample belongs to the same individual as the plurality of reference samples based on a geometrical property of the points.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a metal plate which is mounted under the housing with hot riveting. Location pegs are made so that low mounting force is possible. A wafer which is black in color or has another contrasting color makes it possible for a video camera to record the true position of the terminals. The surface of the top side of the housing is suited for vacuum pick up.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting objects from a sequence of images of a scene containing an object by using two distinct methods for object detection. One is suited for well-lit scenes (e.g., daytime), while the other is suitable for poorly-lit scenes (e.g., nighttime) where the objects have lights mounted on them. Further, the method and apparatus are adaptive to the image statistics of the objects being detected, and can be programmed to filter out “weak” detections that lie below a certain percentile in the observed statistical distribution of image measures. The specific percentile is determined based on whether the scene has been determined to be well- or poorly-lit and whether it contains shadows or not.

Abstract: A method of creating registration signature data for a computerized signature collation scheme. A plurality of signature data sets are averaged in order to calculate a candidate set of registration signature data. The candidate set of registration signature data is collated with each signature data set. When no unacceptable discrepancy is found as a result of collation between the candidate set of registration signature data and the signature data sets, the candidate set of registration signature data is treated as registration signature data.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a metal plate which is mounted under the housing with hot riveting. Location pegs are made so that low mounting force is possible. A wafer which is black in color or has another contrasting color makes it possible for a video camera to record the true position of the terminals. The surface of the top side of the housing is suited for vacuum pick up.

Abstract: A system and method electronically determines an edge of a copy substrate to be printed on. A copy substrate is inserted between a linear light source array and a linear sensor array and a light segment of the linear light source array is illuminated. An edge location of a shadow created by the copy substrate intersecting a light path between the illuminated light segment and the linear sensor array is measured, and a location of the edge of the copy substrate is calculated based on the measured shadow location. A second light segment of the linear light source on an opposite side of an expected copy substrate edge position of the light segment can also be illuminated, and a second edge location of a shadow created by the copy substrate intersecting a light path between the illuminated second light segment and the linear sensor array can be measured wherein this second measurement can be used with the first to calculate a location of the edge of the copy substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of performing accurate biopsies, particularly core breast biopsies, and a device for facilitating the accuracy of the taking of biopsies. The device involves the provision of guiding members or wing-type projections on at least two sides of the barrel of a biopsy gun. Each guiding member is parallel to the axis of a biopsy needle attached to the gun and there are at least two guiding members projecting from the barrel of the gun substantially perpendicular to one another. Each guiding member is preferably in line with the needle, so that in use the biopsy needle is in the plane of each guiding member. The device may be in the form of a biopsy gun with the guiding members integrally formed or affixed, or it may be in the form of an attachment for attaching to a conventional biopsy gun.

Abstract: A signature verification method involves segmenting a smoothed and normalized signature and, for each segment, evaluating at least one local feature, thereby to obtain a feature-value vector. The method further includes computing the likelihood that the segments having the observed sequence of feature values were generated by a particular hidden Markov model, such model comprising a sequence of states having duration probabilities and feature-value histograms. In one aspect, the invention involves explicit state-duration modeling to account for duration in the respective states underlying the unknown signature. In another aspect, the invention involves computing a measure of signature complexity, and setting the number of states of the hidden Markov model according to such complexity measure.

Abstract: Reference patterns and an input pattern are expressed by the position coordinates of feature points obtained by approximating strokes by a predetermined points in advance. One-to-one stroke correspondences whose stroke-numbers are made equal to each other between reference pattern and the input pattern having different stroke-numbers and different stroke-orders each other are determined, and handwriting distortion is stably absorbed by performing an optimum affine transformation operation for each corresponding stroke pair. The inter-pattern distance between a normalized input pattern obtained by the affine transformation operation and the reference pattern is calculated, and the character categories of the reference patterns are sequentially output as candidate categories in order of increasing distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the variations attendant to free-form execution of a signature by providing a delimiting area in which a signature string, and/or portions of a signature string, is/are to be constrainedly transcribed. Also disclosed is a method of signature verification based on analysis of the environs attendant to the signature-string.

Abstract: An object recognizer includes a computer system, a spatial division sensing device including a first sensor, a second sensor, and a first polarizer. An object feature generator is attached to an object and includes a plurality of object feature correspondents, and a plurality of second polarizers. By such an arrangement, the first sensor is able to detect a first signal from the second polarizers and the object feature correspondents to form a first polarized image. The second sensor co-operating with the first polarizer is able to detect a second signal from the second polarizers and the object feature correspondents to form a second polarized image. The computer system is able to execute an operation between the first image and the second image to obtain a third image, thereby determining the positions of the second polarizers on the third image so as to locate the object.

Abstract: Video data storage apparatus stores on a hard disk plural fields of video data and header data associated with each field of video data. The video data is reproduced from the hard disk and the reproduced video data is processed by an image analysis algorithm. Data indicative of the outcome of the image analysis is then recorded on the hard disk as part of the header data.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held apparatus for capturing a gray scale image of a signature within a box having fiducial marks in the corners. Portions of the image outside the box are trimmed away and the box is oriented and scaled to a standard size and shape. Signature storage requirements are minimized and signature recognition is facilitated by thresholding the gray scale image and thinning the strokes of the signature to an image width of one pixel.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer-implementable method for detecting substroke boundaries in handwriting input. The method selects pen tip velocity extremas to represent. substroke boundaries. The method includes steps for generating a velocity profile from the handwriting input; identifying a plurality of peak extrema within the velocity profile; identifying a plurality of in-line extrema within the velocity profile; and detecting the substroke boundaries by filtering the plurality of peak extrema and the plurality of in-line extrema.